Meet the Team

Trainees

Undergraduate Students

Anthony
Amanda Mueller
Alex
Stefan Wnuk
Owen Mcewing
Keertana Chagari
Laurel Humphrey

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

Cris Guzman
Emily T
Harshita Akella
Emily Strickland

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 Trybulec

She/Her/Hers

  • Degree(s): BS in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut (expected 2024)
  • Research Interests: Genetics and pathology
  • Fun Fact: I love art and graphic design, and I speak Polish
  • Contact: emily.trybulec@uconn.edu

Harshita Akella

She/Her/Hers

  • Degree(s): BS in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut (expected 2024)
  • Research Interests: Bioinformatics, MCB, and genetics
  • Fun Fact: I have lived in India for 16 years!
  • Contact: harshita.akella@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
michelle
emryBrannan

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

KarlFetter

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
JillW

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

NoahReid

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

NicolePauloski

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