Meet the Baker Lab Team

HEYYYY! I'm Daniela Agne, a senior who is majoring in Chemistry at TCNJ, with minors in Biology and Mathematics and a specialization in Biochemistry. After I graduate from TCNJ, my plans are to attend the New England College of Optometry, where I will be working towards my Doctor of Optometry Degree. I have been really enjoying my time here, at the Baker Lab, especially working on the Barnacle Project with Sara Kuwar and the Biology Department! I am grateful for all the conferences and other opportunities we have had to share the research we have been conducting!

Outside of the lab, i work as an optometrist technician in Lawrenceville, where I get to interact with many different patients and help assist in the process of ensuring they receive the best care when it comes to their eyes. At school, I am currently president of Gamma Sigma Epsilon and the Slavic Student Association, while serving as Secretary of the Student Chemists Association. When I have free time, I enjoy watching movies, doing puzzles, or any arts and crafts!

Hello! My name is Sara, I'm a senior majoring in biology, with minors in chemistry and Chinese. After graduation, I plan to attend medical school. In the Baker Lab, I work on barnacles, specifically studying the properties of a protein called BSF through computational modeling and molecular dynamics simulations. Outside the lab, I enjoy reading, writing, listening to music, and working as a firefighter/EMT! I am also a bubble tea enthusiast.

Coming soon!

Hi! I’m Kiara a Junior Chem major aspiring to complete a biochem specialization an ASC research certificate and Anthropology minor. After I graduate I plan to complete a gap year/PostBacc program and the apply for Medical schools. I joined Baker Lab my freshman Summer as I was interested in doing research on bacteria and wanted to challenge myself with computational work which I was very nervous about but enjoy now. Currently In the Lab I am working on the F-ENA Pilus belonging to gram positive spore forming bacteria!!! Outside of the Lab I enjoy listening to music, being outside, making jewelry and other crafts. On campus I currently serve on E-board for GUASA the Guatemalan Student Association as well as work in the Catering Department!!

Hi! I’m Lilliana Kuball, a junior majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and a Spanish for Healthcare Professionals Certificate. Outside of the lab, I am on the swim team at TCNJ, and I’m a food influencer. Primarily based on TikTok, I highlight South Jersey’s incredible food scene. In the lab, I am investigating the dynamics of the F-Pilus with hopes to look into our dinosaur collagen project in the future. I am so grateful to research the coolest thing ever (although I may be a little bias) with the help of a fantastic faculty mentor and my brilliant, supportive friends in the lab. After I graduate from TCNJ, I plan on attending Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, where I will obtain my doctorate in medicine and hopefully become a medical school professor. 

Hi! My name is Tanzim Didar, and I’m a junior Biomedical Engineering student. After graduating from TCNJ, I plan to spend some time working in industry to gain hands-on experience. I joined the lab summer of 2025 through MUSE, and have truly enjoyed both the team and the work we do! My research focuses on adhesion pili, where I investigate the specific force mechanisms involved in protein-protein interactions.

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Hi!! I’m Jess, a junior who is majoring in kinesiology, with a chemistry minor. After I graduate from TCNJ, my plans are to attend medical school and work eventually in pediatrics. I am so excited to be a part of the lab and am currently working on using AI to design mini protein binders that target bacterial pilus adhesions in Uropathogenic E. Coli (UPEC). Outside of the lab, I am a part of Tri-Beta which is the biology honor society on campus, as well as TCNJam. I used to do gymnastics and currently work as a competitive gymnastics coach and instructor. I enjoy working out and trying new coffee places!!

