Natalie G. Farny, PhD

Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor of Biology and Biotechnology

Dr. Natalie Farny earned a B.S. in Biology and Philosophy from Boston College in 2000. She earned a PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology in 2009 from Harvard University in Dr. Pamela Silver’s lab, where she studied mRNA nuclear export pathways. From there, Dr. Farny completed her postdoctoral work (2009 – 2013) in Dr. Joel Richter’s lab at UMass Chan Medical School, where she studied mRNA metabolism in the brain. Natalie then moved to WPI as a teaching faculty member, and taught courses and led undergraduate research initiatives from 2013 – 2019. She served as the Associate Director of the Morgan Teaching and Learning Center from 2017 – 2019. She first became engaged with synthetic biology as an iGEM team mentor, then went on to be a judge, and served as co-chair of the iGEM Measurement Committee from 2017 – 2019. Dr. Farny is currently an Assistant Professor of Biology and Biotechnology at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where she has been a PI since 2019. Her lab studies the relationship between cells and their environments in many contexts. She is particularly interested in the effects of soil and water contaminants on cells, and on the application of synthetic biology to understanding and remediating environmental contaminants. She is the recipient of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Early Career Award, and the WPI Board of Trustees Award for Outstanding Teaching. Her lab is funded by the NIH, NSF, EPA, DARPA, and ARL.   Natalie lives in Natick, MA with her husband, her two sons, a dog and a cat. When she’s not in the lab, Natalie enjoys gardening, hiking, swimming, and quilting.

Lauren Abraham, MS Student, Biology and Biotechnology

Lauren is a graduate student pursuing a Biotechnology Masters at WPI graduating in May 2026.  She started at the Farny Lab in January 2022 using PCR and 16S sequencing to identify the isolated strains of the soil microbe Pseudomonas putida. Her research has expanded to include testing inducible synthetic genetic circuits, utilizing P. putida as a biosensor to detect heavy metals in soil, and conducting experiments researching the impact of UV stress on stress granule formation in mammalian cells. In her free time, Lauren enjoys macro photography, creating costumes, hiking, and taking walks in search of cool plants and mushrooms.

Kalandra Anderson, Undergraduate Researcher, Biology and Biotechnology

Kalandra is an undergraduate student in the Biology and Biotechnology department here at WPI. She joined the Farny Lab fall of 2023 as a work-study student. She assists with lab upkeep and current lab experiments. Outside of the lab, Kalandra enjoys hiking, spending time with friends, reading, and traveling.

Kalisa Bogati, PhD Student, Post-doc Researcher

Kalisa is the Post doctoral researcher under the guidance of Dr. Natalie Farny, in the Department of Biology and Biotechnology at WPI. She earned her PhD in 2024 from Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun-Poland. She joined the Farny lab in September 2024 and has been working on the detection of toxic compounds (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT)) from environmental samples.

Erik Breiling, MQP Student, Biology and Biotechnology, Biochemistry

Erik is a current senior at WPI, graduating with a Biochemistry and Biology double major in May 2025. He started in the Farny lab September 2023 working with CD spec to determine aptamer binding. Since then, he’s moved on to his MQP, which focuses on engineering bacteria for optimization, production, and application of lead-binding aptamers. When not working, Erik enjoys singing in one of his four performance groups, playing piano, and hiking.

Gabrielle Cabebe, PhD Student, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Gabrielle is a graduate student in the Bioinformatics & Computational Biology department. They obtained their B.S. in Biochemistry in 2019. They were originally on the pre-health route, working as an Emergency Medical Technician and then as a Medical Technician doing testing and blood drawing on COVID-19 patients. They began their graduate studies at WPI in Fall 2021 and joined the Farny lab that October. Gabrielle has been focusing on computationally analyzing the transcriptome of Pseudomonas putida and uncovering more about its gene regulation in varying environments. On their free time, Gabrielle enjoys indoor climbing, swimming, and piano.

