Group Alumni

Edgar Alaniz-Cantu

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2017 (B.S. Biochemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester NY
  • Independent Research (Sept 2014-June 2015), REU summer2015
  • Current Position: Medical Student

Hanan Alwaseem

Graduate Student

  • Ph.D. 2018, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • B.S. 2013 (Chemistry), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
  • Current Position:Manager (Metabolomics Platform) at The Rockefeller University

Steven Archer

Undergraduate Student (Jul 2009 – May 2010)

  • B.S. 2011 (Biomedical Engineering), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • McNair fellow (Summer 2009), Independent Research (Jan 2009 - May 2010)
  • Current Position: Principal Space Systems Engineer at Raytheon

Dr. Priyanka Bajaj

Postdoctoral fellow (Feb 2015- Sep 2016)

  • Ph.D. 2014, NIPER - Mohali, India
  • M.S. 2009 (Biotechnology), Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India
  • Current Position: Assistant Professor, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, India
  • Email

Tessa Baker

Graduate Student

  • B.S. 2013 (Chemistry), Miami University, Oxford, OH
  • Graduate class of 2013
  • Current Position: NMR Director and Safety Officer at University of Rochester
  • Email

Hassan Beesley

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2018, (B.S. Biochemistry) University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • May 2016 - Dec 2017
  • Current Position: Medical Student at the Boston University School of Medicine

Dr. Nina Bionda

Postdoctoral fellow (May 2013- August 2015)

  • Ph.D. 2013, Florida Atlantic University - Boca Raton, FL
  • M.S. 2007 (Biochemical Engineering), Faculty for Food Technology and Biotechnology, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Current Position: Director of Research at Rochal Technologies, a Sanara MedTech Inc. company

Lauren Bolz

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2017 (B.S. Chemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • RIF (summer 2015), indipendent research (Sept 2015-Decemmebr 2015)
  • Current Position: Educational Development Project Officer at the University of Oxford, Centre for Teaching & Learning

Rachel Bonn

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2017 (B.S. Biochemistry, B. A. Chemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Volunteering (May 2014), REU summer 2015, independent research (2015-2016)
  • Email

Dr. Melanie Bordeaux

Postdoctoral fellow (Nov 2012- Nov 2014)

  • Ph.D. 2012, National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier, France
  • M.S. 2007 (Biochemistry), University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
  • Current Position: Director at Research Platform for Creating Rural Shared Value, La Cumplida, Matagalpa, Nicaragua
  • Email

Dr. Andrew Bortz

Graduate Student

  • Ph.D. 2022, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • B.S. 2017 (Chemistry), SUNY Fredonia, Fredonia, NY
  • Current Position:
  • Email

Douglas Bowlby

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2017 (B.S. Biochemistry, B. A. Psychology), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • REU summer 2015

Chandra Ade Brown

Undergraduate Student (Feb 2012- Aug 2012)

  • Class of 2013 (B.A. Chemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • McNair fellow (Summer 2012), Independent Research
  • Current Position: Research Scientist at Unilever

Micah Brown

Undergraduate Student (Oct 2010 - May 2011)

  • Class of 2013 (B.S. Chemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Independent Research (Oct 2010 - May 2011)
  • Current Position: Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dr. Daniela Maria Carminati

Postdoctoral fellow (March 2018 - August 2020)

  • Ph.D. 2018, University of Milan, Italy
  • M.S. 2014 , University of Milan, Italy
  • Current Position:

Garrick Centola

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2016, (BS Chemistry) University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Independent Research (Jun 2013 - Dec 2013; Jan - June 2015), senior thesis (Sept 2015 - May 2016)
  • Current Position: Post doctoral fellow at University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

Dr. Ajay Laxman Chandgude

Postdoctoral fellow (Oct 2017 - Jul 2020)

  • Ph.D. 2017, University of Groningen, Netherlands
  • M.S. 2012 , NIPER, Mohali, India

Philip Cistrone

Undergraduate Student (Jan 2012 – May 2013)

  • Class of 2013 (B.S. Biochemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • de Kiewiet fellow Summer 2012, Independent and Senior Thesis Research
  • Current Position: Group Lead, Solid Phase Library Production at 1859 Inc.
  • Email

Aaron Cravens

Undergraduate Student (Mar 2013- Dec 2013)

  • Class of 2014 (BS Mathematics), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Independent Research (Mar 2013- Dec 2013)
  • Current Position: CEO at Revel Pharmaceuticals
  • Email

