People

Maria-Eirini Pandelia (PhD) (mepandelia@brandeis.edu)  (Faculty page)

Principal Investigator

Research Associate/Lab Manager

Jiahua Chen (jiahuachen@brandeis.edu)

Graduate Student

Jiahua graduated from Brandeis with a B.S. in biology and chemistry in 2020. Currently, she continues pursuing her Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry and Biophysics at Brandeis.



Logan Calderone (lcalderone@brandeis.edu)

Graduate Student

Logan received his B.A in Chemistry with a concentration in Biochemistry from Washington University in St. Louis. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, playing the piano, and reading fiction.



Trent Quist (trentquist@brandeis.edu)

Graduate Student

I graduated from Florida State with a B.S. in biochemistry and biology. When not in the lab, I love being outside, working out, seeing new places, and hanging out with friends!


Luying Pan (pluying@brandeis.edu)

Graduate Student

I graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University with a B.S. in Chemistry (Macromolecule). I obtained a MS from Brandeis University. I enjoy music and traveling. 

Tara Vijayakumar (tarav@brandeis.edu)

Graduate Student

I got a B.S in Biomedical Engineering at Rowan University (Glassboro, NJ) in 2023. That fall I started my PhD in BCBP at Brandeis with a DEIS scholarship. I joined the Pandelia lab as I am passionate about education, translational research and human health – I seek to move into these areas after grad school. In my free time, I read, watch lots of women's ice hockey, sew, cook and am busy collecting as many hobbies as possible. I'm also a first gen grad student and a queer scientist!

Henry Thanh Nguyenh (nguyenh@brandeis.edu)


Now: DEIS scholar in the Biotechnology program at Brandeis University, 2026



(graduated)Undergraduate Student, Brandeis 2024. 


I am a Biology and Neuroscience double major on the pre med track from Worcester, Massachusetts. In my free time, I love running, listening to music, watching k-dramas, trying new food places, and cooking.


Patrick Cao (patrickcao@brandeis.edu)

Undergraduate Student, Brandeis University 2025.

I'm a biology and psychology double major from Acton, Massachusetts. In my free time I enjoy running, watching soccer, and listening to podcasts.

Qianyi Li (qianyiyang@brandeis.edu)

Undergraduate Student, Brandeis University 2025.

I am a chemical biology and biology double major from Wuhan, China. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, watching K dramas, going to concerts, and hanging out with friends!

Previous members

Ken Takeoka (ktakeoka@brandeis.edu)


Now: Research Assistant in Wesley Newton Hospital.


Undergraduate Student, Brandeis University 2024.


I'm a biology and music double major on the premed track from Newton, Massachusetts. Outside of the lab, I like to read books in Japanese and English, sing karaoke, and take walks.  


Grace Schwartz (graceschwartz@brandeis.edu)


Now: works in Pharma


Undergraduate Student, Brandeis University 2024. 


I am a chemistry major from Worcester, Massachusetts. In my free time I enjoy going on runs, listening to R&B music, and exploring the Boston area.

Richard Wang (richardwang@brandeis.edu)

Now: med school

Undergraduate Student, Brandeis University 2023.

I am a biochemistry major who is part of the class of 2023 from Acton, Massachusetts. Outside of the lab, I enjoy, among other things, hanging out with my friends and dog, watching dramas, and jogging. 


Natalie Chin (nataliechin@brandeis.edu)

Now: Post  Baccalaureat at National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Previous:

Undergraduate Student,  Brandeis University 23'.



Emma Xu (yutongxu@brandeis.edu)

Now:

Master student at Harvard Medical School

Previous:

Undergraduate Student, Brandeis University 2023.

I am a Biochemistry and Computer Science major from Shanghai, China. In my free time, I enjoy music and skateboarding

Isaac Paddy (IsaacAPaddy@hotmail.com)

Now: 

 Graduate Student at Stanford

Previous:

Undergraduate Student,  Brandeis University 22'. 

 I am a Chemistry major with a specialization in Chemical Biology from Dover, Delaware. I enjoy going to concerts, dancing, and watching Rom-Coms.

Felicia Deng (fdeng@brandeis.edu)

Now: 

Research associate  at the Department of Molecular Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital

Previous:

Undergraduate Student, Brandeis University 2022.

I am a Biochemistry major from central Massachusetts. In my free time, I enjoy playing music, journaling, and cooking.

Now: 

Research associate  at New Equilibrium Biosciences

Previous:

 Graduate Student

Chie graduated from UC Davis with a BS in Biochem and MCB. Her hobbies include hanging out with animals, hiking, and drawing.


