People

Principal Investigator

Dr. Stefater-Richards is a Pediatric Endocrinologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she is the Medical Director of the EMPOWER weight management program, Pediatric Endocrinology Liason for the Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Program, and the PI of the Stefater-Richards laboratory. She received her MD/PhD from the University of Cincinnati, and trained at Boston Children’s Hospital in Pediatrics and Pediatric Endocrinology. When not in science mode, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and dogs, exploring new places and foods, and working on her green thumb.

Dariana Mota, BS

Research Assistant

Dariana is a Research Assistant in the Stefater-Richards lab. She graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2023, where she received a dual Bachelor of Science (BS) in Physiology and Neurobiology, BS and Molecular and Cell Biology, BS. At Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH), she serves as the Events Coordinator and Community Outreach Chair of BCH Green Labs and is a member of the Hispanic Outreach, Latinos, Amigos, and Allies (HOLA) Employee Resource Group (ERG). She enjoys discovering new ways to make research more sustainable for the future of science and contributing to efforts that foster a sense of community and belonging at BCH. Outside of the lab, Dariana enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends, as she prepares to continue her education in the near future.

Allison Bernique, MS

Clinical Research Specialist

Allison is a Clinical Research Specialist in the Stefater-Richards lab.

Bharthi Mohan

Undergraduate Intern

Bharthi Mohan is a Student Intern in the lab. She has been honing her skills in 3D cell culture techniques involving intestinal organoids, as well as other techniques including PCR and microscopy. Outside of the lab, Bharthi is an undergraduate student at Northeastern University, majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience, and is an aspiring physician on a premedical track.