Principal Investigator
Brock C. Christensen, Ph.D.
Professor of Epidemiology and of Molecular and Systems Biology
Co-Director, Cancer Population Sciences Research Program | NCCC
Dr. Christensen received his B.S. from the University of Wisconsin Madison in Medical Microbiology & Immunology and French, and his Ph.D. from Harvard University in Biological Sciences in Public Health. He trained as a postdoctoral research associate in molecular epidemiology of cancer at Brown University in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Dr. Christensen joined the faculty at Dartmouth in 2011.
Research Associate
Sayan Bakshi, Ph.D.
Research Associate 2025 — Present
During my doctoral studies in the Graduate Biomedical Sciences program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, I developed and implemented multi-omics pipelines, specifically integrating bulk RNA sequencing and DNA methylation arrays, to analyze various etiologies of heart failure, including ischemic heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and diabetes-associated heart failure. My research interest includes investigating the transcriptomic reprogramming and epigenomic alterations associated with human disease. For this reason, I chose to join the Christensen lab to further explore these areas of interest. Currently, I am working towards developing computational pipelines for DNA methylation cytometry and the validation of novel therapeutic targets in pediatric gliomas. Outside of research, I enjoy playing board games, analyzing film and television shows, and keeping up with the latest tech developments.
Graduate Students
Hanxu Lu, M.S.
Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) PhD Candidate, 2020 — Present
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, M.S., 2018-2020
During my master’s training, I studied the role of scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-BI) in mediating prostate cancer cell responses to high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Currently, I am focused on investigating the impact of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) states on immune cell infiltration in breast cancer, utilizing multi-omics approaches such as DNA methylation and single-cell RNA sequencing.
Irma Valsac, B.S.
Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) PhD Candidate, 2021 — Present
Dartmouth Innovation Fellow
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, B.S.
Irma is currently being trained in molecular epidemiology, epigenetics, and statistics under the mentorship of Dr. Brock Christensen. Irma is passionate about disease prevention and screening, with a specific focus on endometrial and ovarian cancer, and other understudied gynecological diseases such as endometriosis. Using an epigenome-wide approach to determine where alterations are occurring early in disease, Irma uses an innovative approach to develop cell reference deconvolution libraries specific to the gynecologic environment and aims to establish foundational biological knowledge that can be used to develop clinically relevant biomarkers, aimed at improving public health through the reduction of morbidity and mortality associated with endometrial and ovarian cancer, and improved screening and diagnosis of endometriosis. Irma’s work also focuses heavily on the use of non-invasive biospecimens for gynecologic disease, and studies menstrual effluent in relation to women’s health and disease. Outside of research, Irma enjoys CrossFit, making art, and spending time with her friends, family, and cats.
Barbara Karakyriakou, ALB.
Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) PhD Candidate, 2022 — Present
Harvard University, ALB, 2019 | GSASP, 2020
Barbara joined the Dartmouth MCB PhD program with a background in epigenetics research as a former research associate at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center. There, she focused on chromatin regulators CBP/p300 in multiple myeloma and prostate cancer, cultivating a strong interest in epigenetic modifications linked to tumor progression. Currently, in Dr. Brock Christensen's lab, Barbara investigates DNA methylation alterations in cancer, with a particular focus on cell type-specific changes associated with tumor angiogenesis.
Alos Diallo, M.S.
Quantitative Biomedical Sciences (QBS) PhD Candidate, 2022 — Present
Harvard University, M.S., 2021
I performed my undergraduate research at UMASS Lowell under Dr. Brian Bettencourt, where I built software to analyze HSP-70 expression in Drosophila melanogaster. I later worked with Dr. Marian Walhout at UMASS Medical School, developing statistical tools to model protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions in C. elegans. In addition to statistical modeling, I also developed image processing tools used in the lab.
For my master’s thesis, I studied under Dr. Arlene Sharpe in the Department of Immunology at Harvard Medical School, building deep learning models to investigate the effects of PD-1 knockouts on MC38 cells in mice. I also collaborated with several labs in the Department of Immunology on the development of bioinformatics tools.
I am currently a PhD candidate in Dr. Brock Christensen’s and Dr. Joshua Levy’s labs, studying the interactions between CD8+ T-cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and tumor cells within the tumor microenvironment of colorectal cancer patients. My work involves analyzing matched DNA methylation, single-cell RNA-sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics data. Additionally, I am collaborating with the US Department of Veterans Affairs on deep learning models to identify patients at risk of suicide.
Pauline Mochama, M.S.
