Officers & Advisors

Viktoriia Sokolova
President
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Viktoriia earned her BS in Chemistry with a minor in Business Administration, and MS in Organic Chemistry from Drexel University in 2020. Her Master’s Thesis work focused on small molecule drug development targeting certain cancer-associated proteins. Currently, she is in her fourth year PhD candidate in the Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology program. She has joined Dr. Dmitry Temiakov’s lab, where she is focused on structural and functional studies of proteins involved in mitochondrial DNA repair. As an international student from Ukraine, Viktoriia aspires to help people step out of their comfort zone to network and socialize. She is passionate about exploring different ways to form and maintain professional connections, which would put students on the right path toward their most desired careers.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy taking road trips and hiking outside of the city, as well as exploring new food and music spots in Philly.

Candice Bizzaro
Vice President
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Candice earned her BS in Biochemistry from Temple University in 2019. Her undergraduate research focused on utilizing mass spectrometry to understand underlying molecular changes associated with traumatic brain injuries. Currently, she is a fourth year PhD candidate in the Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology program. Her thesis work in Dr. Matthew Schiewer's lab is focused on understanding the pathological role of STEAP Family metalloreductase proteins in prostate cancer aggressiveness. This will be her second year serving as BizBio's Chair of Communication. She is excited to increase student participation in networking events and expand interest in a variety of scientific fields.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy rock climbing, live music, and hanging out with my cat.

Jacquelyn (Jackie) DePierro
Secretary

Jackie earned her BS degree in Biochemistry from Rowan University in 2021. Afterward, she worked as a research technician at Thomas Jefferson Univerity in the lab of Dr. Charles Scott. Her research focused on identifying small molecule drugs with therapeutic potential for obstructive airway disease and heart failure. Currently, Jackie is a third year PhD student in the Biochemistry, Structural, and Molecular Biology PhD program, researching in Dr. Lin Guo's lab. Her research focuses on modulating the aberrant phase separation of the ALS-linked protein FUS. Jackie is excited for her first year on the BizBio executive board, and looks forward to helping students explore academic and non-academic career paths.

What are your favorite hobbies?
My favorite hobbies including skiing, paddleboarding, and hiking!

Casey Durso (she/her)
Chair of Communications

Casey earned her BS in Bioengineering from Lehigh University in 2020. She then worked for the University of Pennsylvania Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research as a Research Specialist where she investigated therapeutic targets against synucleinopathies under Dr. Kevin Luk. She is in her third year as a PhD student in the Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology program. Her thesis work in Dr. Diane Merry's lab is focused on uncovering the mechanisms of the polyQ-expanded androgen receptor and USP7 interaction in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Casey is looking forward to engaging the Jefferson community in the exciting events planned for this year. 

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Outside of lab, I love to be part of Philly's music community! I sing with the Philadelphia Choral Arts, attend concerts, and always say 'yes' to a night of karaoke!

Shivani Khunt
Chair of Network Development

Dr. Shivani Khunt is a current Masters student in the Clinical Research program. She holds her PharmD license from the Gujarat State Pharmacy Council in India. Dr. Khunt is an enthusiastic leader who is passionate about creating networking opportunities for the Jefferson community. Her vision is to create and manage networks with various healthcare personnel from versatile backgrounds such as pharma companies, hospitals, and research settings, all for students to network and enhance their professional relationships.

Who is someone you admire, and why?
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. He was an Indian aerospace scientist and stateman who served as the 11th president of India from 2002-2007. Dr. Kalam has done remarkable work in the science and humanities fields. While working at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Dr. Kalam was the director of India's first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III), which successfully deployed the Rohini satellite in near Earth oribt in July 1980. He supported the advancement of science education, inspiring youth - including me - to become scientists. One question I would ask him is about his experiences of failing and how he dealt with them, knowing the failures eventually led to his success.

Ian Mawn
Treasurer
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Ian graduated from Bucknell University in 2022 with a BS in Cell Biology and Biochemistry, focusing his research on peptide biochemistry. Ian is starting his third year in the Biochemistry, Structural, and Molecular Biology PhD program. Ian's research in the lab of Dr. Michael Soniat focuses on deciphering how the molecular machines involved in DNA repair protect genome integrity. He is looking forward to his role in BizBio as a way to explore career paths for himself, and to help other students do the same.

What is your favorite thing to do in Philly?
I enjoy trying new restaurants and going to parks throughout the city.

Anthony Monte Carlo
Chair of Programming
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Anthony earned his BS in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and Leadership Studies from Rutgers University - Camden in 2022. As a former NIH MARC fellow, he worked under the advisory of Dr. Jinglin Fu studying DNA G-quadruplexes in the context of bionanotechnologies. In his third year at Thomas Jefferson University, he works in the lab of Dr. Anna Pluciennik, studying the underlying biochemical mechanisms that relate to DNA repair in the context of repeat expansion disorders.

If you could go on vacation, where would you go and what would you do?
I would love to go visit Geneva in Switzerland to see the Alps and visit the Large Hadron Collider at CERN!

Lisa Kozlowski, PhD

Dr. Kozlowski is the Associate Dean for Student and Postdoctoral Affairs at Thomas Jefferson University.  She received her PhD in Immunology from the University of Pennsylvania and did a postdoctorate at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where she was an officer in their postdoctoral association.  She then worked as Program Director at Science's Next Wave, which is now part of ScienceCareers.org.  She moved on to become a consultant, helping disciplinary societies and universities provide career workshops to their trainees.

Since October 2003, she has directed the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Thomas Jefferson University.  Her administrative accomplishments include implementing a required minimum salary and revising the annual performance evaluation.  Her enhancements for postdoctoral fellows include providing professional development workshops, establishing English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and co-organizing the annual Postdoctoral Research Symposium.

On the regional level, Lisa is a past president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Association for Women in Science.  On the national level, she has been on the planning committee of the NPA annual meeting.  She is also a past chair of the Postdoctorate Leaders Section Committee of the AAMC GREAT Group.