Ph.D. Students
Lujain Alaali
Advisor: Roxann Roberson-Nay, Ph.D.
Lujain Alaali
Advisor: Roxann Roberson-Nay, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. Genetics and Cell Biology, Washington State University, 2017;
M.S. Biotechnology/Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Technology, Johns Hopkins University, 2020
Year Entered: Fall 2023
Julia Altman
Advisor: J. Chuck Harrell, Ph.D.
Julia Altman
Advisor: J. Chuck Harrell, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, 2021
Year Entered: 2021
Victoria Ashton
Advisor: Roxann Roberson-Nay, Ph.D.
Victoria Ashton
Advisor: Roxann Roberson-Nay, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biology, University of Mary Washington, 2023
Year Entered: Fall 2023
Holly Byers
Advisor: Senthil Radhakrishnan, Ph.D.
Holly Byers
Advisor: Senthil Radhakrishnan, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biology, Minor in Psychology, Virginia Tech, 2014;
M.A. in Science Education, Duke University, 2015
Year Entered: Fall 2019
Thomas Campbell
Advisor: Karolina Aberg, Ph.D.
Thomas Campbell
Advisor: Karolina Aberg, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: M.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, 2019;
B.S. in Physics, St. John's University, 2016
Year Entered: Fall 2021
Saeed Farajzadeh Valilou
Advisor: Brien Riley, Ph.D.
Saeed Farajzadeh Valilou
Advisor: Brien Riley, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biology-Animal Sciences, University of Tabriz, 2015;
M.S. in Human Genetics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, 2018
Year Entered: Fall 2022
Ailen Garcia-Santillan
Advisor: Paula Bos, Ph.D.
Ailen Garcia-Santillan
Advisor: Paula Bos, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biotechnology, Minor in Statistics, James Madison University, 2018
Year Entered: Fall 2021
Alison Gaynor
Advisor: Nicholas Johnson, M.D.
Alison Gaynor
Advisor: Nicholas Johnson, M.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Public Health Science, University of Maryland, 2018
Year Entered: Fall 2020
Julia Hartman
Advisor: Nicholas Johnson, M.D.
Julia Hartman
Advisor: Nicholas Johnson, M.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, 2019
Year Entered: Fall 2021 to MD/PhD program; Fall 2023 to HMG PhD Program
Nayyerehalsadat Hosseini
Advisor: Senthil Radhakrishnan, Ph.D.
Nayyerehalsadat Hosseini
Advisor: Senthil Radhakrishnan, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: M.S. in Genetics, Islamic Azade University, Mashhad Branch, 2018
Year Entered: Fall 2021
Ting-Xuan Lu
Advisor: Azeddine Atfi, Ph.D.
Ting-Xuan Lu
Advisor: Azeddine Atfi, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biological Sciences, National Taiwan University, 2010;
M.S. in Pharmacology, National Taiwan University, 2016
Year Entered: Fall 2020
Natalie Luffman
Advisor: Hisashi Harada, Ph.D.
Natalie Luffman
Advisor: Hisashi Harada, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biology, College of William & Mary, 2022
Year Entered: Fall 2022
Alexandra Marrero Quiñones
Advisor: Nicholas Johnson, M.D.
Alexandra Marrero Quiñones
Advisor: Nicholas Johnson, M.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biology, Minor in Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2013
Year Entered: Fall 2020
Lauren May
Advisor: Joseph W. Landry, Ph.D.
Lauren May
Advisor: Joseph W. Landry, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Molecular Biology, Lipscomb University, 2018
Year Entered: Fall 2019
Walker Rogers
Advisor: Michael Miles, M.D., Ph.D.
Walker Rogers
Advisor: Michael Miles, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biology, Columbus State University, 2016
Year Entered: Fall 2020
Shanwei Shen
Advisor: Senthil Radhakrishnan, Ph.D.
Shanwei Shen
Advisor: Senthil Radhakrishnan, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: M.B. in Medicine, Wuhan University, 2006; M.S. in Molecular Medicine, Fudan University, 2009
Year Entered: Fall 2020
Madhurbain Singh
Advisor: Mike Neale, Ph.D. and Roseann Peterson, Ph.D.
Madhurbain Singh
Advisor: Mike Neale, Ph.D. and Roseann Peterson, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, 2013;
Master of International Social and Health Policy, Oslo Metropolitan University, 2021
Year Entered: Fall 2021
Zachary Tatom
Advisor: Michael Miles, M.D., Ph.D.
