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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). At Penn State, she was awarded a NIH NRSA F32 fellowship and became a Neuroscience Scholar. Following her time at Penn State, Mariana became an IRACDA 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, she established her own research program as an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry Department at Brooklyn College. She is also part of the faculty for the Ph.D. Programs in Biochemistry, Biology and Chemistry at the Graduate Center of CUNY, and a faculty affiliate in the Neuroscience Initiative at the Advanced Science Research Center, CUNY. In 2023, Mariana was promoted to Associate Professor (with tenure). Since 2024, she serves as Institutional Coordinator for The Leadership Alliance and Partner Institution Coordinator for Stony Brook University's IRACDA Program. In 2024, Mariana became Co-Director of the Center for Achievement in Science Education and assumed the position of Director in 2025.
Doctoral Students
Raven Fisher
Raven Fisher
GS5, PhD in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of CUNY
GS5, PhD in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of CUNY
F31 Fellow, NINDS
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
GS4, PhD in Biology, The Graduate Center of CUNY
GS4, PhD in Biology, The Graduate Center of CUNY
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.
Zeynep Sena Cinal
Zeynep Sena Cinal
GS2, PhD in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of CUNY
GS2, PhD in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of CUNY
BS in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University
Zeynep is a PhD student in the Biochemistry program. She is interested in neurodegeneration and protein aggregation at the molecular level, specifically how protein dynamics contribute to the progression of neurodegenerative disorders, with the long-term goal of identifying therapeutic strategies to prevent, alleviate, or reverse disease symptoms. Outside the lab, she likes to travel, see friends, and try new coffee shops.
Fun fact: Zeynep loves playing video games; her all-time favorites are Hollow Knight and Silksong.
Masters Students
Delia Russel
Delia Russel
Masters Program in Psychology, Brooklyn College
Masters Program in Psychology, Brooklyn College
BS in Biology; Brooklyn College
Some of my favorite pastimes include crocheting, baking, and playing sudoku.
My long term goal is to continue doing research on neurodegenerative diseases and psychological disorders.
Fun fact: A fun fact about me is that I studied piano/vocal performance and participated in musical ensembles for over 10 years.
Undergraduate Students
Class of 2027
Evelyn Ayedemo
BP-ENDURE Program
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 Neuroscience 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.
Rebecca Braun
William E. Macaulay Honors College
Rebecca is a student in the Macaulay Honors Program. She is majoring in Neuroscience with the long-term goal of becoming a physician. In her free time, she likes to read, listen to music (Noah Kahan), and go camping.
Fun Fact: Rebecca loves to reorganize things for fun!
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