Previous members

Sharon Babar, Ph.D. Rotation Student (January 4 - April 30,2024)
Email: s.babar at oist.jp

I have done my B.Sc. Honors in Biochemistry from GCUF. OIST has bestowed me a wonderful opportunity of working among a vibrant scientific community, nurture my intellectual curiosity and make meaningful contributions to the field of science as a graduate student. I am thrilled to commence my rotation in the Cell Proliferation and Gene Editing Unit, where I look forward to delving into the intricate mechanisms of cell proliferation and cancer biology under the esteemed guidance of Dr. Franz Meitinger. Cancer stands as a prominent global cause of death, imposing a significant burden on individuals, families, and communities. I am interested in the biotherapeutics which have the potential to revolutionize the pharmaceutical landscape in addressing this formidable challenge. Furthermore, the serene beauty and tranquil surroundings of Okinawa have transformed my study experience here into a peaceful and enjoyable one.

Hamzah Muhammad, PhD Rotation Student (May 1 - August 31, 2023)
Email: muhammad.hamzah at oist.jp

Hello, my name is Hamzah, and I am originally from Indonesia. I completed my master's degree in medical sciences from the University of Tsukuba in September 2021 and worked for some time in a research institute and biopharma company in between my studies. My previous research involved generating reporter cells and coupling it with a CRISPR screening system to discover potential negative regulators of pluripotency acquisition in iPS cells. I am eager to do research at the intersection of genetic technologies, cell biology, and biomedicine and am very excited to do a rotation here in the Meitinger Unit and learn more about cell division and cancer-specific mechanisms. My hobbies are playing basketball and exploring nature with my family, which I hope I can enjoy here during my stay at OIST!

Anna Pavlovska, Research Intern (February 3 - August 31, 2023)
Email: anna.pavlovska at oist.jp

I am a master's student from Ukraine majoring in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics. It is my third internship for the last 2 years. My bachelor's thesis was about nucleic acids sensing pathways in lung adenocarcinoma cell line. Since childhood, I dreamed of studying the nature of diseases and I was always interested in the molecular biology of cancer. I am so happy to work in Meitinger Unit as a research intern and communicate with great people. Also, I love Asian culture and hiking a lot.

Zoran Gavrilov, Research Intern (April 6 - July 6, 2023)
Email: zoran.gavrilov at oist.jp

Hello everyone! I am a Master of Pharmacy and I come from North Macedonia. My main interests are Molecular Biology, Genetics and Pharmacology. I recently joined the Meitinger Unit as an intern and would like to gain more lab experience and knowledge in cell proliferation but also gene editing because I am interested in gene editing tools and gene therapy in general. I like traveling, exploring new places, eating, experiencing new cultures etc. I am very excited and looking forward to explore Okinawa, the mainland and meet new people.

Mika Uehara, Research Unit Administrator
Email: mika.uehara at oist.jp

I was born and raised here in Okinawa. Since its establishment, I’ve worked at OIST as administrative staff and RUA. I’m honored to be able to see OIST getting bigger and bigger every year and support the Cell Proliferation and Gene Editing Unit now. Things I like are, running in the morning, working around the house on the weekend, listening to rain sounds, and spending time with my loved ones; yes, this is the best!