Michelle Langton (mlangton@brandeis.edu)

Now: 

Scientist at Foghorn Therapeutics

Previous:

Graduate Student

Michelle graduated from Siena College in 2016 with a B.S. in Chemistry and has come to Brandeis in pursuit of a PhD in Biochemistry and Biophysics

Now:

Scientist at Tango therapeutics

Previous:

Graduate Student

I graduated from Franklin and Marshall College with a B.A. in Chemistry

 Yaotian Zhang (derekzhang@brandeis.edu)

Now:

Graduate Student at the Max-Planck Institute 

Previous:

Class  19' Undergraduate Student. 

"I like cooking"

Now:

Graduate student at Brandeis University , Pandelia Lab

Previous:

Undergraduate Student,  Brandeis University 20'. 

I am majoring in Biology and Chemistry. Hoping to become a sponge, which is not only able to absorb information but also to squeeze and share the absorbed information!


Paul Jiang (pjiang@brandeis.edu)

Now:

Research associate at Boston Childers Hospital

Previous:

Undergraduate Student,  Brandeis University 21'. 

I am from Berlin, Germany and am pursuing a Biochemistry and Neuroscience major. Besides working in the lab, I enjoy traveling and meeting new people, and love to be with friends in the outdoors. 

Max Markey  (mmarkey@brandeis.edu)

Now: 

Scientist at Foghorn Therapeutics

Previous:

Master Student (Biotechnology Program), 2021

Max graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry in 2017 from North Carolina State University. In his free time, he enjoys teaching, building objects/electronics, cooking, and playing with animals.

Now: 

Graduate Student at Johns Hopkins school of Medicine

Previous:

Class 19 Undergraduate Student

"I am majoring in Chemistry and Biology and a part of the Class of 2019. Outside of lab, I enjoy playing tennis and golf, going hiking and kayaking, or just spending time outdoors. I am from Oradell, NJ and am a huge baseball and hockey fan."

Christa Ettee Nasri (cette001@brandeis.edu)

 Class 19' Master Student

"My name is Christa Ettee Nasri, I was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria. I graduated with a Biology BS from SUNY at Plattsburgh, and then taught for a year as a chemistry adjunct. Now I attend Brandeis University with the aim of completing my Molecular and Cell Biology MS."

Ben Pomerantz (bpom2017@brandeis.edu)

Class '17 Undergraduate Student

Worked in the enzymatic synthesis and purification of  hybrid dinucleotides.

Now: 

Graduate student at Harvard University

Previous:

Class '17 (B.S./M.S.) works on the HD-oxo fusion project studying the enzyme catalyzed degradation of organophosphonates. When he’s not in the lab or otherwise discussing science, you can probably find him in the music building playing piano, harpsichord, and chamber music, or outdoors either riding his bike or hiking in the woods.

Xingchen Liu (xincl@brandeis.edu)

Now: 

Graduate Student at UMass Amherst

Previous:

Class ' 18 Undergraduate Student

Undergraduate Student, (Class Year 2018)

He (Curtis) Zun Yu (hzy0805@mail.com)

Now: 

Graduate Student at Cornell University

Previous:

Undergraduate Student working on the cofactor evolution and diversification of the CRISPR-associated protein Cas3.

Somar Hadid (somar@brandeis.edu)


Undergraduate Student 

"I am majoring in Biology as part of the class of 2019. I hail from Newburgh, NY and I really enjoy Chemistry too!"

Kimberly Rizzolo (krizzolo@brandeis.edu)

Post-doctoral  fellow


I am originally from New Jersey and recently received my PhD in Chemistry from Boston University in the laboratory of Sean Elliott.  I enjoy exploring Boston, taking trips to the Jersey shore, and going to see live music.

Matt Cohen (matthewryucohen@gmail.com)

Undergraduate Student (Class 2019)



Yichen (Jane) Huang (janehyc@brandeis.edu)

Undergraduate Student,  Brandeis University 20'. 

I am majoring in biochemistry and maths as part of the class of 2020. Outside the classroom, I like watching movies and skating

Nabeeha Haq (nabeehahaq@brandeis.edu)

Undergraduate Student,  Brandeis University 22'. 

 My name is Nabeeha and I am from Central Mass. I’m currently studying Health: Science, Society, and Policy and Biology at Brandeis. I love small, furry animals, as well as being outdoors!

Greyson Hullinger (hullingergr@gmail.com)

Undergraduate Student,  Brandeis University 20'. 

My name is Greyson Hullinger. I am a biology and biochemistry double major from North Ogden, Utah. In my free time I love to spend my time hiking, kayaking and in general out in the sun. I also love boxing, reading, and taking long walks on the beach. 

Ruoxuan Sun (ruoxuansun@brandeis.edu)

Graduate Student

Ruoxuan got her bachelor's degree in chemistry in 2018 and now majors in Biochemistry & Biophysics. 

Hyeseong Moon (hyeseong462@brandeis.edu)


Undergraduate Student, Brandeis 2025


I'm a chemistry major from Ayer, Massachusetts. In my free time, I enjoy cooking and baking and watching K-dramas.