Meet Our Team
Leighton Core
Associate Professor
Leighton is an Associate Professor in Molecular and Cell Biology, Institute of Systems Genomics. His lab uses genomic to study basic mechanisms of gene regulation and how they change during development or disease progression.
leighton <dot> core <at> uconn <dot>edu @leightoncore
Graduate Students
Luke Wojenski
Graduate Student
luke.wojenski@uconn.edu
Geno Villafano
Graduate Student
geno.villafano@uconn.edu
Ryan S. Drennan
Graduate Student
Ryan.drennan@uconn.edu
Derek Svendsen
Graduate Student
derek.svendsen@uconn.edu
Samantha C. Peterson
Graduate Student
Readthrough transcripts are produced when RNA polymerase continues transcribing beyond the normal termination site. Transcription readthrough is capable of remodeling genome architecture by RNA polymerase displacing boundary elements. Both of these effects can alter gene expression, and they have been observed in cancer and viral infection. Sam is interested in readthrough transcription and genome architecture in human cells infected with oncogenic viruses.
samantha.c.peterson@uconn.edu
Anthony Luzzi
Master's Student
Anthony was a UConn MCB major with a minor in chemistry, is currently a Master's student, and is pursuing a career in genetic research.
Pariksheet Nanda
Graduate Student
pariksheet.nanda@uconn.edu
Lauren Wainman
Graduate Student
lauren.wainman@uconn.edu
Chris Kuhlberg
Graduate Researcher
Roshni Mehta
Undergraduate Researcher
Roshni Mehta is a senior STEM Scholar in the honors program and is pursuing an MCB and French dual degree. She joined the lab in 2018 and has since been studying altered gene transcription and termination. She is a recipient of a Holster Scholar (2019) and Surf Scholar (2020) award.
Eman Ahmed
Undergraduate Researcher
Julia Quinn
Undergraduate Researcher
Julia Quinn is a senior STEM Scholar in UConn's honors program.
Emilie Karovic
Undergraduate Researcher
Emilie is a senior STEM Scholar in the honors program. She is a Molecular & Cell Biology and Psychological Sciences double major. She is interested in RNA splicing mutations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Emilie plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in molecular biology.
Helen Bian
Undergraduate Researcher
Deivydas Gierdimas
Undergraduate Researcher
Himakshi Bhatt
Undergraduate Researcher
Alexis Dzubiek
Undergraduate Researcher
Adrianna Zawodniak
Undergraduate Researcher
Manali Phadke
Undergraduate Researcher
Mary Accurso
Undergraduate Researcher
Kathryn McLean
Research Assistant
kathryn.mclean@uconn.edu
Brandon Luxkaranaygam
Undergraduate Researcher
Lital Ben Naim
Research Assistant
| Name | Title | Phone | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Jonthan the Husky | Mascot, University of Connecticut | aaaaaaaa@uconn.edu | (860) 000‑0000 |