David Aylor, PhD | Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Deputy Director, Center for Human Health and the Environment
Dr. Aylor is interested in complex traits, functional genomics, and environmental health. He studied environmental sciences as an undergraduate at the University of Virginia, and quantitative genetics and bioinformatics at NC State. Outside of the lab, he enjoys hiking, skiing, and spending time with family.
Mandy Biraud | Lab manager
Originally from Nantes, France, Mandy joined Aylor lab as lab manager in June 2023. She graduated from EPHE institute in France and worked as a research assistant in different universities and startups. Her current work supports research on genetic or hybrid male sterility in house mice, particularly elucidating the mechanisms of fertility alleles using single-cell genomics. Outside the lab, she enjoys sewing, traveling, biking and spending time with her family.
Uchechukwu Chimeh | Genetics PhD student
Uche grew up in Abua, Nigeria and came to the U.S. for her college education. She is in the Genetics PhD program and is a Genetics and Genomics Scholar. Her research interests include health disparities and variability in disease risk among human populations, gene-environment interaction effect on disease susceptibility, and the effects of genetic variation on response to toxicants and pharmaceuticals. In her leisure time, she enjoys West African dance and drumming, DJing, playing card games and reading contemporary Nigerian literature.
Samantha King | Undergraduate Research Assistant
Originally from Wilmington NC, Samantha is an undergraduate student at NC State majoring in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. Outside the lab, she enjoys hiking all around North Carolina.
Ella Bergeron | Undergraduate Research Assistant
Originally from Littleton, Massachusetts, Ella is an undergraduate sophomore, majoring in Human Biology, intending to join the Genetics program at NC State. She is very excited to gain more experience and knowledge in genetic lab procedures and protocols. Outside the lab, Ella enjoys crocheting, swimming, and spending time with family and friends.
Nick Monaco | Undergraduate Research Assistant
Nicholas (Nick) Monaco is an undergraduate student at North Carolina State University, majoring in Human Biology with minors in Statistics and Microbiology. He is from Apex, Nort Carolina, and his interest in fitness led him to pursue biology. Outside the lab, he enjoys strength training, reading, spending time with his cats, and following sports.
FORMER LAB MEMBERS
Postdoctoral research scholars
Pei-Li Yao, PhD. Research Scholar, 2016-2018. Health Science Evaluator at the NIEHS.
Graduate students
Sam Widmayer, PhD Genetics 2019. Associate Computational Scientist at the Jackson Laboratory.
Tiffany Garbutt, PhD Genetics 2017. Senior Science Editor at Drug Discovery News.
Jackson Parker, MR Functional Genomics 2022.
Victoria McQuade, MR Functional Genomics 2021. Research Analyst at Duke University.
Jacob Fredenburg, MR Bioinformatics 2021. Bioinformatics Fellow at ORISE/EPA.
Kevin Gillespie, MS Functional Genomics 2016. Statistical Research Associate III at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Carlee Hemphill, MR Functional Genomics 2015. Associate Director, Biopharma Lab R&D at PathAI
Undergraduate students
Daniel Garcia, 2023-2025. Master’s program in Biomanufacturing at NCSU
Zoe Curtis, 2024-2025. PhD program in Biostatistics at UNC
Avni Arora, 2024-2025. Dentistry Doctor of Dental Surgery program at UNC
Merritt Killian, 2023-2024. Future medical school student.
Neila King, 2023. Future veterinary student.
Amala Turaga, 2023
Molly Rogers, 2021-2022. Post-baccalaureate fellow at NIEHS.
Katelyn McInerney 2020-2023. PhD Student in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at UNC-CH.
Michelle Diehl, 2019-2021. Master Student in Animal Science at NC State.
Sarah Kate Connor, 2019-2021.
Daniel Hyder, 2019-2021. Veterinary technician at Care First Animal Hospital.
Caitlin Varner, DVM. 2018-2019. Veterinarian at Copper Basin Veterinary clinic.
Christa Parish, 2018-2019.
Nikhil Milind, 2017-2021. PhD Student in Genetics at Stanford University
Alan Brown, 2017-2018. PhD Student in Bioinformatics at Penn State University
Christina LaMaire, 2016. Cancer Genetic Counselor at Icahn School of Medicine Mount Sinai.
Jaye Sudweeks, 2015-2016. PhD student in Zoology at University of British Columbia.
Harlie Cope, 2015-2017. PhD student in Genetics & Genomics at Baylor University
Connor McKenney, 2015-2018. PhD student (BCMB) at Johns Hopkins University.
Haley McCracken, 2015-2016. Teen Aspirations Coordinator at Americorps.
Andria Holmes, 2014-2015.
Alexis Blum, 2014-2015. Senior Project Management Analyst at IQVIA
Drake Phelps, PhD. 2014-2015. Postdoctoral Fellow at EPA.
Charan Mohan, MD. 2013-2015. Urology resident at Northwell Health.
Research staff
Sydney Lierz, Lab manager 2018-2022. Veterinary student at NC State.
Nicole Allard, Lab manager 2013-2018. Emergency Dispatcher at National Park Service Alaska.
Laura Wiklund, Research Technician
Thomas Konneker, M.S. Bioinformatician 2013-2019, Associate Product Owner at Q2 solutions.