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Mariana received dual bachelor's degrees summa cum laude in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2005 and her Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2010 from Princeton University. As a graduate student, Mariana characterized human chromatin proteins and their modifications both at the global and single protein level using mass spectrometry based proteomics in the laboratory of Prof. Benjamin Garcia.
After completing her doctoral thesis, Mariana joined the laboratory of Prof. Kent Vrana at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, where she aimed to understand Tryptophan Hydroxylase 2 (TPH2). Eventually she won a NIH NRSA F32 fellowship and became a Neuroscience Scholar. Following her time at Penn State, Mariana became a PENN-PORT fellow at the University of Pennsylvania in 2012. In the laboratory of Prof. James Shorter, Mariana investigated Hsp104, a molecular chaperone that disaggregates misfolded proteins and restores them to their normal structure/function. In 2015, established her own research program as an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry Department at Brooklyn College. In 2023, Mariana was promoted to Associate Professor (with tenure).
Doctoral Students
Raven Fisher
Raven Fisher
GS4, PhD in Biochemistry
GS4, PhD in Biochemistry
BS in Biochemistry; Manhattan College
Raven is a PhD student in the Biochemistry Program. Her long-term goal is to become a professor and continue to bridge the gap between epigenetics and various diseases such as neuropsychiatric disorders. During her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and playing music.
Fun fact: Raven plays three instruments and is currently learning her fourth!
Arefa Yeasmin
Arefa Yeasmin
GS3, PhD in Biology
GS3, PhD in Biology
BS in Chemistry; Brooklyn College
Arefa is a PhD student in the Biology program. Her interest lies in uncovering the mechanisms of neurodegeneration, particularly via the epigenetic landscape pertaining to diseased states. Outside the lab, she enjoys reading, dabbling in calligraphy, and spending time family.
Fun fact: Arefa
does henna for special events.
Undergraduate Students
Class of 2026
Moshe Janani
Scholars Program
Moshe is majoring in chemistry. His long-term career goal is to become a neurosurgeon. By studying the epigenetics of neurodegenerative diseases in the Torrente Lab, Moshe hopes to gain knowledge and skills that will help him in his future career. Moshe has also worked as a peer engagement intern and web developer for The Tanger Hillel at Brooklyn College. His internship entailed engaging students in the Hillel organization's programs and opportunities, something that he found very rewarding. In his free time, Moshe enjoys practicing martial arts and watching anime.
Fun fact: Moshe worked as a martial arts staff at his taekwondo dojo.
William Villasi
BA/MD Program
William is in the BA/MD and Scholars Program. He plans to major in Biology and minor in History. He loves to play the piano and learn new languages. During his free time, he likes to play video games and tutor other people. His long term goal is to be a physician-scientist and attend medical school after graduation.
Fun Fact: William loves memorizing subway maps. His goal is to ride every single NYC subway line (3 more to go!).
Sidra Qureshi
Sidra is majoring in Chemistry. Her long term goal is to become a pharmacologist. She is also the President of MWEI, Muslim Women's Educational Initiative in which she leads events to talk about current events and issues. In her free time, Sidra plays Badminton.
Fun fact: She loves talking to other people.
Samantha Diaz
Samantha is currently majoring in Chemistry with hopes of minoring in Biochemistry in the future. Her long-term goal is to become a research scientist focused on diseases such as diabetes. In her free time, she likes to play video games, specifically Mario games, and does random math problems to help stimulate the brain.
Fun Fact: Samantha loves to swim and does so whenever she has free time and when the weather is nice enough.
Priscilla Ramchand
William E. Macaulay Honors College
Priscilla is majoring in Biology and Minoring in Philosophy, Chemistry and Math. Her long term goal is to conduct research in the field of precision medicine as a physician-scientist. She enjoys hiking and being in nature; baking cupcakes and watching crime documentaries.
Fun fact: Priscilla went to New Zealand to collect Dragonflies specimens for an evolutionary biology research project at the American Museum of Natural History.
Class of 2027
Evelyn Ayedemo
Evelyn is majoring in Psychology with a minor in neuroscience.Her long term goal is to pursue an MD/Ph.D. with dreams of opening her own free clinic to serve underprivileged neighborhoods. She enjoys reading, skateboarding and exploring the city with friends.
Fun Fact: The Folk of Air trilogy is Evelyn’s favorite book series
Class of 2028
Ashany Marjo
William E. Macaulay Honors College
Ashany is a student in the Macaulay Honors Program. She is currently majoring in Psychology and minoring in Neuroscience. Her long-term goal is to become a physician with a focus in neurology or surgery. In her free time, Ashany enjoys ice skating, working out, reading mystery novels, and exploring the city with her friends.
Fun fact: Ashany has been playing Minecraft since she was six years old.
Khushi Surve
Scholars Program
Khushi is majoring in Political Science and minoring in Biology and Chemistry. Her long-term goal is to pursue an MD/Ph.D to become a physician-scientist, with a focus on bridging healthcare disparities. In her free time, she enjoys playing gacha games, cat-sitting and hanging out with her friends.
Fun Fact: Khushi has been to 48/50 states, and she loves, loves, LOVES cats! >^._.^<
Fatima Tanveer
Fatima is majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry. Her long-term goal is to become a physician and attend medical school after graduation. In the future, she hopes to make healthcare more accessible, and help others achieve their goals of becoming physicians. She also volunteers in the emergency department at a level 1 trauma center. In her free time, Fatima likes baking, watching Grey’s Anatomy, and exploring the city.
Fun fact: Fatima loves playing table tennis with her friends. She’s been playing for 3 years!
Class of 2029
Abe Janani
William E. Macaulay Honors College
Abe is a Macaulay Honors College student. His long-term career goal is to become a physician. Outside of school, Abe tutors math and science to high school students and works at a physician’s office. In his free time, Abe enjoys playing basketball, working out, and spending time with family and friends.
Fun fact: Abe worked in and managed a fast-food restaurant in high school.
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