Undergraduate Research Participants

Undergraduate Research Participants



We conduct research at the interface of chemistry, biology, physics, and medicine with a highly dynamic group of interdisciplinary team members. We recruit members who have passion for innovation, excellence, relentless pursuit of success, and ability to collaborate and work as a team.

For more information about the Project Symphony Soft Interface Research Group, please contact Dr. Lee at SLee@iona.edu.

Abbreviations: 

  • ACS-PRF-SUMR: American Chemical Society-Petroleum Research Fund-Supplement for Underrepresented Minor Research
  • Iona/AMEX Grant: American Express Grant (Iona College Honors Program)
  • NSF-RUI: National Science Foundation-Research in Undergraduate Institutions
  • PMF: The Patrick Martin Foundation
  • CBL: Clare Boothe Luce


Class of 2026

Jessica Said

Funding: NSF-RUI

Barrier properties investigation by micropipet manipualtion technique (Honors Program)

Years: 2023-Present

Peter Rosario

Funding: NSF-RUI

ATR-IR spectroscopic study of biomembranes

Years: 2023-Present

Elizabeth Andersen

Funding: NSF-RUI

Raman spectroscopic study of biomembranes (Honors Program)

Years: 2023-Present

Class of 2025

Wilber Perla

Funding: NSF-RUI, McNair Scholar

Research: Raman spectroscopic studies of biomembranes (Honors Program)

Years: 2022-Present


Amani Rabadi

Funding: NSF-RUI

Thermal properties of biomembranes

Years: 2022-Present


Caroline Scott

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Electrical property of model lipid bilayers (Honors Program), Research abroad (Japan, 2023)

Years: 2022-Present

Christopher Poust

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Raman spectroscopic studies of biomembranes  (Honors Program)

Years: 2022-Present


Joseph Fosella

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Tensiometric studies of model lipid bilayers (Honors Program)

Years: 2022-Present

Mary Herrera

Funding: NSF-RUI, McNair Scholar

Research: Water permeability studies of biomimetic membranes

Years: 2022-Present


Class of 2024

Jamie Gudyka

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Effect of phytochemicals on water permeability (Honors Program)

Years: 2021-Present


Riley Porteus

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Electrical property of model lipid bilayers (Honors Program)

Years: 2021-Present


Marina Pan

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Effect of small molecules on model lipid bilayer

Years: 2021-Present


Shakinah Silverberg

Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar, McNair Scholar

Research: Investigation of biomembranes by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (Honors Program)

Years: 2021-Present

Erienne Peters

Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar, McNair Scholar

Research: Computational modeling of biomembranes

Years: 2021-Present

Flor Alvarez

Funding: NSF-RUI, McNair Scholar

Research: Thermal properties of biomembranes

Years: 2023-Present


Zachary Morocho

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: ATR-IR Spectroscopic studies of biomembranes (Honors Program)

Years: 2022-Present

Class of 2023

Rachel Griffith

Funding: NSF-RUI, CBL Scholar

Research: Computational/Mathematical Modeling of Biomembranes

Years: 2020-2022


Katherine Ivanchenko

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Raman spectroscopic investigation of drug-membrane interactions (Honors Program)

Years: 2020-2023


Jasmin Ceja Vega

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Effect of small molecules on water permeability of model lipid bilayer

Years: 2020-Present


Alondra Hernandez Gamez

Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar

Research: Investigation of membrane perturbation by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Years: 2020-2023


Konstantina Sgolombis

Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar

Research: Computational Modeling of Biomembranes (Honors Program)

Years: 2020-2022


Colleen Clarke

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Computational Modeling of Biomembranes; DSC investigation of Biomembrnaes

Years: 2020-2023

Current: PhD program in Chemical Engineering, Clemson University

William Lowry

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Mathematical Modeling of Permeability Phenomena at the biomimetic membranes (Honors Program)

Years: 2022-2023


Class of 2022

Samantha Zurbriggen

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Analysis of Dynamic Properties of Model Membrane (Honors Program)

Years: 2018-2019


Michael Krmic

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Electrophyiscal Properties of Biomembranes (Honors Program)

Years: 2018-2022

Current: PharmD program, Touro College of Pharmacy


Escarlin Perez

Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar, CBL Scholar

Research: Thermal Properties of Biomembranes (Honors Program)

Years: 2018-2022

Current: PhD program in Biomedical Science, Boston University

Robert Larca

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Computational Studies of Biomembranes (Honors Program)

