Get to Know Our Scholars

This fellowship fuels Desiree's ambition to build upon the progress achieved by her colleagues in urban planning all over the world, channeling their momentum into meaningful actions that create bridges toward access and opportunity. Her long-term goal is to become an urban planning scholar-practitioner, advancing inclusive and sustainable cities through both research and practice.

As a PhD student in urban planning, she is driven by the belief that our cities can be more equitable and welcoming. The central question guiding her work is how community-driven planning can break down systemic barriers to co-create urban futures that are truly shaped by the people who call them home.

Curtis Chen is a Ph.D. student and Graduate Fellow in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University at Buffalo. He earned his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Cornell University. His past research experiences involved the investigation of antimicrobial plant natural products and the development of in planta biosensors. His current research interests lie in drug discovery as well as in the application of novel gene therapy technologies. In his spare time, Curtis enjoys hiking and trying out new recipes.

Yihan is a PhD student in Accounting at the University at Buffalo. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Beijing Foreign Studies University and a Master’s degree in Marketing from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). Prior to pursuing her doctoral studies, she worked as a research assistant at the School of Accountancy at CUHK. Her research interests lie in financial accounting.

Taeyoon Lee is a PhD student in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at UB. Her current research interests lie in distributed systems, particularly in addressing challenges of data consistency and related issues that arise in collaborative systems. She is also interested in resource management in networked environments. She earned her master's degree in Computer Science from Yonsei University in Korea, and focused on caching algorithms to reduce content delivery latency in edge networks. Before joining UB, she worked as a researcher at Korea Electronics Technology Institute(KETI). Through her experience at KETI, she gained valuable insights into how research results are applied to real-world industries and the impact of research on practical applications.

Nicole is a Ph.D. student in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University at Buffalo. She earned her B.S. in Information Science with minors in Data Science and Chinese from the University of Maryland, where she conducted research at the NIH in imaging biomarkers and AI-assisted diagnostics. Her current research interests lie in PK/PD modeling and computer-aided drug development. Outside of research, she enjoys photography and traditional Chinese dance.

Laura Weinstein is a Ph.D. student, Graduate Fellow, and NIH T32 Scholar in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University at Buffalo. She earned her Bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering with minors in nanoscale materials and chemistry from the University of Delaware, where her research focused on optimizing nanoparticle drug delivery systems to target leukemia. Her current research interests lie in cell-based biomimicry applications in nanomedicine and gene delivery.Throughout her career, Laura aims to advance pharmaceutical sciences while contributing to science communication and education by fostering inclusive mentorship, developing accessible research training opportunities, and promoting public engagement with science.

Zhiyuan is a PhD student in Finance at the University at Buffalo (SUNY). Previously, he earned a PhD in Economics from Nanjing University, China, and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at HEC Montréal, Canada, with the research focus on regional innovation development. During his second doctoral studies at Buffalo, he will explore the intersection of corporate finance and technological innovation. Please visit his homepage to learn more about his work: www.zhiyuan-zhong.com. 

Sophie Chorek is a PhD student in the Department of Anthropology focusing on the bioarchaeological analysis of cremated remains in Bronze Age Romania. She received her Bachelor of Arts in anthropology and a supplementary major in Irish language and literature from the University of Notre Dame in 2024. At Notre Dame, she conducted research on cranial depression fractures and general stress indicators on the Early Bronze Age Bab adh-Dhra' human skeletal collection with the aim of exploring the associations between stress and exposure to violence. Sophie has also participated in archaeological field excavations in northern Indiana and western New York. 

Jingning He is a Ph.D. student at the University at Buffalo (SUNY), specializing in Curriculum, Instruction, and the Science of Learning. She is committed to improving teacher professional development and deepening the understanding of teacher identity construction. Her research primarily focuses on novice teachers, exploring the challenges and opportunities they face as they transition into their professional roles. Grounded in Positioning Theory, her work explores how teachers negotiate their professional identities through social interactions, discourse, and multimodal communication within educational settings. Moreover, she is especially interested in how novice teachers construct their identities in response to the power structure, institutional expectations, student interactions, and broader sociocultural influences, aiming to contribute to theoretical understanding and practical implications for teacher education.

Aloysius Senono Mwanje is a PhD student in Information Science, Department of Information Science, Graduate School of Education (GSE), University at Buffalo. He is from Kampala, Uganda. He studies data literacy and is specifically interested in understanding how academic and research data librarians assist users-specifically researchers-at universities and research centers in interpreting complex mathematical data models. He believes that, if academic and research data librarians receive support in developing the competencies and skills necessary for interpreting these complex mathematical data models, this would enhance the assistance provided to researchers in data-driven inquiry, ensuring accurate data guidance and promoting ethical and reproducible research practices. 

