People
Ariel Pani, PI
Ari is fascinated by how cells communicate with each other to build animals. He attended graduate school at the University of Chicago and Stanford University, where he investigated the origins of vertebrate brain patterning mechanisms in Chris Lowe's lab. Ari was a postdoctoral fellow in Bob Goldstein's lab at UNC Chapel Hill, where he learned the joys of C. elegans cell biology and investigated Wnt signaling mechanisms. In the lab, Ari enjoys blasting bits of cells to smithereens with lasers, devising experiments with lots of fluorescent proteins, and looking at new strains for the first time. Outside the lab, he enjoys exploring with his family, fishing, and biking.
Michelle Favichia, Graduate student
Michelle's research focuses on how Wnt gene expression is regulated to establish an anterior-posterior Wnt gradient in developing C. elegans. She is also interested in how different mechanisms for Wnt transport operate in different cell types. Michelle received a BS in Biochemistry from the University of Delaware before joining the UVA Biology graduate program. Outside of the lab, Michelle enjoys mountain and gravel biking along with anything outdoors.
Becky Messcher, Graduate student, NSF EXPAND Fellow
Becky is interested in how animals regenerate, and in particular how adult stem cell dynamics are regulated during homeostasis and whole-body regeneration. Because her ideal model system did not exist yet, Becky started a new area of research in the lab using Ghost Acoelomorph flatworms to investigate the cell-biological processes underlying whole-body regeneration. Before coming to UVA, Becky received a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Florida and worked on research projects including disease surveillance and butterfly phylogenetics. She is passionate about science accessibility, outreach, and underappreciated critters. Becky has two cats, a husband, and too many hobbies. She also enjoys keeping a menagerie of unusual, squishy marine animals that can regenerate.
Maria Lyons, Lab technician
Maria began in the lab as an undergraduate researcher working on acoelomorph development and regeneration. She received her BA in Biology with a double major in History and joined the lab as a technician to continue with research. Maria is currently working on several projects involving Wnt and FGF signaling in C. elegans, along with regeneration in acoelomorphs.
Brianna Lazear, Undergraduate student
Brianna is a 4th year undergraduate pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Health and Wellbeing. She has been with the lab since December, 2025 and is working on how fission and regeneration occur in a species of acoelomorph that we call the "pancake worm".
Kevin, Dog
Kevin is a pug, and one day the lab website might have pictures. He is cute, squishy, hungry, and sometimes bad. He visits the lab periodically to spread cheer and dog fur. Kevin is also a living example of how alterations in cell signaling affect craniofacial development.
Lab Alumni
Theresa Gibney, PhD, 2025, NIH F31 Predoctoral Fellow, UVA James Norman Dent Award
Theresa's research focused on how extrinsic signals regulate directed cell migration, proliferation, and fates. She discovered that FGF diffusion is required for directed migration of C. elegans muscle progenitors and that polarized SOS activity orients these migrating cells towards FGF independently from canonical ERK, PI3K, or PLC-gamma effectors. Theresa enjoys genome engineering and synthetic biology and also developed several improved methods for making C. elegans knock-ins and transgenics. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Johns Hopkins University.
Kate Knight, Undergraduate student
Currently, graduate student at University of Virginia
Laila Latifi, Undergraduate student, Schwager Research Scholar
Currently, PhD candidate in Cancer Science at the University of Oxford
Cavin Ma, Lab technician
Currently, graduate student at University of Virginia
We are seeking new lab members
The Pani lab is always looking for postdocs, graduate students, and research staff who are interested in tackling big questions in developmental and cell biology. We believe that anyone can be a great biologist, and that our differences strengthen and improve our science.
Prospective graduate students:
If you're a graduate student at UVA and are interested in rotating in the lab, please come talk to us or send Ari an email. If you're an undergraduate interested in graduate school at UVA, you can send Ari an email to discuss your research experience and interests. Graduate students can join the lab through the Biology Department Graduate Program or the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program.
Prospective postdocs:
We welcome applications from creative and motivated postdoc candidates interested in pursuing new C. elegans or Acoelomorph projects. Please contact Ari for more information and to begin discussing your ideas.