Years: 2020-2021


Jorge Villa

Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar

Research: Computational Studies of Biomembranes

Years: 2018-2022

Lakshmanath Sawak

Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar

Research: Computational Studies of Biomembranes

Years: 2020-2021

Class of 2021

Lynnie Chong

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: PAMAM dendrimer interactions with model membranes (Honors Program)

Years: 2018-2021

Current: DO program, LECOM


Anthony (A.J.) Liles

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Calorimetric studies of model lipid bilayers with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Honors Program)

Years: 2018-2021

Current: DO program, LECOM

Camilla Fernandez

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Tensiometric Studies of Nanomaterials at the oil-water Interface

Years: 2018-2019



Patrick Scollan

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Raman Spectroscopic Studies of Biomembranes 

Years: 2018-2022

MST in Adolescent Education

Juan Rosario

Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar

Research: Computational Studies of Biomembranes; Raman Spectroscopic Studies of Biomembranes

Years: 2018-2021

Tavis Johnson

Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar

Research: Computational Studies of Biomembranes

Years: 2018-2021

MS in Computer Science, Iona University

Class of 2020

Regan Warmoth

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Tensiometric Studies of Drugs with Cell Membranes

Years: 2017-2020



Marnie Skinner

Funding: NSF-RUI; Clare Boothe Luce Scholar (CBL Scholar)

Research: Effect of nanoparticles with model membranes: Water permeability studies (Honors Program) 

Years: 2017-2020

Current: PhD program in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins University 

Mesha Iqbal

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Tensiometric Studies of Nanomaterials at the oil-water Interface (Honors Program)

Years: 2017-2020



Jonathan Warner Clement

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Computational Studies of Drug-Membrane Interaction

Years: 2018-2019



Leyla Valerio

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Phospholipid-Small Molecule Interactions: Influences on Membrane Thermal Behavior Studied by DSC

Years: 2018-2019

Current: PhD program in Chemistry at University of Rochester


Joseph Giancaspro

Funding: NSF-RUI; Research Abroad, University of Tokyo, Japan, Summer 2018

Research: Raman Studies of Water Transport at Nanoliter Microdroplets: Diffusional and Osmotic Water Permeability (Honors Program)

Years: 2017-2020

Current: MD Program at SUNY Upstate, NY

Mariama Njie

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: MD simulation of water permeability in model membranes

Years: 2016-2020

Current: MS in Computer Science at Iona, Software engineer



Class of 2019

Michael Morales

Funding: NSF-RUI; Jean Dreyfus Scholar

Research: On the Permeability of Water across Model Lipid Bilayers (Honors Program)

Years: 2016-2019

Current: MS in Chemistry at Brown University


Brona O'Sullivan

Funding: NSF-RUI; Clare Boothe Luce Scholar

Research: Water Permeability of Asymmetric Droplet Interface Bilayer (Honors Program)

Years: 2016-2019

Current: PhD Program in Chemistry at Loyola University Chicago

Alyssa-Marie Gayapa

Funding: NSF-RUI; Clare Boothe Luce Scholar

Research: Tensiometric Studies of Drugs with Cell Membranes

Years: 2016-2019

Current: PhD Program in Chemical Engineering at University of Illinois at Chicago


Anneliese Jagarnath

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Phospholipid-Small Molecule Interactions: Influences on Membrane Thermal Behavior Studied by DSC

Years: 2016-2019

 

Megan Wood

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Effects of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on Water Permeability of Lipid Bilayers (Honors Program)

Years: 2017-2019

Current: MD Program at Penn State College of Medicine



Elizabeth Miller

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Raman Microspectroscopic Study of Phospholipid Membranes and Their Interaction with Biomolecules (Honors Program)

Years: 2017-2019

Current: MD Program at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine


Shea Foley

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Role of vitamin E on Polyunsaturated Lipids: Water Permeability (Honors Program)

Years: 2017-2019






Class of 2018

Alessandra Armetta

Funding: NSF-RUI; Research Abroad, University of Tokyo, Japan, Summer 2017

Research: Solvent Effects on Water Permeability

Years: 2015-2018

Current: MS in Chemistry, University of Connecticut


Gabriella Di Domizio

Funding: NSF-RUI; Summer Intern at the PLART Museum, Naples, Italy 2016, REU at Univ. Delaware 2017

Research: Influence of Tail-group of Lipids on Membrane Water Permeability

Years: 2015-2018

Current: Iona College Class Valedictorian; MS in Chemistry, Penn State University, PA; New Product Development Coordinator at Pipette, CA

Samuel Braziel

Funding: NSF-RUI; Jean Dreyfus Scholar

Research: Quantitative Analysis of Raman Active Solutes in a Microconfinement

Years: 2015-2018

Current: Scientific Design Co., Inc.