Keerthana Suresh is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Electrical Engineering at SUNY Buffalo, specializing in power management integrated circuits and RF energy harvesting systems. She earned her bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from National Institute of Technology Calicut, India. Before joining Ph.D, she worked as an Analog Design Engineer at Synopsys, focusing on analog/mixed-signal circuit design in advanced technology nodes. Her research interests include switched capacitor DC-DC converters and low-power analog/mixed-signal circuit design.

Zijun received his B.E. of Telecommunications Engineering from Nanjing University, China. And he is now pursuing his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering at University at Buffalo, USA. His research interests lie in near-field communication and signal processing.

Chiamaka Chiagoziem Chukwujama is a PhD student in Chemical Engineering at the University at Buffalo. She is enthusiastic about contributing towards solving energy and environmental issues, which has led her down the academic path of obtaining a B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, and an MS in Petroleum Engineering from the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja. Chiamaka is passionate about empowering students and serving others while learning and developing new skills. She was the first female student president of the Society of Petroleum Engineers at AUST, where she teamed to organize social/professional development events and tutorial sessions. She enjoys teaching and aspires to be a professor. In her leisure, Chiamaka loves watching movies, traveling, and visiting family/friends.

Federico studied Philosophy first in Milan and then in Lugano, specialising in contemporary metaphysics and logic in two consecutive MAs. He also got interested in computer science, and found out the two disciplines meshed well in the field of ontological engineering, to which his current PhD is devoted. In the Buffalo he started to apply his competences in a parallel MSc in Biomedical Informatics, while collaborating in side projects with his unflagging advisor. One of his long-term goals is to combine the rule-based approaches of ontology with the statistical methods of nowadays AI. He is still figuring out whether to fully embrace the academia career or to mingle with industry. Beyond academics, Federico is fond of personal development topics, sport, epic fantasy books and drawing.

Joyce Jekayinoluwa is a Ph.D. student, a Graduate Teaching Assistant and a Graduate Fellow at the University at Buffalo. She is also the Vice President GSA of the Global Gender and Sexuality Studies Department and the organizational founder of the UB Chapter of UNA-USA. She obtained her Bachelor's and master’s degrees in English Studies from Adeleke University in Ede, Nigeria. Additionally, she earned a second master’s degree in Women’s Studies at The University of Alabama, AL. She actively advocates against Gender-Based Violence and is deeply passionate about engaging with her community. Her primary academic interests are focused on examining policies aimed at preventing gender violence and understanding its impact, particularly on African and African American women. She hopes to pursue a career working with the United Nations in eradicating Gender violence.

Meirgul Kaleshova is a PhD student in the Management program with Organization and Human Resources concentration. She received a master’s degree in project management from Boston University in May 2020. She worked as a graduate intern in PwC and as a research assistant at Boston University. Meirgul`s main research interests include leader identity, women in leadership and leader well-being. Outside of her studies, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Blessed is a Ph.D. student in the Curriculum, Instruction, and Science of Learning program at the University at Buffalo from Cape Town, South Africa. His research work explores how digital platforms and educational technologies can be leveraged to create more inclusive and diverse learning experiences. He is actively engaged in investigating the nexus of technology, pedagogy, and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), championing teaching strategies that not only accommodate but also celebrate diversity in digital learning environments. Blessed envisions a future where technology-driven education is inherently inclusive, and every learner, irrespective of their background, has access to quality education. 

Xuewen Pei is a PhD student in the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health at UB. She earned her master's degree in public health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where her passion for research and public health advocacy blossomed. Before her current studies, Xuewen worked as a Research Assistant at the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, actively contributing to numerous impactful projects. Her research interests predominantly revolve around the intersection of air pollution and its effects on various health outcomes. 

Chris Romeo is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Engineering Education, where he is working under the advisement of Dr. Andrew Olewnik. His general research interests include problem typologies (specifically troubleshooting), problem-based and experiential learning, student problem-solving processes, innovative pedagogies, and instructional design. His dissertation project focuses on understanding undergraduate engineering students' troubleshooting processes, strategies, and difficulties. The outcomes of this work will inform the design, implementation, and facilitation of troubleshooting exercises in contemporary engineering classes across multiple technical disciplines. Outside of his academic work, Chris enjoys watching movies, playing video games, working out, playing piano, cooking, skiing, fishing, bartending, and trying new foods. He earned both his Bachelor of Engineering Degree and Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from SUNY Stony Brook University. He joined UB as a Graduate School Fellow in the fall of 2023.