Academics

Sadaf Ahmad ’09

Sadaf is a senior from Vernon Hills, Illinois. 

Mohammed Ejaz Ali ’10

Mohammed is a junior from India, majoring in biology and chemistry. His interests include reading and drawing. He did research with Dr. Pliny Smith on C.elegans studying the process of tissue development. He plans to be a medical doctor.

Alexandra Ayala ’09

Alexandra is a senior from Caracas, Venezuela, majoring in biology. She has been part of the Women’s Rugby Team on campus and in the fall of 2006 was a peer teacher for the FYIS106 Medical Mysteries: Neuroscience in Chicago class. She is currently vice president of Tri-Beta National Biological Honor Society and is also working on a thesis on alpha-synulein degradation via the lysosome in Dr. DebBurman’s Parkinson’s research lab. After graduation, Alexandra is interested in going on to medical school or pursuing a career in neuroscience.

Jennifer Brown ’08

Jennifer is a recent graduate of Lake Forest College.

Daniella Brutman ’12

Daniella is a freshman from Vernon Hills, Illinois.

Daryn Cass ’10

Daryn is a biology and international relations major from St Charles Illinois. She is interested in neuroscience and has been studying the neurological effects of cocaine addiction at Dr. Tseng's lab at Rosalind Franklin University. Besides her interest in science, Daryn is an avid equestrian.

Alexandra Charron ’09

Alex is a senior from Calgary, Canada. She’s biology major with a minor in chemistry. She is the captain of the varsity handball team at Lake Forest College. Also, she is involved with Athletic Council and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She works as an Athletic Trainer when she’s not playing sports and as a peer mentor for Developmental Biology. When she graduates, she is going to medical school and hopes to specialize in Orthopedics or Pediatrics.

Ray Choi ’09

Ray is a senior from Centennial, Colorado.  He is working on his senior thesis in Dr. DebBurman’s lab, which studies Parkinson’s Disease.

Shaun Davis ’09

Shaun is a senior from Shoreview, Minnesota.  He is majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry.  Since the summer of 2006, he has worked with Dr. Karen Kirk to study telomeres, and is currently working on his senior thesis to identify the telomerase RNA gene in a fungus.  Besides research and Eukaryon, Shaun is an RA in Cleveland Young International Center, a founding father of Lambda Chi Alpha, and a member of SAACS.  After graduation, he intends to earn a Ph.D. in genetics. 

Elizabeth Dean ’09

Elizabeth is a senior from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, majoring in politics and minoring in biology and English. While serving on Eukaryon's copy editing board, Elizabeth has interests in medical and political journalism.  Furthermore, she has spent the last few summers interning at the Racine Zoo in Racine, Wisconsin, and What's Happening Community Newspapers in Highland Park, Illinois. She plans to pursue a career in the legal field upon graduation.

Jessica Disch ’09

Jessica is a senior from Rockford, Illinois.

Grace Dudlicek-Bright ’12

Grace is a freshman from Orland Park, Illinois.

Grace Dunford ’09

Grace is from Los Altos, California, and is a senior majoring in biology and music with a minor in French. She plans to go on to graduate school for physical  therapy, focusing on neuroscience while working in the brain rehabilition ward of a hospital. However, she finds it difficult to stay focused on one thing in her life. Her interests are broad and so, once she becomes established, she hopes to someday live in France, run her own restaurant and become a music teacher. She enjoys playing soccer, playing the trumpet, reading, cooking, baking, and running. Come watch her in Chicago's next marathon!

Lauren Ferrell ’10

Lauren is a junior from Leon, Kansas.  She plans to major in biology and minor in sociology/anthropology.  She loves music, traveling, and playing sports.  Other than Eukaryon, she is currently involved with Tri-Beta National Biological Honor Society, Alpha Phi, and is a tutor at the on-campus Writing Center.  After graduation she hopes to attend the University of Kansas medical school and start up a family practice.

Andrew R. Ferrier ’08

Andrew recently graduated from Lake Forest College where he received a degree in biology and minor in theatre. Andrew is a native of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada and a member of Lake Forest College men’s hockey team. He worked in the lab of Dr. Pliny Smith, which investigates the development of organisms, specifically the pharynx in C.elegans. Andrew’s future goals include: matriculating into medical school, writing a book, touring the world for 1 year, and becoming a coach of a professional hockey team.