Rachel Garn

Funding: NSF-RUI; Research Experiences for Undergraduates, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Summer 2016

Research: Dendrimer-based targeted drug delivery

Years: 2015-2018

Current: MD Program at SUNY Upstate, NY

Class of 2017

Geoffrey Cawley

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Software Development for Image Analysis

Years: 2013-2017

Current: Software Engineer


Maria Lopez

Funding: CSTEP; NSF-RUI

Research: Influence of Tail-group of Lipids on Membrane Water Permeability

Years: 2014-2017




Sue Ellen Evangelista

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Effect of Cations on Membrane Permeability (Honors Thesis 2017)

Years: 2014-2017

Current: MST in Education, Iona College; Science Teacher, The Ursuline School.

Kalen Sullivan

Funding: NSF-RUI; NSF-REU at UMBC, 2016

Research: Quantitative Analysis of Raman Active Solutes in a Microconfinement

Years: 2014-2017

Current: JD Program at Syracuse University, NY (2020-Present)

Jacqueline Denver

Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar; Research Abroad, University of Tokyo, Japan, Summer 2018

Research: Solvent Effects on Water Permeability (Honors Thesis 2017)

Years: 2014-2017

Current: School of Nursing, Quinnipiac University; Clinical Nurse Leader, Emergency Department at The Hospital of Central Connecticut

Michael McGlone

Funding: NSF-RUI; Research Abroad, University of Tokyo, Japan, Summer 2016

Research: Electrical Property Measurement of Biological Membrane (Honors Thesis 2017)

Years: 2015-2017

Current: Regeneron, NY (2017-2020), Cooper Medical School (2020-Present)



Class of 2016

Peter Milianta

Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar, Iona/AMEX Grant; Research Abroad, University of Tokyo, Japan, Summer 2018

Research: Generation of Asymmetric Droplet Interface Bilayer (Honors Thesis 2016)

Years: 2013-2016

MD/MBA, Penn State College of Medicine

Ricardo Oliveira

Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar

Research: Food Emulsions (Honors Thesis 2016)

Years: 2013-2016

Current: MS in Chemical Engineering, Cornell University; Applications Engineer, Nouryon

Jacqueline Martinez

Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar

Research: Emulsions for Cosmetic Applications (Honors Thesis 2016)

Years: 2013-2016

MBA, Iona College; Global Communications, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Melissa Morales

Funding: CSTEP; NSF-RUI

Research: Study of Polymorphism: Thermal Behavior

Years: 2013-2016

MBA, Iona College




Sean Campbell

Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar

Research: Neural Network Analysis for NIR Spectra (Honors Thesis 2016)

Years: 2013-2016

Current: Google, NY

Jake Villanova

Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar

Research: Solvent Effects on Water Permeability

Years: 2015-2016

PhD in Chemistry, Brown University, MD program, Yale University

Class of 2015

Omoakhe Tisor

Funding: CSTEP; NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar; Iona/AMEX Grant

Research: Monoglyceride-templated crystallization (Honors Thesis 2015)

Years: 2011-2015

MD, SUNY Downstate Medical School; Resident Physician, Zucker School of Medicine-North Shore/Long Island Jewish

Michelle Muzzio

Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar; Iona/AMEX Grant

Research: Artificial Membrane via Droplet Interface Bilayer (Honors Thesis 2015)

Years: 2011-2015 (Iona College Class Valedictorian)

PhD in Chemistry, Brown University ’19; NSF Graduate Research Fellowship ’16; Cell Press Journal, iScience

Kevin Towler

Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar

Research: Inorganic Crystallization

Years: 2011-2012

Current: Content Manager, Creative Webdesign




Rosario Giacomini

Funding: Iona College; NSF-RUI

Research: Artificial Membrane via Droplet Interface Bilayer

Years: 2011-2015

DO, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine; Resident at Stamford Health

Safiat Ayinde

Funding: CSTEP; NSF-RUI; NSF-REU at Johns Hopkins Univ. 2014

Research: NIR Study of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients

Years: 2013-2015

PhD in Pharmacology and Molecular Science, Johns Hopkins University, ORISE Postdoctoral Fellow at FDA

