Mentor Profiles
Catherine Hammond
Senior Uplift Coordinator
Graduation year: 2023
Email address: chammon2@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; Theology & STV Minors
Research: Last year I was a part of the O’Tousa Cell Lab course researching the visual systems of mosquitoes. Over the summer I did work in the Weeraratna Lab at Hopkins researching melanoma metastasis. This year I joined the Stack Lab at the Harper Cancer Research Institute researching ovarian cancer metastasis.
Post-graduation plans: PhD
Extracurriculars: UPLIFT Coordinator, Cell Biology Lab TA, Next Step Learning Reading Tutor, Boys & Girls Club, HCRIS, Interhall Sports, Howard Hall Commissioner
Advice for freshmen: Dive in! Involve yourself within and outside of your major and get to know as many people and their different perspectives as possible!
Reed Stevens
Senior Uplift Coordinator
Graduation year: 2023
Email address: rsteven8@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology & Theology Double Major
Research: I have worked in Dr. Lieberman’s lab performing community-based health literacy projects in addition to assisting with lead abatement measures. In addition, I am currently in the McLachlan lab where I assist with plant core processing and the PalEON survey project.
Post-graduation plans: Medical School, pediatric psychiatry
Extracurriculars: I am the captain of the Irish Guard, Campus Dining Liaison, Bio Big Questions TA, and one of the lead commissioners for the annual Fisher Regatta
Advice for freshmen: I would recommend that you don’t take college too seriously. What I mean by this is that you shouldn’t try to make yourself sound like a LinkedIn-actually involve yourself in activities that sound appealing to you-you have all your life to work.
Christina An
Senior Uplift Coordinator
Graduation year: 2023
Email address: han2@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; Education, Schooling, and Society Minor
Research: Lu Lab
Post-graduation plans: 2+ Gap Years, Medical School
Extracurriculars: American Medical Women’s Association, Shaw Center for Families and Children, UPLIFT mentor, Early Childhood Development Center, IDEA Center
Advice for freshmen: Don’t be afraid to veer off the traditional path and try new things!
Usaid Mazhar
Junior Uplift Coordinator
Graduation year: 2024
Email address: umazhar@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; CCIM & HHS Minors
Research: Dr. Xin Lu's Lab: Cancer Research; Dr. Rebecca Wingert's Lab: Nephrology Research
Post-graduation plans: Medical School
Extracurriculars: Uplift Coordinator, Pre-Professional Society, Compassionate Care in Medicine Club, Muslim Student's Association Board Member, Running Club, Inter-Hall Sports, Volunteer at Memorial Hospital, and Tutor at Robinson Community Learning Center.
Advice for freshmen: Get to know your fellow biology majors! I have met some of the best and most awesome people in major-specific classes including Genetics and Cell Biology. Not only are your fellow biology mates super kind, but super smart and helpful, and they will help you get through some of your most difficult times at ND!
Amanda Waelde
Junior Uplift Coordinator
Graduation year: 2024
Email address: awaelde@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; Bioengineering & Theology Minors
Research: Dr. Matthew Champion Lab: Proteomics Research
Post-graduation plans: PhD
Extracurriculars: Society of Catholic Scientists Chapter at Notre Dame, Genetics Lab TA, Magnificat Choir
Advice for freshmen: Talk to people! Make friends! It can be intimidating at a new school, but you have so many opportunities here to make friends, and you'll learn so much from them. Plus you'll have people to study with!
Claire Lohman
Graduation year: 2023
Email address: clohman@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology & Studio Art Double Major
Research: Dr. O'Tousa Lab: I induce mutations in Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes using CRISPR-CAS9. Then I rear mosquitoes to create a homozygote with this mutation and perform molecular and behavioral work with these individuals.
Post-graduation plans: Medical School
Extracurriculars: Club Swim, HCRIS, AMWA, Preprofessional Society, CCIM, Uplift, McGlinn Flag Football
Advice for freshmen: Make a groupme with the biology majors in your year because it will be a helpful resource and will be very humorous.
Sophia Baker
Graduation year: 2024
Email address: sbaker9@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; CCIM Minor
Research: Wingert lab: Lead on the cannabinoid pathways project, looking into CB1 and CB2 receptors and their relationship with Multiciliated cells in renal cells using zebrafish models.
Post-graduation plans: Medical School
Extracurriculars: Bio SLC, Farley Hall Council, Right to Life, Pregnancy Crisis Volunteer, Hospice Care Volunteer, Preprofessional Society
Advice for freshmen: Make lots of friends within your major! Going through a tough class is much easier with other people by your side. Also get involved in things your passionate about, not just something you think looks good on a resume.