Michele Crotti

Visiting Graduate Student

  • M.S. 2013 (Industrial Biotechnology), Universita' dell'Insubria, Milano (Italy)
  • Graduate class of 2017
  • Email

Abby Cryan

Master Student (Sept 2012 – Jan 2014)

  • M. S. 2014 (Chemistry), University of Rochester, NY
  • B.S. 2012 (Biochemistry), Daemen College, Buffalo, NY
  • Current Position: middle school science educator and department chair
  • Email

John DeCourcey

Undergraduate Student (Jan 2014 – May 2015)

  • Class of 2015 (B.S. Chemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester NY
  • Research: MOrPHs
  • Current Position: Analytical Testing Team Lead at Werfen North America

Matthew Demars II

Undergraduate Student (Jan 2011 – May 2012)

  • Class of 2012 (B.S. Biochemistry/B.A. Chemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • DeKiewiet fellow (Summer 2011), Independent and Senior Thesis Research
  • Current Position: Postdoctoral Scientist at Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology

Dr. Ivan de Paola

Postdoctoral fellow (October 2015- June 2017)

  • Postdoctoral Fellow (2012-2015), Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, Napoli, Italy
  • Ph.D. 2012, IBB-CNR, Napoli, Italy
  • B.S. 2005 (Pharmaceutical Biotechnology), "Federico II" University, Napoli, Italy
  • Current Position: Senior Scientist at Suanfarma

Tatyana Dyndikova

Undergraduate Student (Jul 2011 – May 2013)

  • Class of 2013 (B.S. Chemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Independent and Senior Thesis Research
  • Current Position: Scientist at Boston Scientific

Shady El Damaty

Undergraduate Student (Nov 2008 – May 2011)

  • B.S. 2011 (Neuroscience), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • McNair fellow (Summer 2009), Independent Research (Jan 2009 - May 2010)
  • Current Position: Co-founder of Holonym

Dr. John Frost

Graduate Student (May 2009 – Nov 2014)

  • Ph.D. 2014, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • B.S. 2009 (Chemistry), Canisius College, Buffalo, NY
  • Current Position: Associate Principal Scientist at Merck

Justin Galardi

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2018, (B.S. Biochemistry ) SUNY Brockport, NY
  • June 2017 - Aug 2017
  • Current Position: PhD Student in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Program University of Rochester School of Medicine
  • Email

Becca Galer

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2018, (B.S. Molecular Genetics) University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Jan 2017 - June 2018
  • Current Position: Emergency Medicine Resident at OBH Brookdale Hospital

Dr. Simone Giovani

Postdoctoral fellow (January 2015- January 2016)

  • Ph.D. 2013, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
  • B.S. 2009 (Pharmaceutical Chemistry), University of Siena, Siena, Italy
  • Current Position: Project Manager presso AGC Biologics

Katherine Grasso

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2016 (B.S. Chemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Volunteering (June 2014- March 2015), indipendent research(Sep 2015 - May 2016)
  • Current Position: Staff Scientist at Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP

Dr Yu Gu

Graduate Student

  • Ph.D. 2022, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • B.S. 2017 (Pharmaceutical Science), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
  • Current Position: Senior Scientist at AstraZeneca
  • Linkedln

Jabari Henriques

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2012, North Carolina A&M University
  • McNair fellow (Summer 2011)
  • Current Position: Analytical Chemistry Technician, Proctor & Gamble
  • Email

Nicholas Hill

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2015, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • REU fellow Summer 2013, Independent Research (Sept 2013- May2015), senior thesis
  • Current Position: Graduate student at University of Colorado, Boulder

Dr Jacob Iannuzzelli

Graduate Student
  • Ph.D. 2022, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • B.S. 2017 (Biochemistry), Canisius College, Buffalo, NY
  • Current Position: Scientist at Merck

Soaiful Islam

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2012 (B.A. Chemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • McNair fellow (Summer 2010), Independent Research (Jun 2010 - May 2011)
  • Current Position: MS candidate, City College of New York

Nicholas Jacob

Undergraduate Student (Jan 2010 – May 2013)

  • Class of 2013 (B.S. Chemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • REU fellow (Summer 2010), Independent and Senior Thesis Research
  • Current Position: Senior Research Scientist at Cessation Therapeutics, Inc

Robbin Jang

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2019, (B.S. Chemical Engineering ) University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • May 2017 - Sep 2017
  • Current Position: Ph.D. student in the Program in Molecular Biophysics at Johns Hopkins University

Catherine (Jeongeun) Kil

Undergraduate Student (Jan 2010 – Jul 2010)

