Spotlight on Trainee Success
We are proud of you.
Your hard work deserves to be recognized, and we believe it's essential to celebrate both the big and small victories along the way. We're excited to highlight some of the recent achievements of our trainees—take a moment to appreciate their success and the progress they've made!
Christopher Merlo: Winner of the STAR Award for Excellence in Research Support
Lab: Dr. Amy Whitaker
Educational Background:
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B.S. in Biochemistry, Temple Univ
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M.S. in Biotechnology, Temple Univ
Career Aspirations: Chris is excited to continue contributing to his projects in the Whitaker Lab and build a career centered on making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
Congratulations to Christopher Merlo, scientific technician, on receiving the STAR (Special Talent Achieving Results) Award for Excellence in Research Support! Chris recently earned his master’s degree in biotechnology from Temple University—all while working full time in the lab.
Chris has long been an essential member of both our training community and the Whitaker Lab. He has mastered nearly every experiment in the lab, produces high-quality figures for grants, and approaches every project with meticulous precision. Most importantly, he shares his expertise generously, mentoring students and new postdocs with patience and enthusiasm.
Known for his upbeat, positive attitude, Chris brings energy and warmth to the lab, consistently making those around him smile. He truly embodies what it means to be a star in our scientific community—a scientist who is not only passionate about his work, but equally passionate about supporting and uplifting others.
We are so proud of you, Chris!
A Special Thank You: "I owe so much of this recognition to the incredible people I get to work with every day. First and foremost, I want to acknowledge Amy, whose mentorship and trust have given me the opportunity to take on meaningful, challenging projects that truly motivate me. I also want to recognize everyone in the Whitaker lab. They are more than just colleagues, they’re a family. Their generosity, encouragement, passion, and willingness to help one another create an environment where it’s possible to grow, succeed, and feel genuinely supported. Any success I’ve had is entirely because of them.
More broadly, I want to acknowledge the larger Fox Chase community. The kindness, positivity, and dedication I see every day from people across departments and roles deeply inspire me. Being part of a community that works so hard for the betterment of patients and science by supporting one another is the biggest reason this award feels so meaningful. I’m truly grateful to all of them."
Kelly Coutant: Recognized with Prestigious Awards at SITC Congress
Lab: Dr. Mitchell Fane
Educational Background:
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M.S. in Biology, Nantes Université
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Ph.D. in Biology, Université Laval
Career Aspirations: Kelly hopes to publish results on NK and γδ T cells in the aged microenvironment in cutaneous melanoma and continue developing her research skills with the goal of applying for a PI position in academia in the next few years.
Congratulations to postdoctoral fellow Dr. Kelly Coutant for receiving two distinguished national honors: the 2025 SITC Presidential Travel Award and the Jeffrey S. Weber Abstract Travel Award. The SITC Presidential Travel Award is given to only four postdoctoral or clinical research fellows whose abstracts are selected for presentation in the Presidential Symposium, while the Weber Award recognizes the novelty and impact of melanoma-specific research.
Kelly attended the 40th Annual Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Congress, where she presented her work on the role of aging in Gamma Delta T cells during metastatic cutaneous melanoma progression as part of Dr. Mitchell Fane’s lab. She feels extreme gratitude for the support she received in preparing for her presentation, thanking Dr. Fane, lab members, and other PIs at Fox Chase—including Dr. Yash Chhabra, Dr. David Wiest, and Dr. Lorenzo Galluzzi—for their time and valuable advice.
“I was truly honored to present my results for the first time and proud to represent Dr. Mitchell Fane’s lab,” Kelly said. “Receiving this award gave me the opportunity to share our findings, receive encouraging feedback, and, most importantly, connect with experts in immunology.”
We are so proud of you, Kelly!
