Madisyn Hildenbrand is a first-year master’s student studying Biology at Florida Gulf Coast University. Originally from Fort Myers, Florida, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Florida in 2023. Her research interests center on understanding the conserved genetic mechanisms that drive heart evolution in multiple chordate species. She plans to pursue a research career in the field of cardiac developmental biology.

Sophia Prawiradilaga-Mendelzon is a first-year Biology master’s student at Florida Gulf Coast University (where she got her bachelor) in Dr. Ugo Coppola’s lab. Her background includes invasive species research on Burmese python navigation and sensory biology. She studies gene regulatory networks in zebrafish to understand nervous system and cardiac development. Currently, she is interested in discovering new genes involved in valve development. She plans to pursue a medical career that integrates research and clinical practice. 

Klejdi Lako is a senior majoring in Biotechnology with a minor in Chemistry at Florida Gulf Coast University. Originally from Albania, he is passionate about developmental biology and genetics. His research focuses on understanding novel molecular mechanisms involved in cardiac development using zebrafish, as well as exploring nanofiber scaffolds for tissue engineering and computational chemistry approaches.