Team
In chronological order
Longzhi Tan
Assistant Professor of Neurobiology
Originally from Wuhan, China, Tan received his S.B. in Physics (minor: Biology) from MIT in 2012, studying evolution with Jeff Gore and Pardis Sabeti. He earned his Ph.D. in Systems Biology from Harvard in 2018, developing high-precision methods for single-cell genomics with Sunney Xie. He uncovered the 3D structure of the human genome in a single cell, revealed unique chromosome organization in the mouse eye and nose, and measured the true mutation spectrum of single neurons in the normal human brain. Tan also attended the Neurobiology course at MBL in 2014, and worked with Ibrahim Cisse at MIT in 2019. As a postdoc in Karl Deisseroth’s lab at Stanford Bioengineering (co-mentor: Howard Chang), Tan discovered major 3D genome transformation in the mouse brain after birth. Tan started his own lab at Stanford Neurobiology in Dec 2022, and discovered evolutionarily conserved 3D genome restructuring over the life spans of both humans and mice. Tan’s awards include NIGMS R35 (2026), Stanford Big Ideas (2025), McKnight (2024), Rita Allen (2024), PSF MIND (2024), Sanofi iAward (2024), HHMI FHS Finalist (2023), Baxter (2023), BWF CASI (2021), ISFS (2021), Berry (2020), Science & SciLifeLab Grand Prize (2019), HHMI ISRF (2015), and IPhO Gold Medal (2008). Outside of the lab, he enjoys designing holiday cards, t-shirts, and music videos, and is a scientific illustrator.
Assistant Professor of Neurobiology, Stanford University, 2022 – Present
Postdoc in Bioengineering (Karl Deisseroth, Howard Chang), Stanford University, 2019 – 2022
Postdoc in Physics (Ibrahim Cisse), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2019
Postdoc in Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Sunney Xie), Harvard University, 2018 – 2019
Ph.D. in Systems Biology (Sunney Xie), Harvard University, 2012 – 2018
S.B. in Physics (minor: Biology; Pardis Sabeti, Jeff Gore), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009 – 2012
Freshman in Physics, Peking University, 2008 – 2009
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Bibudha Parasar
Postdoctoral Scholar in Neurobiology
Bibudha received his Dual BS-MS in Chemistry from IISER-Kolkata, India, developing organic synthesis reactions with Prof. Jyotirmayee Dash and dynamic system modeling with Prof. Partho Sarothi Ray. He did his PhD in chemistry and chemical biology from Cornell University with Prof. Pamela V Chang, where he developed technologies to understand and modulate inflammation. He developed two optogenetic probes that can alter inflammatory states in macrophages and naïve T cells on-demand. Additionally, he developed an antibody-free activity-based technology to selectively enrich and identify bacteria from mouse gut expressing an active gut microbial enzyme. He also worked with Prof. Inma Cobos at the Stanford University School of Medicine investigating an interneuron subtype expressing KIT in both human and mouse brain. Currently in the Tan lab, he is developing second generation of Dip-C technologies to understand aging and development of cerebellum in both human and mouse. His hobbies include study and collection of fossils, crystals, minerals, antiquarian books, mint never hinged (MNH) stamps, and uncirculated (UNC) paper money.
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Yunji Seo
MD Student
Yunji is a first year MD student at Stanford School of Medicine from Seoul, South Korea. She received a B.A. in neurobiology and biochemistry and M.S. in chemistry from University of Pennsylvania. As an undergraduate, Yunji worked in the Chen-Plotkin lab investigating molecular mechanisms of alpha-synuclein neurodegeneration and genetic risk factors of Parkinson’s disease. At the Tan lab, she is interested in studying the interplays between neuron and glia that are critical to aging, neurodevelopment and pathogenesis. During her free time, she loves making ceramics, exploring plant nurseries and dog-watching at the park.
Siavash Moghadami
PhD Student in Chemical and Systems Biology | Co-mentor: Carolyn Bertozzi
Born in Tehran, Iran, Siavash received his B.Sc./M.Sc. in Biochemistry and Chemical Biology (Summa cum laude, Highest Distinction, and Departmental Honors) from the University of California at San Diego in 2022, studying the in-vivo conversion of glial cells into functional neurons using single-cell multi-omics and spatial genomics/transcriptomics with Don W. Cleveland and Bogdan Bintu. While at UCSD, Siavash worked on developing the periodic table of mice brain cell types in a pan-brain fashion using Multiplexed Error Robust Fluorescent In-situ Hybridization (MERFISH) technique. Siavash also conducted research in the laboratory of Joe Gleeson at UCSD, working on molecular and biochemical mechanisms of MBOAT7-linked neurodevelopmental disorders and the contribution of cell-type-specific regulatory elements to autism features using single-cell multi-omics. Upon graduation, Siavash received the Harold C. Urey award for exceptional academic achievement from UCSD. Currently, Siavash is a Ph.D. student in the Biosciences program at the Department of Chemical and Systems Biology. While not in the lab, he enjoys reading books, learning Artificial Intelligence, traveling, cooking, or picking up a new skill.
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Achuthan Raja Venkatesh
PhD Student in Biophysics | Co-mentor: Alistair Boettiger
Hailing from Chennai, India, Achuthan received his BS-MS in Biology from IISER Mohali. He remotely worked with Prof. Onn Brandman and Prof. David Weld for his Master's thesis (locally guided by Prof. Purnananda Guptasarma simulating space-dependent diffusivity in cells to probe how it influences transport and compartmentalization. After a brief foray into single-molecule experiments at the Max Planck Institute, Dresden, Germany, he joined the Biophysics Program at Stanford. Out of work, he enjoys figuring out the next song to butcher over karaoke, going down rabbit holes on the internet and debating haircare products.
