
Current members

Senior Research Specialist
Alice Harper, B.A.
Alice Harper grew up in Seattle, WA, and attended Vassar College. Upon graduation, she moved to San Francisco and worked for Dr Alexander Nicholas Contopoulos in the Anatomy Department of UCSF, and attended San Francisco State University. After moving to New York, she worked in the Plastic Surgery Department of NYU Hospital where she remained for 20 years, resigning just before the birth of her son, Harper Buonanno. Those were years of great advances in the field of microsurgery and the department began to offer a course of instruction in the techniques of microsurgery using animal practice models. As a current part-time employee in the LBMS at Weill Cornell Medical College she continues to offer a similar course.

Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Xue Dong, M.D., Ph.D.
Education and Work Experience:
M.D. and Ph.D., Class of 2017, Eight-year clinical medicine program, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University
General Surgery Residency, Xiangya Hospital, 2017-2019
Postdoctoral Associate, Weill Cornell Medical College.
Since January 2020, Xue has been focused on several projects in LBMS: (1) study the interaction between breast cancer cells and endothelial cells in a 3D vascularized biomimetic platform; (2) engineer 3D-printed neo-nipples with biomaterials and human-derived tissues for nipple reconstruction; and (3) investigate cartilage formation using auricular cartilage-derived chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells for ear reconstruction.
Career Goals: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
2021-2022

Carly Askinas
Education:
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M.D. Candidate, Class of 2023, Tulane University School of Medicine
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B.S., Tulane University of New Orleans
Career Goals: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Sabrina Shih
Education:
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M.D. Candidate, Class of 2023, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
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B.A., Class of 2018, Boston University
Career Goals: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Nicholas Vernice
Education:
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M.D. Candidate, Class of 2023, Weill Cornell Medical College
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A.B., Class of 2018, Dartmouth College
Career Goals: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
2020-2021

Ryan Bender
Education:
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M.D. Candidate, Class of 2022, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
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B.S., Class of 2014, Cornell University
Career Goals: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Sarah Caughey
Education:
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M.D. Candidate, Class of 2023, Weill Cornell Medical College
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A.B., Class of 2015, Dartmouth College
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Career Goals: Orthopaedic Surgery

Jason Harris
Education:
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M.D. Candidate, Class of 2022, Weill Cornell Medical College
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M.P.H., Class of 2017, New York University
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B.S., Class of 2015, Pomona College
Career Goals: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery