We conduct research at the interface of chemistry, biology, physics, and medicine with a highly dynamic group of interdisciplinary team members. We recruit members who have passion for innovation, excellence, relentless pursuit of success, and ability to collaborate and work as a team.
For more information about the Project Symphony Soft Interface Research Group, please contact Dr. Lee at SLee@iona.edu.
Abbreviations:
Giovanna Mazzo
Funding: NSF-RUI
Water permeability studies using DIB model biomembranes (Honors Program)
Years: 2024-Present
Joey Mitchell
Funding: NSF-RUI
Vibrational spectroscopic study of biomembranes (Honors Program)
Years: 2024-Present
Emily Kosakevitch
Funding: NSF-RUI
Electrical properties of lipid bilayer (Honors Program)
Years: 2024
Jessica Said
Funding: NSF-RUI
Barrier properties investigation by micropipet manipualtion technique (Honors Program)
Years: 2023-Present
Mackenna Agosti
Funding: NSF-RUI
Interfacial properties of lipid membranes (Honors Program)
Years: 2023-Present
Elizabeth Andersen
Funding: NSF-RUI
Raman spectroscopic study of biomembranes (Honors Program)
Years: 2023-Present
Holly Farnan
Funding: NSF-RUI
ATR-IR spectroscopic study of biomembranes (Honors Program)
Years: 2023-Present
Peter Rosario
Funding: NSF-RUI
ATR-IR spectroscopic study of biomembranes
Years: 2023-Present
Wilber Perla
Funding: NSF-RUI, McNair Scholar
Research: Raman spectroscopic studies of biomembranes (Honors Program)
Years: 2022-Present
Amani Rabadi
Funding: NSF-RUI
Thermal properties of biomembranes
Years: 2022-Present
Caroline Scott
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Electrical property of model lipid bilayers (Honors Program), Research abroad (Japan, 2023)
Years: 2022-Present
Christopher Poust
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Raman spectroscopic studies of biomembranes (Honors Program)
Years: 2022-Present
Joseph Fosella
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Tensiometric studies of model lipid bilayers (Honors Program)
Years: 2022-Present
Mary Herrera
Funding: NSF-RUI, McNair Scholar
Research: Water permeability studies of biomimetic membranes
Years: 2022-Present
Micaela Panella
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: ATR-IR spectroscopic study of biomimetic membranes
Years: 2022-Present
Jamie Gudyka
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Effect of phytochemicals on water permeability (Honors Program)
Years: 2021-2024
Current: NIH Postbac IRTA Program(2024-)
Riley Porteus
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Electrical property of model lipid bilayers (Honors Program)
Years: 2021-2024
Current: PhD program in Chemistry at Virginia Tech (2024-)
Marina Pan
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Effect of small molecules on model lipid bilayer
Years: 2021-2022
Shakinah Silverberg
Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar, McNair Scholar
Research: Investigation of biomembranes by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (Honors Program)
Years: 2021-2024
Erienne Peters
Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar, McNair Scholar
Research: Computational modeling of biomembranes
Years: 2021-2024
Current: PhD program in Chemistry at UT Austin (2024-)
Flor Alvarez
Funding: NSF-RUI, McNair Scholar
Research: Thermal properties of biomembranes
Years: 2023-2024
Zachary Morocho
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: ATR-IR Spectroscopic studies of biomembranes (Honors Program)
Years: 2022-2024
Current: PhD program in Chemical Engineering at Clemson U. (2024-)
Rachel Griffith
Funding: NSF-RUI, CBL Scholar
Research: Computational/Mathematical Modeling of Biomembranes
Years: 2020-2022
Katherine Ivanchenko
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Raman spectroscopic investigation of drug-membrane interactions (Honors Program)
Years: 2020-2023
Jasmin Ceja Vega
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Effect of small molecules on water permeability of model lipid bilayer
Years: 2020-Present
Alondra Hernandez Gamez
Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar
Research: Investigation of membrane perturbation by Differential Scanning Calorimetry
Years: 2020-2023
Konstantina Sgolombis
Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar
Research: Computational Modeling of Biomembranes (Honors Program)
Years: 2020-2022
Colleen Clarke
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Computational Modeling of Biomembranes; DSC investigation of Biomembrnaes
Years: 2020-2023
Current: PhD program in Chemical Engineering, Clemson University
William Lowry
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Mathematical Modeling of Permeability Phenomena at the biomimetic membranes (Honors Program)
Years: 2022-2023
Samantha Zurbriggen
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Analysis of Dynamic Properties of Model Membrane (Honors Program)
Years: 2018-2019
Michael Krmic
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Electrophyiscal Properties of Biomembranes (Honors Program)
Years: 2018-2022
Current: PharmD program, Touro College of Pharmacy
Escarlin Perez
Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar, CBL Scholar
Research: Thermal Properties of Biomembranes (Honors Program)
Years: 2018-2022
