{"id":27,"date":"2021-01-06T09:58:34","date_gmt":"2021-01-06T14:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/hagedornlab\/?page_id=27"},"modified":"2026-04-07T16:35:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T20:35:00","slug":"members","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/hagedornlab\/members\/","title":{"rendered":"Members"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Elliott Hagedorn, PhD\"\"<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

He\/Him\/His<\/em><\/p>\n

Principal Investigator<\/strong><\/p>\n

Assistant Professor<\/strong>, Department of Medicine;\u00a0Associate Member<\/strong>,\u00a0Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM)<\/p>\n

hagedorn@bu.edu<\/p>\n

Elliott is a cell and developmental biologist with expertise in hematopoiesis, stem cell biology and vascular heterogeneity. His research group utilizes a combination of genetics, genomics and advanced live cell imaging in zebrafish to understand how blood and cancer cells migrate into and out of distinct tissues and organs. He is originally from Indiana where he was an undergraduate at Purdue University. He received a PhD for his work on basement membrane transmigration with David Sherwood at Duke University and was subsequently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Instructor in Pediatrics in the laboratory of Leonard Zon at Boston Children\u2019s Hospital\/Harvard Medical School. Elliott has taught in courses at Purdue, Duke, Harvard and in the Embryology Course at the MBL in Woods Hole, MA. His research has been funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Helen Hay Whitney Foundation. <\/span>Outside of the lab he enjoys photography, gardening and spending time with his wife and three daughters.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gwen Beacham, PhD\"\"<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

She\/Her\/Hers<\/em><\/p>\n

Jane Coffin Childs Postdoctoral Research Fellow<\/strong><\/p>\n

gbeacha1@bu.edu<\/span><\/p>\n

Gwen joined the Hagedorn lab as a postdoc in June 2022. She is originally from Maine and did her undergraduate studies in Biochemistry at the University of Maine. She received her PhD from Cornell University for her work in Gunther Hollopeter\u2019s lab where she studied clathrin-mediated endocytosis using <\/span>C. elegans<\/i> as a model system. Gwen is broadly interested in cell and developmental biology and in understanding molecular mechanisms underlying diseases. Outside of the lab she enjoys running, hiking and cooking.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Zewde Ingram\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

She\/Her\/Hers<\/em><\/p>\n

PhD Candidate; Graduate Fellow of the Carter Fund for Cancer Disparities at BMC; Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Predoctoral Fellow<\/strong><\/p>\n

zingram@bu.edu<\/span><\/p>\n

Zewde joined the Hagedorn Lab as a PiBS student in May 2022. She is from Wheaton, Maryland. In 2020, she graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in Cell Biology and Genetics. Before attending Boston University, she worked as an NIH funded PREP postbaccalaureate researcher at the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine. There, she worked on various projects involving cancer immunology and NKT cells in the lab of Dr. Tonya Webb.\u00a0 Outside of the lab she enjoys reading, going for walks and crocheting.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Maura Dodge\"\"<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

She\/Her\/Hers<\/em><\/p>\n

PhD Graduate Student<\/strong><\/p>\n

mcdodge@bu.edu<\/span><\/p>\n

Maura joined the Hagedorn Lab in May 2025 as a PhD student in the PiBS Molecular and Translational Medicine program. Originally from Attleboro, Massachusetts, she completed her undergraduate Biology degree at Saint Michael’s College in Burlington, Vermont before earning her Master’s degree in Epidemiology from the Boston University School of Public Health. Prior to joining the PiBS cohort, Maura researched precursor diseases to multiple myeloma in the lab of Dr. Yachana Kataria at Boston Medical Center. Outside of the lab, she enjoys spending time by the ocean, reading mystery novels, and trying new recipes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reema Elrefaie\"\"<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

She\/Her\/Hers<\/em><\/p>\n

American Cancer Society Diversity in Cancer Research (DICR) Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellow<\/strong><\/p>\n

reemae@bu.edu<\/p>\n

Reema joined the Hagedorn lab as a post-baccalaureate student in August 2024. She was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, and has lived both overseas and in Massachusetts. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Boston Honors College in May 2024 with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Secondary Education. After her post-bac, Reema aspires to pursue an MD or PhD. Outside of the lab, she enjoys baking, exploring nature, biking and painting.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Leila Affini\"\"<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

