Welcome to the Sekelsky lab website. In our lab in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, diverse trainees do great science investigating mechanisms and control of recombination in meiosis and mitosis, in an interactive, supportive, and enjoyable atmosphere. Use the links below to learn more.


Recent News

Nila's paper accepted at Genetics
Disruption of meiotic centromere clustering Disruption of meiotic centromere clustering Jan 3, 2024    Nila's paper on mechanisms of suppression of crossovers in centromere-proximal regions was accepted for publication in Genetics! Nila altered the number of centromeres and the amount of satellite DNA sequence, and disrupted meiotic centromere clustering (image). She found that the suppression of meiotic crossovers persists despite these changes.
Grey presents research poster
Grey Carver at her poster Grey Carver at her poster November 15, 2023    Grey Carver, having completed her second semester of research in the, presented a poster at the Dept. of Biology Celebration of Undergraduate Research.
Priscila passes her oral exam
Priscila popping the champagne Priscila popping the champagne October 16, 2023    Priscila defended her dissertation research proposal before her committee and passed her oral exam. She is now a candidate for the PhD. Here, she pops the ritual champagne corke at the ceiling.
Reese presents her research in Honors Symposium.
Reese presents her research at honors symposium Reese presents her research at honors symposium November 8, 2023    Reese wrote an Honors Thesis and presented her findings at the John J. Koeppe Honors Symposium. She did an outstanding job of making a difficult topic (recombination models) understandable for a broad audience.
Mohamed passes his oral exam
Mohamed signing the ceiling Mohamed signing the ceiling October 16, 2023    Mohamed defended his dissertation research proposal before his committee and passed his oral exam. He is now a candidate for the PhD. Here, he does the ritual signing of the ceiling.
Shaelin and Koki present research posters
Shaelin and Koki at their posters Shaelin and Koki at their posters April 20, 2023    Shaelin Lee and Koki presented posters on the research they conducted this summer. Emerson, mentored by Nila participated in the SURE summer research program. Koki, mentored by Evan, was part of the SPIRE summer research program. They now return to their home institutions (U Georgia for Shaelin, UNC Pembroke for Koki).
Emerson and Reese present research posters
Emerson and Reese present posters Emerson and Reese present posters April 20, 2023    Emerson Franz and Reese Perini presented posters on the research they've conducted this academic year. Emerson was mentored by Jeff and Susan, Reese by Evan. Both students will continue their research in the lab this summer and write a Senior Honors Thesis next year.
Jeff receives award from The Graduate School
Jeff receives award from The Graduate School Jeff receives award from The Graduate School March 12, 2023    Jeff received the Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Support and Program Management from The Graduate School. This award, based on nominations from students, recognizes contributions as a Director of Graduate Studies, a role Jeff held for 10 years in the Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology.
Emma Kaeppler delivers her Senior Honors Thesis presentation
Emma Kaeppler giving honors talk Emma Kaeppler giving honors talk April 4, 2023    Emma Kaeppler, who completed four semesters and one summer of undergraduate research under the direction of Carolyn Turcotte, gave a presentation at the John J. Koeppe Honors Symposium. Emma was awarded Honors in Biology.
Karl-Julius Muller delivers his Senior Honors Thesis presentation
Karl-Julius Muller giving honors talk Karl-Julius Muller giving honors talk March 30, 2023    Karl-Julius Muller, who did laboratory research directed by Dr. Evan Dewey, presented his results at the John J. Koeppe Honors Symposium. Karl was awarded Honors in Biology.
Former student Juan Carvajal-Garcia awarded Helen Hay Whitney Fellowship
Nov 7, 2022    Juan Carvajal-Garcia, who graduated last spring and then moved on to do postdoctoral research in the lab of Houra Merrikh at Vanderbilt, was selected to receive a postdoctoral resaerch fellowship from the Helen Hay Whitney Foundation.
Evan's paper published in GENETICS
Models for Marcal1 in ssDNA annealing Models for Marcal1 in ssDNA annealing Sept 2, 2022    Evan's paper titled "Effect of repeat length on Marcal1-dependent single-strand annealing in Drosophila was published in GENETICS. Evan and co-authors Julie Korda Holsclaw (former postdoctoral fellow), Kiyarash Saghey and Mackenzie Wittmer (both former undergraduate researchers) investigated the length requirements for single-strand annealing repair of double-strand breaks. They find differences from yeast, which uses Rad52 versus Marcal1 in Drosophila. The results also provide guidance for lengths of homology arms used in SSA-based CRISPR/Cas9 genome integration.
Nila awarded NRSA F31 fellowship from NIA
Aug 7, 2022    Nila was awarded an NRSA F31 fellowship from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health. Her proposal, titled "Mechanisms and regulation of meiotic recombination," will be funded for three years (unless she completes her PhD before the end of that time!).
Leah presents poster at summer research symposium
Leah Frazier poster presentation Leah Frazier poster presentation July 26, 2022    Leah presented a poster on her summer research at the SURE, SMART, SOLAR Symposium. Unfortunately, that means Leah's time in the SURE program and in our lab is over (at least for now!). Leah now returns to UNC Pembroke to complete her senior year of her undergraduate studies.
Lahari presents at Summer Research Mentorship Symposium
Lahari practices her talk Lahari practices her talk July 22, 2022    Lahari gave a flawless presentation of her research at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Summer Mentorship Celebration Symposium. You can view a recreation of her 3-minute talk on youtube.
Nila gives talk at Gordon Research Seminar
Nila Pazhayam talk at Gordon Research Seminar Nila Pazhayam talk at Gordon Research Seminar June 7, 2022    Nila was invited to give a talk at the Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Meiosis, held at Colby-Sawyer College. This conference is a prelude to the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) held immediately after. The GRS showcases resaerch by trainees. Nila and Carolyn both presented posters at the GRS and the GRC.
Colleen awarded Highest Honors in Biology
Colleen Bereda Honors Colleen Bereda Honors April 4, 2022    Colleen Bereda delivered a spectacular talk in the John J. Koeppe Honors Symposium. On the basis of her talk and her Senior Honors Thesis, Colleen was awarded Highest Honors in Biology.
Susan selected for Science Mentoring Award
Susan Cheek, mentor Susan Cheek, mentor February 11, 2022    The BBSP graduate program selected our lab manager, Susan Cheek, to receive a 2021-22 Science Mentoring Award. This is the first year the award was opened to allow nominations of staff. Susan has contributed to the professional and personal development of essentially every former lab member, from undergraduates to postdoctoral fellows.