Mike Fiske ’10

Mike is a junior from Northbrook, IL, working towards a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. He is actively involved in Tri-Beta and UAN-BMB and is a tutor in the Writing Center.  He has done research on Parkinson's disease in Dr. DebBurman's lab for the past two years, and plans to finish a thesis during his senior year.  His hobbies include music (especially concerts), golf, and running.  He hopes to finish a Ph.D. and attend grad school somewhere warm and sunny after he graduates.

Jeffrey Fox ’08

Jeff recently graduated from Lake Forest College.

Jaymie Honold ’09

Jaymie Honold is a senior from Kapolei, Hawaii. She is writing a thesis on Chinese immigration in California, and she will be graduating this May with a major in History and a minor in Biology. She is involved in Tri-Beta, United Asia, and has played on school's soccer team for three years. She enjoys working out, watching movies, and reading. After graduation, She plans to take a year off and work. She would like to become either a surgical technician or a Physician's Assistant.

Spenser Hicks ’08

Spenser recently graduated from Lake Forest College with a degree in biology. He is originally from Glendale, Wisconsin. During the 2008 spring semester, Spenser worked at the Lincoln Park Zoo as an animal behavior research intern.

Sheiva Jahanban ’08

Sheiva is a recent graduate of Lake Forest College.

Brian Kinsman ’08

Brian reacently graduated from Lake Forest College.

Claire Konefal ’10

Claire is a junior from Mundelein, IL.

Alina Konnikova ’11

Alina is a sophomore from Ukraine, majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry. Her interests include shopping, traveling, and spending time with friends. She did research with Dr. DebBurman on yeast over the last summer studying autophagy. She plans to be a doctor.

Lokesh Kukreja ’08

Lokesh recently graduated from Lake Forest College with biology and chemistry majors and he is from Highland Park, Illinois. He did a senior thesis in Dr. Shubhik DebBurman’s lab on Parkinson's disease. He was the president (07-08) of the Lambda Phi Chapter of Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society. Currently, he is a student at Northwestern University, where he is pursuing his Ph.D.

Stephanne Levin ’09

Stephanne is a senior from Northbrook, Illinois, majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry.  She conducted research on animal behavior with Professor Glassman during the summer of 2006,  and in addition to being a part of Eukaryon, she is a member of both tri-Beta and UAN-ASBMB.  Stephanne has worked in a veterinary clinic for more than three years, and she plans to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.

Julian McLain ’11

Julian is a sophomore studying molecular biology and biochemistry. He has worked in Dr. DebBurman's laboratory and is currently on the review board of Eukaryon. His plans for life after college are to get an M.D. and/or a PhD.

Maksim Meltser ’09

Max is a senior from Buffalo Grove, Illinois, majoring in biology and computer science.  He has conducted research in Dr. Kirk's lab studying telomeres, is a member of Eukaryon, Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society, and is the treasurer of the Future Health Professionals student organization.  He is also the Properties Master at the Lake Forest College Theater.

Yama Naser Ahmad ’10

Yama is a junior from Northbrook, Illinois, majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry. In addition to his role in Eukaryon, Yama is a member of Tri-Beta Biological Society and the Future Health Professionals club. He aims to be a cardiologist. He enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his family and friends.

Terese (Beth) Noe ’10

Beth is a biology and French double major with a minor in chemistry.  Currently a junior, she enjoys reading, music, and hopes to apply to veterinary school after Lake Forest College.

Jillian Olejnik ’09

Jillian, a Rockford, Illinois native, is a senior biology major with a minor in psychology. After spending a semester abroad in Australia, Jillian is back at Lake Forest College and is currently working on a senior thesis with Dr. Houde. She is observing guppies to study animal behavior. After graduation, she hopes to travel and attend graduate school to study marine biology or animal behavior.

Elizabeth Pahomov ’11

Liza is a sophmore, majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry. She enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with her friends and family. She spent the summer working with Dr. Smith studying C. elegans to better understand organ development. She plans on going to medical school after graduation.

David Piper ’08

David recently graduated from Lake Forest College. He is currently in the process of applying to dental schools.

Ashleigh Porter ’11

Ashleigh is a sophomore from Shelby Township, Michigan.

