Fiona Clark

Research Associate

Email: clarkf@udel.edu 

Fiona is from Charlotte, North Carolina. She received her undergraduate degree from University of North Carolina at Charlotte (2022). She worked as a Senior Research Assistant at The Oregon National Primate Research Center for 2 years before coming back to the east coast. She loves being outdoors and working on different craft projects.

Asif Ahmed
Graduate student
Email: prosetik@udel.edu

Meet Asif, an international graduate student from Bangladesh. He completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh, where his research focused on the genetic causes of Autism. Following this, Asif joined the Graduate Biotechnology Certificate program at the University of Delaware (UD), where he utilized the Drosophila (fly) model to study social behavior. Currently, he is pursuing his second Master’s degree in Biological Science with a concentration in Molecular Biology at UD. His research investigates the genetic causes of craniofacial birth defects and examines the roles of putative genes during embryonic development using Xenopus laevis (frog) models.

Asif is also dedicated to humanitarian and social work. He has a keen interest in the history of civilizations, music, geopolitics, and the history of warfare. He has received numerous awards in debates, creative writing, poetry recitation, public speaking, and sports competitions at both institutional and national levels. In his spare time, Asif enjoys playing video games (World of Tanks!), reading books, and wilderness camping. He values his close relationships with family and friends, believing in the importance of a supportive personal network. Asif approaches his academic and professional responsibilities with the philosophy: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better” — Maya Angelou. If you see him around, don’t hesitate to say “Hi!” with a smile! 

Kelechi Blessing Chukwuocha

Graduate Student

Email: kelechib@udel.edu

Kelechi is currently pursuing her PhD in Molecular Biology & Genetics. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Michael Okpara University in Nigeria and later obtained her master’s degree in Molecular Biology & Genetics from the University of Delaware, where she also obtained a graduate certificate in Applied Bioinformatics. She also holds certifications in Fundamentals of AI/ML in Precision Medicine, and the Fundamentals of Data Science in Precision Medicine and Cloud Computing from Stanford University’s Deep Data research Center. Kelechi is passionate about science, with a strong interest in discovering novel therapeutics for the treatment of diseases. Her current research focuses on utilizing transgenic mice to understand the effects of mutations in the Six1 gene on neural crest development, which could lead to the development of therapies for treating craniosynostosis. Outside the lab, Kelechi enjoys singing, cooking, and designing her own clothes.

Matthew Smith
Graduate student
email: mesmit@udel.edu

Matt is from York, Pennsylvania, the original home of the York Peppermint Patty! He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Millersville University (2014) and his Master of Science in Biomedical Forensic Sciences and Certificate of Advanced Study in Medicolegal Death Investigation from Syracuse University (2017). He is currently working toward earning his PhD in Biological Sciences with the goal of teaching and conducting research at the undergraduate level. His current research utilizes Xenopus as a model to investigate the causes of craniofacial structural birth defects. In his free time, Matt enjoys spending time with his partner and family, playing video games like Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, anything related to the X-Men, playing Dungeons & Dragons, and watching TV shows like Charmed, Star Trek, Stargate, and RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Visnu Chowdhury
Graduate student
email: pritom@udel.edu

Visnu (pronounced as Bishnu) is from Bangladesh, a small country in south-east Asia. He studied medicine and afterward earned his master’s degree in biotechnology. His interest lies in the domain of molecular and cell biology, to find novel therapeutic targets that may help treat untreatable diseases. He is currently pursuing doctoral studies in molecular biology and genetics at the University of Delaware. In his current project, he is trying to understand what the role of Six1 is in craniofacial development. Findings from this research can help find novel therapeutic targets for diseases like craniosynostosis, where the cranial bones fuse too early in young children and impair the development of their growing brains. He likes music, drawing, and calisthenics. However, his world revolves around his family.

Gabriel Dasilva

Gabriel Dasilva is an undergraduate researcher in his senior year of a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences. He has made expression constructs and does work with cell culture. His love and passion for research means he is planning on pursuing a phd in biology to continue doing research

Eleanor Helm

I am a senior Biological Sciences major with a concentration in Cellular and Molecular Biology & Genetics.  For the past two summers, I have worked at the Fox Chase Cancer Center studying Z-RNA and B-catenin.  I plan on pursuing a PhD in Cell Biology after graduation.

Jason Puza

Jason Puza is a sophomore Biological Sciences major with a minor in Medical Humanities at UD. Jason is from Dallas, Pennsylvania and holds a deep appreciation for meaningful research. Upon graduation, he plans to attend medical school. Jason enjoys staying active in his free time by working out and swimming. When he isn’t in the gym he enjoys building legos and playing video games with his friends.