Katherine Dalton: Passed Ph.D. Candidacy Exam in Biomedical Sciences
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Congratulations to Katherine Dalton on officially passing her Ph.D. candidacy exam — a major milestone on the journey toward completing the biomedical sciences graduate program at Lewis Katz School of Medicine! Like many, the path to this achievement was far from simple. After stepping away from academia for a few years, Katherine wondered if she could ease back into being a full-time student. As she worked through her coursework and watched her peers pass their exams, she couldn’t help but feel some imposter syndrome — but she kept going. Finally hearing the words “you passed” was the validation she needed to reaffirm her confidence and her ability to thrive in research. Now, Katherine is excited to focus on completing her thesis!
We are so proud of you, Katherine!
Lab: Dr. Zeng-jie Yang
Educational Background:
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B.S. in Psychology, B.A. in Biology, Chem Minor, UNC Chapel Hill
Career Aspirations: Katherine is looking forward to publishing her thesis and graduating!
Andreia Lopes: Awarded Best Abstract at 7th SPEECH Health Disparity Conference
Lab: Dr. Lucia Borriello
Educational Background:
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B.S. in Biotechnology
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M.S. in Biopharmaceutical Sciences
Career Aspirations: Andreia aspires to pursue a PhD and ultimately lead a lab of her own in cancer research.
Congratulations to Andreia Lopes for being awarded Best Abstract at the 7th Annual SPEECH Health Disparity Conference! Andreia has been deeply fascinated with science ever since childhood, always curious about how things work. This passion led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology and later a master’s in biopharmaceutical sciences. Her master’s experience opened the door to working at one of the most prestigious cancer research institutions in Portugal — the Champalimaud Foundation.
Her career reached an exciting milestone when she moved to the United States to work in Dr. Borriello’s lab. However, Andreia’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. She struggled with a stutter for many years, which once made her believe she would never receive recognition for her presentations. Through hard work, experience at conferences, and the incredible mentorship from Dr. Borriello, Andreia not only received this award but was also nominated for the “Above and Beyond” award at Temple University. All of this confirms for Andreia that she is capable and that even her childhood self knew a career in cancer research was meant for her. We're so proud of you, Andreia!
A Special Thank You: "I would like to acknowledge my PI, Dr. Borriello, because without her and her support I would not be here today and of course, my lab members who always believed in me and help me grow."
Silvia Valdes-Rives: Paper Accepted to STAR Protocols
Congratulations to postdoctoral associate, Dr. Silvia Valdés Rives, on her paper being accepted to STAR Protocols! For Silvia, this accomplishment represents more than just a publication — it’s a meaningful milestone in her growth as a researcher, one that has reshaped how she thinks as a scientist. The story behind this paper highlights her persistence and willingness to step outside her comfort zone. In the process, she learned how to perform and interpret electrocardiograms (EKGs/ECGs), which record the heart’s electrical activity — an intimidating but exciting new skill that opened the door to valuable insights for her preclinical studies.
This paper serves as a reminder that research is about continuously learning, adapting, and developing skills she never imagined she would need when she first began her journey. This milestone gives Silvia the confidence to keep asking deeper questions and to embrace new tools and methods to answer them.
We’re so proud of you, Silvia!
Lab: Dr. Zeng-jie Yang
Educational Background:
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B.S. in Clinical Chemistry
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Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences
Career Aspirations: Silvia wants to continue to do science and add to current knowledge.
Aizhan Surumbayeva: Presented at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Congratulations to graduate student, Aizhan Surumbayeva, for giving an oral presentation at the Eukaryotic mRNA Processing Meeting at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory!
This was a highly competitive selection, as only a small number of abstracts were chosen for oral presentations from a large pool of international submissions. Aizhan presented her Ph.D. research on how dietary carbohydrates induce liver inflammation through insulin-dependent regulation of RNA splicing and innate immune activation.
Her journey to this recognition has been shaped by years of dedicated work during her Ph.D. — optimizing experiments, overcoming setbacks, and mastering new techniques along the way. Being selected to present at such a prestigious conference marks an important milestone, signifying that her contributions are valued by the broader scientific community and motivating her to continue pursuing impactful research.
We're so proud of you, Aizhan!
