Principal Investigator
- Former President of US HUPO (2018-2020)
- HUPO Proteomic Sciences Discovery Award
- Mallinckrodt Scholar
- NIDA Avant-Garde Award
Research Molecular Biologist
A biochemist and neuroscientist by training, Todd returned to his home state of New Jersey in 2009 to join the Cristea lab for his postdoctoral work. Currently a Research Molecular Biologist, he works on multidisciplinary projects that harness mass spectrometry and bioinformatics to study the dynamics of protein complexes. When he’s not studying how protein interactions influence the development of Huntington’s disease, he’s mentoring students in the principles of proteomics and biochemistry. In his spare time, Todd enjoys cooking simple yet flavorful meals while pondering the art of mass spectrometry maintenance.
After surviving the humidity of Florida, the country music of Tennessee, and the brutal winters of Illinois, Jaime moved to New Jersey to further advance his training in analytical proteomics and to learn virology in the Cristea Lab. When not babysitting the mass spectrometers, Jaime enjoys exercising, board games with his friends, and giving attention to the best cat in the Cristea Lab.
Postdoctoral Scientists
Rim joined the team from France, where she studied the signaling networks of C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) in innate immune cells. As a member of the Cristea Lab, she is eager to advance her mass spectrometry training while exploring how viral infections influence intracellular protein dynamics. Outside of the lab, Rim enjoys both…
From Queens, New York, Krystal is pursuing her longstanding interests in intrinsic and innate immunity using an interdisciplinary approach. Krystal has an affinity for bunnies and rescuing animals in need, fossil hunting, rockhounding, road cycling, and playing Scrabble.
From Worcester, MA, Will seeks to understand how diverse viruses reshape organelles to forge their replicative niche and seize control of cellular communication. Will's hobbies include card and video games, movies, and anime. He also loves karaoke, fine dining, and traveling to conventions.
Graduate Students
Originally from Vermont, Colter is interested in understanding how virus-infected cells interact with their environments, particularly in three-dimensional and in vivo models. Additionally, he investigates how cancer phenotypes and clonal diversity can inform variable infection outcomes. Outside of the lab, Colter loves skiing, taking…
Coming to Princeton from the Midwest and California, Will studies how viruses manipulate fundamental cellular processes. Outside of the lab, Will also enjoys exploring the outdoors, swimming, and reptiles.
James joins us at Princeton from Massachusetts. Here in the Cristea Lab, his interests lie in understanding how viruses manipulate their microenvironment to facilitate their spreading to nearby cells. Outside of the lab, James can be found making pizzas, taking weekend trips, or exercising his competitive spirit by playing games with friends.…
Hailing from Minneapolis and Washington D.C., Peter is most interested in how virus-host interactions drive rearrangements in organelle structure and immune signaling during infection. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, golfing, and baking high-fat confections.
Originally from Bucheon, South Korea, Ji Woo is interested in studying the role of mitochondrial morphology in innate immune response and metabolic regulation. Outside of the lab, he enjoys golfing, gardening, and trying new coffee beans from local roasteries.
Originally from Illinois, Tavis came to Princeton to pursue his PhD. He is interested in developing computational tools for proteomics and is co-advised by Olga Troyanskaya. In his free time, he enjoys being bad at video games and sleeping in late.
Hailing from the great state of Michigan, Matt is a lover of all posttranslational modifications (PTMs). He is investigating host-virus interactions at the PTM regulatory interface, focusing on sirtuins and novel PTMs. Outside of the lab, he enjoys exercising and playing games with friends.
Jinhang grew up in a seaside city in China and completed her undergraduate degree at Wuhan University. She joins the Cristea lab to explore the crosstalk between DNA sensing and RNA sensing pathways in different viral infections, and the immune signaling transduction between subcellular localizations. Outside of the lab, she enjoys watching…
Undergraduates
From West Des Moines, Iowa, Dorothy is an undergraduate student interested in how organelle remodeling alters immune signaling during HCMV infection. In her free time, she enjoys playing the viola, kayaking, and traveling.
Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Fatima is interested in using proteomics-based approaches to study HCMV induced organelle remodeling. In her free time she enjoys experimenting with new coffee recipes and hanging out with her friends.
From New York City, Paige is interested in studying organelle remodeling and changes to post-translational protein modification during viral infection. She spends most of her free time dancing, and also loves reading and baking.
Lab Alumni
Former Postdocs:
Joshua Justice, PhD - Senior Scientist @ Johnson & Johnson, Philadelphia, USA
John Muroski, PhD - Analytical Scientist @ BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., San Rafael, CA, USA
Joel Federspiel, PhD - Senior Scientist @ Pfizer, Drug Safety Research and Development Group, Boston, USA
Yutaka Hashimoto, PhD - Assistant Professor @ Nagoya City University, Japan
Rommel Mathias, PhD - Assistant Professor @ Monash University, Australia
Yuan-Chin Tsai, PhD - Assistant Professor @ Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
Preeti Joshi, PhD - Senior Scientist @ Biogen, USA
Yang Luo, PhD - Research Scientist @ The Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center
Former Grad Students:
Dawei Liu, PhD - Postdoc in Zhao Lab @ U Chicago, Chicago, USA
Cora Betsinger, PhD - Postdoc in Mootha Lab @ Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
Bokai Song, PhD - Postdoc in White Lab @ MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
Katelyn Cook, PhD - Postdoc in Nadler and Von Appen Labs @ Max Planck Institute of Cell Biology, Dresden, Germany
Michelle Kennedy, PhD - Senior Scientist @ Zoetis, Parsippany, NJ, USA
Timothy Howard, PhD - Associate @ ClearView Healthcare Partners, Newton, MA, USA
Xinlei Sheng, PhD - Postdoc in Zhao Lab @ U Chicago, Chicago, USA
Laura Murray-Nerger, PhD - Postdoc in Gewurz Lab @ Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
Pierre M Jean Beltran, PhD - Postdoc in Carr Lab @ Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
Elizabeth Rowland, PhD - Associate @ McKinsey & Co., Philadelphia, USA
Marni Crow, PhD - Associate Medical Director @ VMLY&R, New Jersey, USA
Benjamin Diner, PhD - Senior Scientist @ Editas, Boston, USA
Amanda Guise, PhD - Postdoc in Steen Lab @ Harvard University, Boston, USA
Hanna Budayeva, PhD - Senior Scientist @ Gentech, USA
Tuo Li, PhD - Assistant Professor @ UT Southwestern, USA
Yana Miteva, PhD - Senior Scientist @ Pfizer, USA
Danielle Rowles, PhD - Research Scientist @ QPS Delaware, USA
Val Carabetta, PhD - Assistant Professor @ Cooper Medical School, USA
Former Technicians:
Fang Yu - Research Scientist @ Fudan University, China
Former Undergrads:
Sophia Chen - Research Technician @ Massachusetts General Hospital (2024)
Laura Haubold - MPhil @ University of Cambridge (2024)
Victoria Merengwa - Medical Assistant in the Greater Orlando Area (2024)
Corazón Núñez - PhD @ Harvard University (2023)
Cody Mui - Fulbright Scholarship @ Taiwan (2023)
Elene Tsopurashvili - Princeton Project 55 Fellow @ Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center, UCSF (2022)
Brett Phelan - PhD @ Yale University (2022)
Julia Edgar - Research Technician @ The Leonard Wagner Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Rockefeller University (2021)
Emily Cheng - Business Analyst @ McKinsey & Co., New York, NY (2021)
Pranav Rekapalli - MD @ UPenn (2020)
Caroline Taber - Post-bac. @ Hospital for Special Surgery, Orthopedics Department, NYC (2020)
Samvida Venkatesh - Rhodes Scholar (PhD) @ Oxford University (2019)
Amy Tien - Bain & Company Global Management (2019)
Catherina Pan - MD @ Yale University (2019)
Clayton Otter - MD/PhD @ University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine (2018)
Caroline Snowden - MD @ Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (2017)
Morgan Sly
Chase Palisch
Jennifer Wang
Irene Zhang