AFONIN LAB AT
UNC CHARLOTTE
EST. 2015
A l u m n i
Graduate and Post-Doctoral Researchers
Yelixza I. Avila
Nanoscale Science Ph.D. (2019-2024)
Dissertation: Exploring Carrier Impact on Immune Response to Nucleic Acid Nanoparticles and Insights Into Conditionally Activated Therapeutic Nucleic Acids
Current Position: iCURE fellow at the NCI
Jessica McMillan
Biology M.S. (2019-2021)
Current Position: Behavioral Health Technician at Abacus Therapies
Morgan Chandler
Nanoscale Science Ph.D. (2016-2021)
Dissertation: Dynamic and Conditionally Activated Nucleic Acid Nanoparticles
Current Position: Scientist at MIMETAS
Lewis Rolband
Nanoscale Science Ph.D. (2019-2023)
Dissertation: Assessing the Biological Activities of DNA-Templated Silver Nanoclusters and Furthering the Characterization of Nucleic Acid Nanoparticles
Current Position: Patent Specialist, K&L Gates
Damian Beasock
Nanoscale Science Ph.D. (2019-2023)
Dissertation: Characterization of Dynamic and Functional Nucleic Acid Based Systems
Brittany Johnson
Post-Doctoral Researcher (2018-2020)
Research Assistant Professor (2020-2021)
Current Position: Tenure track Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Justin Halman
Nanoscale Science Ph.D. (2015-2020)
Dissertation: Immunostimulatory Properties of Nucleic Acid Nanoparticles
Current Position: Expert Scientist (Nucleic Acid Research) - SAM Development Unit, GlaxoSmithKline
Weina Ke
Nanoscale Science Ph.D. (2015-2020)
Dissertation: Functional Nucleic Acid Nanoparticles and Their Delivery Using
Current Position: Scientist II, Data in the Biomedical Informatics and Data Science at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR)
Ridhima Juneja
Post-Doctoral Researcher (2017-2018)
Current Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Pharmacy at University of Toronto
Anna Ivanina
Post-Doctoral Researcher (2015-2016)
Current Position: Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Sameer Sajja
Chemistry M.S. (2016-2019)
Thesis: Organization of Biomolecules in a 3-Dimensional Space
Current Position: Health Data Analyst, Aqurate Health Data Management, Inc
Brandon Kyle Roark
Chemistry M.S. (2015-2017)
Thesis: Nucleic Acid-Driven Quantum Dot-Based Lattice Formations for Biomedical Applications
Current Position: Forensic Chemist, City of Columbia Police Department
Undergraduate Students
Brandon Rawlins
Biology B.S. (2024)
Current Position: Medical Student at Wake Forest School of Medicine
Jose Reyna
Biology B.S. - Biochem conc. (2024)
Melina Richardson
Biology B.S. (2021)
Current Position: Biological and Biomedical Ph.D. Student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Moody lab
Alora Dunnavant
Chemistry B.S. - Biochem conc. (2023)
Allison Tran
Biology B.S. (2020)
Current Position: PA/MPH student in the School of Public Health at Yale University
Sandra Arroyo-Becker
Biology B.S., Chemistry B.A., French Language B.A. (2020)
Current Position: Nanoscale Science Ph.D. Student at University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Nguyen Truong
Biology B.S. (2020)
Current Position: DDS candidate at UNC Adams School of Dentistry
Dana Elasmar
Biology B.A. (2020)
Current Position: Certified Nursing Assistant at Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation
Morriah Striplin
Computer Science (Software, Systems, and Networks Concentration) B.S. (2016-2020)
Current Position: Programmer at Camelot 3PL Software
Lauren Rackley
Biology B.S., Chemistry B.A. (2016-2018)
Current Position: Medical Technician in Molecular Pathology and Diagnostics at Atrium Health
Dylan Dang
Biology B.S. (2017-2018)
Current Position: Information Security Administrator and Systems Administrator at Aqurate Health Data Management, Inc
Jared Dahl
Biology B.S. (2017)
Lauren Lee
Biology B.S. (2015-2018)
Current Position: Emergency Medical Technician
Steven Woods
Biology B.S. (2016-2017)
Current Position: Clinic Operations Coordinator at Healthgram
Strahinja Talic
Honors Biology B.S., Chemistry B.A. (2016-2018)
Current Position: M.D. from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Emily Satterwhite
Biology B.S. (2015-2017)
Current Position: Ph.D. Student in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Carolina University
Vaishu Jawahar
Biology B.S. (2015-2017)
Physiology M.S., Georgetown University
Current Position: Domestic Policy Coordinator, Office of the Vice President at the White House
Jaclyn Smollett
Biology B.S. (2016-2017)
Current Position: First year resident at UNC for Periodontology
Ram Jawahar
Biology B.S. (2015-2016)
Current Position: Medical Student at Ross University School of Medicine
Kenya Joseph
Biology B.S. (2015-2017)
Current Position: Entrepreneur and Health Coach, Owner of Perfect Blue Alchemy and Hearts & Hands Food Pantry
International Students
Ekaterina Goncharova
Chemistry M.S. (2019)
ITMO University (Saint Petersburg, Russia)
Shota Hanyu
M.D. (2016)
Kyoto University (Kyoto, Japan)
Tatiana Lyalina
Chemistry M.S. (2018)
ITMO University (Saint Petersburg, Russia)