Our Team – Jia Liu Lab

Principal Investigator

Jia Liu, Ph.D.
Director, Epigenetics Facility
Director, Rodent Behavioral Analysis Suite
Research Associate Professor, Neuroscience Initiative
Email: jliu1@gc.cuny.edu
Phone: 212.413.3183

Jia received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Wesleyan University in Connecticut with the focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair in neuronal excitotoxicity and epilepsy. Following her graduate study, she joined Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai as a postdoctoral fellow, where she carried out research on the epigenetic mechanisms regulating myelination and oligodendrocyte development in the central nervous system in physiological and diseased conditions, such as Multiple Sclerosis. She later became a Research Assistant Professor at the Friedman Brain Institute at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She joined the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center in 2017 and led her own research investigating the glial mechanisms of stress disorders. She also founded the Epigenetics Facility and the Rodent Behavioral Analysis Suite in the Neuroscience Initiative and served as the director of both facilities. Outside the lab, she loves traveling and baking!

Current Members

Olivia Berghaus
Research Assistant, Epigenetics Core
Email: olivia.berghaus25@gc.cuny.edu

Olivia is the Research Assistant for the Epigenetics Facility in the ASRC Neuroscience Initiative. Her primary duties include maintaining the core facility and performing epigenetic experiments. Under the direction of Dr. Jia Liu, Olivia’s current research goal is understanding how environmental factors, mainly air pollutants, can impact mental health via the regulation of glial cells in the brain. Prior to joining the ASRC, Olivia received a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Cornell University. During her time as an undergraduate student, she was a teaching assistant for Cornell University’s Laboratory in Genetics and Genomics course, taught by Dr. Kristina Blake. It was through her experience with this course that she gained a great appreciation for working in the lab. Outside of research, she enjoys crocheting, baking, and exploring new places.

Tasmina Hassan

Undergraduate Research Intern

Tasmina Hassan is a senior at the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College where she is currently pursuing a double major in Biology (BA) and Computer Science (BA). She has been accepted to the University of Rochester School of Medicine, as a part of the Early Assurance Program. Outside of the lab, Tasmina enjoys watching horror movies and playing with her cat.