Current Members

Shreya Goyal, PhD Candidate. I was born and raised in one of the busiest metropolitan cities in the world, New Delhi, India! In 2016, I came to the Queen City to join the Chi lab to pursue a Master’s degree, but fell in love with my project and decided to complete my PhD. My project aims to understand the connection between membrane trafficking and autophagy using yeast as a model organism. I am also a big advocate for international students navigating a career in science and serve as a member of the international student affair’s advisory committee for UNCC and The American Society for Cell Biology. Outside the lab I enjoy exploring the mountains of North Carolina, running, playing badminton and watching cheesy Bollywood movies! sgoyal2@uncc.edu

Trey Grissom, PhD Candidate. I grew up in the small town of Sylva, North Carolina in the Appalachian Mountains. I studied biology at Western Carolina University, where I helped to develop a protocol to visualize exosome trafficking via fluorescent microscopy. Not wanting to stop there, I joined the Chi lab as a PhD student to further understand membrane trafficking. My project involves understanding membrane trafficking in the yeast endomembrane system. When I’m not in the lab, you can probably find me brewing my own beer and plotting out campaigns for Dungeons & Dragons. jgrisso9@uncc.edu

Jonathon Taylor, MS Candidate. I am from the small town of Stanley, North Carolina which is about 40 minutes from UNC Charlotte. I received my Bachelors in Biology from North Carolina State University, graduating as valedictorian. I came to UNC Charlotte to experience both the rich culture of research and teaching in the Biology Department. I am currently working closely with the Reitzel lab to understand the structure and function of major intrinsic proteins in early animal evolution. jtayl202@uncc.edu

Alyssa Lucero, Biology Honors Undergraduate. I was born in Macon, Georgia but grew up mostly in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I am a rising senior year, majoring in biology and minoring in both chemistry and economics. I recently participated in the Charlotte Research Scholars Summer Program and currently conducting research in the Biology Honors Program in the Chi Lab. When I’m not in the lab, you can find me planning recruitment for my sorority or tutoring chemistry and biology! alucero2@uncc.edu

Marjan Shahani, Biology Undergraduate Researcher. I grew up in Sindh, Pakistan and moved to the U.S. when I was 12. I am currently an undergraduate researcher and majoring in Biology and Chemistry with a minor in Computer Science. I am particularly interested in understanding membrane channels and evolutionary adaption to water homeostasis. I play video games semi-professionally and enjoy reading or watching TV shows in my spare time. mshahani@uncc.edu