TEAM
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
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
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!
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
Samantha Constantino
Penn State Science major
Fun fact about Samantha: I love gymnastics and have been doing it for almost 10 years!
Eliana Garza
Penn State Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major
Fun fact about Eliana: I like to knit!
Mikael Atnafu
Penn State Science premajor
Fun fact about Mikael: I like to stargaze
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Ashley Swope
BS in Biology, 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.
Ifeoluwa Oluwadamilare ‘Dami’ Ajumobi
BS in Biology, Penn State, University Park, PA
Fun fact about Dami: I enjoy photography!
ALUMNI
Kinsuk Shill
MS in Biology, 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!
Veronica Swartz
Penn State Science premajor
(former undergraduate researcher)
Fun fact about Veronica: I have 12 chickens, a cat, and a puppy at home
Julia Mudryk
BS in Biology, Penn State, University Park, PA
(former undergraduate researcher)
Fun fact about Julia: I love to play ice hockey
Josephine Szczyrbak
BS with a minor in Civic and Professional Leadership, West Chester University of PA
(former technical assistant)
Fun fact about Josephine: My favorite animal is a racoon!
Gyuhyun “Q” Bae
Penn State Architectural Engineering major
(former technical assistant)
Fun fact about Q: My friends always say that I look like quakka!
POSTDOCS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS (pre 2023):
- 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
