Lab Members

Saba Parvez, PhD

Assistant Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology

Saba grew up in rural Assam, a picturesque state in the northeastern corner of India. During high school, he was awarded a scholarship by the Pestalozzi International Village Trust, a UK-based charity that believes in offering life-changing educational opportunities to young people from underprivileged communities around the world. This allowed him to complete his final two years of high school education in the UK and opened the doors to subsequent undergraduate education from Bates College and graduate education from Cornell University. Saba received his PhD in Chemistry and Chemical Biology under the mentorship of Dr. Yimon Aye. He then pursued his postdoctoral training in Dr. Randall Peterson’s lab at the University of Utah. Saba is passionate about teaching and mentoring the next generation of scientists. Given his personal journey and humble upbringing, he is especially committed to mentoring students and trainees from underprivileged backgrounds. When not in the lab, Saba enjoys spending time with his family, hiking,

Claire Stockard

Research Technologist

Claire Stockard is a Chicago native and graduated with a BS in Biology from UCLA in 2022. While at UCLA, she earned her EMT license, and after graduating, she went on to work at a wound care clinic in Compton, California. With plans to attend medical school in the future, her academic interests include genetic mechanisms and cellular differentiation. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, crocheting and riding horses.

Mengming Hu

Nina Brown

DGP Student

Nina Brown was born and raised in Marietta, Georgia, where she first grew her passion for translational research. She then completed her BS at Howard University and subsequently earned her Master's in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor through the Pathways Program.

Brown has a particular interest in the mechanisms underlying the regulation of complex diseases. As a second-year DGP student, she works on CRISPR tool development and non-coding genomics research using the zebrafish model in the Parvez lab. In her free time, she enjoys gaming, fantasy media and going on walks with her dog Waffles.

Talha Lone

DGP Student

Talha Lone is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and earned his BS in Biomedical Engineering and Applied Mathematics from Duquesne University. His prior research experiences span biomechanics, genetics and neuroscience, unified through a strong focus on computational approaches. At Northwestern, Lone applies and expands his computational expertise while further developing his wet lab skills. Outside of research, Talha is an active member of Keynotes A Cappella at Northwestern’s Evanston campus and enjoys exploring the arts through concerts, theater productions, graphic design and movies.

Abhinav Bachu

Eric Dare

Undergraduate Researcher

Eric Dare is an undergraduate researcher in the Parvez Lab at Northwestern University where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. His work in the lab is focused on advancing his technical and analytical skills, including molecular cloning, experimental design and quantitative data analysis. Through this experience, he is cultivating a deeper understanding of genetic mechanisms and experimental methodology in biological research. Beyond the laboratory, Eric is employed as a nursing assistant and volunteers in hospital settings to broaden his clinical perspective in preparation for a future career in medicine. He also serves as president of the Northwestern Taekwondo Club where he provides leadership in program development and student engagement.

Emma Orend