Our Team

Gabrielle Valles, Y.E.S. Director and Co-Founder

Research

Structural biology, with a focus on the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and its implication in diseased states including cancer

Lab

Lab of Dr. Irina Bezsonova in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics at UConn Health

Hobbies

Yoga, reading, writing


Kerry Silva McPherson, Y.E.S. Secretary and Co-Founder

Research

Translesion DNA synthesis and cancer chemoresistance

Lab

Lab of Dr. Dmitry Korzhnev in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics at UConn Health

Hobbies

Reading, working out, and cycling


Gianluca Arianna, Y.E.S. Communications Chair

Research

Understanding the assembly of the Translesion Synthesis Mutasome

Lab

Lab of Dr. Dmitry Korzhnev in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics at UConn Health

Hobbies

Piano, drawing, painting, table-top gaming


Rachel Gilmore, Y.E.S. Treasurer

Research

Angelman's Syndrome

Lab

Lab of Dr. Stormy Chamberlain in the Department of Genetics at UConn Health

Hobbies

Hiking, yoga, traveling, and visiting my family (& cats)


James Demayo, Y.E.S. Avery Point Campus Director

Research

Zooplankton in the Long Island Sound, Climate Change

Lab

Lab of Dr. Dam in the Department of Marine Sciences at UConn Avery Point

Hobbies

Hiking, volleyball, photography


Dea Gorka, Y.E.S. Volunteer

Research

Angelman's Syndrome

Lab

Lab of Dr. Stormy Chamberlain in the Department of Genetics at UConn Health

Hobbies

Sports and reading


Nick Jannetty, Y.E.S. Volunteer

Research

Skin Microbiome

Lab

Lab of Dr. Julia Oh in the Department of Genetics at UConn Health/Jax Laboratory

Hobbies

Reading


Peter Larson, Y.E.S. Volunteer

Research

Skin Microbiome

Lab

Lab of Dr. Julia Oh in the Department of Genetics at at UConn Health/Jax Laboratory

Hobbies

Leathercraft


Socheata Lim, Y.E.S. Volunteer

Research

E. coli DNA replication and repair, biophysics, NMR, antibiotics

Lab

Lab of Dr. Dmitry Korzhnev in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics at UConn Health

Hobbies

Tennis and learning French


Kirby Madden-Hennessey, Y.E.S. Volunteer

Research

Colon Cancer, Lynch Syndrome

Lab

Lab of Dr. Christopher Heinen in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biophyiscs at UConn Health

Hobbies

Sports and reading


Britta Petersen, Y.E.S. Volunteer

Research

Intercellular communication in Paget's Disease

Lab

Lab of Dr. Marc F. Hansen in the Department of Skeletal Biology and Regeneration at UConn Health

Hobbies

Hiking, cycling, or working on my rosemaling skills (rosemaling is a traditional Norwegian painting style)


Elise Pitmon, Y.E.S. Volunteer

Research

Role of IL-17 in colitis and colon cancer

Lab

Lab of Dr. Kepeng Wang in the Department of Immunology at UConn Health

Hobbies

Running and reading


Blake Torrance, Y.E.S. Volunteer

Research

T-cell immunity to influenza

Lab

Lab of Dr. Laura Hayne in the Department of Immunology at UConn Health

Hobbies

Piano and Spanish history