Class of 2014

Daniel Lutolf-Carroll

Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar

Research: Development of Image Analysis Software for Surface Tension

Years: 2010-2014

Current: MS in Analytics, Northwestern University; Data Scientist at Molex

Peter Vitale

Funding: NSF-RUI; Iona/AMEX Grant

Research: Polymorphism of Glycine (Honors Thesis 2014)

Years: 2010-2014

Current: DO, NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine; Family Medicine, Atlantic Medical Group Primary Care

Courtney Veilleux

Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar

Research: Biomineralization in a Confined Space

Years: 2010-2012

PhD in Microbiology an Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, ClearView Healthcare Partners

Jaclyn Robustelli

Funding: Iona College; PMF Scholar; NSF-RUI; Bruker Inc.; Iona/AMEX Grant

Research: Development of Hybrid Analytical Technique: NIR/TLC (Honors Thesis 2014)

Years: 2011-2014

PhD in Biochemistry, Univ. Pennsylvania; Bristol Myers Squibb

Mona Jasmine Ahonen

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: Study of Polymorphism: Thermal Behavior

Years: 2013-2014

Current: PhD in Chemistry, UNC Chapel Hil, ’19; Principal R&D Scientist, Vast Therapeutics, Research Triangle Park, NC.

Willmor J Pěna ccoa

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: MD simulation of caffeine-membrane interaction

Years: 2010-2014

Current: PhD Program in Computational Chemistry, NYU



Class of 2013

Erin Morgan

Funding: Iona College; PMF; Iona/AMEX Grant; Summer intern Bruker Inc. 2013

Research: Protein and Polymer Stability by FT-NIR and ATR-IR (Honors Thesis 2013)

Years: 2011-2013

Current: PhD in Chemistry, UC Santa Barbara, ’19; Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.




Allyson Moffat

Funding: Iona College; Bruker Inc.

Research: The Effect of Nature and Ionic Strength on Protein Denaturation by FT-NIR (Honors Thesis 2013) 

Years: 2011-2013

Current: Associate Scientist at International Flavors and Fragrances, Hazlet, NJ





Zuzanna Michalak

Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF; Iona/AMEX Grant

Research: Understanding the Nature of Adhesion at the Droplet Interface Bilayer: Theoretical Approach (Honors Thesis with Distinction 2013)

Years: 2009-2013

Current: ACS WCC and Eli Lilly Award; MD, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Poland; Pediatric Resident, Hackensack University Medical Center

Nousin Haque

Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF; Iona/AMEX Grant

Research: Understanding the Nature of Adhesion at the Droplet Interface Bilayer (Honors Thesis 2013)

Years: 2009-2013

Current: MD Program, Einstein School of Medicine, NY




Darius Fartash

Funding: NSF-RUI

Research: The Study of Osmotic Flux Across a Surfactant Bilayer

Years: 2009-2013

Current: Emergency Medical Technician, Oakland, CA

Class of 2012

Kiersten Giusto

Funding: NSF-RUI; Iona College

Research: Determining solute concentration in microdroplets by refractive index/Crystallization of Inorganics/Organics and Templating Effect

Years: 2009-2012

Current: PhD in Pharmaceutical Science, St John’s University; Waterbury Hospital

Ines Silva

Funding: NSF-RUI; Iona College

Research: Learning Modules for Microscopic Visualization Phenomena

Years: 2009-2012

Current: MST Program in Education, Iona College; HS teacher, NY


Catherine Morris

Funding: NSF-RUI; Iona College

Research: Crystallization of Inorganics/Organics and Templating Effect

Years: 2009-2012

Current: Pharm.D ’15, University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy), Pharmacist, NY




Alexander Soderberg

Funding: Iona College; Bruker Inc.

Research: Development and Validation of an FT-NIR Method for Identification of Spectrally Similar Materials using a Hierarchical Approach

Years: 2010-2012

Current: MS in Chemistry ’14, Northern Arizona Univ.; Cambrex Corporation, Sweden

Class of 2011

Nick Florio

Funding: Dreyfus; NSF-RUI; PMF

Research: Additive Effects on NaCl

Years: 2008-2011

Current: MD ’16, SUNY Stony Brook, School of Medicine; Overlook Medical Ctr, NJ; Family Medicine, Nuvance Health Medical Practices, Ridgefield

Paul Sanstead

Funding:  Dreyfus; NSF-RUI; PMF

Research: Metastable Zone Width for K2SO4 (Honors Thesis 2011)