Lab: Dr. Igor Astaturov (in collaboration with Dr. Sid Balachandran)
Educational Background:
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B.S. in Biology, Eurasian National University in Astana, Kazakhstan
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M.S. in Cytology and Genetics, Novosibirsk State University, Russia
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Current 4th year Ph.D. student
Career Aspirations: In the near future, Aizhan’s main goals are to publish her dissertation research and successfully defend her Ph.D. She is excited to bring her project to completion, share her findings with the scientific community, and take the next steps toward building her career in research.
Two Trainees Awarded the CEI Graduate Student Fellowship!
Congratulations to William Lautert Dutra and Erin O'Donnell on joining Fox Chase Cancer Center. They were recently accepted to the Ph.D. program in Bioinformatics at Temple University, where they will train under Dr. Jonathan Whetstine. They have been awarded the CEI fellowship, a competitive award that supports promising researchers in cancer epigenetics.
William Lautert Dutra
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Congratulations to William on being accepted into CEI’s program!
William discovered his deep passion for precision oncology while investigating the role of CDK12 mutations and MHC gene expression in shaping the tumor microenvironment of prostate cancer during his master’s studies at the University of São Paulo. His research led to several publications and international collaborations, including work with researchers at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research.
Beyond his foundation in cancer biology, William has developed an expanding interest in bioinformatics, machine learning, and AI models — harnessing biotechnology to uncover new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Being accepted into CEI’s program is especially meaningful to him, as it aligns perfectly with his background and passions in cancer genomics, tumor heterogeneity, immune evasion, and treatment resistance. William is eager to begin this next chapter, deepening his expertise in cancer epigenetics and bioinformatics through his Ph.D. research at Fox Chase. We're so proud of you, William!
Lab: Dr. Jonathan Whetstine
Educational Background:
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BSc in Biological Sciences from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS)
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MSc in Genetics at the University of São Paulo
Career Aspirations: William aspires to lead interdisciplinary research projects that bridge molecular biology and computational science to advance personalized cancer therapies.
A Special Thank You: "I am deeply honored to be accepted into this outstanding program and to have also been accepted for the CEI Fellowship. I would like to sincerely thank Dr. Whetstine, Dr. Chernoff, the CEI Faculty, the External Review Committee, and all the staff involved in this process. Their support and confidence in my potential mean a great deal to me. I am fully committed to working hard and contributing meaningfully to the lab’s research and the institution’s legacy of impactful cancer science. I am very excited to begin this next chapter and collaborate with such an exceptional team.
Erin O'Donnell
Congratulations to Erin on being accepted into CEI's program!
Erin has dreamed of attending graduate school since her freshman year. After four years of dedicated undergraduate study and two years of experience as a lab technician, she’s elated to take this next step — especially to join a cutting-edge lab within CEI at Fox Chase. Erin is eager to learn, grow, and contribute to novel discoveries in cancer research.
We're so proud of you, Erin!
Lab: Dr. Jonathan Whetstine
Educational Background:
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B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State (May 2023)
Career Aspirations: Erin hopes that one day she can use the skills she gained at FCCC-CEI to be able to start her own lab.
A Special Thank You: "I feel very honored and elated that I was accepted into Temple’s PhD program, and that I found a cutting-edge lab in FCCC-CEI to join. I want to thank Dr. Johnathan Whetstine's lab, and I would like to acknowledge Dr. Whetstine in relation to my acceptance."
Two Trainees Find Success at the 2025 EpiCypher Meeting in Cancun
Graduate students Rebecca Smith and Hannah Wilson from Dr. Yu “Sunny” Liu’s lab proudly represented the Cancer Epigenetics Institute at the EpiCypher 2025 “Biological and Clinical Frontiers in Epigenetics” Meeting in Cancun, Mexico.