  • B.S. 2011 (Chemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Independent Research (Sep 2009 - Dec 2009)

Dr. Joshua Kolev

Graduate Student (May 2010 – Aug 2015)

  • Ph.D. 2015, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • B.S. 2010 (Chemistry), Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
  • Current Position: Senior scientist at Merck

Peter Krasniak

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2014 (BS Chemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Independent Research Summer 2012, Senior Thesis (Sept 2013- present)
  • Current Position: Attended University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

Emma Kruger

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2020, (B.S. Biochemistry) University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • June 2017 - Dec 2017
  • Current Position: Site Management Associate at Strata Oncology

Yick Chong Lam

Undergraduate Student (Jan 2011– May 2013)

  • B.S. 2013 (Chemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • McNair fellow (Summer 2011), Independent and Senior Thesis Research
  • Current Position: Associate Director, Innovation at AbbVie

Hojun Lee

Undergraduate Student (Jan 2011 – Apr 2012)

  • Class of 2014 (B.S. Chemical Engineering), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

Queenie (Qi Ying) Li

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2015 (B.A. Chemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester NY
  • Independent Research (Jun 2014-May 2015)
  • Current Position: MD candidate at Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Amy Liu (Yi-Wen)

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2016 (B.S. Chemical Engineering), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • REACH student (summer 2015), indipendent research (Sept 2015 - May 2016t)
  • Current Position: Sr. Research Associate at Gilead Sciences

Ningyu Liu

Graduate Student

  • Ph.D. 2022, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • B.S. 2013 (Chemistry), Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
  • M.A. 2015 (Chemistry), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
  • Email

Dr. Sachitanand M. Mali

Postdoctoral fellow (Jul 2017 - Jul 2020)

  • Postdoctoral Fellow (2014-2017), Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
  • Ph.D. 2014, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, India
  • M.S. 2007 ,BAMU, Aurangabad, India
  • Current Position: Director at Eli Lilly and Company-Protomer

Dr. Satyanarayana Maragani

Postdoctoral fellow

  • Postdoc (2009-2010), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Current Position: Team Leader at TCG Lifesciences

Joshua Mcgough

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2017 (B.S. Biochemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

Maryam Mohammed

Undergraduate Student (Sep 2011 – July 2012)

  • Class of 2012 (B.S. Biochemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Independent Researchn
  • Current Position: MD candidate at Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago

Eric Moore

Graduate Student (Jan 16 - Jun 20)

  • Ph.D. 2020, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • B.S. 2015 (Biochemistry), Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY
  • Current Position: Senior scientist Astra Zeneca

Kenneth Myers

Undergraduate Student

  • B.S. 2011 (Chemistry), Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA
  • REU fellow (Summer 2010)

Donggeon (Albert) Nam

(he/him/his)

Graduate Student

  • Ph.D. 2022, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • B.S. 2017(Chemistry), University of Texas, Austin, TX
  • Current Position: scientist at BMS

Andrew Owens

Graduate Student

  • Ph.D. 2018, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • B.S. 2013 (Chemistry), Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA
  • Current Position: Field Application Scientist at Bionano Genomics

Louis Papa

Undergraduate Student (Jun 2011 – May 2014)

  • Class of 2014 (B.S. Biochemistry/B.A. Chemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Independent Research (Jun 2011-May2012), REU fellow (Summer 2012), Senior Thesis (Sept 2013- present)
  • Current Position:Strain Engineer at Robigo

Christopher Peralta

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2018, (B.S. Biochemistry) University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • January 2017 - Dec 2017
  • Current Position: Research Support Assistant at The Rockefeller University

Alfons Pineda-Knauseder

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2021, (BS Chemistry) University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Independent Research (January 2019 - March 2020), senior thesis (August 2020 - May2021)
  • Current Position: Ph.D. candidate at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Dr. Phuong Quoc Thuc Nguyen

Postdoctoral fellow (Aug 2015- Nov 2016)

  • Postdoctoral Fellow (2013- 2015), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
  • Ph.D. 2013, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
  • B.S. 2007 (Food Technology), HCMC University of Technology, Vietnam

Krittika Ralhan

Visiting Graduate Student

  • M.S. 2012 (Applied microbiology and biotechnology), Banasthali University , Ratasthan, India
  • Current Position: Senior Science Writer

Tasha Raman

Undergraduate Student (Sep 2009 – Dec 2009)

  • B.S. 2011 (Neuroscience), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Independent Research (Sep 2009 - Dec 2009)
  • Current Position:Impact Design Lead at IDEO.org