Zachary Tatom
Advisor: Michael Miles, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Microbiology & Public Health, Auburn University Montgomery, 2014
Year Entered: Fall 2019
Philip Vinh
Advisor: Michael Neale, Ph.D.
Philip Vinh
Advisor: Michael Neale, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. Chemistry and B.S. Biology, University of Connecticut, 2020
Year Entered: Fall 2020
Carson Walker
Advisor: J. Chuck Harrell, Ph.D.
Carson Walker
Advisor: J. Chuck Harrell, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Genetics, Genomics, and Biotechnology, Brigham Young University, 2020
Year Entered: Fall 2022
Madison Ward
Advisor: Senthil Radhakrishnan, Ph.D.
Madison Ward
Advisor: Senthil Radhakrishnan, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.A. in Biology and Spanish, Randolph-Macon, 2018; M.S. in Biology, James Madison University, 2020
Year Entered: Fall 2020
Hope Wolf
Advisor: Timothy York, Ph.D.
Hope Wolf
Advisor: Timothy York, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Chemistry, Biochemistry Track, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2014
Year Entered: Fall 2017
M.S. in Human Genetics Students
Mahshid Arastonejad
Advisor: Hamid I. Akbarali, Ph.D.
Mahshid Arastonejad
Advisor: Hamid I. Akbarali, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: MEng in Electronic and Communication Engineering, University of Birmingham, 2010
Year Entered: Spring 2022
Gillian Fanning
Advisor: Timothy York, Ph.D.
Gillian Fanning
Advisor: Timothy York, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
B.S. in Bioinformatics: Genomics, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2023
Year Entered: Fall 2023
Emile Kachouh
Advisor: Zheng Fu, Ph.D.
Emile Kachouh
Advisor: Zheng Fu, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Education, American University Beirut, 2022
Year Entered: Fall 2022
Bria Pierre
Advisor: Timothy York, Ph.D.
Bria Pierre
Advisor: Timothy York, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Bioinformatics, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2023
Year Entered: Fall 2023
Marina Provenzano
Advisor: Nicholas Johnson, M.D.
Marina Provenzano
Advisor: Nicholas Johnson, M.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2014
Year Entered: Fall 2021
Alissa Saverino
Advisor: Devanand Sarkar, Ph.D.
Alissa Saverino
Advisor: Devanand Sarkar, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biology, Salisbury University, 2021
Year Entered: Fall 2022
Mimansha Shah
Advisor: Devanand Sarkar, Ph.D.
Mimansha Shah
Advisor: Devanand Sarkar, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biological Sciences, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, 2022
Year Entered: Fall 2022
Stephen Vieno
Advisor: Roxann Roberson-Nay, Ph.D.
Stephen Vieno
Advisor: Roxann Roberson-Nay, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: Bachelor of Medicine (MB) of Surgery (BCh) and of Obstetrics (BAO), University of Galway, School of Medicine, 2022
Year Entered: Fall 2023
M.S. in Genetic Counseling
Second-Year Students
Sarah Alban
Advisor: Colleen Jackson-Cook, Ph.D.
Sarah Alban
Advisor: Colleen Jackson-Cook, Ph.D.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S in Biology, Concentration in Neuroscience, James Madison University, 2021
Year Entered: Fall 2022
Helen Anderson
Advisor: John M. Quillin, Ph.D., C.G.C.
Helen Anderson
Advisor: John M. Quillin, Ph.D., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Cell & Molecular Biology, Honors College Graduate, Western Washington University, 2019
Year Entered: Fall 2022
Molly Felix
Advisor: Tahnee Causey
Molly Felix
Advisor: Tahnee Causey
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biology, Boise State University, 2020;
Graduate Certificate in Clinical Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2022
Year Entered: Fall 2022
Quinlyn Highsmith
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Quinlyn Highsmith
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S in Human Performance, Minor in Biology, Howard University, 2021
Year Entered: Fall 2021
Tess Murphy
Advisor: Berkley Nestler, M.S., L.C.G.C.
Tess Murphy
Advisor: Berkley Nestler, M.S., L.C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biology, Minor in Psychology, Northeastern University, 2018
Year Entered: Fall 2022
Kendall Rodier
Advisor: Scott A. Turner, Ph.D., F.A.C.M.
Kendall Rodier
Advisor: Scott A. Turner, Ph.D., F.A.C.M.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biological Sciences with Honors; Psychology Minor, Stevenson University, 2019;
Graduate Certificate in Clinical Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2022
Year Entered: Fall 2022
Rachel Schaff
Advisor: Jordan Snajczuk, M.S., L.C.G.C.