Rebecca Smith
Rebecca Smith was invited to give a talk and received the prestigious C. David Allis Travel Award. Impressively, she was one of only eight trainees selected internationally—most other speakers were senior PhD students or postdocs—and she’s only in her first year of the PhD program. Rebecca credits her training experiences through FTSS, NDC, Research Day talks, and Dr. Liu’s mentorship sessions for helping her build the confidence to present her research beyond the institution. Her conference costs were supported jointly by EpiCypher C. David Allis Travel Award and the CEI C. David Allis Travel Award: “Dr. Allis was a strong advocate for young scientists and their career growth, and I was honored to use my CEI C. David Allis Travel Award to present my work at this conference,” she shared. Rebecca was thrilled to represent the Liu Lab, Cancer Epigenetics Institute, and Fox Chase Cancer Center on an international stage.
We're so proud of you, Rebecca!
Hannah Wilson
Hannah Wilson presented a poster on her project, “Impact of Histone Acetylation on Cohesion-Mediated Loop Extrusion,” which she has been dedicated to for the past two years in the Liu Lab. “I am incredibly thankful to Dr. Sunny Liu for his unwavering support and for giving me the opportunity to present our lab’s work,” said Hannah. “I would also like to thank Dr. Johnathan Whetstine and the Cancer Epigenetics Institute for their continued guidance and encouragement.” We're so proud of you, Hannah!
Congratulations to this Year's Postdoc Fellowship Recipients!
Each year, Academic Affairs provides grant funding to support postdoctoral scholars in advancing their research and participating in academic conferences. This year, we are proud to recognize the 10 postdocs who have been selected as fellowship recipients.
Lukas Bolini Goncalves: Recipient of Kirby Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship
Congratulations to Dr. Lukas Bolini Goncalves for being awarded the Kirby Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship. Since completing his PhD, Lukas has been deeply interested in the biology of rare immune cells and their roles in disease. Although his doctoral work focused on malaria, he has always identified as an immunologist rather than a parasitologist. This curiosity led him to pursue the study of γδ T cells in the context of breast cancer under the supervision of Dr. Lorenzo Galluzzi—an opportunity he embraced immediately upon joining the lab in February 2025. Soon after starting, Lukas was encouraged to apply for fellowships. Despite being new to the field and being at the very start of his postdoctoral career, he took on the challenge. His long-term goal is to become a principal investigator, and receiving this fellowship not only strengthens his trajectory toward that goal but also affirms the path he has chosen. We're so proud of you, Lukas!
A Special Thank You: "I would like to acknowledge Dr. Galluzzi's encouragement and invaluable inputs to my project; all of my lab mates for their warm reception and contributions when preparing for my interview, and in particular Dr. Manuel Beltrán-Visiedo, with whom I have been closely working on this project and related projects, and who introduced me to some of the main experimental procedures of this work."
Maria Cavallo: Recipient of Avery Postdoctoral Fellowship
Congratulations to Dr. Maria Cavallo for being awarded the Avery Postdoctoral Fellowship! Maria joined Dr. Dave Wiest's lab in July 2024, shortly after completing her PhD, and receiving this fellowship just eight months later marks both an exciting milestone and a meaningful recognition of her early contributions. Her long-term goal is to become an independent investigator in academia, and this fellowship provides essential training and resources to help her progress toward that goal and prepare for future NIH funding.
Looking ahead, Maria is eager to continue developing collaborations that advance her research. In particular, she is thrilled to be working with principal investigators Dr. Yash Chhabra and Dr. Mitchell Fane to better understand ERK substrate-binding domain biology in melanoma. Their expertise in aging, cancer dormancy, and the impact of gender of disease incidence/progression has already been a tremendous boost to her productivity, enthusiasm, and dedication to cancer research. We're so proud of you, Maria!
A Special Thank You: "I’m part of Dave Wiest’s lab :) and I feel really lucky to be surrounded by such a supportive and welcoming group. The whole team has been great in helping me settle in and feel at home here. I especially want to thank Billy Truong and Dr. Monika Verma—since we work on similar projects, they put in a lot of extra time and effort to train me and help me get up to speed with both the science and the lab’s culture. I honestly couldn’t have gotten to this point without their support."
