Meet The Team

Jacky Gomez is a fourth year Biology major on the pre-medical track from Conyers, GA. She is the President of Phoenix Biology and helps plan events for incoming students interested in biology. On campus, Jacky conducts cancer biology research with the Elf Lab in the Ben May Department of Cancer Research, where she studies myeloproliferative neoplasms. In her free time, she enjoys visiting different neighborhoods in Chicago and hanging out with friends!

Sandhini is a fourth year majoring in Biology with a minor in Health and Society from Palo Alto, California. She serves as the Vice President for Phoenix Biology. She is a research assistant in Moskowitz lab, and is currently studying the expression of the transcription factor FoxF1 in the second heart field and its role in cardiac development. Additionally, she is a Peer Health Advocate and a research assistant for the Hospitalist Project. In her free time, she enjoys exploring hiking trails, playing the piano, and cooking new recipes. 

Vera is a fourth-year Biological Sciences major, specializing in ecology & evolution and minoring in Anthropology, serving as the secretary for Phoenix Biology. Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, Vera loves to play sports, cook, and play board games. On campus, she is also on the Rugby Club team and is conducting research on physiological stress in Malagasy bats and American robins.

Delia Mwinyelle is a fourth year majoring in Chemistry and minoring in Human Rights. Delia is originally from Johnson City, Tennessee. She works in the Piunti Lab where she focuses on chromatin research, and she also conducts patient focused research in a neurological surgery research lab. Additionally, she is a member of the Ballroom and Latin Dance RSO on campus as well as the treasurer of Phoenix Biology. In her free time, she enjoys exploring coffee shops in Chicago, traveling around the US, and social dancing at different venues across Chicagoland.

Jamie Zeng is a fourth-year Neuroscience major and Health and Society minor from New York City. She is the Marketing Director - Graphics of Phoenix Biology and helps with creating graphics and promotional flyers for Phoenix Biology events. On campus, she is involved with NEURO Club and ArtShould. She also does biopsychological research on the rat olfactory system. In her free time, she likes to try new foods (especially desserts) and binge-watch dramas! 

Violet is a fourth-year Biological Science major pursuing a cancer biology specialization. She does research in the Muir lab in the Ben May Department of Cancer Research which involves elucidating the nutrients in the tumor microenvironment which inhibits lipid uptake in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. In phoenix biology, she serves as the marketing director for promotions, and is in charge of the phoenix biology email listhost and instagram account. Outside of school, Violet loves to bake, paint, and spoil her cat. 

Mayher Kaur is a third-year Biological Sciences and Economics double major. She is a research assistant with the Faubert lab, where she investigates the metabolism of metastatic non small cell lung cancer. Apart from being a board member on Phoenix Biology, she loves playing IM sports, and is the president of the new Translational Medicine group on campus. In her free time, she loves to hang out at cafés, bike, draw and hang out with her giant goldendoodle.

Maryam Aderounmu is a third-year majoring in Biological Sciences on the pre-med track. From Carson, California, she was a research intern at Scripps Research Translational Institute, where she gained experience conducting, collecting, and analyzing clinical research data using R Studio and Excel. During the academic year, she works as a research assistant with the Hospitalist Project and with Maroon Tutor Match as a Math Tutor. She is also a part of the Organization of Black Students, the Muslim Student Association, and Maria Shelter RSO. In her free time, she enjoys watching shows, reading, drawing, and cooking.

Derek Chan is a second-year Biological Sciences major from Taipei pursuing a premed track. He was a research intern at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, where he conducted risk factor analyses on different gastroesophageal cancers among Chinese citizens using different hazard models. As for RSOs, Derek is a certified Emergency Medical Responder at UChicago Emergency Medical Services, a chair at MUNUC, and a member of Asian American InterVarsity. Derek’s hobbies include singing, producing music, watching anime, and drinking exquisite tea.

Sophia Chung is a third-year Biological Sciences and Economics double major originally from Palos Verdes, CA. She is a part of the Collegiate Translational Medicine Program where she works as a research assistant with the Hospitalist project as well as with Dr. Meltzer to investigate the effects of Vitamin D on COVID-19. On campus, she is also a part of UCEMS and MUNUC. In her free time, she likes cooking and finding new shows to watch.

Lainey Gregory is a second-year from San Antonio, Texas majoring in neuroscience with a minor in chemistry on the pre-med track. She was a research intern with the UWI at the Lincoln Park Zoo where she engaged in endangered species population management and research. During the school year, she works at the UChicago Medical Center ER as a medical scribe. In her free time, she likes to read, run, and cook with her friends.