Rajesh Ravikumar

Undergraduate Student (Jan 2009 – May 2011)

  • B.S. 2011 (Biochemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • REU fellow (Summer 2010), Independent Research (Jan 2009 - May 2011)
  • Current Position: Customer Analytics and Insights Manager at Pfizer

Dr. Xinkun Ren

Postdoctoral fellow (May 2018 - Dec 2021)

  • Ph.D. 2017, University of Oxford,United Kingdom
  • B.S. 2012, Nanjing University, China
  • Email

Brian Shafer

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2012 (B.S. Biochemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Independent Research (Feb 2010 - Dec 2011)
  • Current Position: MD Ophthalmology resident at Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA

Yashika Sharma

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2018, (B.S. Chemistry) University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • May 2016 - June 2018
  • Current Position: PhD Student at Columbia University School of Nursing

Dr. Ritesh Singh

Postdoctoral fellow (Jan 2013- Dec 2014)

  • Ph.D. 2012, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute - Jawahal Lal Nehru University, India
  • M.S. 2006 (Chemistry), University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India
  • Current Position: Assistant Professor at Central University Of Rajasthan

Dr. Jessica M. Smith

Graduate Student (Jan 2009 – May 2014)

  • Ph.D. 2014, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • B.S. 2008 (Chemistry), Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
  • Current Position: Lecturer at SUNY Brockport in Brockport, NY

Dr. Gopeekrishnan Sreenilayam

Postdoctoral fellow (March 2014- June 2017)

  • Postdoctoral Fellow (2011-2013), Temple University
  • Ph.D. 2011, U of Iowa
  • R&D Chemist (2004-2005), Aurigene, India
  • R&D Chemist (2001-2004), Biocon, India
  • M.S. 2000 (Chemistry), Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India
  • Current Position: Assistant Professor at Valdosta State University
  • Email

Viktoria Steck

Graduate Student (Jan 15 – Oct 19)

  • Ph.D. 2019, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • M.S. 2015 (Chemistry), Humbolt University of Berlin, Germany
  • Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego
  • Email

Philip Sutera

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2014 (B.S. Chemistry/B.S. Neuroscience), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Independent Research (Jan 2012- Jul 2012), Senior thesis research (Sept 2013- present)
  • Current Position: Resident in Radiation Oncology at J

Anika Tahsin

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2021, (B.S. in Molecular Genetics) University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Independent Research (February 2019 - May 2021)
  • Email

Antonio Tinoco Valencia

Graduate Student (Jun 15 – Aug 20)

  • Ph.D. 2020, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • B.S. 2015 (Chemistry), Cal State Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
  • Graduate class of 2015
  • Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher at Harvard University

Dr. Vikas Tyagi

Postdoctoral fellow (December 2013- Aug 2016)

  • Ph.D. 2013, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute - Jawahal Lal Nehru University, India
  • M.S. 2007 (Chemistry), C.C.S. University, Meerut, India
  • Current Position: Assistant Professor at Thapar University

David Vargas

(he/him/his)

Graduate Student (Jun 17 – May 22)

  • Ph.D. 2020, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • B.S. 2017 (Chemistry), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
  • Current Position: Scientist at Merck

Maria Agustina Vila

Visiting Graduate Student

  • M.S. 2013 (Pharmaceutical Chemistry), Universidad de la Republica, Montevideo, Uruguay
  • Graduate class of 2018

Jim Weitzel

Undergraduate Student (Feb 2013- Dec 2013)

  • Class of 2016 (BS in Chemical Engineering), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Independent Research (Feb 2013- Dec 2013)
  • Current Position: Project Engineer at Bloomy Controls

Abe (Zhijie) Wu

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2015, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • Independent Research (Feb 2013- May 2015)
  • Current Position: Scientist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Jacqueline Zaengle

Undergraduate Student

  • B.S. 2011 (Chemistry), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • REU fellow (Summer 2009), Independent and Senior Thesis Research (Jan 2009 - May 2010)
  • Current Position: Scientist at BioAgilytix

Christine Ziegler

Undergraduate Student

  • Class of 2016, (BS Molecular Genetics and BS Chemistry) University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  • REU fellow Summer 2013, Independent Research (Feb 2013- May 2013, Aug 2013 - Dec 2014 and Aug 2015 - Jan 2016)
  • Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dr. Kaidong Zhang

Postdoctoral Fellow (July 2009 – July 2012)

  • Ph.D. 2008, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
  • B.S. 1998 (Chemistry), Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
  • Current Position: Chief Scientific Officer at PanGenomic Health Corp