Student Spotlights - 2021 Graduating Seniors

Release Date: Apr 27, 2021
Tags:departmental news

2021 Graduating Seniors

Dear BMB and BMB/Biotech graduating seniors,

Congratulations! This past year has been challenging, to say the least, and yet, you have persevered and are graduating. What an amazing accomplishment! We would like to acknowledge you all. Send us a picture if you would like a special feature.

Spring 2021 graduates:

CNS: Lexi Akey (BMB), David Amburn (BMB/BT), Megan Backe (BMB), Christopher Bailey (BMB), Kaylie Barton (BMB/BT/UURAF1st place), Jayson Butler (BMB/BT), Michael Cadigan (BMB), Sophie Change (BMB/BT), Rachel Clark (BMB), Connor Crowley (BMB), Diana Dawood (BMB), Josh Deradoorian (BMB/BT), Rachel Dubuque (BMB/BT), Nic Ebner (BMB), Alec Elzinga (BMB), Carlos Ferran-Heredia (BMB/BT), Adam Fillion (BMB), Michael Flynn (BMB), Shen Fu (BMB/BT), Emily Graves (BMB), Shaun Grumelot (BMB/BT), Lindsay Guare (BMB), Tabatha Guill (BMB/BT), Adam Hafner (BMB), Emuly Hanner (BMB), Sabrina Harrison (BMB), Zach Heeringa (BMB), Wylie Joynt (BMB/BT), Alyte Katilius (BMB), Rachel Kepczynski (BMB/BT), Kyle Kierzyk (BMB), Joe Kirby (BMB), Peter Koroma (BMB), Noah Kos (BMB), Najah Lazim (BMB), Anh Le (BMB), Muaz Majdan (BMB), Madeline Martin (BMB/BT), Danielle Matz (BMB/BT), Melissa Moralez (BMB), Ezra Morrow (BMB), Erica Nowosielski (BMB), Molly Panico (BMB), Mitchel Phlypo (BMB/BT), Shannon Reidy (BMB), Jillian Russell (BMB), Shelby Santos (BMB/BT), Daniel Schneider (BMB), Becca Snyder (BMB/BT), Thaarini Swaminathan (BMB/BT), Alexander Szura (BMB), Tracy Tai (BMB/BT), Jared Thompke (BMB/BT), Hainite Tuitupou (BMB/BT), Emily Veith (BMB), Brian Vo (BMB), Jesse WAY (BMB/BT), Catherine Wellman (BMB), Yifan Wu (BMB/BT), Denghua Wu (BMB/BT), Narae Yang (BMB/BT), Brian Youk (BMB).

LBC: Noah Adams (BMB), Buchi Amanze (BMB), Casey Borowsky (BMB), Siwei Cao (BMB), Adam Lynch (BMB), Hope Meyers (BMB/BT), Benjamin Mitchell (BMB), Jake Petish (BMB), Harrison Plummer (BMB/BT), Lauren Rosquin (BMB), Ben Salva (BMB), John Seger (BMB), Zac Shepard (BMB).

Summer 2021 graduates:

CNS: Anthony Coon (BMB), Megan Cybul (BMB/BT), Zach Haupt (BMB), Xingyuan Lu (BMB/BT), Jocelyn Pich (BMB), Alexandra Prettenhofer (BMB/BT), Alexei Rose (BMB/ BT), Blayne Stephens (BMB).

LBC: Dana Kilinski (BMB/BT).

Congratulations! You can be proud of yourselves. All of us at the undergraduate program wish you all the best for your future.

Erich Grotewold (Department Chair)
Susanne Hoffmann-Benning (UG Programs Director)
Charlie Hoogstraten (UG Programs Assistant Director)
Kendra Pyle (Advisor)
Leslie Thompson (Advisor)
Mary Villarreal (Administrative Assistant)

Student Spotlights:

Jayson Butler

Jayson Butler
Major-Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology
Highlights at MSU-3.6/4.0 GPA , Undergraduate research assistance at Kerfeld Lab
Testimonial-"I'd like to thank my friends and family for supporting me during my 4 years here at Michigan State University."

Nick Ebner

Nicholas Ebner
Major-Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Minor-Mandarin Chinese
Highlights at MSU-Being on the Dean's List several times and getting one of my Chinese language articles published in a journal
Testimonial-"MSU had a great campus with a lot of beautiful gardens and architecture. I always enjoyed walking through campus between my classes and frequenting facilities like the Modern Art Museum, the local stores on Grand River, and the campus library. I had the opportunity to meet a lot of wonderful professors who helped to cultivate my knowledge of the sciences and language. They also helped to guide me towards various types of research that I would be interested in pursuing in my future career."

Adam Fillion

Adam Fillion
Major-Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Minor-Chemistry-
Highlights at MSU-2019 UURAF Grand Prize Winner in STEM
Testimonial-"With the time given and the circumstances of the last year, I would say that I have accomplished things I could've never imagined and learned a lot during my time at MSU and I couldn't think of a school that I'd rather have attended for my undergraduate experience. I have made memories that I will cherish for a lifetime, and built incredible relationships with some of the kindest and most intelligent people I've every met."

Shuan Grumelot

Shaun Grumelot
Major-Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology
Minor-Microbiology
Highlights at MSU-IBIO 425 cells and development courses lab was an incredible experience that will aid me in future research.
Testimonial-"As a transfer student experiencing the differences between a community college and MSU expanded my views on many different subjects."

Adam Hafner

Adam Hafner
Major-Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Highlights at MSU-I was first introduced to research by Dr. Eben Gering in the Integrative Biology department studying the serological prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii. It was a really fun introductory research project that taught me several key skills. I joined another project under Dr. Kin Sing Lee in the department of Pharmacology and Toxicology working to further improve the efficacy and drug-like properties of the inhibitors of the soluble Epoxide Hydrolase (sEH) enzyme. This project has given me an amazing experience in culturing cell lines, running cell-based assays, and general information about working as a scientist in a lab. Over the summer, I worked in the department of Pathology at the University of Michigan under Dr. Andrew Muntean studying an epigenetic regulator SETDB1 and its role in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. This project was really amazing, because it showed me the immense amount reading, editing, and collaborating required to produce literature. I am sure the key techniques learned at MSU will help me throughout my graduate education at Michigan.
Testimonial-"I think deciding to join the BMB department was one of the best decisions I made coming into college!"

Emily Henner

Emily Henner
Major-Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Minor-Spanish
Highlights at MSU-ULA for PHY 242 and American Reads Tutor

Emily Veith

Emily Veith
Major-Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Minor-Bioechics
Highlights at MSU-"I really enjoyed being an Undergraduate Research Assistant and Learning Assistant. I also spent a lot of time volunteering for multiple organizations including Read to Succeed and Sparrow Hospital.
Testimonial-I’m really glad I chose Biochemistry and Molecular Biology as my major in spite of being warned about how challenging it was! Although the classes and labs were challenging, I was always able to reach out to professors for help and support along the way. Additionally, the BMB advisors were very supportive and helpful throughout my time at MSU."