Julia Marine
Graduation year: 2024
Email address: jmarine@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; Art History Minor
Research: I research in the Santiago-Tirado lab, which studies different facets of the Cryptococcus neoformans fungus. During my sophomore year I received lab technician experience and helped create human cytokine-expressing Cryptococcus neoformans strains that can be used in downstream experiments.
Post-graduation plans: Undecided, considering Medical School
Extracurriculars: Member of the Notre Dame SLC Social Committee, Scientia faculty biography editor, organic chemistry tutor, singer and officer in the ND Chorale, cellist in the ND Symphony Orchestra, judge in the 2022 Indiana Regional Science Fair, contributor to The Juggler magazine
Advice for freshmen: Don't feel as though you only need to be involved in major specific clubs--pursuing your other interests through extracurricular activities is a great way to maintain a healthy work-life balance!
Alexandra DeAngelis
Graduation year: 2023
Email address: adeange2@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology & Spanish Double Major; Glynn Family Honors Program
Research: Kellogg ISP research on a global health model called Project ECHO; researched non-structural dengue proteins as potential antiviral drug targets through NDI while in Puebla, Mexico
Post-graduation plans: Medical School
Extracurriculars: Kellogg International Scholars Program, Biology Senior Leadership Committee, Uplift mentor, RCLC tutor, NDI’s vGPE Program and Puebla study abroad, Preprofessional Society, Broomball
Advice for freshmen: Get to know the people in your classes! It’s great to form study groups and have people to reach out to if you have any questions about the material.
Jack Sauter
Graduation year: 2023
Email address: jsauter2@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; Studio Art & Theology Minors
Research: I work in the Hyde Lab where I investigate the genetic mechanism behind regeneration in the zebrafish brain following traumatic brain injury.
Post-graduation plans: MD/PhD
Extracurriculars: SLC, WVFI, Volunteering at Memorial Hospital, St. Josephs Family Health Center, and RCLC
Advice for freshmen: Get to know your professors and fellow biology majors early and don't be afraid to ask for help!
Anthony Travlos
Graduation year: 2023
Email address: atravlos@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; Theology Minor
Research: Currently working as an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Kenneth Olson's lab investigating the role of H2S in oxygen sensing in the cardiovascular system.
Post-graduation plans: PhD
Extracurriculars: Secretary for Orthodox Christian Fellowship, Knott Hall's freshman involvement commissioner, Interhall tackle football
Advice for freshmen: Work hard, play hard! Being a biology major requires a lot of work but also remember to have fun and take some time to relax because that is important too!
Kyle McAvoy
Graduation year: 2023
Email address: kmcavoy2@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; Poverty Studies Minor
Research: McLachlan Lab- PalEON Project; Dr. O'Tousa and Dr. Whaley- CRISPR-Cas9 mediated mutagenesis of norpA in Aedes Aegypti and subsequent effects on Aaop1 localization; Indiana School of Dentistry- Analysis of biological and nonbiological samples for fluoride to support research on fluoride neurotoxicity.
Post-graduation plans: Dental School
Extracurriculars: Student Council; South Bend Center for the Homeless Volunteer; Intramural Lacrosse; Biology Senior Leadership Committee
Advice for freshmen: Expose yourself to a variety of shadowing and internship opportunities before you decide a career path
Margaret Kilbane
Graduation year: 2023
Email address: mkilban2@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; Anthropology Minor
Research: I was a member of the Ravosa lab from 2020-2022. I joined an ongoing research project investing the saturation response of bone to repeated loading.
Post-graduation plans: Medical School
Extracurriculars: FAST, volunteer at Memorial Epworth Hospital and AsceraCare Hospice, office worker at Sara Bea Accessibility Services.
Advice for freshmen: Explore all the events and clubs that seem interesting to you! Also, don't be afraid to go to office hours and reach out to others in your class to form study group and make friends!
Connor McCloskey
Graduation year: 2025
Email address: cmcclosk@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major
Research: I am an undergraduate research assistant in the Schafer Lab on campus.
Post-graduation plans: Medical School
Extracurriculars: Student Senate, RareND, B+ Foundation
Advice for freshmen: Talk to any upperclassmen you can! You never know what advice they can give you from their experience.
Kyle Elliot
Graduation year: 2024
Email address: kelliot7@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; Theology & Philosophy of Science and Math Minors
Research: Boone Lab: perform necropsies on mice, removing small bowel and colon tissue, and washing and preparing the tissue for sampling. I also help with the lab work of processing and analyzing various experiments we run on the tissue.
