Executive Board
Joey Federico
President
Joey Federico is a fourth year PhD student in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. Joey uses transcriptomics to study T cells and the molecular mechanisms that facilitate their cytotoxic functionality, with the translational goal of determining how these mechanisms control autoimmune disease pathogenesis. He would like to apply the skills and knowledge from his academic training to identifying new promising science and technology to solve unmet medical needs in the biopharma industry.
Ethan Zhong
Vice President
Ethan Zhong is a fourth year PhD Candidate in the Department of Human Genetics. His research focuses on developing computational methods to study the genetic basis of complex disease. He is passionate about translating cutting-edge technologies from the lab to the bedside, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the standard of care.
Kasia Kurylowicz
Treasurer
Kasia is a fourth year PhD student in Cancer Biology program. Her research focuses on the interactions between the microbiome and the innate immune system and how that affects tumor immunity. She would like to apply her knowledge and skills to translational science to help with cancer patients’ treatment. In her free time, she enjoys traveling to new places, hiking, biking/roller-skating along the Michigan Lake, and trying new restaurants in Chicago.
Yeaji Park
Secretary
Yeaji is a second-year PhD student in the Neurobiology program. Her research interest centers on studying the cellular and molecular basis of learning and memory. She is eager to expand her knowledge of the biotechnology field through UCBA.
Steering Committee Members
Raven Moten
Raven is a fifth year PhD candidate in the Genetics, Genomics, and Systems Biology program. Her research is focused on understanding pathogenesis and drug resistance in heme-malignancies. She is interested in careers in biomedical research and development, as well as biotechnology. Raven enjoys cooking and karaoke.
Kasia Zawieracz
Kasia is a fourth year PhD student in the Cancer Biology program. She is working on the transcriptional regulation of gut stem cells and the source of intestinal inflammation in the context of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and colon cancer. Kasia is interested in integrating computational biology applications into research and patient diagnosis. Outside of lab work, Kasia enjoys playing tennis, biking, climbing and going to concerts.
Emily Liu
Emily joined the Immunoengineering program in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) in 2022. Her research with Melody Swartz’s group focuses on investigating the role of lymphatics in cell therapies for cancer and assessing T cell longevity in vitro. She enjoys collaborating with and supporting other scientists, and I value the process of analyzing, debating, and refining scientific ideas. In private, she enjoys dancing, cooking, and training her cats to do tricks.
Yuqing Xue
Yuqing is a third year PhD student in Cancer Biology program. Her research is focused on understanding the genomic changes in blood cancers with the goal of identifying novel therapeutic strategies. She is interested in careers in biotechnology and biomedical research. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, climbing and planting.
Austin Szatrowski
Austin joined Genetics, Genomics, and Systems Biology (GGSB) in 2025, having previously been an intern at the Regeneron Genetics Center. His work with Luis Barreiro studies inter-individual variation in the innate immune response. Outside of lab, he maintains a strong interest in the history and philosophy of science, and hopes to finish Gödel, Escher, Bach before his PhD.