Alexandra Cabral, PhD Candidate, Biology and Biotechnology

Ally is a graduate student in the biology and biotechnology department here at WPI, where she is pursuing her Ph.D. She earned her B.A. in biotechnology and molecular biology at Assumption College in 2020 and then began her graduate studies here in the Fall of 2020. Ally joined the Farny lab in October of 2020 and has since been focused on investigating the relationship between oxidative stress and protein aggregation, using stress granules as a model. Outside of the lab, Ally enjoys going for long road trips, long walks and playing with her dogs!

Genesis Nicole Carpio Paucar, PhD Student, Biology and Biotechnology

Nicole is a graduate student in the Department of Biology and Biotechnology. She earned her B.S. in Biotechnology Engineering from the Catholic University of Santa Maria in Arequipa, Peru, in 2019. Following her graduation, she worked in a clinical laboratory, where she conducted tests and analyses of biological samples. In 2022, Nicole began her graduate studies at WPI, focusing on ensuring that genetically modified organisms, such as Pseudomonas putida, can survive in soil long enough to perform their intended functions. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, taking long road trips, discovering new foods, and collecting coins and vinyl records.

Alexa Carr, Undergraduate Researcher, Biology and Biotechnology

Alexa (She/Her) is a Junior pursuing a BS in Biology and Biotechnology and minor in Gender Sexuality and Women studies here at WPI. Alexa came to WPI to continue to study biotechnology after falling in love with the subject through the biotechnology program at Essex Tech in Danvers MA. In addition to her academic and scientific pursuits here at WPI, she is a PLA for Medical Microbiology, a Resident Advisor, and sits on the RA Union bargaining committee. Alexa is Salemite, having lived in Salem MA all her life. At home, she works at EW. Hobbs, a historic family run popcorn and ice cream place on Salem Willows. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, plants, hydroponics/aquaponics, personal research projects, and stand up paddle boarding at the local beaches in and around Salem. Her plan for the immediate future is to continue studying biotechnology by go to grad school to purse a PhD.

Danielle Costello, PhD Candidate, Biology and Biotechnology

Danielle is a graduate student in the biology and biotechnology department here at WPI, where she is pursuing her Ph.D. She earned her B.S. in Secondary Science Education – Biology in 2012. She started out teaching K-12 science in the Hudson Public School District and then spent time working for Siemens Healthineers, where she managed immunoassay scale up projects. She began her graduate studies at WPI in the Fall of 2021and joined the Farny lab in October of 2021. Since joining, Danielle has been focused on investigating the relationship between Ultraviolet Radiation and protein aggregation, using stress granules as a model. Outside of the lab, Danielle spends her time raising her two wonderful babies with her husband. She enjoys being outside in her garden, taking care of her chickens and beach days!

Siqin Li, PhD Student, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Siqin is a PhD student in the Bioinformatics & Computational Biology program. She joined the Farny lab in December 2022 and has focused on investigating soil microbial community dynamics and epigenetic regulation of gene expression in microbes. Outside of the lab, Siqin enjoys karaoke, food exploration, travelling, badminton.

Yizhe Ma, PhD Candidate, Biology and Biotechnology

Yizhe is a graduate student in the biology and biotechnology department at WPI. She earned her B.S. in Biology and Chemistry at Brandeis University in 2021 and then began her graduate studies in the fall of 2021. She joined the Farny lab in January of 2022 and has been focusing her research on identification of genetic suppressors of RNA Granules. Outside of the lab, Yizhe enjoys traveling and hiking!

Aleksandra Maak, Undergraduate Researcher, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Aleksandra is an international undergraduate student in the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology department. She joined the Farny Lab in June 2024 where she has been studying the survival of bioengineered strains of Pseudomonas putida bacteria that have biosensors for tetracycline in soil. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and writing songs.