Post-graduation plans: Medical School
Extracurriculars: Rugby, Dr. Veselik's Cell Biology lab TA, research in Dr. Boone's Lab, Sorin Fellowship, B+ Club Hall Representative, FAST Member
Advice for freshmen: Collaborate with fellow biology students for everything that you can!
Emma Eckstein
Graduation year: 2024
Email address: eeckste2@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; CCIM Minor
Research: I was in Dr. Patricia Champion's lab for independent cell research as part of a class last spring and have joined as an undergraduate assistant. My duties are usually doing transformations, running PCRs and gels, and doing Bacterial Two Hybrid experiments.
Post-graduation plans: Medical School
Extracurriculars: Bio Uplift, Department of Student Life member, tutor at Robinson Community Learning Center, work at SDH, Howard Big Lil and Howard Week commissioner, Compassionate Care in Medicine club
Advice for freshmen: It's really helpful (+ fun) to get to know people in your classes early on because chances are, you'll have a lot of classes with them over your 4 years here. It's helpful to have friends to study with!
Bella Laufenberg
Graduation year: 2024
Email address: ilaufenb@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biological Sciences & Journalism
Research: On campus, I work in Boone Lab. I have also worked for the Messer Lab at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute. My research is primarily with gut health in mouse colitis models at a cellular level. I work with immunological techniques to investigate specific proteins in gut dysbiosis and changes in epithelial cell integrity.
Post-graduation plans: MD/PhD
Extracurriculars: The Observer, Biology Club, Breen-Phillips Hall, UpLift
Advice for freshmen: Make friends with your professors and graduate students! They can offer great advice and long-term mentorship.
Corbin Hite
Graduation year: 2024
Email address: chite@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; Sustainability Minor
Research: Lamberti Lab - Perform water quality metrics to determine the effect of invasive vegetation on Alaskan freshwater systems
Post-graduation plans: PhD
Extracurriculars: Marching and Concert Band, Biology SLC, and Keenan mental health and environmental commissioner
Advice for freshmen: Do research in something you normally wouldn't! You may find something you love!
Peter Lukish
Graduation year: 2025
Email address: plukish@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; Data Science Minor
Research: Not currently, but I have been accepted to a 2023 summer internship program at the Center for Prostate Disease Research.
Post-graduation plans: Medical School
Extracurriculars: ND Fire Department, Student Union Board, UPLIFT, Robinson Community Learning Center, Sorin Sacristy
Advice for freshmen: I would advise them to reach out to upperclassmen because they have been in your shoes before, and have a ton of experience that they can share with you.
Jack Szymanski
Graduation year: 2025
Email address: jszymans@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; Piano Performance; Glynn Honors
Post-graduation plans: Medical School
Extracurriculars: Marching Band, Sailing Team
Advice for freshmen: Don't fall behind, and if you do, try to catch up sooner rather than later (i.e. right before the exam)
John Paul Lewis
Graduation year: 2023
Email address: plukish@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; CCIM Minor
Research: Stream and Wetland Ecology Lab
Post-graduation plans: Medical School
Extracurriculars: Irish Fighting for St. Jude Club
Advice for freshmen: Put academics first, it will set you up for success later.
Ashley Zolfaghari
Graduation year: 2024
Email address: azolfagh@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; Digital Marketing Minor
Research: I work in the Vaughan lab researching Niemann-Pick Type C Disease (a rare neurodegenerative disorder). In addition, I spent the past three years at the Andersen lab at the Scripps Research Translational Institute in San Diego studying the Zika virus and SARS-Cov-2. I'm also a contributor to an article about my Zika research at the Andersen lab that's pending publication.
Post-graduation plans: PhD, Microbiology or Virology
Extracurriculars: Founder & president of Pre-Grad/PhD group, ND Tennis club, UPLIFT mentor, lron Sharpens Iron
Advice for freshmen: Get to know the other students in your major because your classmates are one of the most powerful resources for academic help and support. Don't be afraid to ask them to study or work on assignments together - that's how I made some of my best friends!
Jack Drey
Graduation year: 2024
Email address: jdrey2@nd.edu
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major; Classics & International Development Minors
Research: Blagg Lab- Research Assistant, Giordani Lab (Dublin City University)- Research Assistant, Golitko Lab- Research Assistant
Post-graduation plans: Gap Year, Medical School
Extracurriculars: Kellogg International Scholars Program, Partners in Health Engage, Uplift, Global Medical Brigades, Genetics Lab TA
Advice for freshmen: Get to know your professors! A lot of them are super interesting, and they want to help you succeed. They can offer great advice, help with class material, and write recommendations if you need them.