The Bioinorganic Team

Marianna Medina, '26

Marianna is an ACS Chemistry major and joined the group during MUSE 2023.
Makenna Heslin, '26

Makenna is a Chemistry (ACS Certified) major an joined the group in Spring 2024.
Sebastian Mesa, '26

Sebastian is a Chemistry (ACS Certified) major and joined the group in Fall 2024.
Hannah Lee, '26

Hannah is a Chemistry major in the 7-Year Medical Program which includes TCNJ and Rutgers’ New Jersey Medical School. Hannah joined the group in Fall 2024.
Melissa Issac, '27

Melissa is a Chemistry major who joined the group in Fall 2024.

Research Group Alumni

Justin Martinez, '25

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified), Marketing minor, Biochemistry specialization. Justin was in the group from MUSE 2022 to Spring 2025, completing summer internships at Catalent and Kyowa Kirin.

On the horizon: Product Quality Associate, Kyowa Kirin.
Om Balar, '25

B.S., Biology, 7-Year Medical Program. Om was in the group from Spring 2024 to Spring 2025.

On the horizon: Medical student, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
Cristian Herrera Alpizar, '25

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified). Cris was in the group from MUSE 2022 to Fall 2023 before joining the O’Connor laboratory at TCNJ in Spring 2024.
On the horizon: Graduate student, Department of Chemistry, Princeton University.
Coco Peddinti, '24

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified). Coco was in the group from Spring 2022 to Spring 2024.
Current position: Graduate student, Department of Chemistry, Boston University.
Amanda Kirschner, '24

B.S., Chemistry (ACS certified), German Studies minor, Biochemistry specialization, German Business certificate (first ever recipient at TCNJ). Amanda was in the group from Spring 2022 to Spring 2024.
Current position: Dental student, New York University College of Dentistry.
Michelle Amaechi, '24

B.S., Chemistry (ACS certified), Biochemistry specialization. Michelle was in the group during MUSE 2021 and from Fall 2022 to Spring 2024.
Ruhi Shah, '22

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified), Psychology minor, Biochemistry Specialization. Ruhi was in the group from Fall 2020 to Spring 2022.
Current position: Medical student, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.
Matt Porowski, '22

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified), Physics minor, Materials Science Specialization, Honors Program. Matt was in the group from Fall 2020 to Spring 2022.
Current position: Graduate student, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Zach Ziolkowski, '22

B.S., Chemistry (ACS certified), Biology minor, Biochemistry Specialization, Honors Program. Zach was in the group from Spring 2020 to Spring 2022.
Current position: Graduate student, Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Alana Calello, '22

B.S., Chemistry (ACS certified), Psychology minor, Biology minor. Alana was in the group from Spring 2020 to Spring 2022.
Current position: Chemistry teacher, Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
Folashade Jaiyeola, '22

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified), Biochemistry Specialization. Folashade was in the group from Spring 2021 to Spring 2022.
Current position: Operating Room Service Technician at Jersey Shore Medical Center.
Mark O'Malley, '22

B.S., Chemistry (ACS certified), Materials Science Specialization. Mark was in the group from Spring 2021 to Spring 2022.
Current position: Quality Control Chemist at Schreiber Foods.
Alex Hanneman, '20

B.S., Chemistry (ACS certified). Alex was in the group from Fall 2019 to Spring 2020.
Current position: Purification Technician, BeiGene.

Group photos

Justin giving a talk at COSA 2025.

Coco, Amanda, Justin, and Michelle, Gamma Sigma Epsilon induction.

Group party, Topgolf, Spring 2024

Dec 2023 reunion with Alana, Matt, Zach, and Ruhi!

Michelle, Marianna, Justin, Coco, Amanda, and Cris after presenting their posters at the end-of-semester (Fall 2023) Chemistry Department research open house.