Principal Investigator
Sara Buhrlage, PhD
Sara joined the DFCI Cancer Biology and HMS Biomolecular and Cellular Pharmacology faculty in 2015. Prior to making the move to an academic position Sara was a professional track scientist in Dana-Farber's medicinal chemistry core laboratory. In that role she collaborated with cancer biologists and clinicians to pharmacologically validate novel targets of disease in vitro and in vivo and to study mechanisms of disease and drug resistance. Sara received her PhD in organic chemistry from University of Michigan in 2008 under the direction of Professor Anna Mapp then trained for two years in medicinal chemistry at the Broad Institute before moving to DFCI. In addition to pursuing novel strategies for challenging drug targets Sara enjoys playing soccer, cooking and spending time with her husband and daughter.
Sara joined the DFCI Cancer Biology and HMS Biomolecular and Cellular Pharmacology faculty in 2015. Prior to making the move to an academic position Sara was a professional track scientist in Dana-Farber's medicinal chemistry core laboratory. In that role she collaborated with cancer biologists and clinicians to pharmacologically validate novel targets of disease in vitro and in vivo and to study mechanisms of disease and drug resistance. Sara received her PhD in organic chemistry from University of Michigan in 2008 under the direction of Professor Anna Mapp then trained for two years in medicinal chemistry at the Broad Institute before moving to DFCI. In addition to pursuing novel strategies for challenging drug targets Sara enjoys playing soccer, cooking and spending time with her husband and daughter.
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Jing Yang, PhD
Jing grew up in the middle part of China and received her B.S. degree in Microbiology there. She then graduated from the Chinese Academy of Sciences with a Ph.D in Molecular Immunology in 2015. She joined the Buhrlage Lab as a research fellow with the goal of training in cancer biology and identifying new therapeutic targets. In her free time she enjoys cooking, reading, writing and spending time with her family and friends.
Jing grew up in the middle part of China and received her B.S. degree in Microbiology there. She then graduated from the Chinese Academy of Sciences with a Ph.D in Molecular Immunology in 2015. She joined the Buhrlage Lab as a research fellow with the goal of training in cancer biology and identifying new therapeutic targets. In her free time she enjoys cooking, reading, writing and spending time with her family and friends.
Xiaoxi Liu, PhD
Dr. Xiaoxi Liu is a research fellow focusing on medicinal chemistry optimization of small molecules targeting deubiquitinating enzymes. He joined the group in January of 2016. He brings to the group extensive experience in synthetic organic chemistry, natural product total synthetic, heterocyclic chemistry and pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining the group Dr. Liu was a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Vermont for 1 year where his research centered on conceptually novel chirality-assisted synthesis of enantiomerically pure macromolecules. Dr. Liu obtained his doctoral degree in organic chemistry from UVM as well. His graduate research focused on the total synthesis of medicinally relevant natural products as well as contributions to methodology for heterocycle synthesis. He has presented his work at invited lectures and national conferences and has authored high-impact peer-reviewed articles. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, running and playing soccer, as well as spending time with his wife and son.
Dr. Xiaoxi Liu is a research fellow focusing on medicinal chemistry optimization of small molecules targeting deubiquitinating enzymes. He joined the group in January of 2016. He brings to the group extensive experience in synthetic organic chemistry, natural product total synthetic, heterocyclic chemistry and pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining the group Dr. Liu was a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Vermont for 1 year where his research centered on conceptually novel chirality-assisted synthesis of enantiomerically pure macromolecules. Dr. Liu obtained his doctoral degree in organic chemistry from UVM as well. His graduate research focused on the total synthesis of medicinally relevant natural products as well as contributions to methodology for heterocycle synthesis. He has presented his work at invited lectures and national conferences and has authored high-impact peer-reviewed articles. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, running and playing soccer, as well as spending time with his wife and son.
Rob Magin, PhD
Rob Magin is originally from Silver Spring, MD. He obtained his BA in biology from Northwestern University in 2012 and his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in biochemistry and molecular biophysics in 2017. He joined the Buhrlage lab as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Fall of 2017. His research interests include chemical biology, structural biology, and enzymology. In his free time he enjoys running, hiking, reading, and visiting family and friends.
Rob Magin is originally from Silver Spring, MD. He obtained his BA in biology from Northwestern University in 2012 and his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in biochemistry and molecular biophysics in 2017. He joined the Buhrlage lab as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Fall of 2017. His research interests include chemical biology, structural biology, and enzymology. In his free time he enjoys running, hiking, reading, and visiting family and friends.
Graduate Students
Nathan Schauer
Nathan is a PhD candidate in the Chemical Biology program at Harvard. He studied chemistry at Pomona College for his undergraduate degree and is now interested in using chemical tools to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying DUB selectivity. In his spare time, Nathan enjoys hiking, biking and singing.
