Current members
Jiahui (Chris) Wu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Postdoc, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University
Ph.D., University of Alberta
Omoyemi Ajayi
Ph.D. Student
email: ooajayi@umass.edu
Omoyemi received his Bachelor's degree in Industrial Chemistry from the Federal University of Technology Akure in 2019. He then pursued his Master's degree in Chemical and Process Engineering with a specialization in Advanced Chemical Engineering and Nanotechnology at Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland, graduating in 2023. In December 2023, he joined the Wu Lab, where his current research focuses on understanding the role of RNA-binding proteins in the cell. In his free time, he likes to play and watch soccer.
Tien G. Pham (Daisy)
Ph.D. Student
email: tgpham@umass.edu
Tien G. Pham received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Delaware in 2023. She joined Wu lab on December 2023. Her current research interest focuses on developing & applying RNA imaging technology to understand the function of non-coding RNA. Her hobbies are dancing, music, cooking and eating.
Jiaze He
Ph.D. Student
email: jiazehe@umass.edu
Jiaze earned his Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from Nankai University in China in 2021. Following this, he worked as a research assistant in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Hong Kong. In December 2024, he became a member of the Wu Lab. His research interests lie in RNA-focused synthetic biology and computational RNA design. Outside of work, he enjoys playing tennis and badminton, swimming in books, exploring video games, and indulging in hotpot.
Yimeng Sun
Ph.D. Student
email: yimengsun@umass.edu
Yimeng received her M.D. from Jinzhou Medical University in 2021 and completed her Master's degree in Oncology at Jiangsu University in 2024. She joined the Wu Lab in January 2025. Her current research interest focuses on ribonucleoprotein complexes. Apart from science, she enjoys hiking, skiing, reading, photography, and music. She is currently teaching herself to play the guitar.
Benjamin Adams
Ph.D. Student
email: bgadams@umass.edu
Benjamin received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Regis College in 2024. He joined the Wu lab in January 2025. His research interest is in the spatiotemporal dynamics of gene expression and regulation. During his time off, he enjoys homebrewing beer, cooking, gardening, and fishing.
Bear Paradiso
Ph.D. Student
email: bparadiso@umass.edu
Bear received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Vermont in 2025. He joined the Wu lab in December 2025. His research interest is in protein and RNA design. Outside of the lab, he enjoys skiing, running, and reading.
Zo Kupelian
M.Sc. Student
email: zkupelian@umass.edu
Zo is a Master's student in Biostatistics. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Biology from UMass Amherst in 2025 and joined the Wu lab in Spring 2026. Her research interests include development of RNA therapeutics and advanced RNA imaging methods for clinical applications. Outside of the lab, Zo enjoys running, swimming, and tabletop games.
Jake Rosen (Class of 2027)
Undergraduate Student
email: jwrosen@umass.edu
Jake is a junior in Honors College double majoring in Biochemistry and Chemistry along with Pre-med track. He joined Wu lab in Spring 2024. His research interest is related to treatment of diseases using different RNA therapeutics. His future goal is hoping to specialize in neuro-oncology and memory disorders. His hobbies are skiing, exercising, reading, watching TV, music, and spending time with family and friends.
Victoria Foley (Class of 2027)
Undergraduate Student
email: vfoley@umass.edu
Victoria is a junior majoring in chemistry. She joined the lab in September 2025. She is highly interested in pursuing a career in chemical and genetic forensics. Her hobbies include dance, art, and reading.
Miles Kshatriya (Class of 2029)
Undergraduate Student
email: mkshatriya@umass.edu
Miles is a freshman majoring in Honors Microbiology. He joined the Wu lab in Spring 2026. His research interest is in the role of mRNA in infectious tropical diseases and potential treatment approaches. His future goals include specializing in infectious disease work and working with Doctors without Borders. His hobbies include spending time with friends, participating in the UMass Theatre Guild, drawing, and watching TV.