CRM Early Career Executive Council

The CRM Early Career Executive Council (ECEC) consists of early career leaders in the field of regenerative medicine that are appointed on a yearly basis, with potential for renewal for up to 3-years. Council members include graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and staff that are currently appointed in CRM labs. ECEC members are provided with an honorarium at the end of each year.

Goals of the ECEC are set in collaboration with the Directors and Staff of the CRM and may include the following:

Advise the Directors of the CRM on the needs of in-training members and serve as liaisons for CRM labs.
Design and lead the implementation of yearly CRM social, networking, and training events, including the CRM monthly Work-in-Progress Seminar.
Contribute to center communications such as newsletters, social media, and outreach efforts.
Attend CRM leadership meetings and serve as ECEC representatives on CRM committees.

Interested in joining the ECEC? Find more information here.

*2024-2025 Early Career Executive Council*

Current ECEC Members:

Rosa Loewenstein

Postbaccalaureate Researcher

Email: l.rosa@wustl.edu

PI: Dr. Thorold Theunissen

Department: Developmental Biology

James Lu

Postbaccalaureate Researcher

Email: jameslu@wustl.edu

PI: Dr. Jeffrey Millman

Department: Medicine, Endocrinology

Marlie Maestas

DBBS Graduate Student

Email: m.maestas@wustl.edu

Marlie is a graduate student in the Millman lab. Her research focuses on leveraging stem cell technology to improve treatment for diabetes.

Quentin Meslier, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Email: meslier@wustl.edu

Farzané Mirfakhar, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Email: farzaneh@wustl.edu

Dr. Mirfakhar is a postdoctoral fellow in the Karch Lab. Her research is focused on tauopathies and neurodegenerative disorders, including studying the roles of MAPT mutations with iPSC models of disease.

Satanik Mukherjee, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Email: satanik@wustl.edu

PI: Dr. Farshid Guilak

Department: Orthopedic Surgery

Sara Pietroforte, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Associate and Chair of the ECEC

Email: pietroforte@wustl.edu

Dr. Pietroforte is a postdoctoral fellow in the Amargant i Riera Lab. She joined the CRM ECEC as co-Chair in 2024. Sara’s research is focused on the study of intrinsic and extrinsic factors that modulate oocyte quality in normal conditions and elucidate their changes with aging.