Current: PhD program in Biomedical Science, Boston University
Robert Larca
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Computational Studies of Biomembranes (Honors Program)
Years: 2020-2021
Jorge Villa
Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar
Research: Computational Studies of Biomembranes
Years: 2018-2022
Lakshmanath Sawak
Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar
Research: Computational Studies of Biomembranes
Years: 2020-2021
Lynnie Chong
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: PAMAM dendrimer interactions with model membranes (Honors Program)
Years: 2018-2021
Current: DO program, LECOM
Anthony (A.J.) Liles
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Calorimetric studies of model lipid bilayers with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Honors Program)
Years: 2018-2021
Current: DO program, LECOM
Camilla Fernandez
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Tensiometric Studies of Nanomaterials at the oil-water Interface
Years: 2018-2019
Patrick Scollan
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Raman Spectroscopic Studies of Biomembranes
Years: 2018-2022
MST in Adolescent Education
Juan Rosario
Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar
Research: Computational Studies of Biomembranes; Raman Spectroscopic Studies of Biomembranes
Years: 2018-2021
Tavis Johnson
Funding: NSF-RUI, NSF Scholar
Research: Computational Studies of Biomembranes
Years: 2018-2021
MS in Computer Science, Iona University
Regan Warmoth
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Tensiometric Studies of Drugs with Cell Membranes
Years: 2017-2020
Marnie Skinner
Funding: NSF-RUI; Clare Boothe Luce Scholar (CBL Scholar)
Research: Effect of nanoparticles with model membranes: Water permeability studies (Honors Program)
Years: 2017-2020
Current: PhD program in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins University
Mesha Iqbal
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Tensiometric Studies of Nanomaterials at the oil-water Interface (Honors Program)
Years: 2017-2020
Jonathan Warner Clement
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Computational Studies of Drug-Membrane Interaction
Years: 2018-2019
Leyla Valerio
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Phospholipid-Small Molecule Interactions: Influences on Membrane Thermal Behavior Studied by DSC
Years: 2018-2019
Current: PhD program in Chemistry at University of Rochester
Joseph Giancaspro
Funding: NSF-RUI; Research Abroad, University of Tokyo, Japan, Summer 2018
Research: Raman Studies of Water Transport at Nanoliter Microdroplets: Diffusional and Osmotic Water Permeability (Honors Program)
Years: 2017-2020
Current: MD Program at SUNY Upstate, NY
Mariama Njie
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: MD simulation of water permeability in model membranes
Years: 2016-2020
Current: MS in Computer Science at Iona, Software engineer
Michael Morales
Funding: NSF-RUI; Jean Dreyfus Scholar
Research: On the Permeability of Water across Model Lipid Bilayers (Honors Program)
Years: 2016-2019
Current: MS in Chemistry at Brown University; RQM+ Lab
Brona O'Sullivan
Funding: NSF-RUI; Clare Boothe Luce Scholar
Research: Water Permeability of Asymmetric Droplet Interface Bilayer (Honors Program)
Years: 2016-2019
Current: Jordi Lab
Alyssa-Marie Gayapa
Funding: NSF-RUI; Clare Boothe Luce Scholar
Research: Tensiometric Studies of Drugs with Cell Membranes
Years: 2016-2019
Current: PhD Program in Chemical Engineering at University of Illinois at Chicago
Anneliese Jagarnath
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Phospholipid-Small Molecule Interactions: Influences on Membrane Thermal Behavior Studied by DSC
Years: 2016-2019
Megan Wood
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Effects of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on Water Permeability of Lipid Bilayers (Honors Program)
Years: 2017-2019
Current: MD, Penn State College of Medicine; OB-GYN resident at SUNY Stony Brook, NY
Elizabeth Miller
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Raman Microspectroscopic Study of Phospholipid Membranes and Their Interaction with Biomolecules (Honors Program)
Years: 2017-2019
Current: MD, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine; OB-GYN resident at Univ. Colorado School of Medicine
Shea Foley
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Role of vitamin E on Polyunsaturated Lipids: Water Permeability (Honors Program)
Years: 2017-2019
Alessandra Armetta
Funding: NSF-RUI; Research Abroad, University of Tokyo, Japan, Summer 2017
Research: Solvent Effects on Water Permeability
Years: 2015-2018
Current: MS in Chemistry, University of Connecticut
Gabriella Di Domizio
Funding: NSF-RUI; Summer Intern at the PLART Museum, Naples, Italy 2016, REU at Univ. Delaware 2017
Research: Influence of Tail-group of Lipids on Membrane Water Permeability
Years: 2015-2018
Current: Iona College Class Valedictorian; MS in Chemistry, Penn State University, PA; New Product Development Coordinator at Pipette, CA
Samuel Braziel
Funding: NSF-RUI; Jean Dreyfus Scholar
Research: Quantitative Analysis of Raman Active Solutes in a Microconfinement
Years: 2015-2018
Current: Scientific Design Co., Inc.
