Our Alumni

Our alumni talk about their successful careers in research, industry and academia.

“Working in Dr. Kosman’s lab was a great experience. It brought my interests to an interdisciplinary field between metal biology and neurosciences.”
7/23/26
Changyi Ji, PhD ’16
Biochemistry
“Dr. Lee and I talked about my project daily, and that was the key to pushing ideas forward.”
8/27/26
David Zisa, MD/PhD ’12
Biochemistry
“My love for genomic stability and DNA damage was born in Dr. Surtees’ lab. Working alongside her and other talented graduate students enabled me to find my niche and dig deeper into the research topic.”
7/23/26
Jumana Badar, MS ’18
Genetics, genomics and bioinformatics
“Dr. Popescu is always receptive to my ideas and allows me to take directions that I am most interested in, while keeping me focused and on track.”
7/23/26
Kirstie Cummings, PhD ’16
Biochemistry
“My mentor was very patient. She took the time to explain things.”
8/27/26
Lisa Russell, PhD ’11
Biochemistry
“UB faculty understood where I was and had a vision of where I would need to go.”
8/27/26
Robert W. Maul, PhD ’07
Postdoctoral fellow
“Dr. Buck has been a very helpful mentor. The training in his lab helped me to get into the University of Toronto, which has one of the best molecular genetics programs in the whole world.”
7/23/26
Shamira Tabrejee, MS ’20
Genetics, genomics and bioinformatics
“Labs in the department span very diverse research interests.”
8/27/26
Thomas Hohle, PhD ’10
Biochemistry
“My mentor let me take routes I wanted to explore.”
8/27/26
Will Borschel, PhD ’12
Biochemistry

Our Students

“While here, I’ve learned a variety of applicable techniques, collaborated with scientists from a range of disciplines, and developed my ability to think critically about research questions.”
7/23/26
Haley Victoria Parker
Trainee in the doctoral program in biochemistry
“The things we can do with bioinformatics are unimaginable. We can use genomic sequences to find cures for diseases and improve agriculture for everyone’s benefit.”
7/23/26
Hasiba Asma
Doctoral candidate in genetics, genomics and bioinformatics
“During my time at the Jacobs School, I have learned what it means to be an independent scientist and have learned to ask questions to help me better understand what I’m doing.”
7/23/26
Isabella Lydia Ann Schember
Doctoral student in biochemistry
“The work I have completed and skill set I have learned in Dr. Estrada’s lab are perfect to pursue a career at a pharmaceutical company since it is focused on understanding the molecular basis by which a major family of drug metabolizing enzymes works.”
7/23/26
Chris Campomizzi
Doctoral student in biochemistry