Our Team – Jia Liu Lab

Principal Investigator

Jia Liu, Ph.D.
Director, Epigenetics Facility
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.

Adeh Marie Christelle Yabo

Master student

Christelle is an international master’s student from Ivory Coast in Biotechnology at The City College of New York with a strong interest in molecular biology and biomedical research. Her goal in science is to contribute to understanding neurobehavioral autism through the study of molecular pathways. She is passionate about using biotechnology to uncover mechanisms of disease and support the development of future therapeutic approaches. Outside of Research she loves cooking, shopping and going to the gym.

Usha Khan

Velay Summer Research Fellow

Usha is a rising senior at Hunter College pursuing a degree in Biology on the pre-med track. She joined the Liu Lab as Velay Fellow to gain experience in neuroscience research and is interested in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to neurological disease. Her current work at Hunter focuses on oligodendrocytes and neuronal preservation in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. Outside of the lab, she enjoys trying new foods, watching movies and spending time with friends and family.