Lauren McIlhenny, MQP Student, Biology and Biotechnology

Lauren is a senior Biology and Biotechnology student graduating in May 2025. She is completing her MQP in the Farny lab which uses both experimental and computational approaches to investigate the impact of contaminants on the diversity and stability of the soil microbiome. Prior to joining the Farny lab Lauren completed research at the Simons Center for Computational Physical Chemistry and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

Rehema Mrutu, Visiting PhD Student and PASET scholar, Center for Dryland Agriculture, Nigeria

Rehema is a 3^rd year PhD student in bioengineering at the Centre for Dry Land Agriculture, BUK, Nigeria and a visiting scholar at Natalie Lab. She uses bioinformatics tools to profile rumen microbiome associated with methane emission and determine which organisms we should target to best reduce emissions in cows and improve their performance. In her free time she enjoys hiking and road trips.

Anna Musteata, Undergraduate Researcher, Biology and Biotechnology

Neha Ozarkar, Undergraduate Researcher, Biology and Biotechnology

Neha is an undergraduate student in the Biology and Biotechnology department. She joined the Farny lab in August of 2024, and will be helping with cell culturing for the cellular stress response and regulation of stress granule formations. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, and being active either outside or in the gym!

Hayley Wigren, MS Student, Biology and Biotechnology

Hayley is a graduate student in the Biology and Biotechnology department at WPI. She earned her B.S. in Biology and Biotechnology from WPI in 2024 and is aiming to complete her M.S. in 2025. She joined the Farny lab as an MQP student in 2023 exploring the potential therapeutic applications of DNA aptamers for PFOA toxicity in C. elegans and E. coli. Her current focus is assessing the interactions between aptamers and their ligands both computationally and experimentally, as well as studying the use of aptamers as a treatment for copper toxicity in a cell culture model. Outside of the lab, Hayley enjoys video games, cross-stitching, and long walks.

Gabriella Guzman-Jerry, MQP student, B.S. ’24 Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Stephanie Reis, MQP student, B.S. ’24 Biology and Biotechnology

Abigail O’Connor, B.S. ’22 M.S. ’24 Biology and Biotechnology

William Miller, B.S. ’24 Biology and Biotechnology

Stokley Voltmer, B.S. ’22, M.S. Student,  Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Afreen Anwar, PhD Candidate and Research Technician 2023

Katie Stratton, MQP student, B.S. ’23 Biology and Biotechnology

Hope Hutchinson, MQP student, B.S. ’23, Biology and Biotechnology

John Gabelmann, MQP student, B.S. ’23 Biochemistry

Natalie Kay, Undergraduate researcher, B.S. ’23 Biology and Biotechnology

Amelia Sadlon, Undergraduate Researcher, B.S. ’23 Biology and Biotechnology

Zijian Guan, Undergraduate Researcher, B.S. ’23 Computer Science

Kylie Hoar, Undergraduate researcher, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology ’25

Dr. Andres Felipe Carrillo Rincon, postdoctoral researcher 2019 – 2022

Matthew Bruno, M.S. 2022, Biology and Biotechnology (B.S. Biomedical Engineering 2020)

Solimar Ramis De Ayreflor Reyes, M.S. 2022 (B.S. Biology and Biotechnology 2019)

Michaela Sorrento, MQP student, B.S. ’22 Biology and Biotechnology

Sarah Jones, MQP student and research assistant, B.S. ’22 Biology and Biotechnology

Alexis Rock, Research Assistant, MQP student, and technician, B.S. ’21 Biology and Biotechnology

Edina David, summer research exchange student, 2022

Furkan Atahan, MQP student, B.S. ’21 Biology and Biotechnology

Enyonam Edoh, MQP student, B.S. ’21 Biochemistry

Vivian Nguyen, MQP student, B.S. ’21 Biology and Biotechnology

Thien-Kim Nguyen, Undergraduate Researcher, B.S. ’21 Biology and Biotechnology

Claire Dickson-Burke, Research Technician, B.S. ’19 Biology and Biotechnology