Team

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 then 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 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.

Yves Thelusma | Postgraduate Associate

Yves 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.

Anand Kalambur Ravi | Postgraduate Associate

Anand 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.

Margarita Blackwood | Undergraduate Researcher

Margarita 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

Please visit the Join page for more information about open positions and how to apply!

Alumni