All photography provided by Sarinay Cenik lab members

We are an interdisciplinary team of diverse scientists who take joy in curiosity-driven research to understand the fundamentals of gene expression.

Our Mission

The Sarinay Cenik Lab is a dynamic, diverse and innovative team of researchers. We are committed to fostering a collaborative and inclusive scientific community that nurtures curiosity, inspires innovation, and drives impactful scientific progress. Our goal is to conduct high-quality, reproducible, innovative and interdisciplinary science that deepen our understanding of biological processes. We believe that training the next generation of scientists is essential. Thus, lab members gain valuable skills and experience in genetics, genomics, computational biology, and molecular biology, preparing them for diverse careers in academia, and biotechnology.

Elif Sarinay Cenik is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences at University of Texas, Austin. She got her PhD in RNA biochemistry from Dr. Phillip Zamore’s lab, at Howard Hughes Medical Institute and University of Massachusetts Medical School. She has completed postdoctoral research in Dr. Maria Barna and then Dr. Andrew Fire’s lab at Stanford Medical School. She has been awarded by Stanford School of Medicine Dean's Postdoctoral Fellowship, The Walter V. and Idun Berry Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, UT Stars Program and CNS Catalyst Awards. She is currently funded by NIH-NIGMS Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (R35) and Welch Foundation. She feels passionate about mentoring students, postdocs and producing high-quality, reproducible science. In her free time, Elif enjoys being in nature, connecting with friends, rock climbing, figure drawing and pottery.

Qiuxia Zhao is a postdoctoral research associate. She is interested in delineating how ribosome synthesis and protein translation dynamics in specific tissue contributes to coordination of organismal growth in C. elegans. She got her PhD in Genetics from Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. In her free time, Qiuxia enjoys watching movies, eating and walking outside, having new fun experiences.

Blythe Marie Bolton is a graduate research assistant in our lab. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from McNeese State University. We are incredibly grateful for Blythe’s exceptional organizational skills in lab management and her versatility in learning and assisting with various experiments across different projects and collaborations. Her research interest lies in understanding the tissue-specific role of RNA Polymerase I in regulating organismal health span. In her free time, Blythe enjoys playing tennis and volleyball, traveling, and spending time with her dog, Chanel.

Raquel Mejia-Trujillo is a a graduate research assistant. She received her Bachelor of Science from University of Texas at Austin in Computational Biology. She’s been awarded by Terry Foundation Full-Ride Scholarship and Stengl-Wyer Endowment for Research Experience for Undergraduates. She is interested in combining computational and molecular techniques to characterize how nucleolar elements affect germline chromatin architecture in C. elegans. In her free time, Raquel enjoys exploring Austin's diverse ecosystems and cuisines.

Reed Rothe is a graduate research assistant. He received Bachelor Science degree from UT Austin in Biochemistry with a minor in Rhetoric and Writing. He aims to become an industry bioinformatician or researcher. In the lab, he is interested in using machine learning to illuminate the relationships between protein synthesis and metabolism. In his free time, he likes to play guitar and saxophone, go hiking, rock climb, and collect vinyl.

Alia Arya is an undergraduate researcher and Dean’s Scholar on the pre-grad track and would like to attend graduate school in cell or developmental biology. She is the recipient of TIDES Research Fellowship. Alia is interested in exploring ribosome biogenesis through tissue-specific RNA Polymerase I depletion and its effects on health and lifespan. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar, working on jigsaw puzzles, and hiking. 

Anwita Siddavatam is an undergraduate researcher and Dean’s Scholar pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She is on the pre-grad track and hopes to attend graduate school. She is also interested in the intersection between science and tech policy with research. In the lab, Anwita is interested in investigating nucleolus-chromatin interactions to understand the role of the nucleolus in gene expression and epigenetic modifications. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in nature, traveling, reading, and trying new cafes around Austin. 

Foyin Barbarinde is an undergraduate work-study student in our lab. We are incredibly grateful for her meticulously prepared small NGM plates, which are essential for maintaining C. elegans and represent one of the most challenging tasks in the lab, requiring exceptional diligence. Foyin is pursuing a B.S.A. in Biology with a focus on Ecology and Biodiversity, along with a minor in Social and Behavioral Sciences, all on a pre-med track. She currently has an interest in specializing in Endocrinology and Dermatology but remains open to exploring other fields within medicine. In her free time, Foyin enjoys creating mini-checklists for the restaurants she visits with friends and family, discovering new music genres, and has recently developed an interest in pottery!

Sarah Alami, is an undergraduate work study student. Sarah is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience on the pre-med track. She is interested in pursuing medicine and working with women and children. In her free time, she likes dancing, exercise, and exploring new restaurants around Austin

LAB ALUMNI

GRADUATE STUDENTS

RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

undergraduate students