Meet the Team

  • Nicholas Reiter

    Principal Investigator

    ABOUT

  • Sahar Alishiri

    Graduate Student

  • Owen Scheider

    Scientist (undergraduate, B.S. 2023)

  • Kithmini Priyankara

    Graduate Student

  • Ali Alyousef

    Graduate Student

  • Piero Spada

    Scientist

  • Chamindi Perera

    Graduate Student

  • Ananya Das

    Graduate Student

  • Ellie DeWitt and Jackson Strzalka

    Undergraduate Researchers

  • Max Iwuc

    Undergraduate Researcher

Reiter Lab Alumni All-Stars

Postdoctoral fellows:

Dr. Danyun Zeng (2017-2021)

Dr. Alex Hirschi (2014-2017)

Researchers

Dr. Ben Brown

Dr. Zigmund Luka

Khadijah I Moore

Kaniz Fatema

Maria Claudia Villegas Kscam

Pilar Corredor-Moreno

Graduate researchers:

Bill Martin (Ph.D., 2017)

Nilmini W. Mudiyanselage (M.S., 2019)

John Aguirre (M.S., 2021)

Ainur Abzhanova (Ph. D., 2023)

Dulmi Senanayaka (Ph.D., 2023)

Undergraduate researchers (Marquette):

Matt DeLuca

Dwayne Dash

Adam Kyrouac

Khadijah Moore

Roshni Patel

Edi Kuhn

Pranay Vadapally

Genesis Chase

Alexander Markelz

Natalie Songtantaruk

Aashay Mardikar

Joceline Helmbreck

Sara Craig

Julliane Negre

Laurel Moneysmith

Owen Schneider

Tristan Lee

Lab outings

  • Kopps, 2018

    Danyun, Dwayne, Dulmi, Khadijah, Ainur, Nilmini, Nick

  • Lab, 2019

    Ainur, Nilmini, Nick, Danyun, John, Roshni, Kaniz, Khadijah, Dulmi

  • Purple door, 2020

    Julliane, Owen, Danyun, Kaniz, Dulmi, Joceline, Sarah, Nick, Ainur

  • Lab, 2022

    Owen, Ainur, Nick, Sahar, Laurel, Sarah, Joceline, Aashay, Dulmi

Alumni: Bios

  • Dulmi Senanayaka

    Graduate Student (PhD, 2023)

    Current: Catalant Pharma

    About: Dulmi graduated from University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka in 2016 (BS, Chemistry). In her free time, she likes travelling and enjoys being in sunshine.

  • Ainur Abzhanova

    Graduate Student (PhD, 2023)

    Current: Pfizer (NYC)

    About: Ainur graduated from Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan in 2017 (BS, Chemistry). As a grad student, she studied the RNA structure and flexibility of RNase P and the cancer associated non-coding RNAs (HOX transcript antisense RNA). She enjoys hiking, ice skating, dancing, travelling, going out/playing games, and cooking during free time

  • Joceline Helmbreck

    Undergraduate Research (B.S., 2023)

    On the horizon: Genetic counseling

    About: Joceline investigated the effects of putative Ewing Sarcoma drugs on LSD1 activity. Some of Joceline’s interests on campus included Marquette band, taking fun photos, and crocheting all things BIO. Ask her about her DNA plushie.

  • Sara Craig

    Undergraduate Research (B.S., 2023)

    Current: Graduate Student- Songtag Lab

    About: Sara investigated how R-loops might affect the recruitment of LSD1 to telomeres. HUGE fan of Formula 1 Racing and all things arts and crafty. Also, learned crochet from Joceline and was able to make a bucket hat!

  • Laurel Moneysmith

    Undergraduate Research (B.S., 2023)

    Current: Graduate Student - U. Oregon - Chemistry

    About: Laurel investigated the formation of RNA-DNA hybrids in the lab. Laurel runs fast, enjoys making art, and being outdoors.

  • Aashay Maridkar

    High School/Undergraduate Research

    Current: Undergraduate at U. of Rochester (Dunman Lab)

    About: Aashay optimized the lab’s T7 RNA polymerase protein purification prep and investigated LSD1-drug interactions using enzyme activity assays and x-ray crystallography. Aashay is also a virtuoso violinist.