Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor (core), Dept. of Biomedical Engineering @NYU Tandon
Assistant Professor (associated), Dept. of Pathology @NYU School of Medicine
Member, Translational Immunology Center and Perlmutter Cancer Center
Program Director, MS in Bioinformatics @NYU Tandon Online
Postdoc @NYU Langone |PhD @UT Austin |BS @UC San Diego
My research interests have spanned the entirety of biology, from development, genetics, to biotechnology. The commonality though has been editing the genome. I am continually fascinated by the mysteries within genomes, how and why they're arranged, and the possibilities of writing them anew. I'm originally from Southern California, and spent many years in Austin, TX. Before joining the faculty at NYU, I was employee #3 at a recently acquired biotech startup called Neochromosome Inc (now a subsidiary of Opentrons Robotics).
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Fun Facts: Long ago I was a swing dancer, frontman/guitarist in a band, and did musical theater. Now you'll find me kayaking, hiking, and enjoying the city.
David Truong, PhD
Research Team
Postdoctoral Fellows
Postdoc
PhD, Biomedicine @CRG Barcelona
BS/MS, Medical Biotechnology @University of Naples
My hometown is Naples, in the South of Italy. I obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in medical biotechnology at the University of Naples, where I acquired my background in cell biology, with an emphasis on the cell secretory pathway and protein folding. Before joining NYU, I completed my PhD in biomedicine at the CRG in Barcelona, where I had the opportunity to study and work in the field of stem cell biology. My goal is to deepen my knowledge of synthetic biology and apply it to stem cells for cutting-edge cancer and regenerative medicine therapies.
Fun facts: I do love reading. I’m also really passionate about art in general. And I like to travel and get to know different customs and cultures.
Serena Generoso, PhD
Sep 2022 - present
Postdoc
PhD, @Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Japan
MD, @University of Tsukuba, Japan
I am from Japan. I originally worked as a physician, especially specializing in the kidneys. Then, I had researched focusing on kidney energy metabolism and kidney organoids, and obtained my PhD at TMDU. I would like to study immunology, intracellular therapy and genome editing techniques at NYU.
Fun facts: I like to watch baseball games. I am not a good trader, but I enjoy stock trading.
Tomoki Yanagi, MD, PhD
Apr 2023 - present
PhD Students
PhD student, Biomedical Engineering @NYU Tandon
MS and BS, Biomedical Engineering @Stony Brook University
I am originally from Queens, so I’ve been in NYC my whole life. I have a bachelor’s and master’s in biomedical engineering from Stony Brook University. My research background is in synthetic biology, and my goal for my PhD is to use synthetic biology to design and create new disease treatments. My research interests include genetic engineering, immunology, and stem cell biology.
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Fun Facts: I did a minor in studio art in college, I play piano and guitar, and I have a pet bird.
Sarah Levovitz, MS
Sep 2021 - present
PhD student, Biomedical Engineering @NYU Tandon
MS and BS, Bioengineering @University of California, Riverside
Hiya! I moved around a lot before settling in Bakersfield, CA (fun fact, it was recently named the worst city in America to grow up in). I've explored research in many exciting ways, including entomology, diagnostics, MRI, and machine learning, before finally settling down with biotechnology. I love solving problems and hope to use stem cells to treat immune disorders.
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Fun Facts: I don’t have any set-in-stone hobbies so I pick up whatever sounds fun. So if you ever want to talk about learning languages, making kombucha, playing D&D, or anything else, just let me know!
Sumanth Dara, MS
Sep 2022 - present
PhD student, Biomedical Engineering @NYU Tandon
MS, Biotechnolgy and Entrepreneurship @NYU Tandon
BS, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering @University of Pennsylvania
Hello! I’m from the small town of Cranford, NJ, which is not so far from the city. I’m currently a second year master’s student in the biotechnology and entrepreneurship program at NYU Tandon. Before coming to NYU, I got my bachelor’s in chemical and bimolecular engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, so if you need a good cheesesteak recommendation for a visit to Philadelphia, let me know! I’m very interested in oncology, neurodegenerative disorders, genetics, and the biotech industry.
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Fun Facts: I am a professional theatre director and stage manager here in the city. I do photography and graphic design, and I’m very interested in activism.
Susanna Jaramillo
Sep 23' - present
Jun 22' - Aug 23' Technician
Sep 21' - May 22' MS student
PhD student, Biomedical Engineering @NYU Tandon
MS Thesis, Biology (Bioinformatics) @NYU GSAS
BS, Biology/Physiology, @University of Washington, Seattle
I am originally from Las Vegas but I currently call Seattle my home after studying and then working there. I was originally premed and before I switched to research I had taken the MCAT and was a full time medical scribe. After switching I worked at a late series B synthetic biology startup as an associate scientist for a year where I was engineering strains of bacteria and yeast for the production of designer enzymes. I also worked in the company’s LIMS team and business development teams where I developed my interest in bioinformatics and further explored my interest in the business side of biotech. I am very excited to be here at NYU where I can once again be a student, broaden and deepen my knowledge base in MCD bio, and conduct medical research that is more aligned with the interests I developed during my premed era alongside my new interest in bioinformatics.
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Fun Facts: I once took my leaking inflatable paddle board out on a lake 80 miles from the nearest city. I had to pump it up on the water to stay afloat but that little bit of danger was not enough to stop me from making that trip xD. I also enjoy photography, archery, and Magic: the gathering.
