MMRI Held Graduation Ceremony for 2025 Summer Fellowship Cohort

UTICA, NY – On Friday, July 25, 2025, MMRI held its annual graduation ceremony to honor the accomplishments of its 13 Summer Fellows who completed the esteemed scientific program. For ten weeks, these Summer Fellows studied in the laboratories of MMRI’s principal investigators (PI) gaining invaluable scientific research experience. This rigorous and competitive program selected students based on academic excellence, innovative scientific project ideas and demonstrated drive.

“We were delighted to celebrate the work accomplished by these impressive students of MMRI’s coveted Summer Fellowship program,” said Maria Kontaridis, Ph.D., executive director and Gordon K. Moe professor and chair of biomedical research and translational medicine at MMRI. “I am incredibly proud of the knowledge and skills these students have gained under the mentorship of MMRI faculty and postdoctoral fellows. The scientific principles they have now mastered at MMRI will serve them for a lifetime, and we are honored to have been part of their journey. This a testament to our mission, which includes our commitment to training future generations of scientists and clinicians.”

Throughout the program, the Summer Fellows engaged in hands-on research using state-of-the-art techniques, such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and targeted drug delivery. They also participated in professional development workshops and didactic lectures on the various scientific disciplines in which MMRI excels.

“For the past 10 weeks these students have worked diligently to not only master new skills, but to learn to think like a scientist,” said Jason McCarthy, Ph.D., associate professor/scientific operations director at MMRI. “I could not be more proud of their hard work dedication and look forward to seeing their future successes.”

The program culminated in a graduation ceremony where the Fellows presented their research to MMRI staff, colleagues, families and community members. Elected officials, including Assemblymembers Marianne Buttenschon and Brian Miller as well as County Executive Anthony Picente Jr., were present and offered their congratulations to the fellows.

“As a former educator, I am deeply inspired by the dedication and brilliance of these Summer Fellows,” said assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon. “MMRI’s commitment to fostering the next generation of scientists is not only shaping individual futures but strengthening the fabric of our community. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to MMRI for providing these students with such invaluable opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute to the advancement of science.”

“It was an honor to speak today at MMRI’s Summer Fellowship Graduation and celebrate the accomplishments of these exceptional young scientists,” said assemblyman Brian Miller. “Their dedication to research and discovery is truly inspiring. I commend MMRI for its ongoing commitment to fostering the next generation of researchers and scientists and for the incredible opportunities this program provides. I look forward to seeing the incredible contributions of these young scientists in the years to come. Congratulations to the outstanding students of the MMRI Summer Fellowship Program.”

“The MMRI Summer Fellowship Program continues to be a shining example of how Oneida County fosters scientific innovation and educational excellence,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “These young scholars represent the future of medicine and research, and we are proud that such transformative opportunities are being offered right here in Utica. I commend MMRI and its dedicated faculty for their ongoing commitment to advancing science and training the next generation of innovators.”

MMRI is proud of its legacy and the success of its fellows, with many moving on to top tier graduate schools, medical schools, pharmacy schools, veterinary schools and more. It has trained hundreds of aspiring scientists, many of whom have gone on to have diverse careers in research and medicine, some of which have been employed locally at local health systems, such as Mohawk Valley Health System, or nationally at organizations such as the Lupus Research Alliance. Many of these Summer Fellows have even returned to MMRI as postdoctoral fellows or research assistants, a true testament to the program’s success.

 

The 2025 MMRI Summer Fellowship program includes:

 

Maria Kontaridis, Ph.D.:

Natalie-Lorine Barber, SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Genesis Campbell, University at Buffalo

Riley Collis, Emory University

Amna Khan, SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Claire Marshall, Rochester Institute of Technology

Sandi Myint, Yale University

 

Chase Kessinger, Ph.D.:

Willa Pratt, University of Delaware

 

Zhiqiang Lin, Ph.D.:

Angelina Tangorra, Nazareth University

 

Jason McCarthy, Ph.D.:

Lucas Constantine, Hamilton College

Nurhaliza Syukur, Utica University

 

Matthew Nystoriak, Ph.D.:

Cooper Borelli, Boston College

Emma Burke, Bates College

 

Tongbin Wu, Ph.D.:

Victoria Cioni, Nazareth University

 

The 2025 MMRI Summer Fellowship program was made possible thanks to the generous support from its sponsors, including:

 

• Alera Group Company
• Sidney J. Blatt
• Burrows Foundation
• Atul and Amita Butala
• First Manhattan Masonic District
• Gary T. Forrest
• Cecelia and Ronald Gouse
• Hazen B. Hinman, Sr. Foundation, Inc.
• Health Forward Foundation
• R⸫W⸫ Walter R. Leong
• M&T Bank / Partners Trust Bank Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation
• Frank Dubeck and MaryBeth McCall
• The Give Back to Utica Fund/Steven H. Oram
• UpMobility Foundation
• Utica Lodge #47 F. & A.M.

“We’d like to thank our generous program funders,” said Stephen F. Izzo, principal development officer at MMRI. “Their support is enabling our world-class faculty to train the next generation of scientists to understand and overcome some of the world’s most pernicious diseases.”

Read more about the MMRI Summer Fellowship here.