Years: 2008-2011

Current: PhD ’18 in Chemistry; U. Chicago; Semifinalist for the 2011 National Collegiate Honors Council Portz Scholars; Postdoc. Northwestern University

Diana Nunes

Funding: NSF-RUI; Iona College

Research: Visualization of Solubility Phenomena

Years: 2010-2011

Current: Nursing Program, College of Mount Saint Vincent; Registered Nurse, NYU Langone Medical Center



Class of 2010

Loreta Geneviciute

Funding: ACS-PRF; Dreyfus; NSF-RUI

Research: Polytype Selectivity for K4Fe(CN)6

Years: 2007-2010

Current: DMD ’15, New York University College of Dentistry; Prosthodontist, NY



Joseph Wiener

Funding:  ACS-PRF; Dreyfus; NSF-RUI

Research: Metal Induced Bilayer Formation

Years: 2007-2010

Current: MS. Chemical Engineering, Manhattan College; Product Development Senior Scientist at PepsiCo

Remon Bebawee

Funding: ACS-PRF; Dreyfus; NSF-RUI

Research: Template Effect on K3Fe(CN)6 crystallization

Years: 2007-2010

Current: ACS-PRF-SUMR Scholar 2008, MD ’18, SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine; Chief Resident, Internal Medicine

Class of 2009

Aileen Hilario

Funding: ACS-PRF; Dreyfus; Iona/AMEX Grant

Research: Specific Ion Effects on Cationic Surfactant (Honors Thesis 2009)

Years: 2007-2009

Current: OD ’15, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine; Physical Medicine/Rehab, Glen Head, NY

Class of 2008

Aaron Snyder

Funding: ACS-PRF; AMEX Grant

Research: Lysozyme Crystallization (Honors Thesis 2008)

Years: 2006-2008

Current: MD ’12, The Florida State University College of Medicine; Emergency Medical Specialist in Jacksonville, FL



Pasquale Abiuso

Funding: ACS-PRF

Research: Crystallization in a Microdroplet

Years: 2006-2008

Current: Boca Raton Community High School, Chemistry AP/AICE/Honors Teacher




Kristin Allain

Funding: ACS-PRF; Iona/AMEX Grant

Research: Controlled Crystallization of K3Fe(CN)6 (Honors Thesis 2008)

Years: 2006-2008

Current: JD ’12, Stetson University College of Law; Children’s Legal Services Attorney at Florida Department of Children and Families; FBI Special Agent, NY

Shelby Erb

Funding: Dreyfus

Research: Chemical Reactions in a Microdroplet

Years: 2006-2008

Current: Admiral Farragut Academy, 9-12 Education




Class of 2007

Christina Luis

Funding: ACS-PRF

Research: A single microdroplet as a microchemical reaction container

Years: 2006-2007

High School Interns

Lucy Thiessen

Funding: NSF-RUI

Years: Summer 2023

High School: Bronxville High School

Pariss Frederick

Funding: NSF-RUI

Years: Summer 2023

High School: Cardinal Spellman High School

Joslyn Berbano

Funding: NSF-RUI

Years: Summer 2019, 2020

High School: Yonkers High School; Hunter College

Reem Reihani

Funding: NSF-RUI

Years: Summer 2019

High School: Yonkers High School; Pace University

Jacob Gruza

Funding: NSF-RUI

Years: Summer 2016

High School: New Rochelle High School; Carnegie Mellon Univ. Mechnical Engineering

Kevin Cavallo

Funding: NSF-RUI

Years: Summer 2016

High School: New Rochelle High School

Helen Meyerson

Funding: NSF-RUI

Years: Spring-Summer 2017

High School: Pelham Memorial High School

Griffin Bates

Funding: NSF-RUI

Years: Summer 2018

High School: New Rochelle High School; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Jonathan Richter

Funding: NSF-RUI

Years: Summer 2015

High School: King and Low-Heywood Thomas School;  Washington University in St. Louis, Mechanical Engineering; MS in Stanford University School of Engineering


David Lopez

Funding: STEP

Research: Monoglyceride-templated crystallization

Years: 2011-2015

New Rochelle High School; Columbia University, Chemistry ’19

Current: Consultant at Slalom



Akshay Koottala

Funding: Iona College; NSF-RUI

Research: Solvent intercalation at the liquid-liquid interface-Influence on Glycine Polymorph

Years: 2011-2013

New Rochelle High School; Drexel University, Biological Science ’18

Current: JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Michael McInerney

Funding: NSF-RUI

Years: Summer 2017

High School: Pelham Memorial High School; Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Share by: