Meet Our Teaching Assistants and Fellows

Maria Akenkou

Maria Akenkou is an M.S. student in Molecular Bioscience at Seton Hall University. Originally from Morocco, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences from Soka University of America. Her academic interests include molecular biology, biotechnology and microbial research. As a teaching assistant, she looks forward to helping students develop their laboratory skills and confidence.

Fall 2o26 teaching: Intro to Microbiology Lab (BIOL 2142)

Sylvester Banini

Sylvester Banini is a first-year master’s student in Molecular Bioscience at Seton Hall University. He enjoys learning new concepts and sharing that knowledge with others. His professional interests include pursuing a career in pharmacology.

Fall 2026 teaching: General Biology-Organisms Lab (BIOL 1212)

Sophie Bencivenga

Sophie Bencivenga is an M.S. student in Microbiology and a teaching fellow at Seton Hall University. She earned her B.S. in Biology, with minors in Pre-Med and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies, from James Madison University. Her NSF-funded undergraduate thesis examined cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie. She teaches introductory microbiology in the fall and histology and General Biology II in the spring. Outside academia, she enjoys the beach, reading and spending time with her dogs.

Fall 2026 teaching: Intro to Microbiology Lab (BIOL 2142)

Lizeth Chicas

Lizeth Chicas is a Ph.D. student in Biology at Seton Hall University. She earned her B.S. in Biology, with a minor in Chemistry, from Seton Hall and her M.S. in Biology from New York University. Her research experience includes studying biomarkers associated with cerebral malaria. She has taught and assisted with undergraduate biology and anatomy courses and enjoys helping students build confidence. Outside academia, she enjoys exploring New Jersey, video games, movies, and true crime documentaries and podcasts. A recent favorite movie is Project Hail Mary.

Fall 2026 teaching: Human Anatomy and Phys I Lab (BIOL 1123)

Sean Coulson

Sean Coulson is a first-year master’s student in Molecular Bioscience at Seton Hall University. He completed his undergraduate studies at Seton Hall, where he conducted research in Fr. Gerald Buonopane’s laboratory. He currently works in Dr. David Calianese’s research laboratory.

Fall 2026 teaching: Human Anatomy and Phys I Lab (BIOL 1123)

Teresa Cruz

Teresa Cruz is a Ph.D. student in Molecular Bioscience at Seton Hall University and a member of Dr. Calianese’s laboratory. Her research examines immune receptor interactions and their roles in immune regulation and cancer, with the goal of informing more targeted cancer therapies. As a teaching assistant, she enjoys helping students build confidence, develop laboratory skills and discover their enthusiasm for science.

Fall 2026 teaching: General Biology-Organisms Lab (BIOL 1212)

Julius Frederick

Julius Frederick is an M.S. candidate in Molecular Bioscience with a concentration in Neuroscience at Seton Hall University. Julius holds a B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology.

Fall 2026 teaching: General Biology-Organisms Lab (BIOL 1212)

Matthew Gregory

Matthew Gregory is a third-year Ph.D. student at Seton Hall University working under the mentorship of Dr. Nichols. He completed his M.S. in Biology in 2022, studying the immune evasion genes of molluscum contagiosum virus. He continues to investigate these genes in his doctoral research.

Fall 2026 teaching: Genetics Lab (BIOL 2222)

Ella Hamberlin

Ella Hamberlin is a second-year master’s student in Molecular Biosciences with a concentration in Microbiology at Seton Hall University. She earned her B.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Connecticut. In the Hill laboratory, she studies the oral microbiome of infants before and after frenectomy. She teaches genetics in the fall and General Biology II in the spring. Outside academia, she enjoys mystery novels, the gym and coffee walks with friends.

Fall 2026 teaching: Genetics Lab (BIOL 2222)

Matthew Hendrzak

Matthew Hendrzak is a first-year Ph.D. student in Molecular Bioscience at Seton Hall University. He completed his M.S. in Biology at Seton Hall under the mentorship of Dr. Chu. His teaching experience includes microbiology and anatomy and physiology laboratories.

Fall 2026 teaching: Microbiology (BIOL 3411)

Jeanette Hudak

Jeanette Hudak is a second-year M.S. student in Molecular Bioscience at Seton Hall University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in General Biology from William Paterson University and joined Seton Hall in fall 2025. She conducts research in Dr. Cottrell’s laboratory, which investigates bone health and healing, and has served as a teaching assistant for General Biology I and II. Outside academia, she enjoys hiking, working out, reading and baking.

Fall 2026 teaching: General Biology-Organisms Lab (BIOL 1212)

Evan Hunter

Evan Hunter is a Ph.D. student at Seton Hall University. Born in New York in 1992 and raised in West Windsor, New Jersey, he attended Denison University and earned his M.S. in Biology from Northeastern University in 2019. His research interests include cell and molecular biology, bone biology, cellular differentiation and how biological systems respond to signals. He teaches anatomy and physiology laboratories. Outside academia, he plays piano and organ and enjoys running.

