TEAM

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Head and shoulders photograph of Claire Thomas

Claire Thomas

(She/her)

B.Sc. The University of Sheffield (UK)
Ph.D. The University of Edinburgh (UK)
Postdoc. Washington University in St. Louis
Postdoc. Harvard University

Photograph of a breaking wave with cliffs and a sea stack in the background

Fun fact about Claire: I am a passionate photographer who was once told by a competition judge “Only a maniac would take a picture like that!” I’ve decided to be proud of this, but this is not that photo. This was taken at Sandwood Bay in Scotland.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Chelsea Sarring

Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology Program, Penn State
BS, Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA

Fun fact about Chelsea: I have an adorable dog called Gucci. Gucci is always dressed for the season!

Kinsuk Shill

Biology Program, Penn State
MSc in Biotechnology, Bangalore University, India
Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Biotechnology, Annamalai University, India.
BSc in Biotechnology, University of Kalyani, India

Fun fact about Kinsuk: In 2019 I rode over the Khardung La, the world’s highest motorable pass in Ladakh, India at 18,379 feet…..on a motorbike!

UNDERGRADUATES

Maria Lovallo

Penn State Microbiology major

Fun fact about Maria: I am a microbiology major, with lots of plants and pets, and I love to travel

Veronica Swartz

Penn State Science premajor

Fun fact about Veronica: I have 12 chickens, a cat, and a puppy at home

Julia Mudryk

Penn State Biology major

Fun fact about Julia: I love to play ice hockey

Samantha Constantino

Penn State Science major

Fun fact about Samantha: I love gymnastics and have been doing it for almost 10 years!

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Ashley Swope

BS Penn State, University Park, PA

Fun fact about Ashley: I have been to 23 different National Parks, two of my favorites are Grand Teton and Acadia.

Photo of Josephine Szczyrbak

Josephine Szczyrbak

BS with a minor in Civic and Professional Leadership, West Chester University of PA

Picture of a raccon

Fun fact about Josephine: My favorite animal is a racoon!

Gyuhyun “Q” Bae

Penn State Architectural Engineering major

Fun fact about Q: My friends always say that I look like quakka!

ALUMNI

POSTDOCS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS:

  • Daniella Zarnescu, PhD
  • I. Bryce MacIver, PhD (postdoc)
  • Janice Williams, MS PhD
  • Elizabeth Klipfell, PhD
  • Matthew Philips, PhD
  • Monika Tjota, MS
  • Juan Wu, MS
  • Hyun-Gwan Lee, PhD (postdoc)
  • Mansi Khanna, PhD
  • Seung-Kyu Lee, PhD
  • Praveen Kumar, PhD (visiting faculty: Assistant Professor of Zoology)
  • Govt. College for Women, Trivandrum, India)
  • Floyd Mattie, PhD (postdoc)
  • Kristen Browder, PhD

UNDERGRADUATES

  • List being compiled

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

  • List being compiled
Thomas Laboratory coat of arms. The lating motto is ego debeo non somnus in ablay congressus
The logo for the US National Science Foundation
Inclusive science version of a 100% Sign (100percentsign.org)
Logo for the Penn State Rainbow Science Network