Rachel Garn
Funding: NSF-RUI; Research Experiences for Undergraduates, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Summer 2016
Research: Dendrimer-based targeted drug delivery
Years: 2015-2018
Current: MD Program at SUNY Upstate, NY
Geoffrey Cawley
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Software Development for Image Analysis
Years: 2013-2017
Current: Software Engineer
Maria Lopez
Funding: CSTEP; NSF-RUI
Research: Influence of Tail-group of Lipids on Membrane Water Permeability
Years: 2014-2017
Sue Ellen Evangelista
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Effect of Cations on Membrane Permeability (Honors Thesis 2017)
Years: 2014-2017
Current: MST in Education, Iona College; Science Teacher, The Ursuline School.
Kalen Sullivan
Funding: NSF-RUI; NSF-REU at UMBC, 2016
Research: Quantitative Analysis of Raman Active Solutes in a Microconfinement
Years: 2014-2017
Current: JD Program at Syracuse University, NY (2020-Present)
Jacqueline Denver
Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar; Research Abroad, University of Tokyo, Japan, Summer 2018
Research: Solvent Effects on Water Permeability (Honors Thesis 2017)
Years: 2014-2017
Current: School of Nursing, Quinnipiac University; Clinical Nurse Leader, Emergency Department at The Hospital of Central Connecticut
Michael McGlone
Funding: NSF-RUI; Research Abroad, University of Tokyo, Japan, Summer 2016
Research: Electrical Property Measurement of Biological Membrane (Honors Thesis 2017)
Years: 2015-2017
Current: Regeneron, NY (2017-2020), Cooper Medical School (2020-Present)
Peter Milianta
Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar, Iona/AMEX Grant; Research Abroad, University of Tokyo, Japan, Summer 2018
Research: Generation of Asymmetric Droplet Interface Bilayer (Honors Thesis 2016)
Years: 2013-2016
MD/MBA, Penn State College of Medicine
Ricardo Oliveira
Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar
Research: Food Emulsions (Honors Thesis 2016)
Years: 2013-2016
Current: MS in Chemical Engineering, Cornell University; Applications Engineer, Nouryon
Jacqueline Martinez
Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar
Research: Emulsions for Cosmetic Applications (Honors Thesis 2016)
Years: 2013-2016
MBA, Iona College; Global Communications, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
Melissa Morales
Funding: CSTEP; NSF-RUI
Research: Study of Polymorphism: Thermal Behavior
Years: 2013-2016
MBA, Iona College
Sean Campbell
Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar
Research: Neural Network Analysis for NIR Spectra (Honors Thesis 2016)
Years: 2013-2016
Current: Google, NY
Jake Villanova
Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar
Research: Solvent Effects on Water Permeability
Years: 2015-2016
PhD in Chemistry, Brown University, MD program, Yale University
Omoakhe Tisor
Funding: CSTEP; NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar; Iona/AMEX Grant
Research: Monoglyceride-templated crystallization (Honors Thesis 2015)
Years: 2011-2015
MD, SUNY Downstate Medical School; Resident Physician, Zucker School of Medicine-North Shore/Long Island Jewish
Michelle Muzzio
Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar; Iona/AMEX Grant
Research: Artificial Membrane via Droplet Interface Bilayer (Honors Thesis 2015)
Years: 2011-2015 (Iona College Class Valedictorian)
PhD in Chemistry, Brown University ’19; NSF Graduate Research Fellowship ’16; Cell Press Journal,
iScience
Kevin Towler
Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar
Research: Inorganic Crystallization
Years: 2011-2012
Current: Content Manager, Creative Webdesign
Rosario Giacomini
Funding: Iona College; NSF-RUI
Research: Artificial Membrane via Droplet Interface Bilayer
Years: 2011-2015
