6th year MD/PhD Candidates Katie Discipio (Left) and Grace Kwon (Right) in their natural habitat.
Jung Woo Bae
Entering Year: 2025
Hometown: Seoul, The Republic of Korea; Auckland, New Zealand
Undergraduate Institution: Johns Hopkins University
Degree: B.S., Molecular and Cellular Biology
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: bae@uchc.edu
Madeline Eller
Entering Year: 2025
Hometown: Lake Oswego, OR
Undergraduate Institution: Wheaton College
Degree: B.A., Biochemistry
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: meller@uchc.edu
Daniel Klimes
Entering Year: 2025
Hometown: Hagerstown, MD
Undergraduate Institution: University of Maryland
Degree: B.S., Biochemistry
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: klimes@uchc.edu
Nataniel Janer Pagan
Entering Year: 2025
Hometown: Caguas, Puerto Rico
Undergraduate Institution: Bard College
Degree: B.A., Chemistry
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: janerpagan@uchc.edu
Nathan Robertello
Entering Year: 2025
Hometown: Forest Hill, MD
Undergraduate Institution: University of Maryland
Degree: B.S., Biological Sciences
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: robertello@uchc.edu
Katherine Tucker
Entering Year: 2025
Hometown: Bowie, MD
Undergraduate Institution: Ohio State University
Degree: B.S., Neuroscience, Molecular Genetics
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: ktucker@uchc.edu
Sether (“Seth”) Johnson
Entering Year: 2024
Hometown: Waconia, MN
Undergraduate Institution: St. Olaf College
Degree: B.A., Biology
Graduate Institution: University of Minnesota
Degree: M.S., Stem Cell Biology
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: sejohnson@uchc.edu
Anna Friedman
Entering Year: 2024
Hometown: San Carlos, CA
Undergraduate Institution: Wesleyan University
Degree: B.A., Chemistry, Italian
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: afriedman@uchc.edu
Nikolai Rogalinski
Entering Year: 2024
Hometown: Berlin, MA
Undergraduate Institution: Brown University
Degree: B.S., Neuroscience
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: rogalinski@uchc.edu
Marc Merriman
Entering Year: 2024
Hometown: Slidell, LA
Undergraduate Institution: Xavier University of Louisiana
Degree: B.S., Biology
Graduate Institution: University of Connecticut
Degree: M.S., Biomedical Science
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: mmerriman@uchc.edu
Zijian Li
Entering Year: 2024
Hometown: Chengde, China
Undergraduate Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Degree: B.S., Nutrition, Biochemistry
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: zijli@uchc.edu
Matthew Wan
Entering Year: 2024
Hometown: Riverside, CT
Undergraduate Institution: University of Connecticut
Degree: B.S., Molecular and Cell Biology
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: wan@uchc.edu
Reinier Gonzalez Heredia
Entering Year: 2024
Hometown: Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico and Meriden, CT
Undergraduate Institution: University of Connecticut
Degree: B.S., Molecular and Cell Biology, and Biomedical Science
Graduate Institution: University of Connecticut
Degree: M.S., Biomedical Science
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: gonzalezheredia@uchc.edu
Al Awal Mohammed (“Awal”) Jimah
Entering Year: 2023
Hometown: Dunkwa-On-Offin, Ghana, Africa
Undergraduate Institution: Wright State University
Degree: B.S., Biology
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: jimah@uchc.edu
Stephen Li
Entering Year: 2023
Hometown: Cary, NC
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
Degree: B.S., Biomedical Engineering
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: stli@uchc.edu
Ariel Kogan Zajdman
Entering Year: 2023
Hometown: Akron, OH/Mexico City, Mexico
Undergraduate: Kent State University
Degree: B.S., Biotechnology
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: koganzajdman@uchc.edu
Kelsey Walsh
Entering Year: 2023
Hometown:Hanover, PA
Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania
Degree: B.A., Neuroscience
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: kelwalsh@uchc.edu
Marcell Szabo
Entering Year: 2023
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Undergraduate: University of Washington
Degree: B.S., Neuroscience
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: mszabo@uchc.edu
Jipeng (JP) Yue
Entering Year: 2023
Hometown: Wynnewood, PA/Qingdao, China
Undergraduate: Emory University
Degree: Chemistry, BA
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: jyue@uchc.edu
Michael Kann
Entering Year: 2023
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Undergraduate: Bowdoin College
Degree: Biochemistry, BA
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: kann@uchc.edu
Rei Bufi
Entering Year: 2023
Hometown: Tirana, Albania
Undergraduate: University of Connecticut
Degree: B.S., Molecular and Cell Biology; B.A., Art, Globalization, and Activism
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: bufi@uchc.edu
Jacob Brady
Entering Year: 2022
Hometown: White Plains, NY
Undergraduate: Swarthmore College
Degree: B.A., Neuroscience, Political Science
Thesis Advisor: Ephraim F. Trakhtenberg, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Neuroscience
Email: jabrady@uchc.edu
Emma Carlson
Entering Year: 2022
Hometown: Helena, MT
Undergraduate: Colorado College
Degree: B.A., Molecular Biology, Classics
Thesis Advisor:
Sivapriya Kailasan Vanaja, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Immunology
Email: emcarlson@uchc.edu
Sara Halili
Entering Year: 2022
Hometown: Elbasan, Albania
Undergraduate: Smith College
Degree: B.A., Biochemistry
Thesis Advisor: Andrew Arnold, M.D.
