People
The Haase Lab blends molecular biology, computational genomics, and creative curiosity. Meet the team below!
Astrid D. Haase, M.D., Ph.D.
astrid.haase [at] nih [dot] gov
Preferred name: Astrid
Astrid leads the RNA Biology Section, investigating how small RNAs guard genome integrity. She earned her MD in Vienna and PhD in Basel, trained with Witek Filipowicz and Greg Hannon, and joined the intramural program as a Stadtman Investigator before receiving tenure in 2023.
Qingcai Meng, Ph.D.
qingcai.meng [at] nih [dot] gov
Previous training: Ph.D. — School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Preferred name: Cai
Qingcai’s graduate work focused on floral organ development in rice. In the lab she investigates mechanisms of nuclear RNA export in piRNA biology and enjoys playing and growing flowers outside of research.
Zuzana Loubalova, Ph.D.
zuzana.loubalova [at] nih [dot] gov
Previous training: Ph.D. — Charles University, Prague
Preferred name: Zuzka
Zuzka examined piRNA pathway biology in the mammalian female germline during graduate work in Petr Svoboda’s lab. She now explores piRNA pathways through genomics and mechanistic lenses and loves hiking and enjoying good beer with friends.
Franziska Ahrend, M.Sc.
franziska.ahrend [at] nih [dot] gov
Previous training: M.Sc. Computer Science — Troy University; B.Sc. Molecular Biology — Johannes Gutenberg University & Barry University
Preferred name: Franziska
Pronouns: she/her
Franziska is a bioinformatician studying how piRNAs silence mobile genetic elements during spermatogenesis in mice and humans. She is also interested in applying machine learning to diagnostics, and outside the lab she spends time outdoors, plays tennis, and enjoys family time.
Hibo Hassan, B.Sc.
hibo.hassan [at] nih [dot] gov
Previous training: B.Sc. — George Mason University, VA
Preferred name: Hibo
A post-baccalaureate fellow establishing a controllable protein degradation system in Drosophila ovarian somatic sheath cells to define the roles of key pathway components and uncover what shapes piRNA populations over time. Outside the lab, I enjoy trying new coffee shops, watching basketball, and movies.
Namra Siddiqui, Ph.D.
Previous training: Ph.D. — Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
Preferred name: Namra
Pronouns: she/her
✨ Joining the lab in Summer 2026! ✨
Namra received her M.Sc. in 2018 from Jawaharlal Nehru University and Ph.D. in 2023 from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT Delhi). During her doctoral studies, she investigated the regulatory roles of small noncoding RNAs in bacteria under stress conditions. She then joined the University of Michigan, where she works on single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to study the effects of RNA modifications and initiation factors on eukaryotic translation regulation. Outside of the lab, she enjoys traveling, photography, and long drives with good music.
Asmita Panthi, Ph.D.
Previous training: Ph.D. — University of Pennsylvania
Preferred name: Asmita
✨ Joining the lab in Summer 2026! ✨
I trained at the University of Pennsylvania studying RNA processing, focusing on the mechanistic details and functional significance of alternative splicing as a dynamic regulatory layer that shapes innate immune signaling responses. I enjoy long-distance running, sushi, and wandering cities with great architecture.
Ishareet Sohal, B.Sc.
ishareet.sohal [at] nih [dot] gov
Previous training: B.Sc. Rutgers University – New Brunswick (Genetics)
Preferred name: Ish
Pronouns: she/her/hers
✨ Joining the lab in Summer 2026! ✨
Ishareet Sohal (“Ish”) is a post-baccalaureate researcher at the NIH, joining Astrid’s lab at NIDDK. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Genetics from Rutgers University, where she studied the effects of lead exposure on blood coagulation, and later conducted research at the University of Pennsylvania on the RNA helicase DDX39 in repeat expansion disorders. At the National Eye Institute, she investigated genetic mutations underlying retinal disease using murine models. In the Haase Lab, Ish is excited to study PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and their roles in gene regulation and genome stability. Outside the lab, Ish enjoys sightseeing, collecting retro video games, and studying the Classics, including time spent volunteering at an archaeological site in Pompeii. She is always happy to chat about genetics, ancient history, or why retro games are better than modern ones.
Gallery of our lab moments
Alumni
Our alumni continue to expand RNA biology, medicine, and technology across the globe.
Angel Jaimes, B.Sc.
Post-NIH position: PhD Student, Stanford
Andrej Radoja, B.Sc.
Post-NIH position: Medical Student, University of Maryland
Parthena (Thenia) Konstantinidou, Ph.D.
Post-NIH position: Senior Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Pavol Genzor, Ph.D.
Post-NIH position: Senior Computational Biologist, Henry M. Jackson Foundation
Liora Feshbach, B.Sc.
Elizabeth Giordano, B.Sc.
Post-NIH position: PhD Student, Johns Hopkins University
Aleksandr (Alex) Friman, M.Sc., M.Eng.
Post-NIH position: Postdoctoral Researcher, National Eye Institute
Timothy O., B.Sc.
Adrianna Hernandez
Post-NIH position: Medical student, University of Queensland Medical School
Daniel (Dan) Stoyko
Post-NIH position: PhD Student, MIT
Celine Marlin Andrews
Post-NIH position: Medical student, Virginia Tech Carilion &
Resident at Medical University of South Carolina
Sanga Mitra, Ph.D.
Post-NIH position: Senior Project Scientist, India Institute of Technology, Madras
Prisma Lopez
Post-NIH position: Researcher, Tufts Medical Center
Leif Benner
Post-NIH position: PhD Student, Johns Hopkins University/NIH &
Postdoctoral Researcher, Harvard Medical School
Alexandra Elchert
Post-NIH position: PhD Student, Harvard Medical School &
ClinGen Gene-Disease Validity Curator volunteer
Sushi (Simon) Sobti
Post-NIH position: PhD Student, University of California, San Francisco &
Bioinformatics Contractor, Arc Institute
Neha Bokil
Post-NIH position: PhD Student, MIT &
Postgraduate Researcher, Whitehead Institute &
Postdoctoral Researcher, UMass Chan Medical School
Seth Cordts
Post-NIH position: PhD Student, Stanford &
Sr. Biomedical Engineer, Abbott
Chad Stein
Post-NIH position: PhD Student, Harvard Medical School &
Postdoctoral Associate, UC Berkeley
Soyeon Showman
Post-NIH position: PhD Student, University of Washington &
Postdoctoral Researcher, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center