Our Team

Bonita is a Ph.D. candidate in the Biochemistry Cellular and Molecular Biology graduate program. She earned her B.S. and M.S. in Biology and Applied Molecular Biology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). Bonita is currently investigating viral-host RNA-RNA interactions in the nervous system.​

Emily attended Penn State Behrend where she pursued her love of science in the form that NWPA does best: salamanders and potatoes. Now, as a doctoral candidate in the BCMB program, Emily studies microRNA impact on mitochondrial gene expression. She is passionate about scientific communication and advocating for women in science and hopes to one day have her own lab. Outside of science, Emily loves threadwork crafts and her cat, Murray (who is named after miRs!).​

Ariella is from upstate NY and studied Biology and Chemistry at Skidmore College. Before coming to Hopkins, she worked on structural biochemistry and microbiology projects. Now, she is excited to begin her thesis project studying the subcellular localization of the RNA-induced silencing complex. Outside the lab, Ariella loves all things outdoors - catch her rock climbing, running, or hiking! She also enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with friends. ​

Sydney graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with her B.S. in Biochemistry. While there, she worked in Dr. Soma Dhakal’s lab to help design DNA-based single-molecule sensors. Later, she became a Postbaccalaureate IRTA Research Fellow at the NIH under the supervision of Dr. Richard Proia and studied gene editing as a treatment for specific neurodegenerative diseases. In the Meffert lab, Sydney is excited to investigate microRNAs in the context of neurological disorders. When she’s not behind the bench, Sydney enjoys visiting new restaurants and coffee shops, going to concerts, and weekend getaways to cool new places.​

Anselmo is from Lawrenceville, Georgia, and attends Johns Hopkins University as an undergraduate. Fueled by his interest in the brain, he is majoring in neuroscience with a minor in psychology and is also a SURFiN fellow where he is pursuing his interest in the brain sciences. Outside of academics, Anselmo enjoys a variety of hobbies, including soccer, tennis, golf, fishing, skating, ukulele, skateboarding, and video games.

Sarayu is an undergraduate at Johns Hopkins University originally from Dallas, TX. Driven by her interest in the brain, she is pursuing a major in Neuroscience.  In her free time, she enjoys Bharatanatyam, playing the flute, and running. 

Celeste received her Bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Cell Biology from UC San Diego. At UCSD, she discovered her love for neuroscience through her experiences studying post-translational modifications of synaptic proteins in the Alzheimer’s Disease model. Now at Johns Hopkins, she is a PREP scholar and is excited to apply her interests to studying post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by microRNA. In her free time, Celeste enjoys hiking or being in nature in general, attending concerts, and going thrifting.

Melissa takes care of our mouse colonies, ensuring all our mice are happy and healthy.