The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology and Department of Cell & Developmental Biology are pleased to welcome Haiting Ma as an assistant professor of cell and developmental biology this fall. He join us from the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he completed his postdoctoral research. We spoke with him about his research and teaching interests and how he spends his time outside the lab.

Tell us about your lab and your research focus, including how you came to choose or specialize in this area. 

My lab works in three directions: 1. Basic biology on epigenetic regulation of cell identity and state. 2. Application of the basic biological principles to understand and treat diseases. 3. Methods and technology platform development. We are interested in these areas because they are at a distance from the known domain and in the meantime, they could be tractable.

What is especially exciting about this particular area of research, at this time? 

The potential to use powerful interdisciplinary approaches to ascribe physiological functions and disease to molecular mechanisms is astonishing and revolutionary.

What interested you the most about becoming a faculty member in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology and the University of Illinois? 

The culture for interdisciplinary collaborations necessary for research, and the opportunities to work with students from strong graduate and undergraduate programs are among the factors that interest me the most as a member of the community.

What are your teaching interests? 

I am interested in teaching stem cells and developmental biology, epigenetics, and relevant topics in cancer biology and immunology.

If any students (undergrad or PhD) are interested in working in your lab, what’s your advice or how can they get in touch with you?

We welcome graduate, undergraduate, and postbaccalaureate students to bring in their creativity and explore research opportunities in the direction of epigenetics and stem cells in the lab. The most efficient way to connect is through email hm40@illinois.edu.

Tell us about someone who made a difference in your life, such as someone who sparked your interest in biology, who encouraged you to pursue a career in academia or challenged your thinking about a topic.

Many genuinely curious children are challenging us into questioning how much we really know about biology. My child is one of them and a constant reminder for me that we need to know more.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Exploring nature with family and friends is one of my favorite pastime activities.