Principal Investigator
 | Jean-Paul Armache I joined Penn State University in April 2019 as a faculty at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Eberly College and the Huck Institutes of Life Sciences. I obtained my PhD in 2011 at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany. Subsequently, I left Europe for California to join University of California San Francisco as a postdoctoral scholar. Originally from Poland, I graduated as MSc in 2006 from the Technical University of Lodz in Computer Science. |
Postdoctoral Scholars
 | Heather Folkwein I joined the Pennsylvania State University as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Armache Lab on September 27, 2021. Prior to beginning my scientific endeavors here at PSU, I earned both my undergraduate and Master’s Degree from Youngstown State University. Then, I received a Ph.D. in chemistry from Case Western Reserve University in the early fall of 2021, under the advisement of Liraz Levi and Greg Tochtrop. My doctoral research focused on the role Fatty Acid Binding Protein 5 (FABP5) plays on both Cancer and Neuronal Development Through the use of Small Molecule Inhibitors and Dietary Long Chain Fatty Acids. As a trained synthetic chemistry and biochemist, I would like to apply my skillsets towards gaining in-depth understanding of the molecular pathways which lead to cognitive dysfunction disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia and the development of novel therapeutics and strategies in the treatment of these diseases. |
Graduate Students
 | Natalie Smith My name is Natalie Smith. Originally from Dallas, TX, I obtained my B.S. and M.S. in Biology at Missouri State University where I studied nanotoxicology in plant systems using molecular genetic approaches. I came to Penn State to study Plant Biology and gene regulation. I joined the Armache lab in January 2021 as a tech to learn about gene regulation from a structural biology approach. In August 2022, I joined the MCIBS Graduate Program, and joined the Armache and Murakami labs for my PhD dissertation. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my cats and husband and watching T.V. |
| George Fordjour |
Research Technicians
 | Igor Berezin My name is Igor Berezin. I am from Tollyatty, Russia. I received my BSc diploma in Biology from Samara State University in 1998. Then I graduated as MSc from Pushchino State University in 2000. Married, I have 3 children and four pets. When I have free time I read fiction. |
Undergraduate Students
 | Kathryn Amador My name is Kathryn Amador, I am a third-year student at Penn State. I am a Premedicine Major with triple minors in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, Microbiology, and Biology. I am a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant at RMA of NJ at the main branch located in Basking Ridge, NJ. I am a research assistant in the Armache Lab. I am currently studying to take the MCAT in hopes to attend medical school or a MD/PhD program. Post medical school, I would like to either specialize in Orthopedic Surgery with a subspecialty in either Oncology or Sports Medicine or specialize in Obstetrics and Gynecology with a subspecialty in either Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility or Maternal Fetal Medicine. I enjoy cooking, working out, and hanging out with my friends in my free time! |
 | Alison Eidman My name is Alison Eidman and I am currently a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Penn State. I joined the Armache Lab in August 2021 to learn more about research in gene regulation and structural biology. After graduation, I hope to attend graduate school to earn a Ph.D. and eventually go on to work in the pharmaceutical industry. In my free time, I enjoy singing, playing tennis, and skiing with my family! |
 | Shawn Hu My name is Shawn, and I’m from Taipei, Taiwan. I’m an undergraduate student majoring in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at The Pennsylvania State University. I joined the Armache lab in January 2022 to learn various molecular and structural biology techniques. My goals are pursuing my Ph.D. and going into the pharmaceutical industry. I like listening to music, playing sports or exercising, and reading novels during my free time. |
 | Richard Massimino My name is Richard Massimino III and I am from Clearfield, PA. I am a senior majoring in Microbiology and Biochemistry. I joined the Armache lab in the summer of 22’ hoping to learn more about structural biology, protein imagining, as well as learn & practice a lot of new techniques! After graduating I hope to obtain my Ph.D. in hopes of working as a PI and running a lab of my own. For now, I enjoy a lot of learning, music, working out and video games! |
 | Thomas Sontag My name is Thomas Sontag, and I'm from São Paulo, Brazil. I'm an undergraduate student majoring in Microbiology and German, and I joined this lab to get hands on experience with current techniques in molecular biology. Even after I graduate, I plan on staying in academia, eventually becoming a Professor. In my free time, I usually go bouldering, DM or play TTRPGs, or play videogames. |
| Hannah Waldt |
Alumni
 | Haley Deorio My name is Haley Deorio and I am from Fairfield, Connecticut. I recently graduated from Penn State with a degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. I intend on either pursing my PhD in Biochemistry or attending medical school with a dream of specializing in orthopedics. During my free time I enjoy watching space documentaries, listening to music, and playing with my cat, Daisy. |
 | Un Seng Chio Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow from UCSF (Yifan Cheng and Geeta Narlikar labs) NIH F32 Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellow I received my BA in Chemistry and Biology in 2012 from Cornell University (College of Arts and Sciences). I then obtained my PhD in Chemistry in 2018 from Caltech, where I worked with Dr. Shu-ou Shan to study the GET pathway [1] [2]. Following my PhD, I joined the labs of Dr. Yifan Cheng and Dr. Geeta Narlikar at UCSF to characterize chromatin remodelers. I am currently visiting the Armache Lab at Penn State to learn cryo-EM methods specific to chromatin samples. |
Lab Pets
 | Igor's Kittens |
 | Natalie's Addie "Little Girl" |
 | Natalie's Levi |
 | Thomas's turtles; Sushi (on the left) and Sashimi (on the right) |