Nicole J. Lake, M.Sc., Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Nicole is an Assistant Professor in the Yale Center of Genomic Health and Department of Genetics. Her research career has focused on understanding how human genetic variation contributes to health and disease, with special interest in mitochondrial genomics. Nicole's experience in genetics spans across mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, research and clinical settings, and computational and experimental techniques.
Nicole completed a B.Sc. in genetics at the University of Melbourne and University of Edinburgh, and a M.Sc. (Genetics) at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute. Nicole pursued a Ph.D. on the genetic basis of mitochondrial diseases with Prof. David Thorburn at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, after which she worked as a clinical analyst in translational genomics. Nicole completed her postdoctoral training in Yale School of Medicine with Asst. Prof. Monkol Lek in computational genomics and methods development, focusing on mitochondrial genomics. She has received >20 scholarships, fellowships, and awards including prestigious NHMRC CJ Martin Fellowship, Blavatnik Regional Young Scientist Finalist Award, and HGSA New Investigator Awards.
Nicole strongly believes in giving back to her community, via science outreach and service. She is also passionate about driving positive change and has held multiple leadership roles in academic and community organizations. Read more about Nicole's professional experience here.
Nicole completed a B.Sc. in genetics at the University of Melbourne and University of Edinburgh, and a M.Sc. (Genetics) at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute. Nicole pursued a Ph.D. on the genetic basis of mitochondrial diseases with Prof. David Thorburn at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, after which she worked as a clinical analyst in translational genomics. Nicole completed her postdoctoral training in Yale School of Medicine with Asst. Prof. Monkol Lek in computational genomics and methods development, focusing on mitochondrial genomics. She has received >20 scholarships, fellowships, and awards including prestigious NHMRC CJ Martin Fellowship, Blavatnik Regional Young Scientist Finalist Award, and HGSA New Investigator Awards.
Nicole strongly believes in giving back to her community, via science outreach and service. She is also passionate about driving positive change and has held multiple leadership roles in academic and community organizations. Read more about Nicole's professional experience here.
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Li Tang | Postdoctoral AssociateLi is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Lake Lab, joining in June 2025. She completed her B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science and Engineering at Central South University, where she conducted her graduate research in the lab of Dr. Min Li. Her master's work focused on sequence assembly algorithms. As part of her doctoral training, she spent two years at Baylor College of Medicine in Dr. James F. Martin’s lab, contributing to genomics research in cardiovascular disease and gaining experience in three-dimensional genome data analysis. Her Ph.D. research involved developing deep learning algorithms to predict chromatin loop structures by integrating graph theory and multi-modal genomic data. At the Lake Lab, Li will apply AI-driven approaches to explore how variants in mitochondrial and nuclear genomes influence gene function and disease progression, with the broader goal of advancing variant interpretation and our ability to diagnose and understand complex disorders.
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Yves Thelusma | Postgraduate AssociateYves is a Postgraduate Associate in the Lake Lab. He joined the lab in 2024 after completing his BA in Biological Sciences at the University of Connecticut in 2023. During his time at UConn, he worked in the laboratory of Dr. Rahul Kanadia on the role of minor intron splicing in neuronal development and disease, where he applied a range of molecular genetics techniques across projects. In the Lake Lab, Yves will be using genome editing technology to study mutations in the mitochondria and their role in disease. He is excited to learn more about mitochondrial genomics and gain laboratory techniques along the way. Outside of the lab, Yves enjoys watching unsolved mysteries, hanging out with his friend’s cats and searching for the best mashed potato pizza.
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Anand Kalambur Ravi | Postgraduate AssociateAnand is a Postgraduate Associate at the Lake Lab. He joined the lab in 2024 after completing his MS in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at George Mason University. He had previously earned a Post Graduate degree in Mathematics from Osmania University and a Bachelors in Dental Surgery from Manipal University. At Mason, he worked at the Krasnow Institute with Dr. Saleet Jafri, working with gene expression and replica exchange molecular dynamics while applying statistical analysis and machine learning to large datasets. He had also worked as a Data Analyst at a Mental Health Institution and as a Lecturer at a Dental School in Hyderabad. At the Lake Lab, he will be using computational methods to analyze the mitochondrial genome and its role in disease. He is excited to learn more about genomics pipelines while applying statistical and machine learning methods to projects in the lab. Outside of the lab, he enjoys watching and playing many sports, learning languages, travelling and trying out pizzas from all around the world.
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Anna Mikulevica | Graduate StudentAnna is a graduate student in the Lake Lab. She is currently pursuing a PhD in the Computational Biology and Biomedical Informatics (CBB) program at Yale. Before coming to Yale, she received a B.S. in Mathematics and Biology from MIT. In the Lake Lab, Anna will be working on mitochondrial constraint models and their applications. Outside of the lab, she enjoys catching up with friends, taking daytrips, reading, and watching tennis.
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Esha Sinha | Graduate StudentEsha is a Master’s student in the Computational Biology & Bioinformatics program at Yale University. She completed her B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology at Northeastern University in 2024, where she worked on research projects in molecular biology and genomics and served as a teaching assistant for biology and biochemistry labs. In the lab, she will be using computational genomics methods to analyze mitochondrial genomes in human cohorts. Outside of the lab, she enjoys drawing, exploring new cafés, and going to the gym.
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Aile Ma | Graduate ResearcherAile is a Master of Science student in Biostatistics at the Yale School of Public Health. She graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science and major in Applied Mathematics and Statistics. At the Lake Lab, Aile will use computational methods to analyze mitochondrial genome variation and its role in disease. She is excited to deepen her understanding of genetics and mitochondrial DNA while applying data visualization, statistical modeling, and machine learning algorithms to the lab's projects. Outside the lab, she enjoys hiking, singing, and playing musical instruments.
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Margarita Blackwood | Undergraduate ResearcherMargarita is an undergraduate researcher at the Lake Lab. She is currently pursuing a B.S. degree in neuroscience at Yale and is interested in how genetics impact neurological functions. In the lab, she will be studying the effects of mutations in the mitochondrial genome in human cells. She is excited to learn about various gene editing techniques and to explore patterns of mitochondrial variation and their link to disease. Outside the lab, Margarita enjoys drawing, making video games, and going on long walks
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Reagan Labert | Undergraduate ResearcherReagan is an undergraduate researcher in the Lake Lab. She is currently pursuing a B.S. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale, and is interested in how biochemical and biophysical mechanisms interact with genetic processes, from gene regulation to the effects of mutations on cellular function. In the lab, she is excited to investigate the impact of environmental factors on mitochondrial mutations while developing skills in cell culturing and computational techniques. Outside the lab, Reagan enjoys doing pottery and paddleboarding.
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Please visit the Join page for more information about open positions and how to apply! |
Alumni
Angad Pannu | Research Intern, Summer 2024
Ranya Tarabar | Yale Pathways Research Intern, Summer 2024
Ranya Tarabar | Yale Pathways Research Intern, Summer 2024