Hey! I'm Christina Medina, a sophomore Computer Science major planning on adding a Data Science specialization and minor in Chemistry. After graduation,  I would like to enter industry as a Data Scientist. I entered this lab knowing little about Chemistry, but after starting research on conjugative pili during MUSE 2025, I found a passion for natural science. In my free time, I love drawing, singing, and cooking!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Hi!!! I'm Aby Jamison, a sophomore who is majoring in Chemistry with a specialization in biochemistry. After I graduate from TCNJ, I plan to go to graduate school to pursue a PhD in Chemistry! In the lab, I am working on PKN2, a kinase that is a part of the "Dark Kinome" which is a group of understudied kinases! I have really enjoyed being able to help further the knowledge of a very unknown kinase that could prove to be vital to cancer therapies! Outside the lab, I am a goalie on TCNJ's women's field hockey team, team captain for TCNJam, and a member of the Student Chemists Assosciation! In my free time, I love to hang out with my friends, travel, and watch movies!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Hi!! My name is River Peloso and I'm a sophomore Chemistry major with a specialization in Biochemistry and a Music minor. I recently switched my major to Chemistry from Biology, and started shadowing this semester! After graduating from TCNJ, I plan on going to graduate school to obtain a PhD in Chemistry and hopefully continuing research. I'm so excited to pick up the Barnacle Project, where we will be studying interactions between barnacle shell formation protein and calcium carbonate! I’m officially joining Baker Lab during MUSE 2026 and continuing research in the Fall. Outside of the lab, I serve on Amnesty International’s E-board as an Event Coordinator. I love music, skiing, crafting, movies, and iced chai lattes!

Hello! I'm Yashvi, a sophomore who is majoring in Biology, with a minor in Chemistry. After I graduate from TCNJ, my plans are to work as a Medical Assistant and gain more clinical experience, before applying to medical school. I'm so excited to be a part of the Baker Lab. I joined in the spring of 2026 as a shadow, and will starting my research in the lab with the MUSE program in the summer of 2026. I will be participating in research related to the biomolecular modeling area with bacterial pili, specifically designing protein-based inhibitors using AI tools to mask the binding site of bacterial pilus adhesins from type 1/P pili. Outside of the lab, I am a Associate Member of Tri-Beta (Biological Honor Society) here on campus, I volunteer as an EMT for my town's EMS squad and in the ER at a hospital, I work as Medical Assistant and an SAT/ACT tutor part-time, and I volunteer as a crisis counselor. In my free time, I also love to bake new desserts, go on walks/runs, read books, and binge-watch movies and shows.

Hello! I'm Melody, a recent graduate who majored in Chemistry. After taking a gap semester, I will be pursuing my PhD in biophysical chemistry at Yale University. I joined the lab in the 2024 Fall semester after hearing about the interesting questions being investigated by Dr. Baker's group through computational means, and because of my computer science background from high school. I've enjoyed my time simulating and learning about the ExsY protein found in the exosporium coat of bacterial endospores, specifically trying to see how proposed disulfide bonds within them contribute to stability and its conformational landscape. 

Beyond the lab, I was a diver on TCNJ's Swim and Dive Team, a competitive weightlifter in the Olympic lifts, and an inducted member of Gamma Sigma Epsilon. I also work at a local vegan cafe/bakery on the weekends, and have recently started coaching diving. In my free time I like to read, boulder, roller blade, knit/crochet, draw/paint, and occasionally write! I've recently picked up basic ballroom dancing through a program at my local library. 

Noor is a Chemistry (ACS Certified) major and joined the group in Spring 2022.

Vani is a Chemistry (ACS Certified) major and joined the group in Summer 2022.

Jen is a Chemistry (ACS Certified) major and joined the group in Fall 2021.

Karolina is a Chemistry (ACS Certified) major and joined the group in Summer 2023.

Esha is a Psychology major (with a Chemistry minor) and joined the group in Fall 2022.

Rachel is a Chemistry (ACS Certified) major and joined the group in Fall 2023.

Nicole is a Chemistry (ACS Certified) major and joined the group in Fall 2023.

Priyanka is a Chemistry (ACS Certified) major and joined the group in Fall 2023.

Alice is a Biology major and joined the group in Fall 2023.

Ayesha is a Computer Science major and worked in the group during MUSE 2023.

Spandana is a Computer Science major and worked in the group during MUSE 2023.

Ifrah is a Computer Science major and worked in the group back in MUSE 2022.