Maria Carolina Mariano Cesar: Recipient of Board of Associates Fellowship
Congratulations to postdoctoral fellow Dr. Maria Carolina Mariano Cesar for receiving the Board of Associates Postdoctoral Fellowship! Maria joined the Gligorijevic lab less than a year ago and quickly began working on the project that led to this grant. The process was challenging, as it was her first time writing and presenting in a language other than her native Portuguese. With the support of an impressive team and a dedicated supervisor guiding her every step of the way, Maria successfully navigated these challenges. Receiving the grant was a wonderful achievement, especially within her first year in the lab.
Maria aspires to become a principal investigator, and she believes this fellowship will provide valuable training and experience to prepare her for the next steps in her career. We're so proud of you, Maria!
A Special Thank You: "I am affiliated to Dr. Gligorijevic Lab at Temple University. I would like to thank especially my PI, Dr. Bojana Gligorijevic, two people in our team: Dr. Ines Velazquez-Quesada and Svetllana Kallogjerovic. Also, Dr. Eti Cukierman and Dr. Janusz Franco-Barraza, our collaborators."
Martin Walsh: Recipient of Board of Associates Postdoc Fellowship
Congratulations to Dr. Martin Walsh for receiving the Board of Associates Postdoctoral Fellowship! Coming from an engineering background, Martin had to learn many new techniques and skills to transition into this field. At first, it was both exciting and intimidating to feel like he was starting from square one, but he was fortunate to have tremendous support from colleagues at FCCC whenever he needed guidance. Receiving this award reassures him that the effort he has invested and the skills he has developed are bringing his research to a point where it has the potential to lead to something truly promising.
He is especially excited about the upcoming acceptance of his first-author paper on TDG inhibitors, along with several other manuscripts currently in progress. Equally motivating is his new collaboration with Dr. Joseph Salvino at the Wistar Institute, which is aimed at advancing TDG inhibitors to achieve greater potency. This work is already showing promising potential, and he hopes it will pave the way for partnerships with pharmaceutical companies once evidence of activity in mouse models is obtained. Ultimately, Martin sees this progress as an important step toward his long-term goal of joining the pharmaceutical industry and contributing to the development of new therapeutics. We're so proud of you, Martin!
A Special Thank You: "I would like to thank my principal investigator, Dr. Alfonso Bellacosa. I like to acknowledge Dr. Andy Andrews, Dr. Daniel Krzizike, Dr. Sarita Sharma, Dr. Pietro Mancuso, Dr. Baihao Su, the Whitaker Lab and the Whetstine Lab."
Sajjan Rajpoot: Recipient of Board of Associates Postdoc Fellowship
Congratulations to Dr. Sajjan Rajpoot for being awarded the Board of Associates Postdoctoral Fellowship!
When Sajjan first came to Fox Chase, he was especially motivated to pursue this fellowship and followed the process closely. With the continuous support of his supervisor, Dr. Igor Astsaturov, the application process helped him outline his postdoctoral research and training plan, giving him a clearer vision for both his lab work and career path.
Sajjan is using this fellowship to support his research on uncovering the role of signaling in pancreatic cancer progression. This recognition has boosted his confidence and inspires him to make the most of this fellowship by maximizing its impact on his research and professional growth. Sajjan is motivated to complete a successful postdoctoral training that leads to meaningful and impactful publications in cancer biology and innate immunity, setting the foundation for his career as an independent investigator. We're so proud of you, Sajjan!
A Special Thank You: "I would especially like to acknowledge my postdoctoral supervisor, Dr. Astsaturov, for his invaluable mentorship and encouragement. I am also thankful to my Ph.D. supervisor, Dr. Mirza S Baig at Indian Institute of Technology Indore (IITI), for his recommendation and continued support, as well as our collaborator at FCCC, Dr. David Wiest, whose recommendation and valuable guidance were instrumental. In addition, I sincerely thank Dr. Hem C Jha at IITI for providing a strong recommendation. I am also thankful to my lab members for their constant support. Finally, this acknowledgment would be incomplete without mentioning my wife Roja and my daughter Shaambhavi (Sia), and my parents, whose unwavering love and support continually inspire me to strive for my goals."