Rachel Schaff
Advisor: Jordan Snajczuk, M.S., L.C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biochemistry, B.A. in Philosophy, Rockhurst University, 2017
Year Entered: Fall 2022
Laura Schuetz
Advisor: Heather Creswick, M.S., C.G.C.
Laura Schuetz
Advisor: Heather Creswick, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S in Neuroscience, Minor in Bioethics, Michigan State University, 2019
Year Entered: Fall 2022
Ashley Smith
Advisor: Chelsea Chambers, M.S., C.G.C.
Ashley Smith
Advisor: Chelsea Chambers, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, 2021
Year Entered: Fall 2022
Jordana Weiss
Advisor: Elizabeth Monast, M.S., L.C.G.C.
Jordana Weiss
Advisor: Elizabeth Monast, M.S., L.C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: MBA from Georgetown University, 2012; B.S. in Commerce, University of Virginia, 2006
Year Entered: Fall 2022
Courtlyn Witte
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Courtlyn Witte
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biology, Minors in Psychology and Genetic Counseling, University of Delaware, 2022
Year Entered: Fall 2022
M.S. in Genetic Counseling
First-Year Students
Nichole Alley
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Nichole Alley
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
B.S. in Diagnostic Genetic Sciences, University of Connecticut, 2022
Year Entered: Fall 2023
Journey Bly
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Journey Bly
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.A. in Anthropology, Minor in Integrative Human Biology, University of Utah, 2019
Year Entered: Fall 2023
Elaine Conrad
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Elaine Conrad
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: M.S. in Clinical Research Management, Wake Forest University 2022;
B.S. in Biochemistry, B.A. in Chemistry, Minor in Music, Salem College, 2020
Year Entered: Fall 2023
Maya Derhake
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Maya Derhake
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biochemistry, Minor in Spanish, University of Missouri, 2022
Year Entered: Fall 2023
Margaret Fergusson
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Margaret Fergusson
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.A. in Biology, Minor in French, University of Virginia, 2021
Year Entered: Fall 2023
Elizabeth Gage
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Elizabeth Gage
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biology, James Madison University, 2021
Year Entered: Fall 2023
Rachel Hendricks
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Rachel Hendricks
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S in Biology, Minor in Data Science, Davidson College, 2021
Year Entered: 2023
Sage Hooten
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Sage Hooten
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Genetics, minor in Spanish, University of Georgia, 2020
Year Entered: Fall 2023
Shelby May
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Shelby May
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Neuroscience, West Virginia University, 2021
Year Entered: Fall 2023
Gufran Mohed
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Gufran Mohed
Advisor: Tahnee Causey, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biological Sciences and B.S. in Psychology, Virginia Tech, 2019
Year entered: Fall 2023
Certificate in Clinical Genetics Students
Delaney Berthault
Advisor: Heather Creswick, M.S., C.G.C.
Delaney Berthault
Advisor: Heather Creswick, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, 2023
Year Entered: Fall 2023
Sydney Dudley
Advisor: Heather Creswick, M.S., C.G.C.
Sydney Dudley
Advisor: Heather Creswick, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S in Biological Sciences, Minor in Spanish, Virginia Tech, 2022
Year Entered: Fall 2023
Jensen Goulette
Advisor: Heather Creswick, M.S., C.G.C.
Jensen Goulette
Advisor: Heather Creswick, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2023
Year Entered: Fall 2023
Morgan Talbert
Advisor: Heather Creswick, M.S., C.G.C.
Morgan Talbert
Advisor: Heather Creswick, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biological Sciences, Minor in Spanish, Virginia Tech, 2021
Year Entered: Fall 2023
Alexzane Taylor
Advisor: Heather Creswick, M.S., C.G.C.
Alexzane Taylor
Advisor: Heather Creswick, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: A.S. in General Studies with a Science Specialization, John Tyler Community College (Brightpoint Community College), 2018;
B.S. in Biology, Minors in Psychology & Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2021
Year Entered: Fall 2022
Alanna Varca Gentile
Advisor: Heather Creswick, M.S., C.G.C.
Alanna Varca Gentile
Advisor: Heather Creswick, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. Psychology, Minor in Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2021
Year Entered: Fall 2023
Bailey Willoughby
Advisor: Heather Creswick, M.S., C.G.C.
Bailey Willoughby
Advisor: Heather Creswick, M.S., C.G.C.
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Education: B.S. in Biology, University of Massachusetts - Amherst, 2019
Year Entered: Fall 2023