DO, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine; Resident at Stamford Health
Safiat Ayinde
Funding: CSTEP; NSF-RUI; NSF-REU at Johns Hopkins Univ. 2014
Research: NIR Study of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
Years: 2013-2015
PhD in Pharmacology and Molecular Science, Johns Hopkins University, ORISE Postdoctoral Fellow at FDA
Daniel Lutolf-Carroll
Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar
Research: Development of Image Analysis Software for Surface Tension
Years: 2010-2014
Current: MS in Analytics, Northwestern University; Data Scientist at Molex
Peter Vitale
Funding: NSF-RUI; Iona/AMEX Grant
Research: Polymorphism of Glycine (Honors Thesis 2014)
Years: 2010-2014
Current: DO, NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine; Family Medicine, Atlantic Medical Group Primary Care
Courtney Veilleux
Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF Scholar
Research: Biomineralization in a Confined Space
Years: 2010-2012
PhD in Microbiology an Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, ClearView Healthcare Partners
Jaclyn Robustelli
Funding: Iona College; PMF Scholar; NSF-RUI; Bruker Inc.; Iona/AMEX Grant
Research: Development of Hybrid Analytical Technique: NIR/TLC (Honors Thesis 2014)
Years: 2011-2014
PhD in Biochemistry, Univ. Pennsylvania; Bristol Myers Squibb
Mona Jasmine Ahonen
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: Study of Polymorphism: Thermal Behavior
Years: 2013-2014
Current: PhD in Chemistry, UNC Chapel Hil, ’19; Principal R&D Scientist, Vast Therapeutics, Research Triangle Park, NC.
Willmor J Pěna ccoa
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: MD simulation of caffeine-membrane interaction
Years: 2010-2014
Current: PhD Program in Computational Chemistry, NYU
Erin Morgan
Funding: Iona College; PMF; Iona/AMEX Grant; Summer intern Bruker Inc. 2013
Research: Protein and Polymer Stability by FT-NIR and ATR-IR (Honors Thesis 2013)
Years: 2011-2013
Current: PhD in Chemistry, UC Santa Barbara, ’19; Adcentrx Therapeutics
Allyson Moffat
Funding: Iona College; Bruker Inc.
Research: The Effect of Nature and Ionic Strength on Protein Denaturation by FT-NIR (Honors Thesis 2013)
Years: 2011-2013
Current: Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
Zuzanna Michalak
Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF; Iona/AMEX Grant
Research: Understanding the Nature of Adhesion at the Droplet Interface Bilayer: Theoretical Approach (Honors Thesis with Distinction 2013)
Years: 2009-2013
Current: ACS WCC and Eli Lilly Award; MD, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Poland; Pediatrician, Hackensack University Medical Center
Nousin Haque
Funding: NSF-RUI; PMF; Iona/AMEX Grant
Research: Understanding the Nature of Adhesion at the Droplet Interface Bilayer (Honors Thesis 2013)
Years: 2009-2013
Darius Fartash
Funding: NSF-RUI
Research: The Study of Osmotic Flux Across a Surfactant Bilayer
Years: 2009-2013
Current: Emergency Medical Technician, Oakland, CA
Kiersten Giusto
Funding: NSF-RUI; Iona College
Research: Determining solute concentration in microdroplets by refractive index/Crystallization of Inorganics/Organics and Templating Effect
Years: 2009-2012
Current: PhD in Pharmaceutical Science, St John’s University; Waterbury Hospital
Ines Silva
Funding: NSF-RUI; Iona College
Research: Learning Modules for Microscopic Visualization Phenomena
Years: 2009-2012
Current: MST Program in Education, Iona College; HS teacher, NY
Catherine Morris
Funding: NSF-RUI; Iona College
Research: Crystallization of Inorganics/Organics and Templating Effect
Years: 2009-2012
Current: Pharm.D ’15, University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy), Pharmacist, NY
Alexander Soderberg
Funding: Iona College; Bruker Inc.
