Our Team
Meet the team at Cai Lab. Our members represent Caltech’s programs in engineering, life sciences, physical sciences, and computing sciences. We're always looking for new members to join us in our mission to uncover the molecular mechanisms of life and encourage inquiries from those with diverse backgrounds and research interests.Principal Investigator
Long Cai
Professor of Biology and Biological Engineering
A.B./A.M. Harvard College 2001
Ph.D. Harvard University 2006
Publications
lcai@caltech.edu
Tel: (626) 395-6570
Image Credit: Caltech
Postdoctoral Scholars
Elsy Buitrago-Delgado
Postdoc
Ph.D. Molecular Biology,
Northwestern University 2018
Elsy is interested in using seqFISH to answer general developmental biology questions. Besides science, she is also passionate about orchids, kites, folk music and hiking in tropical forests.
elsycris@caltech.edu
Image Credit: Caltech
Maulik Jani
Postdoc
M.Sc. Biochemistry, MSU – Baroda
Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Chicago
Besides developing technologies for single-cell biology, Maulik enjoys reading (geopolitics, language learning, and more science), traveling, photography, and PC gaming (action adventure, RPGs and MOBAs), probably in that order.
Publications
mjani@caltech.edu
Anthony Linares
Postdoc
B.A., Chemistry, Pomona College
Ph.D., Molecular Biology, UCLA
M.D., Medicine, UCLA
Anthony is interested in the cellular interactions that drive neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers.
Michal Polonsky
Postdoc
B.S. Biology, BGU – Israel
Ph.D. Immunology, Weizmann Institute
of Science – Israel
Michal is fascinated by the way cellular interactions influence the behavior of individual cells. Outside the lab, she enjoys spending time with her family and going to the gym. Michal enjoys hiking in SoCal’s beautiful mountains, reading, and cooking.
Publications
michalp@caltech.edu
Carsten Tischbirek
Postdoc
Ph.D. Technical University Munich
During his Ph.D. with Arthur Konnerth in Munich, Carsten worked with two-photon microscopy and electrophysiology to study neuronal activity in vivo. Besides neuroscience, he likes to explore the many restaurants in our area – and enjoys hiking to balance all the great food they offer.
Publications
cht@caltech.edu
Graduate Students
Arun Chakravorty
Graduate student
B.A. Cornell University
As an MD-PhD candidate, Arun hopes to explore fundamental aspects of genetics that are tied to pathology. Outside of lab, he really enjoys music and spend time jamming with friends – he sings, and plays piano/guitar. More recently, he’s been learning to surf.
Publications
chakra@caltech.edu
626-395-2617
Katsuya "Lex" Colon
Graduate student
B.S. Biochemistry, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro 2018
Lex’s current interests are in the development of novel seqFISH methods to investigate molecular features of cells and cellular events in the brain. Outside of the lab, Lex likes to play chess and hang pieces. Other hobbies include hiking (sometimes), hanging with friends, playing with his cats, and trying cocktail bars.
Publications
kcolon@caltech.edu
Linjing (Lynn) Fang
Graduate student
B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Southeast University; M.Eng., Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University; Image Analysis Engineer, Salk Institute 2017-2021
Lynn has a background in deep learning, biomedical image analysis and microscopy, and she is enthusiastic about leveraging computational tools to advance the field of biology. How neurons and synapses generate and retain memories is the current focus of her scientific odyssey. As a scuba diving lover, Lynn appreciates the mesmerizing beauty of the sea. Whether exploring the depths of the ocean or the depths of the mind, Lynn is always up for an adventure and eager to uncover new insights and discoveries.
Jonathan Fox
Graduate student
B.S. Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology; University of California, Los Angeles, 2019
Jonathan is a medical/graduate student in the USC/Caltech MD/PhD program. He is interested in using seqFISH to investigate the relationship between inflammation and disease. Outside of lab, he enjoys gardening and beekeeping.
Publications
jjfox@caltech.edu
Chuqi Lu
Graduate student
B.S. Materials Science and Engineering,
Peking University 2021
Having a bit of background in Engineering and being fascinated by the beauty of life, Chuqi is interested in developing new seqFISH methods to study single-cell biology. Outside of lab, she enjoys photography, playing table tennis, and traveling.
clu3@caltech.edu
Alexi McAdams
Graduate student
B.A. Williams College 2018
Alexi is fascinated by cellular variety in organisms and the myriad of signaling pathways that shape cell function. When not in lab trying to section the perfect tissue slice, Alexi enjoys caring for her plants, doing yoga, running, and thinking about how she should start to paint again.
Publications
amcadams@caltech.edu
Jonathan White
Graduate student
B.A. Biophysics, Swarthmore College
Jonathan is passionate about quantitative biology and cooking.
Publications
jawhite@caltech.edu
Yujing Yang
Graduate student
Clinical Medicine, Sichuan University 2019
yy4ng@caltech.edu
Research Staff
Christopher Cronin
Fluidics and Mechanical Engineer
B.S. Mechanical Engineering,
Carnegie Mellon University
Inside and outside of lab, Chris loves designing and building stuff and exploring new music
Publications
cjc@caltech.edu
Saori Lobbia
Research Technician
Saori studied biology in Tokyo, working with moths. After moving to LA, she’s now in deep with flies when she’s in lab. Saori is happiest when she is looking into the microscope and pipetting.
slobbia@caltech.edu
Ivan Luu
Research Technician
B.S. Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Dallas 2021
Ivan is interested in many things and is attempting to narrow his research interests. Outside of lab, Ivan is currently studying for the MCAT with distractions including hiking, keeping up with new technology, and planning his next trip.
Publications
ivanluu@caltech.edu
Jina Yun
Research Technician
Unlike at the lab, Jina is very shy outside of work and she loves to spend her time looking at cute puppy pictures.
jina@caltech.edu
(626)395-2617
Alumni
Graduate Students
Chee Huat (Linus) Eng
Director of Research & Development, Spatial Genomics, Inc.
Yodai Takei
Post-doctoral scholar, Elowitz Lab, Caltech
Yandong Zhang
Post-doctoral scholar, Cornell University
Sheel Shah
Medical Resident, UCLA
William Letsou
Assistant Professor, New York Institute of Technology
Eric Lubeck
Scientist, Genetech
Postdoctoral Scholars
Michael Lawson
Scientist, Singular Genomics
Ahmet Coskun
Assistant Professor, Georgia Tech
Changho Sohn
Assistant Professor, Yonsei University
Antti Lignell
Adjunct Professor, University of Helsinki
Tingfang He
Scientist, City of Hope
Research Staff
Chris Karp
Engineer, Spatial Genomics, Inc.
Nina Dar
Sihui Yang
Scientist, Singular Genomics
Nick Rezaee
Software engineer, Harvard University
Noushin Koulena
Merck
Simone Schindler
Scientist, Spatial Genomics, Inc.
Nico Pierson
Engineer, PowerSchool
Jose David Aguirre
Graduate student, Caltech
Lynne Chernia
Graduate student, University of Southern California