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.
Staff Scientist
Xiaoxi Liu, PhD
Dr. Xiaoxi Liu focuses 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 focuses 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.
Post-Doctoral Fellows
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.
Zhenze Jiang, PhD
Zhenze received his B.S. degree in Chemistry from Shaanxi Normal University in 2015, following a PhD degree in Chemistry from UC San Diego in 2020. He joined the Buhrlage lab and Marto lab at DFCI as a postdoctoral research fellow in 2020 Fall. His research focuses on developing and applying mass spectrometry-based technologies to interrogate and develop novel deubiquitinating enzyme inhibitors for the treatment of cancer. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, watching movies and traveling.
Zhenze received his B.S. degree in Chemistry from Shaanxi Normal University in 2015, following a PhD degree in Chemistry from UC San Diego in 2020. He joined the Buhrlage lab and Marto lab at DFCI as a postdoctoral research fellow in 2020 Fall. His research focuses on developing and applying mass spectrometry-based technologies to interrogate and develop novel deubiquitinating enzyme inhibitors for the treatment of cancer. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, watching movies and traveling.
Graduate Students
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, and is currently a PhD candidate in Harvard University's Chemical Biology program. He is a joint student with the Marto lab, also at the DFCI. Adrian is interested in applying mass spectrometry chemoproteomics to DUB inhibitor discovery/development. 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, and is currently a PhD candidate in Harvard University's Chemical Biology program. He is a joint student with the Marto lab, also at the DFCI. Adrian is interested in applying mass spectrometry chemoproteomics to DUB inhibitor discovery/development. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, sewing, and exploring Boston.
Alex Felix
Alex is currently a student in the Harvard Chemistry and Chemical Biology PhD program. She grew up in Gustine, California and obtained her B.S. in Chemistry with biological concentration from Stanford University in 2018. Her research interests include chemical biology, synthesis, and medicinal chemistry. During her spare time, Alex enjoys reading and writing fiction, as well as traveling to new places.
Alex is currently a student in the Harvard Chemistry and Chemical Biology PhD program. She grew up in Gustine, California and obtained her B.S. in Chemistry with biological concentration from Stanford University in 2018. Her research interests include chemical biology, synthesis, and medicinal chemistry. During her spare time, Alex enjoys reading and writing fiction, as well as traveling to new places.
Anthony Ayala
Anthony is a student in the Harvard Chemistry and Chemical Biology program. He grew up in Cheverly, Maryland and obtained a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Maryland in College Park. Prior to graduate school, he worked with Dr. Luke Lavis at the Janelia Research Campus on the synthesis of novel fluorogenic tools to enable high-resolution fluorescence microscopy experiments. His focus in the Buhrlage lab is on the optimization of small-molecule deubiquitinating enzyme inhibitors. Outside of the lab he enjoys hiking and scary movies.
Anthony is a student in the Harvard Chemistry and Chemical Biology program. He grew up in Cheverly, Maryland and obtained a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Maryland in College Park. Prior to graduate school, he worked with Dr. Luke Lavis at the Janelia Research Campus on the synthesis of novel fluorogenic tools to enable high-resolution fluorescence microscopy experiments. His focus in the Buhrlage lab is on the optimization of small-molecule deubiquitinating enzyme inhibitors. Outside of the lab he enjoys hiking and scary movies.
Ariana Bratt, M.D.
Ariana is a graduate student in the Chemical Biology PhD program at Harvard. She received her BS in chemistry from Rice University and MD from UCSF. Her research interests include chemical biology and cancer biology.
Ariana is a graduate student in the Chemical Biology PhD program at Harvard. She received her BS in chemistry from Rice University and MD from UCSF. Her research interests include chemical biology and cancer biology.
Laboratory Technician
Cara Starnbach
Cara grew up in Needham, MA and graduated from Bates College with a B.S. in chemistry in 2019. Prior to joining the Buhrlage lab, Cara spent two summers in the lab of Dr. Nathanael Gray where she developed her passion for medicinal and organic chemistry. At Bates, her research was supervised by Dr. Jennifer Koviach-Côté and focused on the total synthesis of a carbohydrate compound with potential antiviral activity against RSV. Cara’s research interests include chemical biology, carbohydrate chemistry, organic synthesis, and medicinal chemistry. In her spare time, Cara enjoys cooking, rowing, surfing, and traveling to new places!
Cara grew up in Needham, MA and graduated from Bates College with a B.S. in chemistry in 2019. Prior to joining the Buhrlage lab, Cara spent two summers in the lab of Dr. Nathanael Gray where she developed her passion for medicinal and organic chemistry. At Bates, her research was supervised by Dr. Jennifer Koviach-Côté and focused on the total synthesis of a carbohydrate compound with potential antiviral activity against RSV. Cara’s research interests include chemical biology, carbohydrate chemistry, organic synthesis, and medicinal chemistry. In her spare time, Cara enjoys cooking, rowing, surfing, and traveling to new places!
Former Members
Ilaria Lamberto, PhD
Bin Hu, PhD
Nathan Schauer, PhD
Jing Yang, PhD
Wanyi Hu
Tatiana Mikhailova
Chinmay Bakshi
Sumner Perera
Ethan DaSilva
Isabella Jaen Maisonet
Mathiu E. Perez Rodriguez
Rebekka Roberts
Bin Hu, PhD
Nathan Schauer, PhD
Jing Yang, PhD
Wanyi Hu
Tatiana Mikhailova
Chinmay Bakshi
Sumner Perera
Ethan DaSilva
Isabella Jaen Maisonet
Mathiu E. Perez Rodriguez
Rebekka Roberts