Graduate Student Association

Jenna Severa
President
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Jenna grew up in northeast Philadelphia. She earned her BS in Neuroscience and Biology from Ursinus College. After graduation, she joined the lab of Dr. Timothy Stalker as a Research Technician and discovered a love for platelet biology. Jenna is now a fourth-year Molecular Physiology and Translational Medicine PhD student continuing her research on platelet-leukocyte interactions in the Stalker Lab.

If you had a day without responsibilities (no work, no school, no commitments), how would you choose to spend the day?
I would spend the day at the American Museum of Natural History in New York to see the dinosaur fossils. After exploring, I would come back to Philly and go to a new restaurant.

Kristen DeRosa
Secretary
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Kristen grew up in Souderton, Pennsylvania and received her BS in Biotechnology from Elizabethtown College. She then moved to Philadelphia to complete an MS in Molecular Medicine at Drexel University and spent two years as a research assistant in the lab of Meenhard Herlyn at the Wistar Institute. She is now a third-year PhD student in the Genetics, Genomics & Cancer Biology program and is investigating the immune microenvironment of cutaneous melanoma in the lab of Dr. Andrew Aplin.

What is your favorite activity to do in Philly, and why?
I love checking out farmer's markets and art shows around the city, there are a ton throughout the year to enjoy. Rittenhouse Farmer's Market and the Headhouse Square Flea Market are two of my favorites!

Emma Frennborn
Vice President, Social Affairs
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I was born in Virginia but grew up in York, Pennsylvania. I got my BS in Biology from York College of Pennsylvania. After graduating, I worked at Eurofins, a contract research organization (CRO) for two years before graduate school. I am currently a second-year PhD student in the Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine program, and am in Dr. Marco Tigano's lab in MitoCare.

What is your favorite activity to do in Philly, and why?
My favorite thing to do in Philly is try new coffee shops. My go-to order is a cappuccino, but occasionally I will try something different if I'm feeling spontaneous. The best part of getting coffee in Philly is having the excuse to meet up with a friend and chat. It's so cozy.

Cassandra (Cassie) Mikkelson
Communications Coordinator
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Cassandra grew up in Jackson, New Jersey, before moving to Philadelphia, where she got her BS in Custom-Design Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology at Drexel University. As an undergraduate student, Cassie worked as a research assistant at Thomas Jefferson University, University of Pennsylvania, and Century Therapeutics. Upon graduating in 2024, she started her PhD in Neuroscience at Thomas Jefferson University, studying autophagy in microglia in Dr. Juliet Goldsmith's lab.

If you had a full day without responsibilities (no work, no school, no commitments), how would you choose to spend the day?
I would spend the day cozy in my own home with my three cats, playing games on my PC or watching K-dramas.

Drithi Patel
Vice President, Internal Affairs
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Drithi grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and earned her BS in Biological Sciences with a minor in Science, Technology, and Society from Drexel University in March 2024. She began her PhD in the Genetics, Genomics & Cancer Biology program at Thomas Jefferson University in August 2024, where she is now a second-year student studying KRAS in the immune system in Dr. Erik Blomain's lab.

What is your favorite activity to do in Philly, and why?
I'm a big Phillies and Eagles fan, so watching the games is one of my favorite things to do in Philly. Whether I'm down at the stadiums or just somewhere in the city, there's something special about how the whole city gets into it!

Francis (Frank) Picone
Vice President, Academic Affairs 
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Frank grew up in southern New Jersey and received his BS in Biological Sciences from Rowan University. He then worked as a research assistant in the Gardini Lab at the Wistar Institute where he found his passion for epigenetics. Frank is now a second year student in the Genetics, Genomics, and Cancer Biology (GGCB) program investigating the role of transcriptional reprograming of immune visibility mechanisms in acute myeloid leukemia in Dr. Sara Meyer's lab.

Who is someone you admire?
I admire Carl Sagan. He was a great scientific communicator with a passion for research and jump-started my love for science when I was a kid. I enjoy reading his books, as they have expanded my worldview and really makes me feel as if I'm floating through space and time.

Khalil Rust
Treasurer
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Khalil grew up in Hazelton, Pennsylvania. He earned his BS in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. After graduation, he joined the lab of Nicholas Maragakis at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine where he studied the role of Astrocytes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. He is a second-year Neuroscience PhD student awaiting his lab placement.

If you had a full day without responsibilities (no work, no school, no commitments), how would you choose to spend the day?
I would invite all of my closest friends over for a day of cooking delicious food (that is most certainly bad for you), sharing our newest music finds, watching all the newest episodes of our favorite anime show, and playing some video games, and in no specific order of preference.

Sushrut Shah
President Emeritus
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Sushrut grew up in India before moving to the United States. He earned his BS in Biochemistry with a Computer Science minor from Temple University. After graduation, he joined Dr. Deepak Deshpande's lab, where he discovered his passion for research. Now entering his third year as an Molecular Physiology & Translational Medicine PhD student, Sushrut is dedicated to elucidating the effects of recently discovered novel allosteric modulators for β-adrenergic receptors, with the potential to revolutionize treatments for pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases.

If you could go on vacation, where would you go and what would you do?
I would like to visit Vancouver for the natural scenic views, historical tours, and culture. I'd cap that vacation off with hiking, kayaking, and camping across Banff National Park and other surrounding parks.