Area of Concentration: Cell Biology
Email: halili@uchc.edu
Joshua Lee
Entering Year: 2022
Hometown: Leonia, NJ
Undergraduate: Rowan University
Degree: B.S., Biological Science; B.S., Biochemistry
Thesis Advisors: Paul Robson, Ph.D. 
; Elise Courtois, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Cell Biology
Email: joshuaylee@uchc.edu
Kevin Liu
Entering Year: 2022
Hometown: Unionville, CT
Undergraduate: Wesleyan University
Degree: B.A., Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Science in Society
Thesis Advisor: Michael Stitzel, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Genetics and Developmental Biology
Email: keliu@uchc.edu
Clement Ojo
Entering Year: 2022
Hometown: Provincetown, RI
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
Graduate: Johns Hopkins University
Degree: B.S., Molecular & Cellular Biology; M.S., Biology
Thesis Advisor: Hideyuki Oguro, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Cell Biology
Email: ojo@uchc.edu
Ashley Tucker
Entering Year: 2022
Hometown: Argyle, NY
Undergraduate: Rochester Institute of Technology
Degree: B.S., Biomedical Sciences, Biology
Thesis Advisor: Anthony Vella, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Immunology
Email: astucker@uchc.edu
Zihuan “Rita” Wang
Entering Year: 2022
Hometown: Beijing, China and Manhasset, NY
Undergraduate: Emory University
Graduate: Harvard Medical School
Degree: B.S., Biophysics; M.S., Medical Sciences, Immunology
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: zwang@uchc.edu
Cullen Clairmont
Entering Year: 2021
Hometown: Cheshire, CT
Undergraduate: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Degree: B.S., Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Thesis Advisor: Ching Lau, MD, PhD
Area of Concentration: Genetics and Developmental Biology
Email: clairmont@uchc.edu
Samantha DeRosa
Entering Year: 2021
Hometown: Smithtown, NY
Undergraduate: Northeastern University
Degree: B.S., Cell and Molecular Biology
Thesis Advisor: Patrick A. Murphy, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Cell Biology
Email: sderosa@uchc.edu
Itaevia Curry-Chisolm
Entering Year: 2021
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Undergraduate: North Carolina Central University
Degree: B.S., Biology; B.S., Family and Consumer Science
Thesis Advisor: Undecided
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: currychisolm@uchc.edu
Sadik Karma
Entering Year: 2021
Hometown: Baghdad, Iraq
Undergraduate: Northern Virginia Community College, Johns Hopkins University
Degree: B.A., Biology
Thesis Advisor: Eric Wang, PhD
Area of Concentration: Genetics and Developmental Biology
Email: karma@uchc.edu
Karen Osei-Boamah
Entering Year: 2021
Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
Undergraduate: Xavier University of Louisiana
Degree: B.S., Biochemistry and Biology
Thesis Advisor: Pedro Mendes, Ph.D
Area of Concentration: Systems Biology
Email: oseiboamah@uchc.edu
Raphael Serna
Entering Year: 2021
Hometown: Duarte, CA
Undergraduate: California State University-Northridge
Graduate: University of Southern California
Degree: B.A., Biology; M.S., Microbiology/Bacteriology
Thesis Advisor: Zhichao Fan, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Immunology
Email: serna@uchc.edu
Marta Stetsiv
Entering Year: 2021
Hometown: Shawnee, KS
Undergraduate: Kansas State University
Degree: B.S., Medical Biochemistry