Evelyn Wong
MD-PhD Student in Bioengineering | Co-mentors: Ritchie Chen & Zhenan Bao
Born and raised in East Los Angeles, Evelyn is a first-year in the Stanford Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). She completed her B.A. from Harvard University with a major in neuroscience and a minor in Spanish literature. Evelyn received the Herchel Smith Fellowship for her thesis project with Dr. Edward Boyden at the MIT McGovern Institute, developing a next-generation protein sequencing platform. As a Marshall scholar, she earned an MPhil from the Division of Medicine (Neuroscience) at University College London, where she optimized existing neurotechnologies to understand cortical brain function. Evelyn aspires to merge her interests in asylee health and neuroengineering to tackle technical and structural barriers to neuropsychiatric health. In her free time, she enjoys playing basketball, taking long walks in the redwoods, and spending time with loved ones.
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Lynette X. Chan
PhD Student in Biophysics | Co-mentor: Alistair Boettiger
Lynette was born and raised in Walnut, California. She received her B.S. in Chemical-Biological Engineering and Biology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2024. While at MIT, she worked with Prof. Salil Garg and Prof. Phil Sharp’s labs on regulation of embryonic stem cell states and transcription factor binding; in her senior year, she worked with Prof. Arup Chakraborty’s group on polymer simulations of 3D genome folding. Lynette also spent a summer abroad at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) with Prof. Yongwon Jung's lab where she researched artificial protein condensate design. Outside of lab, Lynette likes playing table tennis, learning languages, and playing certain mobile games.
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Satoshi Takenawa
Postdoctoral Scholar in Neurobiology
Born in Japan, Satoshi received his BS in Psychology and MS in Medical Science from the University of Tsukuba, studying behavioral neuroendocrinology under Sonoko Ogawa and sleep research under Masashi Yanagisawa. He completed his PhD in Neuroscience also at the University of Tsukuba. With guidance of Sonoko Ogawa, he identified gonadal-steroid-sensitive neuronal circuits that control sex-specific social preference patterns in mice, combining neuronal manipulation and imaging techniques. He also worked with Akihiro Okamoto at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), focusing on bacterial electrochemistry and proteomic screening of redox-active molecules.
His expertise is rooted in neuroanatomy, endocrinology, and behavioral neuroscience. Currently in the Tan lab, he focuses on how hormonal and physiological contexts such as stress, sexual maturation, and metabolism shape 3D genome architecture in the brain, and on understanding how steroid receptors reshape the 3D genome. Outside the lab, he loves cooking and enjoys exploring cuisines from around the world.
Darrin Schultz
Postdoctoral Scholar in Neurobiology
Darrin received his B.A. in Biology and East Asian Studies from Oberlin College completing a thesis with Adam Haberman and was a Fulbright Research Fellow at Nagoya University in Japan with Yuichi Oba, studying bioluminescent organisms. He completed his Ph.D. at UC Santa Cruz with Richard "Ed" Green and with Steven Haddock at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, developing techniques to assemble and compare the first chromosome-scale genomes of ctenophores, sponges, and unicellular relatives of animals, with Daniel Rokhsar at U.C. Berkeley as a close mentor. As a postdoc in Oleg Simakov’s lab at the University of Vienna, he developed computational methods to study the relationship between genome structure, chromosomal evolution, and animal diversity. In the Tan lab, he is developing new methodologies for screening and inferring 3D genomic changes during neurodegeneration, advancing the software used to study the 3D genome, and working to understand the relationship between 3D genome structures in the human brain and development and aging. In July 2026, Darrin will start the Schultz EvoGenome Lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at Lehigh University and Lehigh Oceans. Outside the lab, he enjoys traveling, insect photography, scuba diving, and snow sports.
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Lab Alumni
Jenny Shi
2022–2024: Undergraduate Student in Chemistry
Position after Tan Lab: MPhil Student in Biological Sciences, Laboratories of Sjors Scheres and of Michel Goedert, Cambridge University
Current Position: MD-PhD Student, Harvard–MIT Pathways Program
Francesca Kim
2022–2023: Master’s Student in Computer Science (Co-mentors: Ritchie Chen & Anshul Kundaje)
Position after Tan Lab: MD Student, Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST)
Cydney P. Wright
2022–2024: Undergraduate Student in Biology (Neurobiology Tract)
Position after Tan Lab: Master’s Student in Public Health, University of Tennessee
Stephanie Zhang
2022–2023: Undergraduate Student in Bioengineering and in Architectural Design
Position after Tan Lab: Same as above
Jerry Song
2022–2025: MD-PhD Student in Genetics (Co-mentors: Ritchie Chen & Xiaojing Gao)
Position after Tan Lab: MD Student
Emma Follman
2023–2025: PhD Student in Neurosciences
Jay X. J. Luo
2023–2024: (Visiting) Undergraduate Student in Neuroscience and in Computational Medicine
Position after Tan Lab: PhD Student in Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Laboratory of Jason Buenrostro, Harvard University
Deven Shah
2023: Undergraduate Student in Biology and in Computer Science
Position after Tan Lab: Same as above
Lucas Sosnick
2023–2025: Undergraduate Student in Bioengineering
Position after Tan Lab: Undergraduate Student in Bioengineering, Laboratory of Felix Horns, Department of Genetics
Current Position: PhD Student, Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST)
Aidan Wade
2023: (Visiting) Undergraduate Student in Neuroscience, SSRP-Amgen Scholars Program
Position after Tan Lab: Undergraduate Student in Neuroscience, Kent State University
Current: Postbaccalaurate Fellow, Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit (Laboratory of Sarah Lisanby), National Institute of Mental Health