LAB MeMBERS

Ryan Doan, PhD, FACMG - PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Ryan is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in Division of Genetics and Genomics at Boston Children’s Hospital and the principal investigator of the Doan Lab. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Cell Biology and Biochemistry at Bucknell University, his Ph.D. in Genetics within Dr. Scott Dindot’s lab at Texas A&M University and a Clinical Molecular Genetics fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital. In graduate school, he developed novel tools for analyses of coding and noncoding regions for traits and diseases in multiple species, including cattle, horses, sheep, and dogs. He performed some of the first exome focused CGH arrays for copy number analyses and whole genome sequencing in cattle and horses. As a post-doctoral fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital, he collaborated with international consortiums to study coding and noncoding causes of autism spectrum disorder, while also developing sequencing methods for analyses of germline and somatic mutations in neurological disorders. He joined Boston Children’s Hospital in the Department of Pediatrics in 2019 where he started his own independent research group, while also maintaining a clinical genetics role in the Department of Pathology at Brigham & Women’s Hospital.

Julieta Bonacina, PhD - POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW

Julieta received her undergraduate degree in Biotechnology and her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the National University of Tucuman, in Argentina. At the Doan lab, she is eager to advance in the understanding of the underlying genetics of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Outside the lab she enjoys reading, visiting new places and playing tennis.

Paulina Eugenia Gonzalez Tovar - RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Paulina received her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at Wellesley College. At Wellesley, she studied the brain-gut microbiome axis in female mice. At the Doan Lab, Paulina is eager to learn more about the genetic factors that play a role in neurodevelopment disorders. Outside of research, she enjoys swimming and visiting new places.

Clementine Chen - MASTER STUDENT (HARVARD CHAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH)

Clementine is currently a student in the Master’s program in Computational Biology and Quantitative Genetics at Harvard. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology (with a minor in Data Science) from Bryn Mawr College, PA, in May 2024. During her undergraduate studies, her research project is about the adaptive evolution of a bitter taste receptor. She is passionate about genomics and human diseases, particularly in the fields of neurodevelopment and psychiatric disorders. At the Doan Lab, she looks forward to learning more about the genetic variants of neurodevelopmental diseases and analyzing patient data.

Erin O’Halloran - MASTER STUDENT (KINGS COLLEGE LONDON)

Erin received her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the University of Bath in the UK. She is currently undertaking a masters in Neuroscience at King’s College London. At the Doan lab she is carrying out her master’s research project, investigating genetic factors involved in neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly ADHD. 

Isabella Saunders - RESEARCH INTERN

Isabella is a BSc in Neuroscience student at Emmanuel College. In the lab she is eager to discover the molecular mechanisms leading to ADHD cognitive deficits.

Daniela Koplin - RESEARCH INTERN

Daniela is an undergraduate student at Tufts University, pursuing a double major in Psychology and Community Health. At Tufts, she is actively involved in expanding the national bone marrow registry, helping to connect students with lifesaving donation opportunities. At the Doan Lab, Daniela is eager to deepen her understanding of the diagnostic process for neurodevelopmental disorders, with a focus on improving early identification and intervention.