Thesis Advisor: Archana Sanjay, PhD & Rosa Guzzo, PhD (co-mentored)
Area of Concentration: Skeletal Biology and Regeneration
Email: stetsiv@uchc.edu
Isha Walawalkar
Entering Year: 2021
Hometown: Glastonbury, CT
Undergraduate: Boston University
Graduate: University of Connecticut
Degree: B.A., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; M.S., Master of Public Health
Thesis Advisor: Olga Anczukow, PhD
Area of Concentration: Genetics and Developmental Biology
Email: walawalkar@uchc.edu
Titas Grabauskas
Entering Year: 2020
Hometown: Vilnius, Lithuania
Undergraduate: Whittier College
Degree: B.A., Biology
Thesis Advisor: Duygu Ucar, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Genetics and Developmental Biology
Email: tigrabauskas@uchc.edu
Caroline Guild
Entering Year: 2020
Hometown: Carlisle, MA
Undergraduate: Wellesley College
Degree: B.A., Biology
Thesis Advisor: Christopher Heinen, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Email: guild@uchc.edu
Mian Horvath
Entering Year: 2020
Hometown: Gilford, NH
Undergraduate: Bryn Mawr College
Degree: B.A., Anthropology, Biology
Thesis Advisor: Julia Oh, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Email: horvath@uchc.edu
Justin King
Entering Year: 2020
Hometown: Idaho Falls, ID
Undergraduate: University of British Columbia
Degree: B.S., Honours Biochemistry
Thesis Advisor: Archana Sanjay, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Skeletal Biology and Regeneration
Email: juking@uchc.edu
Alexander (Alex) Mitchell
Entering Year: 2020
Hometown: Wellesley, MA
Undergraduate: Brandeis University
Degrees: B.S., M.S., Neuroscience, Biology, Biological Physics
Thesis Advisor: Timothy Spellman, PhD
Area of Concentration: Neuroscience
Email: almitchell@uchc.edu
Christopher (Chris) Pathoulas
Entering Year: 2020
Hometown: Mantorville, MN
Undergraduate Institution:Saint John’s University (MN)
Degree: B.A., Biology
Thesis Advisor: Patrick Murphy, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Cell Biology
Email: pathoulas@uchc.edu
Joseph (Joe) Pathoulas
Entering Year: 2020
Hometown: Mantorville, MN
Undergraduate Institution: Saint John’s University (MN)
Degree: B.A., Biology
Thesis Advisor: Riqiang Yan, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Neuroscience
Email: jpathoulas@uchc.edu
Adam Thiesen
Entering Year: 2020
Hometown: Providence, RI
Undergraduate Institution: Occidental College
Degree: B.A., Biochemistry
Thesis Advisor: Jeffrey Chuang, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Undecided
Email: thiesen@uchc.edu
Summit Singharviranon
Hometown: Cheshire, CT
Entering Year: 2020
Undergraduate Institution: University of Connecticut
Degree: B.S., M.S., Chemical Engineering, Molecular Biology
Thesis Advisor: Pramod Srivastava, M.D./Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Immunology
Email: singhaviranon@uchc.edu
Keaven Caro
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Entering Year: 2019
Undergraduate Institution: Marymount Manhattan College
Degree: B.S., Biology, Neuroscience
Thesis Advisor: David Martinelli, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Neuroscience
Email: caro@uchc.edu
Jacob Hudobenko
Hometown: New Hartford, CT
Entering Year: 2019
Undergraduate Institution: University of Connecticut
Graduate Institution: University of Texas Health Science Center
Degree: B.A., Biological Sciences, M.S.
