Who we are

We believe that our work can change the world. We believe that through our research we can alleviate human suffering by contributing to the development of new therapies. We believe that by mentoring and creating a supporting environment we can make a positive impact on the careers and wellbeing of our colleagues that entrust us with their training. We believe that by providing opportunities without bias and raising everyone up we can amplify the impact of our work. We believe that by fostering independence, curiosity, creativity, collegiality and scientific integrity we can perform rigorous research to generate impactful new knowledge for the benefit of society and future generations. If our philosophy is appealing to you then come work with us, we would cherish the opportunity to welcome you into our family.

Meet the Team

Pantelis Rompolas, PhD, MBA

Associate Professor
I graduated with an M.B.A. in Management and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science from the University of Connecticut Health Center. I did my postdoctoral training with Valentina Greco at Yale University School of Medicine as a New York Stem Cell Foundation – Druckenmiller Fellow, where I developed intravital imaging approaches to gain insight into the cellular mechanisms that drive tissue regeneration in adult mammalian organ. I am the receipient of the Merton Bernfield Memorial Award from the American Society for Cell Biology, the Blavatnik Award in Life Sciences, the American Skin Association Research Scholar Award and the American Cancer Society Research Scholar Award. My lab at Penn aims to resolve the fundamental molecular mechanisms that regulate stem cells in adult tissues and leverage this knowledge to develop therapeutic strategies to regenerate organs that fail due to aging or disease.

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Morgan Basta, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow
I earned a Ph.D. in Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine from Thomas Jefferson University, where I studied the role of chromatin structure in ocular lens fibrosis. In Fall 2023, I joined the Rompolas lab as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, continuing her focus on fibrotic diseases. My current research leverages modified mRNA technology to develop innovative models for studying fibrosis and identify novel therapeutic targets. I am committed to uncovering the cellular mechanisms underlying fibrosis, with the goal of discovering new pathways for therapeutic interventions.

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Heesuk Yoo, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow
I earned my Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Seoul National University, South Korea. During my PhD studies, I investigated the importance of intracellular calcium homeostasis and its underlying molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. I joined the Rompolas lab as a Postdoctoral Researcher in March 2024. I am interested in the role of sensory neurons in the ocular surface, particularly how they transmit sensation from the cornea through the trigeminal ganglion to the central nervous system, and the role of calcium dynamics in this process.

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Irene Lee

Penn Undergraduate Researcher
I am an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, pursuing a B.A. in Neuroscience and Design on the pre-med track. My interests lie at the intersection of art, dermatology, and mental health, with a focus on neuroaesthetics—exploring the cognitive processes behind aesthetic experiences to optimize patient outcomes and better understand the psychological impacts of visible health conditions. Outside of my research in the Rompolas Lab, I serve as the Design Director of TEDxPenn, a Silverman Fellow at the Netter Center, and a member of the Student Board at the ICA Institute.

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Kevin Chiang

Penn Undergraduate Researcher
I am second-year student at the University of Pennsylvania, pursuing a major in Biology with a minor in Philosophy. I am passionate about regenerative medicine and eager to contribute to advancing the understanding of skin regeneration and stem cell biology through my work in the Rompolas Lab.

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