Email: mlong@uchicago.edu

Since my doctoral study in California in the early 1990s, I have been focusing on the study of a new and major scientific problem: How does a gene originate and evolve? The approaches I have developed and are being used to investigate the new gene problem include theoretical, computational, and molecular experimental approaches.

My name is Shengqian Xia, and I’m currently a postdoctoral scientist in the Long laboratory. I joined the Long lab in 2017. Currently, I am pursuing several projects involved including: Drosophila sexual conflict, Drosophila new gene evolution, and rice de novo gene evolution using various molecular techniques, such as CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, and population genetics. Before I joined the Long lab, I engaged in functional genomics research on Brassica napus (Canola) at the National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement in Wuhan, China. I have research experience in plant molecular biology and biochemistry, particularly with those in the Brassicaceae plant family, such as Brassica species and Arabidopsis species.

You can find a complete list of my publications here.

My name is Jianhai Chen (pronouns: he/they). I am a postdoctoral fellow and joined the Long lab in October of 2022. My previous work included medical genomics to identify causative genes of human common/rare diseases, new gene evolution for species including rice and mosquito. I also investigated the population genomics of some mammalian species, the Old-World monkeys, wild boars and domestic pigs. In the Long Lab, I am working on several projects including how new gene evolution could impact human diseases and phenotypical innovation.

You can find a complete list of my publications here.

My name is Deanna (pronouns: she/her). I am a postdoctoral fellow and joined the Long lab in October of 2020. I received my PhD from University of Illinois at Chicago in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology working with Dr. Jeremy Lynch. My previous work investigated whether obligate differences in ploidy in haplodiploid insects affect early embryogenesis. I also investigated the roles of DNA methylation machinery and gene body methylation during the maternal-zygotic transition in the parasitoid wasp Nasonia. In the Long Lab, I am working on several projects in the laboratory to understand the generality of sexual conflict-driven new gene evolution and functionally interrogating these new genes in Drosophila resolve sexual conflict. In my spare time, I love hanging out with my cats, reading, and playing video games.

You can find a complete list of my publications here.

Dylan is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Ecology & Evolution. He previously earned an M.S. in Bioinformatics & Computational Biology from Saint Louis University and a B.S. in Bioinformatics from St. Edward’s University. He is broadly interested in studying the molecular evolution of new genes through computational, empirical, and theoretical investigations. His research in the Long Lab is concerned with the mechanisms of origination and translation of novel genetic units in animals (Drosophila) and flowering plants (Oryza, Arabidopsis). Outside of science Dylan has interests in foreign language and culture, ancient history, and saxophones.

Visit Dylan’s personal webpage

Jared is a second-year PhD student in the Committe on Genetics, Genomics and Systems Biology (GGSB). Born and reared in Toronto, Jared earned his BSc from the University of Guelph in 2019, where he worked with Dr. Jinzhong Fu to explore how high altitudes shape evolutionary genetic patterns among frogs and lizards. Following his graduation, Jared remained at UofG where he served as a research technician in the lab of Dr. Teresa Crease, investigating if the concerted evolution of rDNA drives rapid evolution of rRNA-binding ribosomal proteins in Daphnia. In the Long Lab, Jared is eager to further investigate the causes and consequences of rapid molecular evolution, such as genetic sexual conflict. Outside of lab, you may catch Jared strolling the shores of Lake Michigan, watching/playing basketball and baseball (go Raptors and Blue Jays), or sampling the Chicago diner scene.

I am a Ph.D. student at the University of Latvia and a visiting research scholar the Long Lab. Here, I am studying new genes that are essential for the survival and development of Drosophila using various genetic techniques. Previously, I have taken part in several projects investigating dihydropyridine antioxidative and DNA protective properties, as well as assessing the environmental risk of pollution (i.e., pharmaceuticals and microplastics) on freshwater organisms. My other interests include traveling, reading, and playing board and video games.

I’m Patricia Zito (she/her), a fourth-year undergraduate student at UChicago. I am currently majoring in Biological Sciences (Track C), with a specialization in Ecology and Evolution. I was born and raised in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and moved to Chicago in 2018 to start college. Currently, I hope to finish my thesis, graduate, and hopefully start my PhD! My current research focuses on using CRISPR-Cas9 to uncover a possible phenotype for the jingwei gene in three non-model species of Drosophila: D. yakuba, D. teissieri, and D. santomea. Throughout my undergraduate career, I have also worked with Dr. Maanasa Raghavan at the GenSCAPE lab analyzing ancient DNA sequences, and started to expand Dr. Sarah Newman’s zooarchaeological collection. Beyond my research interests, I love playing video games, watching cartoons, and spending some quality time with friends and my foster cats.