Our Team
Margarete Diaz Cuadros
Group Leader
Margarete is a Junior Fellow in the Department of Molecular Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at Columbia University (2014) and was named class valedictorian. As an undergraduate, she worked in Dr. Martin Chalfie's laboratory investigating neuronal subtype differentiation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. She later completed her PhD under the supervision of Dr. Olivier Pourquie at Harvard Medical School (2022). Her graduate research focused on the development of in vitro systems for the recapitulation of the mammalian segmentation clock based on pluripotent stem cells. Margarete received multiple fellowships towards her graduate studies, including the NSF GFRP, NIH F31, and Ford Dissertation fellowships. Born and raised in Lima, Peru, Margarete enjoys cooking, baking, and looking after her succulent collection. She was co-director of the Research Experience for Peruvian Undergraduates program for four years and currently serves on the Committee for the Advancement of Women in Science in Peru.
Jack Madden
Postbac Research Technician
Jack is a Research Technician who graduated from UMass Amherst (2022) with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health Sciences and a minor in Biology. As an undergraduate, he worked in the Oxygen and Muscle Metabolism Lab of Dr. Gwenael Layec investigating the mechanisms of age, weight, and inactivity-related mitochondrial deficiencies and their effects on respiratory capacity in human and mouse muscle tissue. His research interest involves applying his background knowledge in cellular metabolism to molecular genetics and stem cell research. Born and raised in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, Jack loves hiking, alpine skiing, water skiing, reading, playing chess, taking care of his bonsai, and perfecting his macarons. His goal is to one day attend medical school and also to hike all 48 of the 4,000-ft mountains in New Hampshire.
Katie Introcaso
Postbac Research Technician
Katie is a Research Technician who graduated from Northwestern University’s Class of 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and Global Health Studies. During that time, she participated in genetics research at the Erik C. Andersen Laboratory for Genetics and Genomics of Complex Traits using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. There she performed genetic crosses towards isolating a quantitative trait locus to evaluate resistance to drugs such as abamectin, mianserin, fluoxetine, zinc, and emodepside. Additionally, she worked on synthesizing a landing pad strain using FLP recombinase-mediated cassette exchange and CRISPR-Cas9 to insert GFP at the HSP-16.2 site. From both Neenah, WI and Northfield, IL, Katie enjoys reading YA novels, crafting, and playing with her holland lop rabbit, Corn.
Sandra Le
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Sandra is an undergraduate research assistant who is currently a junior at Tufts University (2024) where she is majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Biotechnology. In the Diaz Cuadros Lab, she will be investigating genes involved in the regulation of developmental rate in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. At Tufts, she currently serves as a peer leader for both the Asian American Center, and the FIRST Resource Center, a community that supports students who self-identify as first generation, low-income, and/or with undocumented status. She is also involved in the Vietnamese Student Club (VSC), on the E-Board for both the Japanese Culture Club (JCC) and Tufts Legacy Project, where she documents the stories of residents living in local nursing homes. From Everett, Massachusetts, Sandra enjoys cooking and baking, collecting postcards, and drinking coffee.
Diana Atlas
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Diana is an undergraduate research assistant who is currently a sophomore at Brandeis University (2025) where she is double majoring in Biochemistry and Biology. In the Diaz Cuadros Lab, she will be applying her research interest in cell biology to molecular genetics and stem cell research. At Brandeis, Diana is currently the Co-Founder and Co-President of the Brandeis Pilates Club, and she is also the Vice President of the Brandeis Biochemistry Club. From Hollis, New Hampshire, Diana enjoys watching movies, baking cookies, and going to the theater.
Gabriel Valdebenito
Postdoctoral Fellow
Gabriel is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Molecular Biology. Gabe earned his bachelor's degree from UCSC, Chile, in 2015. He moved noth to Santiago to pursue a master’s degree in Human Physiology at the University of Chile (2017) and worked as part of the Endocrinology and Metabolism Laboratory, where he investigated the role of fatty acids in fetal muscle physiology. His academic journey took him to the United Kingdom, where he embarked on a Cell and Developmental Ph.D. program at Duchen Lab at University College London (2019-2024). Here, he became interested in the intricacies of mitochondrial primary diseases, focusing on nutrient sensing signaling, mitochondrial quality control pathways, and calcium signaling. As part of this program, Gabriel implemented a myogenic model derived from hiPSCs to gain a deeper understanding of the consequences of the m.3243A>G mutation in muscle physiology. Outside of the lab, he enjoys following tennis matches, exploring new places in Boston, and rewatching The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, and Downton Abbey.
Moniya Kidd
Administrative Coordinator
Born in Boston, MA, Moniya spent her teenage years residing in Dedham, MA. Moniya comes to us from the clinical side of MGH. Working in the Department of Cardiology was a great learning experience for Moniya and gave her exposure to the MGH community and healthcare industry, which positions her to jump right into her position with us and learn the research side of the organization. Moniya has joined the Department and Administration team working in many directions to support administrative and operational needs. In her free time, Moniya enjoys indulging in artistic hobbies, shopping, and traveling.
Hadjar Sebaa
Master’s Student
Hadjar is a graduate student enrolled in the International Master’s Program in Life Sciences in Lyon, France. She joined the Diaz-Cuadros lab for 6 months to complete her master’s, where she will be investigating the effects of mitochondrial mutations on the developmental speed and growth of C. elegans (aka the best model organism).
She loves science, but is also passionate about traveling and learning about new places and cultures (and food !). Her ultimate goal in life is to travel around the world. If she were an animal, she would be a penguin.
Sissi Chen
Undergraduate Student
Sissi is an undergraduate research assistant who is currently a student at Wellesley College (2026), where she is majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Biology. In the Diaz Cuadros Lab, she will be working with the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. In Wellesley College, she currently serves as an Unistellar astrophotographer for the Astrophysics department and is on the E-Board for Wellesley College’s Hip-Hop team Freestyle. From Beijing, China, Sissi enjoys dancing, jogging, drawing, photography/videography, reading, visiting museums, etc.
Moshi
Fetch Specialist
Sir Cornelius Stewart Introcaso I
Chief of Hoperations