Blanca Carpio is an Executive Secretary with over twenty years of experience.  She is responsible for Dr. Liao’s academic, clinical and surgical calendar.  She specializes in administrative technology and organizational applications. Blanca is inspired daily by her family.  In her free time, Blanca likes to listen to music, enjoys pizza and movie nights, travel, and time with family.

Shannon earned her B.S. and M.S. from the University of Arizona where she studied frog ecology and skeletal muscle homeostasis, respectively. She earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Boston University School of Medicine under the supervision of Dr. Katya Ravid. Her dissertation focused on bone fracture repair and osteoblast differentiation. After working with Dr. Rich Lee at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard University on thermogenesis and glucose homeostasis in several knockout mouse models she joined Dr. Eric Liao’s lab to study development and stem cell specification. Her current projects intersect mouse and zebrafish models to elucidate the mechanism of craniofacial morphogenesis and to investigate the role of known and newly identified facial cleft-associated gene variants.

Ching Hsun earned his Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Liao lab investigating the mechanisms controlling cell fate specification in development and diseases caused by gene misregulation, intending to identify novel treatments for patients with craniofacial disorders.

Dr. Brandi Golden is the inaugural Craniofacial Surgeon-Scientist Training Program fellow.  Dr. Golden is a general surgery resident with aspirations to become an academic pediatric plastic surgeon. She is drawn to the field of surgery due to its highly rewarding and technical work that can significantly impact a patient’s life. Dr. Golden is a graduate of University of California Los Angeles (BS in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology with a Minor in Public Health) and the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (MD). She is currently in general surgery residency at Main Line Health outside Philadelphia. She joined Dr. Eric Liao’s lab to pursue an interest in craniofacial development and subsequent anomalies when that process goes awry. Her current projects include researching epithelial – mesenchymal transition, pathogenesis of fibrous dysplasia, and developing novel treatments for craniofacial anomalies. In her spare time, Brandi likes to travel, ski, and explore with her dog. Additionally, she loves supporting her sports teams, which include the UCLA Bruins, SF, Giants, Golden State Warriors, and SF 49ers.

Emily earned her MSc. from the University of Toronto and a PhD. from the University of Ottawa, both using zebrafish as a model for developmental biology. She is fascinated by neural crest cells and is particularly interested in the processes governing their migration, differentiation and communication amongst neighboring cell types. She joined the Liao lab to pursue these interests, in addition to learning additional model systems.  Outside the lab, Emily loves spending time with her partner and two cats, crocheting, reading or playing video games

Shantae is a Philadelphia native and a West Philadelphia Skills Initiative and Wistar Institute Biomedical Technician Training program graduate. Besides contributing to the research efforts in the lab and gaining new knowledge and skills, Shantae enjoys spending time with her three children, reading, and all summer activities.

Helen Molteni is a first year medical student at the Perelman School of Medicine. She earned her B.A. in Biochemistry from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. During her undergraduate education, Helen worked in the Atit Laboratory studying mechanisms of osteoblast migration in the developing frontal bone. Helen joined the Liao laboratory to pursue her interest in craniofacial development, as she aims to become a pediatric plastic surgeon. In her free time, Helen enjoys watching basketball, cooking Italian food, and exploring Philadelphia.

Peter earned his Ph.D in Chemical and Biological Engineering from Northwestern University, studying metabolic dynamics in bacterial biofilms. He is passionate about science communication and illustration in order to make science accessible for all. He joined the Liao lab as a scientific writer to help translate science from the bench into the clinic.  Outside the lab, Peter enjoys running, board games, and watching competitive cooking shows with his partner and cat.

Originally from Miami, Lisa earned her B.S. in biology from Suffolk University with focus on developmental biology and cell culturing techniques. She previously worked at Boston Biomedical Inc. as an animal husbandry technician supporting pharmaceutical oncology research and later joined MGH/MEEI to study head and neck cancer models of disease. Since joining Dr. Liao’s lab in MGH’s Center for Regenerative Medicine, Lisa has directly worked on experiments involving her undergraduate research interests and plans to complete a master’s thesis focusing on characterization of the ALX1 gene pathway using zebrafish and iPSC models. She is the current lab manager at Dr. Liao's lab within the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys cooking and volunteers at local food charities and entertainment conventions such as Anime Expo and PAX East.