Research: Development and Validation of an FT-NIR Method for Identification of Spectrally Similar Materials using a Hierarchical Approach
Years: 2010-2012
Current: MS in Chemistry ’14, Northern Arizona Univ.; Cambrex Corporation, Sweden
Nick Florio
Funding: Dreyfus; NSF-RUI; PMF
Research: Additive Effects on NaCl
Years: 2008-2011
Current: MD ’16, SUNY Stony Brook, School of Medicine; Overlook Medical Ctr, NJ; Family Medicine, White Plains Hospital Physician Associates
Paul Sanstead
Funding: Dreyfus; NSF-RUI; PMF
Research: Metastable Zone Width for K2SO4 (Honors Thesis 2011)
Years: 2008-2011
Current: PhD ’18 in Chemistry; U. Chicago; Semifinalist for the 2011 National Collegiate Honors Council Portz Scholars; Postdoc. Northwestern University
Diana Nunes
Funding: NSF-RUI; Iona College
Research: Visualization of Solubility Phenomena
Years: 2010-2011
Current: Nursing Program, College of Mount Saint Vincent; Registered Nurse, NYU Langone Medical Center
Loreta Geneviciute
Funding: ACS-PRF; Dreyfus; NSF-RUI
Research: Polytype Selectivity for K4Fe(CN)6
Years: 2007-2010
Current: DMD ’15, New York University College of Dentistry; Prosthodontist, NY
Joseph Wiener
Funding: ACS-PRF; Dreyfus; NSF-RUI
Research: Metal Induced Bilayer Formation
Years: 2007-2010
Current: MS. Chemical Engineering, Manhattan College; Pepsi Lipton
Remon Bebawee
Funding: ACS-PRF; Dreyfus; NSF-RUI
Research: Template Effect on K3Fe(CN)6 crystallization
Years: 2007-2010
Current: ACS-PRF-SUMR Scholar 2008, MD ’18, SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine; Internal Medicine
Aileen Hilario
Funding: ACS-PRF; Dreyfus; Iona/AMEX Grant
Research: Specific Ion Effects on Cationic Surfactant (Honors Thesis 2009)
Years: 2007-2009
Current: OD ’15, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine; Physical Medicine/Rehab, Fort Myers, FL
Aaron Snyder
Funding: ACS-PRF; AMEX Grant
Research: Lysozyme Crystallization (Honors Thesis 2008)
Years: 2006-2008
Current: MD ’12, The Florida State University College of Medicine; Emergency Physician, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Pasquale Abiuso
Funding: ACS-PRF
Research: Crystallization in a Microdroplet
Years: 2006-2008
Current: Boca Raton Community High School, Chemistry AP/AICE/Honors Teacher
Kristin Allain
Funding: ACS-PRF; Iona/AMEX Grant
Research: Controlled Crystallization of K3Fe(CN)6 (Honors Thesis 2008)
Years: 2006-2008
Current: JD ’12, Stetson University College of Law; Children’s Legal Services Attorney at Florida Department of Children and Families; FBI Special Agent, NY
Shelby Erb
Funding: Dreyfus
Research: Chemical Reactions in a Microdroplet
Years: 2006-2008
Current: Admiral Farragut Academy, 9-12 Education
Christina Luis
Funding: ACS-PRF
Research: A single microdroplet as a microchemical reaction container
Years: 2006-2007
Lucy Thiessen
Funding: NSF-RUI
Years: Summer 2023
High School: Bronxville High School
Pariss Frederick
Funding: NSF-RUI
Years: Summer 2023
High School: Cardinal Spellman High School
Joslyn Berbano
Funding: NSF-RUI
Years: Summer 2019, 2020
High School: Yonkers High School; Hunter College
Reem Reihani
Funding: NSF-RUI
Years: Summer 2019
High School: Yonkers High School; Pace University
Jacob Gruza
Funding: NSF-RUI
Years: Summer 2016
High School: New Rochelle High School; Carnegie Mellon Univ. Mechnical Engineering
Kevin Cavallo
Funding: NSF-RUI
Years: Summer 2016
High School: New Rochelle High School
Helen Meyerson
Funding: NSF-RUI
Years: Spring-Summer 2017
High School: Pelham Memorial High School
Griffin Bates
Funding: NSF-RUI
Years: Summer 2018
High School: New Rochelle High School; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Jonathan Richter
Funding: NSF-RUI
Years: Summer 2015
High School: King and Low-Heywood Thomas School; Washington University in St. Louis, Mechanical Engineering; MS in Stanford University School of Engineering
David Lopez
Funding: STEP
Research: Monoglyceride-templated crystallization
Years: 2011-2015
New Rochelle High School; Columbia University, Chemistry ’19
Current: Consultant at Slalom
Akshay Koottala
Funding: Iona College; NSF-RUI
Research: Solvent intercalation at the liquid-liquid interface-Influence on Glycine Polymorph
Years: 2011-2013
New Rochelle High School; Drexel University, Biological Science ’18
Current: JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Michael McInerney
Funding: NSF-RUI
Years: Summer 2017
High School: Pelham Memorial High School; Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Professor Sunghee Lee
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Iona University
715 North Avenue
New Rochelle, NY 10801
914-633-2638; SLee@iona.edu