Ariel Pani, PI
Ari is fascinated by how cells communicate with each other to build animals. He attended graduate school at the University of Chicago and Stanford University, where he investigated the origins of vertebrate brain patterning mechanisms in Chris Lowe's lab. Ari was a postdoctoral fellow in Bob Goldstein's lab at UNC Chapel Hill, where he learned the joys of C. elegans cell biology and investigated Wnt signaling mechanisms. In the lab, Ari enjoys blasting bits of cells to smithereens with lasers, devising experiments with lots of fluorescent proteins, and looking at new strains for the first time. Outside the lab, he enjoys exploring with his family, fishing, and biking.
Michelle Favichia, Graduate student
Michelle's research focuses on how Wnt gene expression is regulated to establish an anterior-posterior Wnt gradient in developing C. elegans. She is also interested in how different mechanisms for Wnt transport operate in different cell types. Michelle received a BS in Biochemistry from the University of Delaware before joining the UVA Biology graduate program. Outside of the lab, Michelle enjoys mountain and gravel biking along with anything outdoors.
Becky Messcher, Graduate student, NSF EXPAND Fellow
Becky is interested in how animals regenerate, and in particular how adult stem cell dynamics are regulated during homeostasis and whole-body regeneration. Because her ideal model system did not exist yet, Becky started a new area of research in the lab using Ghost Acoelomorph flatworms to investigate the cell-biological processes underlying whole-body regeneration. Before coming to UVA, Becky received a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Florida and worked on research projects including disease surveillance and butterfly phylogenetics. She is passionate about science accessibility, outreach, and underappreciated critters. Becky has two cats, a husband, and too many hobbies. She also enjoys keeping a menagerie of unusual, squishy marine animals that can regenerate.
Maria Lyons, Lab technician
Maria began in the lab as an undergraduate researcher working on acoelomorph development and regeneration. She received her BA in Biology with a double major in History and joined the lab as a technician to continue with research. Maria is currently working on several projects involving Wnt and FGF signaling in C. elegans, along with regeneration in acoelomorphs.
Brianna Lazear, Undergraduate student
Brianna is a 4th year undergraduate pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Health and Wellbeing. She has been with the lab since December, 2025 and is working on how fission and regeneration occur in a species of acoelomorph that we call the "pancake worm".
Kevin, Dog
Kevin is a pug, and one day the lab website might have pictures. He is cute, squishy, hungry, and sometimes bad. He visits the lab periodically to spread cheer and dog fur. Kevin is also a living example of how alterations in cell signaling affect craniofacial development.
Lab Alumni
Theresa Gibney, PhD, 2025, NIH F31 Predoctoral Fellow, UVA James Norman Dent Award
Theresa's research focused on how extrinsic signals regulate directed cell migration, proliferation, and fates. She discovered that FGF diffusion is required for directed migration of C. elegans muscle progenitors and that polarized SOS activity orients these migrating cells towards FGF independently from canonical ERK, PI3K, or PLC-gamma effectors. Theresa enjoys genome engineering and synthetic biology and also developed several improved methods for making C. elegans knock-ins and transgenics. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Johns Hopkins University.
Kate Knight, Undergraduate student
Currently, graduate student at University of Virginia
Laila Latifi, Undergraduate student, Schwager Research Scholar
Currently, PhD candidate in Cancer Science at the University of Oxford
Cavin Ma, Lab technician
Currently, graduate student at University of Virginia
We are seeking new lab members
The Pani lab is always looking for postdocs, graduate students, and research staff who are interested in tackling big questions in developmental and cell biology. We believe that anyone can be a great biologist, and that our differences strengthen and improve our science.
Prospective graduate students:
If you're a graduate student at UVA and are interested in rotating in the lab, please come talk to us or send Ari an email. If you're an undergraduate interested in graduate school at UVA, you can send Ari an email to discuss your research experience and interests. Graduate students can join the lab through the Biology Department Graduate Program or the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program.
Prospective postdocs:
We welcome applications from creative and motivated postdoc candidates interested in pursuing new C. elegans or Acoelomorph projects. Please contact Ari for more information and to begin discussing your ideas.