Dr. Will Towler is a developmental biologist specialized in morphogen signaling pathways and skeletal development. He earned his B.S. in Biology from Furman University in South Carolina and his Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Pennsylvania studying the skeletal phenotype of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). His academic interests lie in dissecting the gene networks that influence morphology during organ development and how this applies to tissue regeneration. He joined the Liao lab in October 2022 to elucidate mechanisms guiding craniofacial asymmetry, as in hemifacial microsomia, with the goal to apply gene therapy solutions to craniofacial research. Outside of lab, he is also a volunteer research consultant for the Freedom of Form Foundation. His hobbies are those of a nineties nerd, meaning tabletop roleplaying games, martial arts, videogames, and fantasy novels.

Caroline is currently a post-doc at Dr. Eric Liao’s lab, to study the genetics of craniofacial malformation using zebrafish as an animal model. She completed her Ph.D. in September 2022 at University Paris Cité, in France, where she studied the genetics of early-onset osteoporosis using cell lines and zebrafish. She earned her B.S. in biology/biotechnology from University of São Paulo State (UNESP), and her M.S. in genetics/endocrinology from University of São Paulo Medical School (FMUSP) in Brazil. Her studies involved gene characterization in congenital hypopituitarism. In her spare time, she likes to travel, discover new restaurants/foods, museums, languages, different cultures and outdoor sports.

​Originally from northern Germany, Sogand always had a dream to advocate for equal opportunities and access to medicine. Motivated by this principle, she spent several months as a medical volunteer in Uganda, West Africa, where she experienced the suffering of children with cleft lip and palate firsthand.  During her time as a medical student, she devoted herself to researching craniofacial bone and tissue regeneration. Fascinated by the dynamics between form and function of the human face, she graduated in November 2022 from University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Hamburg, Germany, and joined the Liao Lab as a post-doctoral researcher.   Her research at the Liao Lab centers on studying the genetic causes of craniofacial anomalies as part of her pursuit of a Ph.D.  In her free time, Sogand enjoys playing tennis and yoga classes, as well as philosophical books and talks.

Eileen began her career in research after graduating from Suffolk University with a B.S. in 2016. She developed a passion for animal husbandry while working as a Research Animal Specialist II at MGH. Eileen was certified as a RLATG via AALAS while performing colony management at HSPH in 2020. In 2021, Eileen continued her education with a Master of Science in Histotechnology from Drexel University. Shortly after graduating in August 2022, Eileen became a certified HTL via the ASCP. She now works as a Lab Tech IV in Dr. Eric Liao’s lab. Outside of the lab, she enjoys running and reading fiction in her spare time.

Ariella graduated from the University of Michigan in 2023 with a B.S. in Evolutionary Anthropology, specifically interested in human and non-human primate genetics. She got her first taste of working with zebrafish when she was a high school intern at the Duke Center for Human Disease Modeling, and was inspired to work in the Liao lab after seeing how far the science has advanced since then. While at Michigan, she worked in two different anthropology labs, studying bone development and primate social behavior. Outside of the lab, Ariella enjoys exploring Philly with her dog, outdoor festivals, and watching the Eagles.

Jason is a  medical student at Cooper Medical School. He earned his B.S. and M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Johns Hopkins University where he studied drug carriers and soft tissue engineering. His academic interests include genetic engineering, regenerative medicine, wound healing, and reconstructive microsurgery. He joined the Liao Lab in November 2023 to help further the understanding of the genetic mechanisms behind craniosynostosis with the goal of developing effective therapies for the group of disorders. Outside of lab, Jason enjoys watching movies, reading, exercising, playing video games, and learning new skills.