Rachel Gerstein

Rachel Gerstein is an Associate Professor at UMass Chan Medical School (T.H. Chan School of Medicine) within the Department of Microbiology. She also holds positions in the NeuroNexus Institute, Cancer Biology, Immunology and Microbiology Program, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, and Translational Science at Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Her academic background includes a BA in Biological Sciences from Smith College and a PhD in Biology from Brandeis University (1991).

• Education: BA (Smith College), PhD (Brandeis University)
• Key Research Areas: Developmental regulation of V(D)J recombination, B cell development, hematopoietic stem cell aging, immunoglobulin gene assembly, and tumor suppression mechanisms

Gerstein’s lab investigates the molecular control of antibody gene rearrangement during B cell development using novel retroviral assays and GFP-based reporter systems. Her work spans immunology, molecular biology, and cancer biology, with significant contributions to understanding B lymphocyte lineage commitment, Notch signaling in leukemia, and age-related immune decline. Publications highlight collaborations in Animals and Humans models, focusing on Cell Biology and Neoplasms disciplines.

Recent publications (2013–2023) demonstrate trends in Allergy and Immunology, Cell Biology, and Neoplasms, with subfields including V(D)J Recombination, Lymphoid Progenitors, Ubiquitin Ligase Activity, and Tumor Microenvironment. Her lab URL is https://www.umassmed.edu.