Shruti Pore ’08

Shruti recently graduated from Lake Forest College and is originally from Gurnee, IL. She majored in biology and French with a minor in chemistry. She wrote her senior thesis about cell volume regulation in alligator erythrocytes. She hopes that Eukaryon continues to grow in the years to come!

Emily Pospiech ’09

Emily is a senior from Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. She is majoring in chemistry and minoring in biology. Emily is currently serving as the President of SAACS, as well as Vice President Social Standards for Delta Gamma Fraternity. After completing her undergraduate degree, Emily intends to pursue a career in the field of Pediatric medicine.

Samantha Pusateri ’09

Samantha is a senior from Elk Grove, Illinois.

Katie Rice ’09

In Katie’s time at Lake Forest she have played soccer, been a Resident Assistant, participated in Athletic Council, Alpha Phi, UAN-ASBMB, and Relay for Life. She also conducted research with Dr. Jason Cody as a Richter Scholar and for her senior research project. Her future plans are to attend medical school.

Saajidha Rizvydeen ’12

Saajidha is a freshman here at Lake Forest College, majoring in biology. She is originally from Sri Lanka, but now resides with her family in Chicago. She is part of the Student Symposium Committee and SAACS on campus. She has an interest in going to either graduate school or medical school, but is mostly undecided as of now.

Quincy Roberts ’09

Quincy is a senior from Kingston, Jamaica. His hobby is watching football (soccer)
He is a founder father of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at Lake Forest, a member of SAACS, UBA, ISO, COACHES, and he also holds the title at his student work in the TRC as a Master Trainer, meaning he is the go to guy for training in iMovie, Garageband, iWeb, Audacity, Powerpoint on Mac, just to name a few. In the future he would like to be a doctor.

Cejey Roman ’08

Cejey recently graduated from Lake Forest College.

Lorraine Scanlon ’08

Lorraine is a recent graduate of Lake Forest College.

Melissa Schramm ’09

Melissa is a pre-health biology major from Gurnee, IL, working toward a career as a Physician’s Assistant. She has done research at Lake Forest College with Dr. Caleb Gordon and Dr. Anne Houde.  She is currently working under Dr. Houde for her senior thesis. She is in her second year working at the Lake Forest College Writing Center, and is a member of several groups on campus, including Tri-beta and TRU. During her time in college, she has volunteered with organizations such as Teen Mother Choices and at the Lake Forest Hospital.  In her freetime, she loves to play guitar, spend time with friends, and watch movies.

Madhavi Senagolage ’12

Madhavi is from Colombo,Sri Lanka. Currently a member of SAACS, Big brothers Big sisters and ISO. She likes to spend most of her free time reading. She is planning to major in Biology or Chemistry and as a freshman she is still exploring about the career that she wants to pursue in the future.

Ben Simpson ’08

Ben recently graduated from Lake Forest College.

Mona Sobhani ’10

Mona is a junior from Kobe, Japan. She is majoring in Chemistry and minoring in Biology. She is involved in Baha'i Campus Association and SAACS. One day, she hopes to become a doctor with a focus in Public Health. 

Stephanie Valtierra ’08

Stephanie recently graduated from Lake Forest College.  She is a native of Libertyville, Illinois, majored in biology, and minored in chemistry. She is a member of Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society and plans to enroll in either graduate or medical school after graduation.

Jennillee Wallace ’09

Jennillee is a senior from Portland, Jamaica. She currently works in Dr. Anne Houde’s lab studying the mating behavior of guppies.

Nengding (Julie) Wang ’09

Julie is a senior from China.  She currently works in Dr. Kirk’s lab studying telomere length regulation in the fungus Aspergillus during meiosis. 

Geoffrey Weiner ’08

Geoffrey is a recent graduate from Lake Forest College.  Currently, he is a student at the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.

Shabana Yusufishaq ’12

Shabana is a freshman biology student from Des Plaines, IL. As a student at Lake Forest College she is a member of the Muslim Student Association, Global Fest Committee, Ally Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Future Health Professions.  She was not positive if she wanted to pursue a major in biology, but the great vibe and enthusiasm in the biology department makes her almost certain. In high school Shabana was a regional and sectional qualifier for extemporaneous and impromptu speaking as a speech team member. She received awards and a scholarship for her service to the school.