She\/Her\/Hers<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Undergraduate Researcher<\/b><\/p>\n

laffini@bu.edu<\/span><\/p>\n

Leila joined the lab in September of 2023. She was raised in Manchester, CT and is a sophomore at Boston University studying Biology, with a specialization in Cellular, Molecular, and Genetics. She is also pursuing a minor in Data Science. In the future, she is interested in an MD\/PhD or PhD program. Outside of the lab Leila enjoys cooking, playing tennis and listening to music.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Zachary Zener\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

He\/Him\/His<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Undergraduate Researcher<\/b><\/p>\n

zzener@bu.edu<\/span><\/p>\n

Zach joined the Hagedorn Lab in January 2024. He was born and raised in Lafayette, California. He is currently a freshman at Boston University and is pursuing a major in Chemical Biology and a minor in Mathematics. In the future, Zach is interested in attending medical school and becoming a practicing physician. Outside of the lab Zach enjoys reading, swimming, running, exploring new foods, listening to music and working with animals.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Zainab Wasim\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

She\/Her\/Hers<\/em><\/p>\n

Undergraduate Researcher<\/b><\/p>\n

zaibanw@bu.edu<\/span><\/p>\n

Zainab joined the Hagedorn Lab in April 2025. She was raised in Lexington, Massachusetts, and is currently a sophomore at Boston University, majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a minor in Data Science. She is interested in pursuing research in biotechnology after completing her bachelor’s degree. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, traveling, and listening to music.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Past Members<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cal Parise<\/span> – Undergraduate Researcher (2022-2025). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>Cal is currently a PhD student in biomedical engineering at the University of Michigan.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

David Yang – Undergraduate Researcher (2023-2025). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>David is currently in medical school at Boston University.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Mohamad Saadeh<\/span> –<\/span> Summer Undergraduate Researcher (2024).<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Mohamad is currently a student at USC.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Zoya Amer – Research Associate (2023-2024).<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Zoya is currently in medical school at Virginia Tech.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Katherine Chang – Undergraduate Researcher (2021-2024).<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Katherine is currently an Associate II at IQVIA.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Khaliun Enkhbayar<\/span><\/span> – Research Associate (2021-2024).<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Khaliun is currently a PhD student at Duke University.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesse Wang<\/span><\/span> – Undergraduate Researcher (2021-2024).<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Jesse is currently an Associate at IQVIA.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Su Yeon Song<\/span><\/span> – Undergraduate Researcher (2021-2024).<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Su Yeon is taking a gap year before applying to medical school.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Tahreem Nawaz<\/span><\/span> – Undergraduate Researcher (2021-2024).\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong>Tahreem is taking a gap year before applying to medical school.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Kaziah<\/span> Twumasi – Undergraduate Researcher (2022-2023).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong> Kaziah is a student at Boston University.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ella Boasberg<\/strong>\u00a0– <\/em>Summer Undergraduate Researcher (2023). <\/strong>Ella is currently a Medical Assistant in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n

Dana Ragoonanan<\/strong>\u00a0– <\/em>Lab Manager (2020-2023). <\/strong>Dana was a founding member of the Hagedorn lab. She played a major role in getting the lab off the ground, helping to build things (often literally) and fostering the supportive community that we have today. Dana is currently a med student at the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jack Norton – <\/span><\/strong>Undergraduate Researcher (2021-2023). <\/strong>Jack is currently a Research Associate at the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL).<\/p>\n

Emily Henault –<\/span><\/strong> Undergraduate Researcher (2021-2023). <\/strong>Emily is currently a Junior Policy Associate at ADvancing States.<\/p>\n

Justine Wagaman – <\/span><\/strong>Summer Undergraduate Researcher (2021, 2022). <\/strong>Justine is currently a post-bac fellow at the NIH.<\/p>\n

Helen Wang – <\/span><\/strong>Summer Undergraduate Researcher (2021). <\/strong>Helen is currently a PhD student at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Elliott Hagedorn, PhD He\/Him\/His Principal Investigator Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine;\u00a0Associate Member,\u00a0Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM) hagedorn@bu.edu Elliott is a cell and developmental biologist with expertise in hematopoiesis, stem cell biology and vascular heterogeneity. His research group utilizes a combination of genetics, genomics and advanced live cell imaging in zebrafish to understand how blood […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18648,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/hagedornlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/hagedornlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/hagedornlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/hagedornlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/hagedornlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/hagedornlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":938,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/hagedornlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27\/revisions\/938"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/hagedornlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}