Nathan is a PhD candidate in the Chemical Biology program at Harvard. He studied chemistry at Pomona College for his undergraduate degree and is now interested in using chemical tools to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying DUB selectivity. In his spare time, Nathan enjoys hiking, biking and singing.
Laura Doherty
Laura grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and graduated from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill with a degree in chemistry and biology in 2015. She is currently a PhD candidate in Harvard University's Chemical Biology program with the goal of better understanding cancer biology and therapeutic targets. in her free time she enjoys reading, painting and spending time with friends.
Laura grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and graduated from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill with a degree in chemistry and biology in 2015. She is currently a PhD candidate in Harvard University's Chemical Biology program with the goal of better understanding cancer biology and therapeutic targets. in her free time she enjoys reading, painting and spending time with friends.
Anthony Varca
Anthony is a graduate student in the Harvard Chemical Biology PhD program. He grew up in Wethersfield, CT and received his B.S. in Chemistry from Northeastern University. After graduating, he spent 3 years as a research technician in Dr. James Bradner's lab at DFCI doing medicinal chemistry prior to graduate school. His research interests include the development of small molecule probe compounds for studying DUBs' role in disease and function. In his spare time, Anthony enjoys playing and watching soccer, going camping and cooking/baking.
Anthony is a graduate student in the Harvard Chemical Biology PhD program. He grew up in Wethersfield, CT and received his B.S. in Chemistry from Northeastern University. After graduating, he spent 3 years as a research technician in Dr. James Bradner's lab at DFCI doing medicinal chemistry prior to graduate school. His research interests include the development of small molecule probe compounds for studying DUBs' role in disease and function. In his spare time, Anthony enjoys playing and watching soccer, going camping and cooking/baking.
Wai Cheung (Adrian) Chan
Officially British, Adrian grew up in Hong Kong and spent part of his adolescence in the Netherlands. He graduated from Amherst College with a degree in Chemistry and English in 2017, and is currently a PhD student in Harvard University's Chemical Biology program. He is a joint student with the Marto lab, also at the DFCI. Adrian is interested in using mass spectrometry and chemical inhibitors to investigate DUB function. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, sewing, and exploring Boston.
Officially British, Adrian grew up in Hong Kong and spent part of his adolescence in the Netherlands. He graduated from Amherst College with a degree in Chemistry and English in 2017, and is currently a PhD student in Harvard University's Chemical Biology program. He is a joint student with the Marto lab, also at the DFCI. Adrian is interested in using mass spectrometry and chemical inhibitors to investigate DUB function. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, sewing, and exploring Boston.
Undergraduate Researcher
Sumner Perera
Sumner is a senior at Harvard College in the Class of 2019, majoring in Chemical & Physical Biology and minoring in Theater, Dance and Media. She is an undergraduate researcher at the Buhrlage Lab, pursuing her senior thesis on DUB targets and the role of DUB inhibition in apoptosis and senescence. Sumner is also an accomplished jazz singer and vocalist, having performed in over twenty theater productions and sung for fundraisers, vocal competitions and numerous gigs.
Sumner is a senior at Harvard College in the Class of 2019, majoring in Chemical & Physical Biology and minoring in Theater, Dance and Media. She is an undergraduate researcher at the Buhrlage Lab, pursuing her senior thesis on DUB targets and the role of DUB inhibition in apoptosis and senescence. Sumner is also an accomplished jazz singer and vocalist, having performed in over twenty theater productions and sung for fundraisers, vocal competitions and numerous gigs.
Laboratory Technician
Rebekka Roberts
Rebekka grew up near Frankfurt, Germany and graduated from Ludwig-Maximilian-University of Munich, Germany with a BS degree in Chemistry/Biochemistry in 2017. Rebekka joined the lab as a research technician in January 2018. She is interested in getting a better understanding of cancer biology and using biochemical assays to test DUB inhibitors. In her free time Rebekka enjoys cooking, hiking, spending time with her family/friends and in nature.
Rebekka grew up near Frankfurt, Germany and graduated from Ludwig-Maximilian-University of Munich, Germany with a BS degree in Chemistry/Biochemistry in 2017. Rebekka joined the lab as a research technician in January 2018. She is interested in getting a better understanding of cancer biology and using biochemical assays to test DUB inhibitors. In her free time Rebekka enjoys cooking, hiking, spending time with her family/friends and in nature.
Former Members
Ilaria Lamberto, PhD
Wanyi Hu
Tatiana Mikhailova
Mathiu E. Perez Rodriguez
Chinmay Bakshi
Tatiana Mikhailova
Mathiu E. Perez Rodriguez
Chinmay Bakshi