Rhianna Lee-Ferris – Postdoctoral Associate
Rhianna was born in South Carolina. She became interested in biomedical research at a young age when her little brother was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). She moved to North Carolina in 2012 to study Biomedical Engineering at Duke University. Once there, she became involved in CF research at the nearby UNC Chapel Hill where she later completed her PhD in Cell Biology and Physiology. Her graduate research focused on developing cell therapy for cystic fibrosis and developing new models to study the lung ex vivo. In July 2023, Rhianna joined the Tata lab as a postdoctoral associate to deepen her understanding of lung stem cell biology and assess the role of alveolar type 2 cells in CF. Outside of lab, she enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, and reading.
Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Regeneration 