Quantitative Biomedical Sciences (QBS) PhD Candidate, 2023 — Present
Geisel School of Medicine MD/PhD program, 2021 — Present
South Dakota State University, M.S. 2018
I am an MD/PhD student currently in the PhD phase of my training. I was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya and moved to Minnesota in my mid-teens. After graduating from Minnesota State University- Mankato with a Biology degree, I worked and volunteered in various positions in science and healthcare before joining South Dakota State University where I obtained my master’s degree in Microbiology studying plant pathogenic fungi. My desire to combine research with clinical care led me to pursue an MD/PhD dual degree at Dartmouth. I am excited to be learning about the fascinating field of epigenetics and molecular epidemiology during my PhD training. In future, I hope to be a physician-scientist working to enhance cancer patient care through precision oncology and therapeutics..
Marietta Montivero, B.S.
Quantitative Biomedical Sciences (QBS) PhD Candidate, 2023 — Present
Research Assistants
Jeffrey Hage, B.A.
Research Assistant, 2024 — Present
University of Colorado Boulder, B.A., 2024
I earned my B.A. in Biochemistry from the University of Colorado, where I characterized the interactions of morpholino-modified siRNAs and the Argonaute-2 protein to support the development of clinical siRNA treatments. I then joined Dartmouth’s Epidemiology and Molecular and Systems Biology departments with the goal of using high dimensionality data to construct models of cancer behavior and treatment response. Currently, I use epigenetic data to predict clinical outcomes both within specific cancer types and across cancers, aiming to identify generalizable and clinically relevant patterns.
Fiyinfoluwa Kolawole, B.A.
Research Assistant, 2024 — Present
Middlebury College, B.A., 2024
I joined Dartmouth's Department of Epidemiology as a Research Assistant after earning my undergraduate degree in Neuroscience from Middlebury College. My work focuses on integrating molecular biology, genomics, and bioinformatics to decipher epigenetic influences on health and disease. Currently, in my role, I explore how epigenetic patterns, particularly in cancer, contribute to our understanding of disease mechanisms.
Lab Alumni
Lucas A. Salas, M.D. MSc M.P.H. Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher, Christensen Laboratory 2015-2020
Current: Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine
Sarah (Minkyung) Lee, B.S., Ph.D.
Baruch College, City University of New York, B.S. 2018
Ph.D. Molecular & Cellular Biology, Christensen Laboratory, 2023
Current: Postdoctoral Fellow, Labcorp
Ji-Qing Chen, M.S., Ph.D.
National Taiwan University, 2009-13
Ph.D. Molecular & Cellular Biology, Christensen Laboratory, 2023
Current: Data Scientist, Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research
Youdinghan "David" Chen, M.S., Ph.D.
Pacific Lutheran University, 2011-14, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 2014-15
Ph.D. Quantitative Biomedical Sciences, Christensen Laboratory, 2020
Current: Senior Data Scientist, Mastercard
Curtis Petersen, MPH, Ph.D.
The Dartmouth Institute, MPH 2014
Ph.D. The Dartmouth Institute, jointly mentored by Brock Christensen & John Batsis, 2021
Current: Chief Data Officer, Ucardia
Meghan Muse, B.A., Ph.D.
Dartmouth College, BA, 2013
Ph.D. Quantitative Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Brock Christensen, 2021
Current: Postdoctoral Fellow, Geisel School of Medicine
Joshua J. Levy, B.A., Ph.D.
University of California, Berkeley, 2017
Ph.D. Quantitative Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Brock Christensen, 2021
Current: Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Dermatology, Geisel School of Medicine
Allegra Scarpa, B.A.
Dartmouth College, 2021
Current: Pre-doctoral Research Associate, Adimab LLC
Owen M. Wilkins, MBiol., Ph.D.
University of Bath, 2013
Ph.D., Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, 2019
Current: Bioinformatics Research Scientist, NCCC and Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Sara N. Lundgren, Ph.D.
B.A. University of Chicago, 2014
Ph.D. Quantitative Biomedical Sciences, jointly mentored by Brock Christensen and Anne Hoen, 2019
Current: Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Helsinki, Finland
B.A. Biology, B.S. Biochemistry, University of Puget Sound, 2011
Ph.D. Quantitative Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Brock Christensen, 2018
Current: Vice President of Strategy, Colossal Biosciences
Kevin C. Johnson, Ph.D.
University of Massachusetts – Amherst, 2011
Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, 2011-2016
Current: Postdoctoral Associate, Verhaak laboratory, The Jackson Laboratory
Dylan O'Sullivan
Dartmouth College Class of 2015,
Ph.D. in Epidemiology Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario
Current: Postdoctoral Fellow at the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute at the University of Calgary