Fall 2026 teaching: Human Anatomy and Phys I Lab (BIOL 1123)

Gbemisola (Liz) Ilelaboye

Gbemisola (Liz) Ilelaboye is a Ph.D. student in Dr. Nichols’s lab. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Seton Hall University. Her master’s research examined the effects of ethanol toxicity on spermatogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster with Dr. Klaus. Her doctoral research investigates mechanisms that molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) to evade the host immune response. She has many years of teaching experience as both a teaching assistant and an Adjunct Instructor at Seton Hall University, including laboratories in Genetics, General Biology I and II, Cell Biology and Advanced Imaging.

Fall 2026 teaching: Genetics Lab (BIOL 2222)

Katherine Lefferts

Katherine Lefferts is a Ph.D. candidate in Molecular Bioscience at Seton Hall University. She conducts research in Dr. Jessica Cottrell’s laboratory in the Department of Biological Sciences.

Fall 2026 teaching: Research Methods I Lab (BIOL 6201)

Shanice Keza

Shanice Keza is a second-year master’s student in Molecular Bioscience at Seton Hall University. She conducts research in Dr. Calianese’s laboratory.

Fall 2026 teaching: Intro to Microbiology Lab (BIOL 2142)

Ayesha Lodhi

Ayesha Lodhi is an international Ph.D. student at Seton Hall University, where she also earned her master’s degree. Her research experience includes profiling and characterizing depalmitoylation enzymes in neuronal cells and studying cross-reactive serum antibodies in patients with diabetes following vaccination. Her broader interests concern immune function in autoimmunity and microbial invasion. As a teaching assistant, she looks forward to sharing her enthusiasm for biology and supporting students.

Fall 2026 teaching: Anatomy and Physiology I Lab (BIOL 3335)

Maura Magnier

Maura Magnier is a third-year Ph.D. student in Molecular Biosciences at Seton Hall University.

Fall 2026 teaching: Vertebrate Physiology Lab (BIOL 3321)

Akshay Patel

Akshay Patel is a third-year Ph.D. student in Molecular Biosciences and a graduate teaching assistant at Seton Hall University. His research examines impaired bone healing in diabetes, with a focus on inflammatory chemokine signaling and bone cell biology. His experience spans molecular biology, cell culture and translational biomedical research. In the laboratory classroom, he helps students connect concepts with practice and become confident, curious and independent learners.

Fall 2026 teaching: General Biology-Organisms Lab (BIOL 1212)

James Primerano

James Primerano is an M.S. student in Molecular Bioscience at Seton Hall University and an aspiring physician. He earned his B.S. in Biology from Seton Hall, where he joined Dr. Chu’s research laboratory. His interests include microbiology research and learning. Outside academia, he enjoys Italian food and spending weekends with family and friends.

Fall 2026 teaching: Genetics (BIOL 2211)

Lauren Polio

Lauren Polio is a Ph.D. candidate in Molecular Bioscience at Seton Hall University and a teaching assistant for General Biology I and II. Her research uses CRISPR-based approaches to investigate the regulation of phosphatidylserine externalization and its role in tumor-associated immune suppression. She aims to identify therapeutic targets that could improve immune cell function.

Fall 2026 teaching: General Biology-Organisms Lab (BIOL 1212)

Tatiana Rengifo

Tatiana Rengifo is a Ph.D. student and teaching assistant at Seton Hall University. Her research experience includes using animal and cellular models to examine immunological pathways and the effects of viral proteins on the innate immune response. She has three years of teaching experience, including General Biology I and II.

Fall 2026 teaching: General Biology-Organisms Lab (BIOL 1212)

Joylynn Rodriguez

Joylynn Rodriguez is an M.S. student in Biology and a teaching fellow in the Department of Biological Sciences at Seton Hall University.

Fall 2026 teaching: Human Anatomy and Phys I Lab (BIOL 1123)

Austin Terlecky

Austin Terlecky is a Ph.D. student in Molecular Bioscience and a teaching assistant at Seton Hall University. He also serves as a Senior Research Specialist at the Hackensack Meridian Health Center for Discovery and Innovation, working in Dr. Barry Kreiswirth’s infectious disease laboratory. His research focuses on antimicrobial resistance genomics, mobile genetic elements and plasmid biology. His broader background includes microbial genetics and molecular epidemiology.

Fall 2026 teaching: Human Anatomy and Phys I Lab (BIOL 1123)

Brian White

Brian White is from Brooklyn, New York. He earned his B.S. in Biology and Philosophy from the University of Scranton.

Fall 2026 teaching: Genetics Lab (BIOL 2222)

Natalie Winner

Natalie Winner is an M.S. student in Molecular Biosciences at Seton Hall University. She earned her B.S. in Biology, with a minor in Chemistry, from Montclair State University. She conducts antimicrobial and antibiofilm research in Dr. Chu’s laboratory.

Fall 2026 teaching: Microbiology (BIOL 3411)

Nazende Zeren

Nazende Zeren is a Ph.D. candidate in Molecular Bioscience at Seton Hall University and a recipient of the Clare Boothe Luce Graduate Fellowship. Her academic background spans biology, dentistry and graduate studies in biotechnology. Her doctoral research examines neuroimmune interactions, particularly how fatty acids influence microglial behavior and function in the central nervous system. She explores the potential roles of these responses in neuroinflammation and brain tumor biology.

Fall 2026 teaching: Intro to Immunology Lab (BIOL 3241)