The Protein Acetylation Team
Liya Popova
Graduate Student
(popova62@students.rowan.edu)
Liya joined the Carabetta lab as a PhD Candidate in Translational Biomedical Sciences. She graduated with an M.D. from the Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, and completed a residency program and clinical research in infectious diseases. Outside of the lab, she likes traveling and short weekend getaways to explore new cities.
Favorite quote:
“Every antibiotic we count on now will be destroyed or significantly impaired by resistance.” - Kevin Outterson, BS, JD, LLM, Executive Director of CARB-X at Boston University.
Maxwell AkantibilaGraduate student(akanti18@students.rowan.edu)
​Maxwell is from the Northern part of Ghana He graduated from the University for Development Studies with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry. He joined the Carabetta lab as a master’s student in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Outside of the lab, he loves to play soccer and computer games. Fun Fact: He admires tall buildings a lot, especially the buildings at Philadelphia.
Briana Reid
Volunteer
(reidbr18@students.rowan.edu)
Briana recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from Rowan University in only three years! Currently, she is in a gap year, and will be applying to medical and PA schools soon. She is interested in becoming a pediatric orthopedic physician. Outside of the lab, she enjoys watching movies and traveling. Fun fact: Her favorite Disney movie is Ratatouille!
The Acinetobacter Team
Jessica Chicola
M4 Medical Student
(chicol47@rowan.edu)
Jessica grew up in Westfield, NJ then attended the University of Vermont. She graduated in 2022 with a BS in microbiology and a minor in molecular genetics. While at UVM, she performed a meta-analysis on bromodomain genes and their association with Tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer. She spent a year working on the R&D team at OPS diagnostics before beginning at CMSRU. For fun, she loves spending time with her boyfriend and their dog, Roco. She is also learning to crochet and enjoys reading.
Andrew Keane
M4 Medical Student
(keanea44@rowan.edu)
Although originally from Rockland County, NY, Andrew has spent most of his life in Mount Laurel, NJ. He graduated from Penn State University in 2021 with a B.S. in Immunology and Infectious Disease, along with minors in Microbiology, Political Science, and Global Health. Andrew’s medical interests include sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease, and of course, antibiotic resistance. In his free time, he enjoys watching sports, reading medical literature, and working on cars. A fun fact about Andrew is that he used to be a competitive chess player!
Ian Millstein
M4 Medical Student
(millst89@rowan.edu)
Ian is a first-year medical student at CMSRU. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. Ian is interested in surgery and has experience researching mechanisms of metastasis in pancreatic cancer in the Stanger lab at Perelman School of Medicine. Additional interests include travel, tennis, chess, and rooting for the Eagles and Sixers.
Keertana Jonnalgadda
M4 Medical Student
Rowan SOM
(jonnal56@rowan.edu)
Keertana is a first-year medical student at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. She is interested in the field of emergency medicine. She graduated from Rowan University with a bachelor’s in biology. Apart from doing research in Dr. Carabetta’s lab, she enjoys going to the gym, taking road trips, and hiking. Fun fact: Her favorite show is Schitt’s Creek!
Tristan DaCunha
M2 Medical Student
(dacunh58@rowan.edu)
Tristan is a first-year medical student at CMSRU. He grew up in Westchester County, New York and graduated from Fordham University with a B.S. in chemistry, as well as minors in psychology and bioethics. He is a huge New York Mets fan, and in his free time he enjoys photography, running, and playing ultimate frisbee. Fun fact — he shares a name with the world’s most remote inhabited island!
Amanda Mak
M2 Medical Student
(makama86@rowan.edu)
Amanda is a second year medical student at CMSRU. She grew up in Massachusetts and completed her undergraduate studies at UCLA with a major in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics and a minor in Gender Studies. While at UCLA, she worked in research on the impact of early cART on inflammation in adolescents with HIV in the Bryson lab. In her free time, she enjoys bouldering, thrifting, and exploring cafes around Philly.
Jihun Ha
M2 Medical Student
(hajihu72@rowan.edu)
Jihun is a second-year medical student at CMSRU. He has experience in nanochemistry research and is currently exploring various clinical specialties. In his free time, Jihun enjoys listening to music."
Zahra Wallizadeh
M3 Medical Student
Rowan SOM
walliz15@rowan.edu
Zahra is a New Jersey native with a passion for learning. She graduated from the New Jersey Institute of Technology with a degree in Chemical Engineering. In her free time, Zahra enjoys creating new recipes and traveling the world.
Jeanette Bouzo
M4 Medical Student
Rowan SOM
(bouzo78@rowan.edu)
Jeanette is from Miami, Florida. She graduated with a B.S. in Biology from Florida International University. Currently, she is a medical student at Rowan SOM with a primary interest in women's health. Prior to moving to New Jersey, she worked as a research assistant studying the long-term effects of substance use on adolescent brain and cognitive development. A fun fact is that she is a very avid reader, with a goal this year to read 50 books!