Thesis Advisor: Riqiang Yan, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Neuroscience
Email: jahudobenko@uchc.edu
Keaton Karlinsey
Hometown: Lima, Peru
Entering Year: 2019
Undergraduate Institution: Brigham Young University
Degree: B.S., Neuroscience
Thesis Advisor: Beiyan Zhou, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Immunology
Email: karlinsey@uchc.edu
Bianca-Maria Marin
Hometown: Bucharest, Romania
Entering Year: 2019
Undergraduate Institution: Northwestern University
Degree: B.A., Biological Sciences, Psychology
Thesis Advisor: Roel Verhaak, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Genetics and Developmental Biology
Email: marin@uchc.edu
Elizabeth Szabo
Hometown: Stratford, CT
Entering Year: 2019
Undergraduate Institution: Fairfield University
Degree: B.S., Biology
Thesis Advisor: Christopher Heinen, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Email: szabo@uchc.edu
Pearl Sutter
Hometown: Windsor, MA
Entering Year: 2019
Undergraduate Institution: Drew University
Degree: B.A., Neuroscience
Thesis Advisor: Stephen Crocker, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Neuroscience
Email:
Rachel Cohn
Hometown:South Windsor, CT
Entering Year: 2018
Undergraduate Institution: Wesleyan University, University of Connecticut (M.S.)
Degree: B.A., Mathematics, Neuroscience & Behavior, M.S., Applied Genomics
Thesis Advisor: Laura Haynes, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Genetics and Developmental Biology
Benjamin Coleman
Hometown: Gray, ME
Entering Year: 2018
Undergraduate: Cedarville University
Degree: B.S. Physics with Minors in Bible and Mathematics
Thesis Advisor: Peter Robinson Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Genetics and Developmental Biology
Email: bcoleman@uchc.edu
Jinhong Dong
Entering Year: 2018
Hometown: Rochester, MN
Undergraduate: Carleton College
Degree: B.A., Biology
Thesis Advisor: Michael Guertin, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Cell Biology
Email: jdong@uchc.edu
Ryan Englander
Entering Year: 2018
Hometown: Suffield, CT
Undergraduate: University of Connecticut
Degree: B.S., Biochemistry
Thesis Advisor: Karolina Palucka, M.D./Ph.D., and Olga Anczukow, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Immunology
Email:englander@uchc.edu
Nathan Gasek
Entering Year: 2018
Hometown: Somers, CT
Undergraduate: University of Vermont
Degree: B.S., Chemistry, Pharmacology
Thesis Advisor: Ming Xu Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Genetics and Developmental Biology
Email: gasek@uchc.edu
Skylar Wright
Entering Year: 2018
Hometown: Bristol, CT
Undergraduate: University of Connecticut
Degrees: B.S., Biology with Minors in Psychology, Women’s Studies
Thesis Advisor: Vijay Rathinam, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Immunology
Email: skywright@uchc.edu
Annie Yao
Entering Year: 2018
Hometown: Cambridge, MA
Undergraduate: Yale University
Degree: B.S., Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry
Thesis Advisor: Riqiang Yan Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Neuroscience
Email: ayao@uchc.edu
Redwan Bhuiyan
Hometown: Jamaica, NY
Entering Year: 2017
Undergraduate Institution: Wesleyan University
Degree: B.A., Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Neuroscience and Behavior
Thesis Advisor: Michael Stitzel Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Genetics and Developmental Biology
Email: rbhuiyan@uchc.edu
Timofey (Tima) Karginov
Hometown: Westmont, IL
Entering Year: 2017
Undergraduate Institution: University of Chicago
Degree: B.S., Biology
Thesis Advisor: Anthony Vella, Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Immunology
Email: karginov@uchc.edu
Gianluca Arianna
Hometown: Jackson Heights, NY
Entering Year: 2016
Undergraduate Institution: City University of New York Hunter College
Degree: B.A., Chemistry, Special Honors Curriculum
Thesis Advisor: Dmitry Korzhnev Ph.D.
Area of Concentration: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Email: arianna@uchc.edu
Rory Geyer
Hometown: Redding, CT
Entering Year: 2016
Undergraduate Institution: University of Connecticut
Degree: B.S., Molecular and Cell Biology
Thesis Advisor: Pramod Srivastava Ph.D. M.D.
Area of Concentration: Immunology.
Email: geyer@uchc.edu
= The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine affiliated faculty