Jefferson F. Tjoenardi, Undergraduate Student
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I am an undergraduate research student from the University of Toronto, with an interest in stem cell biology and its therapeutic potential. I joined the lab of Dr. Andras Nagy at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute in 2025. My current project focuses on novel approaches to cell and gene editing for potential cell-based therapies. In particular, I have tried to understand and characterize genomic stability in novel, gene-edited cell populations, with an emphasis on improving the reliability of chromosomal assessment in experimental systems.
Previously, I completed a year-long thesis under Dr. Vince Tropepe’s lab in the Department of Cell and Systems Biology at the University of Toronto. Our work examined protocadherin-15 paralogs in zebrafish and supported a revised model of their role in Usher syndrome-associated sensory systems, including the identification of a previously uncharacterized cilia-associated phenotype.
Through these experiences, I plan to pursue a PhD. Outside the lab, I enjoy hiking and documenting biodiversity, with a particular interest in identifying and cataloging bird and insect species.