Jason Wasserman: Recipient of Patterson Postdoc Fellowship
Congratulations to Dr. Jason Wasserman on receiving the Patterson Postdoctoral Fellowship!
After completing his undergraduate studies at Chestnut Hill College and earning his PhD from Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine under Dr. Xavier Grana, Jason is honored to be recognized with Fox Chase Cancer Center’s Patterson Fellowship this award cycle. As an early-career scientist, Jason notes that growth is measured not only by technical skills but also by commitment, dedication, and enthusiasm toward science and his projects. He sees this fellowship as validation of his efforts, recognition of his development as a scientist, and reinforcement that the research he is pursuing shows great promise. Jason looks forward to continuing toward his career goal of becoming a Principal Investigator in academia. We're so proud of you, Jason!
A Special Thank You: "I’d like to acknowledge the entire Duncan Lab: Dr. James Duncan, Dr. Alison Kurimchak, Dr. Glenn Doyle, Dr. Ishadi Kodikara, and Chelsea Reyes for their continued support and assistance."
High School Spotlight
Meet George Shenoda!
George began his journey at Fox Chase Cancer Center in July 2024 as a high school volunteer in Dr. Sanjeevani Arora’s lab, initially committing 3–5 hours a day. What started as a short weekly commitment quickly grew into a deep passion for cancer research, leading him to come in 3–5 days a week. This experience gave him the opportunity to develop real lab skills, gain confidence at the bench, and better understand what it truly means to do research.
As an Egyptian immigrant, George has always been inspired to give back to his community while learning from every opportunity that comes his way. His time at Fox Chase began supporting patients and assisting reception staff, which strengthened his dedication to helping others and deepened his interest in healthcare. Concurrently, as he gained more experience in the lab, he found that compassion and research can work together to make a real impact.
Looking ahead, George hopes to pursue a major in biology, chemistry, or biomedical engineering. His experiences have shown him that dedication—even in small steps—can open doors to growth. He is deeply grateful to Fox Chase and to the mentors who have helped shape the foundation for his future. We're so proud of you, George!
A Special Thank You: "First and foremost, I would like to thank Dr. Arora for giving me the opportunity to join her lab and for her invaluable guidance and mentorship. I am also deeply grateful to Phil for his training and guidance on protocols, to Adria for helping me connect my experiments to the broader context of our research, and to Leonny for generously sharing his work and providing opportunities that have allowed me to build new skills and continue learning."
Special Talent Trainee Spotlight
While we often highlight our trainees’ professional achievements, we also want to showcase what they’re up to outside the lab! Whether it's art, sports, reading, or anything else you could be featured next!
Mariia Dmitrieva - Technical Specialist and Tomato Gardener
In this edition, we’re featuring Mariia Dmitrieva, a technical specialist with a master's degree in molecular biology in Dr. Eti Cukierman’s lab. Outside the lab, Mariia has a passion for gardening—particularly growing tomatoes. She describes herself as someone who can’t live without tomatoes; in fact, her very first word—in Russian—was the word “tomato.” When Mariia moved to the U.S. and into a house with a backyard, she felt determined to grow her own tomatoes, especially since the local store-bought options weren’t up to the quality she remembered. Since starting her garden, she has been able to enjoy high-quality tomatoes and even share them as gifts with friends.
Gardening, she explains, helps keep her grounded. “Even if I’ve had a tough day at work, I still come home to check on my plants and take care of them. Most days feel better when I see new blooms or fruits—it reminds me that consistent care and patience lead to results. So, I guess it brings me patience. Well, except on the days when the plants choose the path of death—then I end up down the rabbit hole of ‘Tomatoes Dying 101.’”
Recently, Mariia has discovered another calming hobby: sourdough baking. “How can you stress about your failed experiments when you get this amazing loaf of homemade bread?” Between tomatoes and sourdough, Mariia has found a way to balance the intensity of lab life with patience, care, and small daily joys.