Cassi is a Chemistry (ACS Certified) major and worked in the group during MUSE 2022. 

Cassi graduated in 2025 and is applying to medical schools.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Alexis was in the group from Fall 2022 to Spring 2023.

Current position: Law student at Rutgers Camden.

B.S., Biology
Anika was in the group from Spring 2022 to Spring 2023.

Anika is currently applying to medical schools.

B.S., Biology
Mahnoor  was in the group from Spring 2022 to Spring 2023.

Mahnoor is currently applying to medical schools.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Zach was in the group from Fall 2021 to Spring 2023.

Current position: Graduate Student, Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Michael was in the group from Fall 2021 to Spring 2022.

Michael is currently pursuing a career in the chemical industry.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Lauren was in the group from Fall 2022 to Spring 2022.

M.S. Chemistry, University of Rochester, 2025

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Joseph was in the group from Fall 2021 to Fall 2022.

Joseph is currently pursuing a career in physical therapy.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Kimberly was in the group from Summer 2019 to Spring 2020.

M.S. Chemistry, Temple University, 2025

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Kevin was in the group from Summer 2019 to Spring 2020.

Current position: Graduate Student, Chemistry, Emory University.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Jonathan was in the group from Summer 2019 to Spring 2020.

Current position: Graduate Student, Chemistry, Temple University.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Emma was in the group from Summer 2019 to Spring 2020.

Current position: Graduate Student, Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Alberto was in the group from Summer 2018 to Fall 2019.

Current position: Dental student, NYU.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Steve was in the group from Summer 2018 to Spring 2020.

M.S. Chemistry, Florida State University

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Chris was in the group from Summer 2018 to Spring 2020.

Current position: Research Scientist at Virginia Tech. Obtained M.S. in Materials Science at Florida State University.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Bryan was in the group from Summer 2017 to Spring 2019.

Ph.D. Chemistry, Yale University, 2025

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Maria was in the group from Spring 2017 to Spring 2019.

Current position: Dental Student, Rutgers Dental School.

B.S., Biology
Sarah was in the group during  MUSE in Summer 2018.

Current position: Medical student, NJMS

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Kristen was in the group from Summer 2017 to Spring 2019.

Ph.D., Graduate Student, Tri-Institutional Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Mattheus was in the group from Summer 2016 to Spring 2018.

Current position: Scientist at L'Oréal. Obtained M.S. in Chemistry from University of Pittsburgh.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Rebecca was in the group from Spring 2016 to Spring 2018.

Current position: Life Science Consultant at Beghou Consuling. Obtained Ph.D. in Chemistry from Northwestern University.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Keyur was in the group from Fall 2016 to Spring 2018.

Current position: Keyur is currently a medical student at RWJMS.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Aleena was in the group from Spring 2015 to Spring 2017.

Current position: Senior Associate Scientist at Regeneron. Obtained M.S. in Chemistry from The University of Maryland, College Park.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Troy was in the group from Spring 2015 to Spring 2017.

Ph.D., Chemistry, The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Chemistry  degree from Instituto Federal de Educação
Rebeca was in the group from Summer 2015 to Fall 2015.

Current position: Rebeca is the CEO of her own company, Saldare.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Susan was in the group from Spring 2015 to Spring 2016.

Current position: Principal Scientist at Kenvue. Obtained Ph.D. in Chemistry at Berkeley University.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Heba was in the group from Spring 2015 to Spring 2016.

Current position: Pursued a podiatry degree at New York City School of Podiatric Medicine.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Maria was in the group from Spring 2015 to Spring 2016.

Current position: Maria is a Neurology Resident Physician at Duke University. She obtained her M.D. at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

B.S., Biology
Jeffrey was in the group in Spring 2015.

Current position: Business Development Manager at Aleon Pharma International, Inc.

B.S., Chemistry (ACS Certified)
Mark was in the group from Fall 2014 to Spring 2015.

Current position: Mark is a General Engineer for the Department of Homeland Security.