Krisha Darji
M3 Medical Student
Rowan SOM
(darjik87@rowan.edu)
Krisha is a 2nd year medical student at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (SOM). For undergrad, she attended Rowan University and majored in Biomedical Engineering. Krisha is interested in patient advocacy and the field of Narrative Medicine and hopes to utilize skills in these areas to become a better physician for her patients. In her free time, Krisha enjoys reading (one of her favorite authors is Taylor Jenkins Reid), going to hot yoga or Pilates, and spending time with her friends and family.
Shivam Patel
M2 Medical Student
(patels135@rowan.edu)
Shivam is from Berlin, New Jersey and graduated from Northeastern University with a bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering with a cell and tissue concentration. He joined the Phage Team in the Carabetta lab during his M1 year summer. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends and enjoys doing activities outdoors. Fun fact: He admires the history and advances in the aviation industry.
Archna Mahendru
M3 Medical Student
Rowan SOM
(mahend53@rowan.edu)
Archna Mahendru is a 1st year Rowan SOM student. She attended Rutgers University for undergrad and majored in Biochemistry. During her time at Rutgers, she researched the effects of Liver Fatty Acid Binding Proteins (LFABP) and Intestinal Fatty Acid Binding Proteins (IFABP) in knockout mice. A fun fact is that she has a pet bird that looks like Pikachu.
Priyal Gajera
M3 Medical Student
Rowan SOM
(gajer64@rowan.edu)
Priyal is a first year medical student at Rowan SOM. She is interested in Internal Medicine, and is from Bloomfield, NJ. Priyal graduated from New York Institute of Technology in 2024 with a bachelors in Biology, where she was part of the SEA-PHAGES program, which piqued her interest in antibiotic resistance research. She plans to continue this work by joining the amazing Carabetta Lab team. Outside of school, she enjoys cooking, hanging out with friends, and trying new hobbies.
Zainab Mubasher
M3 Medical Student
Rowan SOM
(mbuash57@rowan.edu)
​Zainab is a first-year medical student at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine. She grew up in North Jersey and graduated from the New York Institute of Technology in 2023 with a B.S. in Biology. She is passionate about studying the evolution of antibiotic resistance and its implications for modern medicine. Outside of her academic interests, Zainab enjoys traveling and exploring new places, embracing opportunities to experience different cultures and perspectives.
Daniel Ammerman
M3 Medical Student
ammerm16@rowan.edu
Daniel is an outdoor enthusiast with a passion for hiking and rock climbing, always seeking new challenges in nature. He also loves music, playing both acoustic, electric guitar, and singing. A lifelong learner, Daniel enjoys teaching and sharing knowledge with others. He appreciates a good cup of coffee and takes an interest in the craft of brewing it. Beyond these pursuits, he is committed to humanitarian work, aspiring to provide medical care in refugee camps across the Middle East, Africa, or Southeast Asia.
Hajara B. Abdul-KarimM2 Medical Student
Rowan SOM
(abdulk74@rowan.edu)
Hajara is a second-year medical student at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine. She earned a BSc in Chemistry from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana and a master's in Chemistry from Rutgers University-Camden, where she researched the synthesis and functionalization of biomaterials. Before medical school, she worked as a Forensic Scientist for the Philadelphia Police Department, focusing on narcotics and controlled substance analysis. Hajara's has research interest in drug studies and therapeutic development. Outside school, she enjoys binging tv shows.
Taniya Sood
M3 Medical Student
Rowan SOM
soodta96@rowan.edu
Taniya is a second year medical student at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine. She graduated from TCNJ, studying Biomedical Engineering. She is interested in internal medicine. In her free time, Taniya likes to travel, sew, and spend time with her dog.
Kartik Kannan
M2 Medical Student
Rowan SOM
(Kannan52@rowan.edu)
Kartik is a first-year medical student at the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine. He is from Yardley, PA, and he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BPhil in Biological Sciences. He previously completed research involving S. aureus and S. pyogenes and is interested in a career in pediatric infectious disease. Outside of school, Kartik races for Philadelphia Runner Track Club, and he enjoys playing the piano.
Alicia Gallo
Volunteer
Ross University
(aliciagallo@mail.rossmed.edu)
Alicia grew up in New York and graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a BA in Biology. She recently completed her M.D. at Ross University School of Medicine. Alicia's interests include Medical Oncology, Cardiology and combatting antibiotic resistance with Dr. Val! In her free time she enjoys fitness, traveling and cooking.
The Biofilm Team
Serena Yoo
M3 Medical Student
(yooser47@rowan.edu)
Serena was raised in the southern San Francisco Bay Area and graduated in 2022 with a B.S. in Microbiology from the University of California, Berkeley, where she conducted research at the Portnoy Lab on Listeria monocytogenes. Currently, Serena is a medical student at CMSRU with a strong interest in surgery (perhaps acute critical care/trauma) and global health. She has a twin sister who is also attending medical school in Rhode Island. She drinks iced americanos throughout all seasons, and dusk is her favorite time of the day.