Shean Fu Phen
Sep 2025 - present
Sep 2023 - Aug 2025, MS
MS Students
MS student, Bioinformatics @NYU Tandon
BS, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering @ Johns Hopkins University
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I currently live in Seattle. I got my bachelors in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, and decided to move back to my home in Seattle to work in the biotech industry for a few years before getting my masters. I currently work for a stem cell editing company called Universal Cells, while working toward my MS in Bioinformatics as a part time student. I am excited to learn as much as I can in the Truong Lab and am grateful for the opportunity to do so. I am interested in immunology, cell and gene therapies, bioinformatics, and stem cell research.
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Fun Facts: I like mike n’ ikes, floating in bodies of water, and pepperoni pizza hot pockets
Brian Yi
Jan 2025 - present
MS student, Biomedical Engineering @NYU Tandon
BS, Biomolecular Sciences @NYU Tandon
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Hi! I am from Istanbul and lived there for 19 years before coming to NYC for college, so I’ve always been fond of living in a big city. I am a rising sophomore at NYU Tandon, studying Biomolecular Science with a minor in Computer Science. I worked in a tuberculosis molecular epidemiology lab last year. The possibilities of applying molecular biology to find solutions in the health field motivate me to pursue my studies, and I am very excited to be involved with research in genetic engineering and synthetic biology, which have significant implications in the future.
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Fun Facts: I love exploring the tri-state area whenever I get the chance. I play the guitar, sing, and take photographs in my free time. Learning about different cultures always interests me, and New York is one of the best places to be exposed to all types of cuisines and people.
Ece Aydin
Jun 2022 - present
MS student, Biotechnology @NYU Tandon
BS, Biology @William & Mary
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Hello! I am a new MS Biotechnology Student at NYU Tandon so I just moved to NYC and am incredibly excited to be in the lab and the city the next two years! I went to William & Mary for undergrad and graduated with a biology major and studio art minor. During my 4 years of undergrad I worked in Dr. Diane Shakes' C. elegans lab specializing in spermatogenesis. From my biology major and work in Dr. Shakes' lab I found that I am most passionate about developmental/stem cell biology and its applications in healthcare. Now I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to work in Dr. Truong's lab and take biotechnology courses at Tandon!
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Fun Facts: I LOVE art and lucky for me the Metropolitan Museum of Art here in NYC is my favorite art museum (I have been to a lot). I love to draw/paint from life and am looking forward to sketching in the city! I also enjoy running, swimming and spending lots of quality time with my friends (new and old).
Emily Larsen
Sep 2025 - present
Undergraduate Students
Senior BS, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering @NYU Tandon
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I am originally from the small village Sukil’ in the Carpathian Mountains part of Ukraine, but Phoenix, AZ has been my home for the past eight years. I’ve done machine learning, protein engineering, bio-circuits, and computational biophysics research in the past. My life goal is to see the world where all diseases and disorders have been eliminated. I am interested in immunoengineering along with most other fields of synthetic biology, as well as microfluidics and machine learning.
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Fun Facts: I have a symbol of the race of bioengineers from Star Wars tattooed on my arm, I love long distance running in the scorching heat, I love philosophy, and the MET is my favorite spot in NYC.
Denys Vasyutyn
Sep 2025 - present
Junior BS, Bioengineering @NYU Abu Dhabi
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Hello! I am a study away student from NYU Abu Dhabi, originally from South Korea. I chose to major in bioengineering because I wanted to find something where I could combine knowledge from physics, chemistry, and biology... and then was somehow drawn to the field of synthetic biology!
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Fun Facts: I enjoy drawing the faces of the people I like. I first started doing it when I was into the Beatles, realized I could draw, then drew some Marvel heroes... and now I sometimes draw people who are close to me.
Heesung Tae
Sep 2025 - present
Past Members
Eunice Chai
Jan - May 2022
MS student, Biotechnology
Alasia Miller
Jan - May 23'
MS student, Bioinformatics​
Robby Moebius
Jan - May 2022
MS student, BME
After: Sales Rep, Stem Cell Technologies
Sheila Atieno
Jan 22' - May 23'
MS student, BME
After: GMP tech, Duke
Sruthi Metukuru
Jun - Dec 2022
MS student, Biotechnology
After: Research Technician, Mount Sinai
Aarushi Varshney
Sep 22' - May 23'
BS student, BMS
After: Johnson and Johnson, PhD student UVA
Daniela Quijano
Sep - Dec 2022
MS student, Bioinformatics
After: Solutions Architect, Tempus Labs
Charlee Cobb
Sep 22' - May 23'
MS student, Bioinformatics
BIGY7683 Course Assistant
After: Data Analysit, Pfizer
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Kacie Carrier
Jun 23' - Aug 23'
BS student, CBE
UGSRP Summer student
After: Eli Lily internship; PhD student Carnegie Mellon
Iris Biboli
Jun 22' - Aug 23'
BS student, BMS
UGSRP Summer student
After: Research Technician, Mt Sinai
Jonah Ayala
Jun 24' - Aug 24'
BS student, BME
@UT El Paso
UGSRP Summer student
After: MS, Cornell
Minjoo Kim, PhD
Dec 21' - Nov 24'
Postdoctoral Scholar
after: Staff Scientist at UCSF
Federico Jimenez
Feb 24' - Dec 24'
MS thesis, BME​
Shaun Chua
Dec 24' - Feb 25'
MS, Biology
Brianna Williams
Jun 23' - May 25'
BS student, BMS
MS student, BME
after: Astra-Zeneca
Riya Patel
Jun 24' - May 25'
BS student, BMS
Darin Kim
Jun 25' - Aug 25'
BS student, Brown U
Sabina Phanova
Jun 25' - Aug 25'
BS student, BMS