Sam Wattrus
Principal Investigator
wattrus@molbio.mgh.harvard.edu
Sam is a Junior Fellow in the Department of Molecular Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital. His research group utilizes a combination of genetics, lineage tracing, and live-cell imaging in zebrafish to understand how cells interact during development and regeneration. Sam received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College, where he studied Human Developmental & Regenerative Biology. As an undergraduate, he worked in the laboratories of Dr. Amy Wagers and Dr. John Gurdon to investigate aging in mammalian skeletal muscle and cellular reprogramming in Xenopus laevis. He later completed his PhD under the supervision of Dr. Leonard Zon at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. His graduate work focused on hematopoietic stem cell development and macrophages in the stem cell niche in zebrafish. For his work on macrophages and stem cell biology, Sam was included on the 2024 Forbes 30 under 30 Science list.
Outside of the lab, Sam enjoys cooking, spending time with his family, and playing bass in the Longwood Symphony Orchestra.
Marina Vernaglia
Research Technician
Marina Vernaglia joined the lab full time as a Research Technician after graduating from Harvard College in 2026. They are excited to learn about regeneration in zebrafish and medaka as a part of the Wattrus Lab. Outside of school and the lab, Marina likes to bake, crochet, and play Dungeons and Dragons.
Victor Quadros
Research Technician
Victor joined the lab as a Research Assistant in March 2025. His research experiences are diverse, ranging from synthetic protein production to surveying the herpetofauna of New England. After graduating with a B.S. in Biology from UMass Boston, he has taken an interest in the differences in regenerative capability of vertebrate species, such as zebrafish and medaka. Outside of research, he can be found either taking care of his frogs and salamanders, working as a field herpetologist, or playing video games.
Damien Laouteouet
Postdoctoral Fellow
Damien joined the Wattrus Lab as a Postdoctoral Fellow in June 2025. He completed his PhD at the University of Montpellier and INSERM in France, under the supervision of Dr. Gabriel Courties. His doctoral research focused on characterizing knee macrophages in a mouse model of osteoarthritis, and elucidating how distinct macrophage subsets contribute to chronic inflammation and fibrosis in the synovial membrane through their interactions with stromal cells.
He then joined Dr. Yoan Arribat’s lab, where he investigated how genetic mutations affecting organelle function influence tissue regeneration and degeneration in zebrafish.
Combining his expertise in macrophage biology in non-regenerative contexts with his zebrafish work, Damien now investigates how macrophages support regeneration in zebrafish through interactions with their microenvironment in the Wattrus Lab.
Outside the lab, he enjoys street photography, cycling, and hiking.
Quynh Nguyen
Undergraduate Researcher
Quynh, originally from Vietnam, is pursuing a BS in Biology at Simmons University. In the Wattrus Lab, she is excited to explore the molecular mechanisms that drive the differences in regenerative abilities between zebrafish and medaka after spinal cord injury, with a focus on the role of macrophages in tissue repair and regeneration. At Simmons, she works closely with the faculty to support students in organic chemistry, genetics and molecular biology. When she's not studying or in the lab, Quynh enjoys playing the piano, baking, camping and discovering new spots for the best matcha latte :-)
Nyla Nasir
Undergraduate Researcher
Nyla is an undergraduate student at Harvard College concentrating in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology. Originally from the suburbs of Toronto, she loves hiking, reading, and baking. She is interested in regeneration and in the Wattrus lab, will be investigating hematopoietic stem cell regeneration in zebrafish.
Raina Langlais
Undergraduate Researcher
Raina is an undergraduate at Northeastern University majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She has a passion for cell biology and oncology, and is excited to explore these interests as a member of the Wattrus Lab. At Northeastern Raina tutors students in Chemistry, and is head of communications, as well as a writer, for the Northeastern Science Magazine. Outside of the lab, she loves to craft, play tennis, and go to the beach!
Aurora Charbonneau
Undergraduate Researcher
Aurora Charbonneau is an undergraduate student at Harvard University majoring in neuroscience and psychology. As a writer for The Harvard Independent, she explores her interests in journalism and storytelling. At Harvard, Aurora is the goalie for the Harvard Women’s Club Hockey team. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, going on walks on the Charles, and playing volleyball with her friends.
Vincent
Chief Mouser
Join us!
We are always excited to hear from potential new lab members! Interested individuals should contact Sam directly: wattrus@molbio.mgh.harvard.edu