Fei Ma, Ph.D. Professor
Email: feima@seu.edu.cn
Lab and Office: 12th Floor, Building F, Shuzhi Qigu Valley, Southeast University
Biography
Dr. Fei Ma received her B.S. degree from Lanzhou University in 2010 and obtained her Ph.D. from the School of Life Sciences, Peking University in 2016. From 2016 to 2025, she conducted postdoctoral research at Peking University (2016–2018) and the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA (2018–2025). She joined Southeast University as a Professor in January 2026.
Research Interests
1. B Cell Development and Aging
B cells play essential roles in adaptive immune responses, and their development and function rely on precisely regulated gene expression programs. Increasing evidence suggests that aging is accompanied by systemic epigenetic alterations that reshape immune cell identity and function. In particular, epigenetic changes occurring at early stages of bone marrow B cell development may critically influence immune system composition and immune competence. Our laboratory focuses on early B cell developmental stages to investigate aging-associated epigenetic remodeling and its impact on B cell development and immune function.
2. Mechanisms Regulating Antigen Receptor Gene Rearrangement Diversity
Our research investigates the molecular mechanisms governing immune receptor diversity, focusing on B cell receptor (BCR) and T cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement. We study how epigenetic modifications regulate gene segment selection and recombination efficiency during V(D)J recombination, and how these regulatory mechanisms dynamically change during development and aging.
Selected Publications
# Co–first author * Corresponding author
1. Ma F#, Ollikainen N#, Du H, Braikia FZ, Cui N, Bianchi AH, Dunn C, Nguyen C, Fan J, De S, Sen R, Qiu X*. Interplay between CTCF-binding and CTCF-lacking regulatory elements in generating an architectural stripe at theIgh locus.Nat. Commun. 2025. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57373-w
2. Ma F, Sen R*. Physiological aging in three dimensions.Trends in Cell Biol. 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2025.08.002
3. Ma F#, Cao Y#, Du H, Braikia FZ, Ollikainen N, Zong L, BayerM, Qiu X, Park B, Roy R, Nandi S, Sarantopoulou D, Bianchi AH, Beerman I, Zhao K, Grosschedl R, Sen R*. Three-dimensional chromatin reorganization regulates B cell development during ageing.Nat. Cell Biol. 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41556-024-01424-9
4. Ma, F#, Braikia, FZ#, & Sen, R*. Lineage- and stage-specific activity of antigen receptor gene enhancers during lymphocyte development.Front. Epigenet. and Epigenom., 2024. doi: 10.3389/freae.2024.1489362
5. Verma A#, Aylward B#,Ma F#, Sherman C#, Chopp L, Shinton S, Roy R, Fahl S, Contreras A, Koenitzer B, Awasthi P, Mazan-Mamczarz K, De S, Ollikainen N, Qiu X, Bosselut R, Sen R*, Wiest D*, Sen J*. TCF1 dosage determines cell fate during T cell development.Sci. Adv. 2024. doi:10.1126/sciadv.ado5982
6. Qiu X#,Ma F#, Zhao M, Cao Y, Shipp L, Liu A, Dutta A, Singh A, Braikia FZ, De S, Wood WH 3rd, Becker KG, Zhou W, Ji H, Zhao K, Atchison ML, Sen R*. Altered 3D chromatin structure permits inversional recombination at the IgH locus.Sci Adv. 2020. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz8850. PMCID: PMC7428332.
Join Us
We welcome applications from highly motivated Master’s and Ph.D. students. Postdoctoral positions are also available for candidates interested in B cell development, immune aging and epigenetic regulation.