Aashna Jonnalagadda
M3 Medical Student
Rowan SOM
jonnal82@rowan.edu
Aashna is a first-year medical student at Rowan-Virtua SOM. She graduated from Rowan University with a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology. At Rowan, she participated in research involving protein purification and assessing protein stability with ionic liquids and detergents. Aashna is from Edison, NJ, and she enjoys playing tennis and embroidering in her free time!
Bioremediation Team
Pritkumar "Prit" Dhamesha
Pharm Sci. Masters student
Rowan University
(dhames74@rowan.edu)
Pritkumar is a Graduate Research Fellow in the Carabetta Lab and a Master’s student in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Rowan University. He holds a Pharm.D. degree with experience in clinical research, pharmaceutical sciences, and laboratory-based biomedical research. His interests include antimicrobial resistance, bacterial genetics, and translational research, with a strong foundation in drug mechanisms, data analysis, and GLP/GCP compliance.
Carabetta lab alumni
Elena Sierra (capstone student, 2021-2026) Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident at St. Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem, PA
April Pivonka (capstone student, 2023-2026) Neurology Resident at Cooper University Hospital, Camden NJ
Katie Nolan (capstone student, 2024-2026) Pediatrics Resident at NY Medical College-Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY
Muskan Kaur (medical student, 2023-2026) Anesthesiology Resident at Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC
Maftuna Kurbonnazarova (medical student, 2023-2026) General Surgery Resident at Inspira Health, Mullica Hill, NJ
Jennifer Nguyen (medical student, 2024-2026) Pathology Resident at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ
William Bruno (RISER student, summer 2025)
Precious Newman (Master's student, 2023-2025) PhD student in the Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences @ Rowan University
Tope Aderbigbe (Master's student, 2023-2025) Research Associate at Bristol Myers Squibb
Rebecca Fliorent (medical student, 2022-2025) Pathology Resident at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
Kamayel Jaludi (medical student, 2022-2025) Anesthesiology Resident at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ
Lama Jadalla (medical student, 2022-2025) Internal Medicine Resident at Jefferson Health, Stratford, NJ
Persia Vahidi (undergraduate, 2024-2026) Rowan University '25
Ben Feng (capstone student, 2022-2025) Vascular Surgery Resident at Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ
Justin Halim (capstone student, 2022-2025) Internal Medicine Resident at Montefiore Einstein Medical Center, Bronx, NY
Jordan Luetke (RISER student, Summer 2024) Binghamton University '29
Jason Tran (incoming medical student, Summer 2024) Rowan SOM '28
Olivia Schreiber (capstone student, 2021-2024) Internal Medicine resident at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
Tabitha Jaison (Post-bac student, 2022-2023) CMSRU '27
Nicholas Libraro (capstone student, 2022-2024) Anesthesiology Resident at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MA
Gilbert Fleischer (capstone student, 2021-2024) Internal Medicine resident at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
Holly Giovinco (capstone student, 2021-2024) OB/GYN resident at Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, NJ
Aleem Mohamed (capstone student, 2021-2024) General Surgery resident at Virginia Tech Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, VG
Connor Mott (medical student, 2021-2024) Psychiatrics resident at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Atlantic City, NJ
Michael Curry medical student, 2021-2024) Orthopeodic Surgery resident at Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ
Rachel Carr (research technician, 2021-2023)
Trichina Tucker (volunteer researcher, 2021-2023) Research associate at Hikma Pharmaceutical
Hritisha Pandey (volunteer researcher, 2020-2023) Profound Medical, San Francisco, CA.
Anish Korrapati (RISER student, Summer 2023) Case Western Reserve University, Class of 2028
Nishant Bhatt (RISER student, Summer 2023) The College of NJ (TCNJ), Class of 2028
Dennise Cortes (capstone student, 2020-2023) Pediatrics resident at Wright Patterson Airforce base, Dayton, OH
Damian Alpheus (capstone student, 2020-2023) Internal Medicine resident at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NC
Olaitan Akintunde (postdoctoral fellow, 2021-2023) Research Scientist Beckman Coulter Life Sciences
Lauren Phan (volunteer, Summer 2022) North Eastern University '24
Vidhi Patel (RISER student, Summer 2022) Rowan University '27
Melanie Betchen (CUH resident, 2019-2022), Infectious Diseases Fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Sean Roh (capstone student, 2020-2022), Family Medicine Resident at Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center, Fontana, CA
Manas Deolankar (capstone student, 2018-2022), Emergency Medicine Resident at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Jackson Luu (research technician, 2020-2021)
Kiyoshi Woods (volunteer, 2019-2020), Rutgers University (Camden) '23
Luke Stockl (volunteer, 2019-2020), Rowan University, Mechanical Engineering '23
Celeste Keating (volunteer, summer 2019), Rutgers Nursing School (Camden) '23