UMass Boston

Pre-Doctoral Students

Quentin D'Arcy, B.S., is a Biology pre-doctoral student at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He earned a B.S. in Biology with Honors from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and spent several years at the Massachusetts Department of Health prior to joining the Macoska laboratory in 2020. His dissertation research focuses on mechanisms promoting fibrosis in the lower urinary tract including those involving pro-fibrotic cytokines, health supplements, and regulatory RNAs.  He plans to pursue a position in academia or industry in the Boston/Cambridge area upon completion of his graduate studies.

Marissa Sarna-McCarthy, B.S., is a Biology pre-doctoral student at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She earned a B.S. in Biology from Bay Path University while working part time as a chemistry lab preparatory technician at the Baystate Medical Center prior to joining the Macoska laboratory in 2020. Her dissertation research focuses on cytokine-induced anti-apoptotic mechanisms that increase the survival of activated fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, hence, promote collagen production and fibrosis in the lower urinary tract. She plans to remain in Massachusetts and pursue a position in academia or industry upon completion of his graduate studies.

Delaney Bowen, B.S., is a Biology Master's student and the President of the Graduate Student Association at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2021 and joined the Macoska Laboratory the following year.  Her thesis research focuses on the role(s) of regulatory RNAs, particularly miRNAs, in promoting fibrosis in the lower urinary tract.  Upon graduation, she plans to attend medical school to become a physician scientist.

Susan Patalano, B.S. is a Biology Master's student at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She earned a B.S. in Biology  from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2016. During that time, she also pursued laboratory research, then worked part-time as a student technician in the CPCT Genomics Core and was promoted to Genomics Core Manager in 2017. Her thesis research is focused on novel algorithms for the analysis of single cell sequencing datasets.