Lab Members

Internships in the Mariani Lab

The Mariani Lab offers internship opportunities for undergraduate students who would like a contemporary medical research experience in a laboratory or computational setting. These unpaid internships require approximately 8 hrs/wk split over 2-3 days for one semester. The goal is to teach proficiency in a few fundamental molecular biology or applied computational biology skills. The laboratory experience will focus on the following scientific methods and protocols: DNA extraction, PCR, and gel electrophoresis. The computational experience focuses on a “Data Science” project, typically analysis of genome-wide expression data sets. All students must complete a basic chemical safety training course online before any bench work can begin. If interested, please contact Kathy_Donlon@urmc.rochester.edu.

The following undergraduate students recently completed internships in the Mariani Lab.

Salman Syed

• University of Rochester class of 2023, Biochemistry major.
• Interned in the Mariani Lab spring 2020.
• Developed basic molecular biology lab skills in DNA isolation, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and Gel Electrophoresis.
• Visited the vivarium and spoke with lab members about Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and different chronic respiratory conditions.
• Career aspirations include attending medical school and becoming a doctor.

Tongyi Fei

• (Phoebe) University of Rochester class of 2020, double major Computational Biology and Japanese.
• Interned in the Mariani lab summer 2018-spring 2020.
• Learned several computation algorithms (sequence clustering, genome alignment, statistical analysis using RStudio, etc.). Molecular lab techniques included indirect ELISA, PCR, and gel electrophoresis.
• Career aspirations include a masters or PhD in genomics or translational medicine.

Rebecca Fuchs

• University of Rochester class of 2020, Computational Biology major. Interned in the Mariani lab summer 2017-spring 2018.
• Learned and ran a genome wide association study and was involved in a gene expression analysis involving BPD patients.
• Georgetown University class of 2020, master’s degree in Bioinformatics. Plan to
• work on development of new therapeutics in the DC area.

Carlye Jones

• Monroe Community College class of 2020, nursing major.
• Interned in the Mariani lab in the summer of 2019.
• Made chocolate agar plates to quantify bacterial serial dilutions using the drop-quantification method. Main project entailed using an air-liquid interface in vitro model of the human airway to study the apical-to-basal movement of bacteria across the lung epithelium.
• I am a patient care technician at Rochester General Hospital. The plan is to work as a Registered Nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Andrew Korts

• University of Rochester class of 2023, Optical Engineering Major/ Computer Science Minor.
• Interned in the Mariani lab summer 2019.
• Basic lab etiquette and skills included DNA extraction, PCR, and gel electrophoresis.
• Plan to attend graduate school for Optics. Aspire to designing optical systems for automated guided vehicles or satellite telescopes.

Jessica DiManno

• University of Rochester class of 2020, Microbiology major. Interned in the Mariani lab spring 2019.
• Developed molecular biology skills: PCR, gel electrophoresis and touched on tissue cultures.
• Plan to obtain a master's degree in Microbiology and attend medical school.

Isabelle Brick

• Dartmouth College class of 2020, Biology and Music major.
• Interned in the Marianil lab winter 2019.
• Learned genotyping, qPCR, sterile technique in tissue culture.
• Plan to work in Boston as a clinical research coordinator studying asthma, and eventually enter a physician assistant program.

Andrew Soborowski

• University of Rochester class of 2019, BS in Computational Biology.
• Interned in the Mariani lab summer and fall of 2018.
• Verified a method for mapping antigenic differences in different strains of influenza.
• Current graduate student in Duke University's Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Ph.D. program.

Emma Tonetti

• University of Rochester class of 2020, Biology major.
• Interned in the Mariani lab summer of 2018.
• Learned a variety of biological wet lab skills such as PCR, gel electrophoresis and cell culture.
• Plan to enter the medical research field in immunology and eventually a Ph.D. program in infectious diseases and global health.

Sammie Ventimiglia

• University of Buffalo class of 2019, BA Psychology and Italian.
• Interned in the Mariani lab summer of 2017.
• Performed qPCR looking at expression from e-cigarettes.
• Works as a research assistant at FIU Center for Children and Families in Miami.

Michelle Benassai

• University of Rochester class of 2017, double major Biology and Psychology.
• Interned in the Mariani lab spring 2017.
• Learned a variety of skills including DNA and RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, PCR, and gel electrophoresis.
• University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry class of 2021. Will apply for OB/GYN residency after graduation.

Stacey Davis

• SUNY Binghamton class of 2017, Integrative Neuroscience Major, Biological Anthropology minor.
• Interned in the Mariani lab summer 2016.
• Developed cell culture skills concerning the Effect of E-cigarettes on Small Airway Epithelial Cell Gene Expression.
• Provides science education resources to high schools as a K-12 Account Specialist at JoVE, the Journal of Visualized Experiments.