Lab Members

Najma Shaheen received her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Epigenetics from Department of Life Sciences, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) Pakistan, where she explored the mechanisms of epigenetic cellular memory using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. She deciphered the novel role of CCT7 (a subunit of Chaperonin Containing TCP-1) in regulating PcG mediated gene silencing and cell fate maintenance in Drosophila. She is interested in understanding DNA replication and recombination during mammalian meiosis and has joined Pratto Lab to fulfill her dream of discovering new pathways in this field.

Andrea is interested in how chromatin structure influences replication and recombination in human meiosis. She was born in Colombia and grew up in Florida, she received her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Colorado Boulder where she studied ligand binding kinetics and thermodynamics in the lysine riboswitch. Outside of lab, she enjoys knitting, climbing, dancing, and supporting community events.