News
Celebrating the People Who Move Science Forward
Monday, November 2, 2026
On October 28, we recognized graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff whose contributions strengthen research, education, and the training experience at URochester. This year’s recipients show how discovery and support for one another go hand in hand.
Graduate Student Achievement/Fellowship Awards
- Chia-Mei Young
- Daniel Han
- Justin Zielinski
- Meaghan McKenna
- CJ Kelly
- Tiwalade Oni
- Gia Valdez
- Asha Jotwani
- Kira Lear
- Ella Zebelman
- Andalus Ayaz
- Nayab Sadruddin
Postdoc Awards
- Kevin Gonzalez Velandia, PhD
- Jeffrey Ramos Santiago, PhD
Faculty & Staff Teaching & Mentoring Awards
- John Lueck, PhD
- Audrey Schroeder, MS, CGC
- Nathan A. Smith, PhD
- Ania Majewska, PhD
Great science takes a community, and our annual GEPA Awards celebrated the people who make ours so special.
Graduate Student Society Awards
- Makaía Papasergi-Scott, PhD
- Paul Boutz, PhD
- Sharon McCullough, MBA
Thank you to the mentors, colleagues, and teams who help our trainees thrive, and to everyone who joined us to celebrate!
The New Issue of Opportunities to Explore is Out Now!
Monday, October 5, 2026
Read the Oct 5 - Oct 9, 2026 Issue
New graduate students begin their URochester journey
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
New Public Health master's students at the welcome session during Orientation
The School of Medicine & Dentistry welcomed 104 PhD, master’s, and advanced certificate trainees during orientation, marking the beginning of a new academic year.
Throughout orientation, students met classmates and faculty, connected with others in their programs, and learned more about the academic, professional, and personal support available to them at URochester.
“It’s not just about getting your degree. It’s about getting a career,” said Rick Libby, vice provost and University dean for Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, encouraging students to take advantage of opportunities that will prepare them for their lives beyond graduate school.
For Rachel Zelasky, a new master’s student in Public Health, Rochester offered the faculty support and connections she was seeking as she works toward a career in clinical research.
“At the graduate level, having that kind of strong support from professors is very valuable,” said Zelasky, who also earned her undergraduate degree in neuroscience from URochester in 2023.
That sense of support and community also helped attract Elefteria Vogiatzoglou to our Neuroscience PhD program. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, Vogiatzoglou said the collaborative environment stood out during the interview process.
“When I interviewed here and saw the community, it was the first thing that attracted me—how collaborative the department is,” she said. “A PhD is hard, and I need a community.”
For Archit Kothari, the opportunity to gain broad clinical experience within one academic medical center was another important draw. Kothari joined the master’s program in Genetic Counseling after moving from Queens, NY.
“We’re able to do the majority of our rotations within the medical center ecosystem,” Kothari said. “I feel like that makes it a lot easier and a lot more cohesive for the students.”
Nathan Smith, PhD, associate dean for research mentorship and associate professor of Neuroscience, reminded the incoming students that he had once been in their shoes as a Neuroscience graduate student here at URochester. His advice as they begin their own journeys was simple:
“Remember that you belong in this room.”
