Graduate Program in Genetics: 2016 Entering Class
Kelly Hills-Muckey: Kelly earned her B.S. in Biology from Barry University in May 2015. As an
undergrad, Kelly participated in a research project looking at the paternal role in fetal alcohol
syndrome using zebrafish. She was also heavily involved in community service, volunteering
locally, nationally, and abroad, and in leadership development through her work as an e-board
member of Sigma Alpha Phi.
Likes: Yoga, dogs, hiking, and traveling
Chad Hogan: Chad received his B.S. in Biotechnology with a minor in Chemistry from Florida
Gulf Coast University in 2016. With an interest in forensic biology, Chad’s undergraduate
research focused on the degradation and recovery of trace DNA evidence. He also interned at
the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Regional Crime Laboratory in Fort Meyers, FL the
summer prior to entering Stony Brook.
Likes: Video games, biking, and horror movies
Daniel Irizarry: Daniel received his B.S. in Biology from Stony Brook University in 2016. During
his undergraduate career, he worked in the lab of Dr. Jennie Williams investigating novel
chemotherapeutics in skin, breast, and colorectal cancers. He has now transitioned from an
IMSD-MERGE undergraduate scholar to an IMSD-MERGE graduate fellow.
Likes: Music, reading, and spending time with family
Shruti Iyer: Shruti received a B. Tech. in Genetic Engineering from SRM University in India in
2012 and went on to earn an M.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Human Genetics from Manipal
University, India, in 2015. As part of her master’s studies and following receipt of that degree,
Shruti worked at Emory University on understanding the genetic basis of complex psychiatric
disorders such as PTSD.
Likes: Writing, traveling, reading, photography, theater, and exploring new places and cuisines
Devon Lukow: Devon graduated from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania with a
degree in biotechnology in 2015.
Likes: Tabletop games, film/TV, reading, and occasionally going outside
Taylor Medwig: Taylor earned her B.S. in Biology and Health Science at Stony Brook University
in 2016, concentrating in developmental genetics, public health, and community health
education. Her research interests lie within the field of genetic epidemiology, particularly in
the evolution and epigenetic regulation of genes that contribute to human morbidity.
Adrita Siddiqui: Adrita completed her undergraduate degree in the fields of genetics and
molecular biology at University of Malaya, Malaysia, in 2014. Her internship there was in the
area of plant molecular genetics, and her thesis focused on cancer genetics. After graduation,
Adrita was a teaching assistant at East West University in Bangladesh. Her research interests
are in cancer.
Likes: Family, video games, teaching, and cooking