Trainees
Undergraduate Students
Anthony He
He/Him/His
- Degree(s): BS in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut (expected 2026)
- Research Interests: Genomics and cell biology
- Fun Fact: I play chess and read sometimes
- Contact: anthony.he@uconn.edu
Amanda Mueller
She/Her/Hers
- Degree(s): BS in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut (expected 2024)
- Research Interests: Genetics, conservation genomics, epigenetics, and human health
- Fun Fact: I love spending my time at the pottery wheel making new pots for my houseplant obsession!
- Contact: amanda.mueller@uconn.edu
David Baukus
He/Him/His
- Degree(s): BS in Molecular and Cell Biology and Diagnostic Genetic Science, University of Connecticut (expected 2025)
- Research Interests: Genetic disorders/diseases, and genomic function
- Fun Fact: I’m one of five kids, I love to read, and I can solve a Rubik’s cube
- Contact: david.baukus@uconn.edu
Stefan Wnuk
He/Him/His
- Degree(s): BS in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut (expected 2024)
- Research Interests: Genomics, computational biology, and bioinformatics
- Fun Fact: I am a big fan of hiking and anything outdoors!
- Contact: stefan.wnuk@uconn.edu
Owen McEwing
He/Him/His
- Degree(s): BS in Biological Sciences, University of Connecticut (expected 2024)
- Research Interests: Genomics, bioinformatics, conservation, biotechnology, and genetics
- Fun Fact: I love skiing and playing basketball. I also play the guitar and I have two dogs: Ollie and Chara
- Contact: owen.mcewing@uconn.edu
Keertana Chagari
She/Her/Hers
- Degree(s): BS in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut (expected 2025)
- Research Interests: Genomics, conservation biology, and bioinformatics
- Fun Fact: I like to play tennis and travel and I'm very adventurous
- Contact: keertana.chagari@uconn.edu
Laurel Humphrey
She/Her/Hers
- Degree(s): BS in Biological Sciences, University of Connecticut (expected 2024)
- Research Interests: Genomics and conservation biology
- Fun Fact: I love the outdoors, reading, baking, and traveling. Last summer I went on a road trip that covered 17 states over 5000 miles in 2 weeks!
- Contact: laurel.humphrey@uconn.edu
Mentors
Undergraduate Students
Cristopher Guzman
He/Him/His
- Degree(s): Associates in Liberal Arts and Sciences, Middlesex Community College (2021); BS in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut (expected 2024)
- Research Interests: Genomics, CRISPR technology and applications, Genetic engineering, Nanotechnology, Microbiology, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, 3D Bioprinting, Pharmaceutical and Medical Sciences, Conservation, Urban Agriculture, and much more.
- Fun Fact: I love traveling, cooking, I'm a self taught herbalist, watching medical shows and I met Dr. Richard Sacra ( he contracted Ebola and survived).
- Contact: cristopher.guzman@uconn.edu
Emily Strickland
She/Her/Hers
- Degree(s): BS in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Connecticut (expected 2024)
- Research Interests: Genomics, the influence of epigenetics on community and population health, and the link between genomics and disease.
- Fun Fact: I am a lifelong swimmer and love to bake, cook, and eat all kinds of foods!
- Contact: emily.strickland@uconn.edu
Graduate Students
Cynthia Webster, Ph.D. Student
She/Her/Hers
- Degree(s): BS in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut (2020)
- Research Interests: Computational genomics, epigenetics, conservation biology, immunology
- Fun Fact: I'm the lead singer in a band, and I love rock scrambling on a hike
- Contact: cynthia.webster@uconn.edu
Michelle Neitzey, Ph.D. Student
She/Her/Hers
- Degree(s): BS in Biology, James Madison University
- Research Interests: Marine genomics, deep-sea animals, genomic adaptations, conservation genomics
- Fun Fact: You can find me outdoors or at a farmer's market most weekends
- Contact: michelle.neitzey@uconn.edu
Emry Brannan, Ph.D. Student
He/They
- Degree(s): BS in Biology, Florida Gulf Coast University (2017); MS in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of New Haven (2020)
- Research Interests: Mammalian chromosome evolution, conservation genomics, X-chromosome inactivation
- Fun Fact: I have 2 cats, named Artemis and Persephone
- Contact: emry.brannan@uconn.edu
Postdoctoral Researchers
Karl Fetter, Ph.D.
He/Him/His
- Degree(s): PHD, University of Vermont (2019); MS, UNC-Chapel Hill (2014); BA, UNC-Chapel Hill (2007)
- Research Interests: Conservation genomics, quantitative genetics, methods development.
- Fun Fact: I'm a lover of the outdoors and everything that goes with it: the plants, birds, rocks, camping, and the sunsets.
- Contact: kcf@uconn.edu
Principal Investigators
Rachel O'Neill, Ph.D.
She/Her/Hers
- Degree(s): PHD in Genetics and Human Variation from La Trobe University (1997), BA with Highest Honors in Zoology from the University of Texas at Austin (1992)
- Research Interests:
- Fun Fact:
- Contact: Rachel.ONeill@uconn.edu
Jill Wegrzyn, Ph.D.
She/Her/Hers
- Degree(s): PhD in Information Systems and Technology from CGU/UC San Diego, MS in Computational Science from SDSU San Diego, BS in Animal Science/Computer Science from UC Davis
- Research Interests:
- Fun Fact:
- Contact: jill.wegrzyn@uconn.edu
Computational Biology Core
Noah Reid, Ph.D.
He/Him/His
- Degree(s): B.A. Boston University 2003. M.S.University of Idaho 2008. Ph.D. Louisiana State University 2013. Postdoctoral Study: University of California, Davis.
- Research Interests: Evolutionary genomics; genetics of adaptation; speciation; systematics and phylogeography.
- Fun Fact:
- Contact: noah.reid@uconn.edu
Sequencing Team
Nicole Pauloski
She/Her/Hers
- Degree(s): B.S. in Biotechnology from Rutgers University, M.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from UNH
- Research Interests: Method development, Long Read Sequencing, Unique and Difficult samples
- Fun Fact: I love to travel and explore new places. I love to cook for family and friends, especially trying out new cuisines and recipes. Resident lab Broadway fan
- Contact: Nicole.Pauloski@uconn.edu