People



Meet the team

Theodora Koromila, PhD

Principal Investigator

Dr. Koromila received her Ph.D. in Human Genetics at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, in Greece. For her Postdoctoral training, Theodora joined Caltech, CA, USA and studied Gene Regulation Dynamics during Embryonic Development. 


RESEARCH INTERESTS: The Koromila lab combines classic genetics with genomics and quantitative live imaging to study how changes in gene expression can drive cell identity over time.

Postdoctoral Researcher

Kelli Fenelon, PhD

Kelli received his PhD in Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto where he developed transgenic tension biosensors in mice to study nuclear forces in development.  He is building a career studying chromatin architecture and nuclear mechanics in the context of developmental biology. He is a co-author for a paper published in this lab. 

Lab Technician

Julia Krause


Julia received her B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Dallas with a specialization in Genetics and Microbiology. She worked as a research student at her undergraduate college and spent most of her lab experience working with Drosophila on a project to study their nociception system. She is also interested in pursuing a PhD in the future.

Priyanshi Borad, Research Assistant


Priyanshi pursued her B.Sc. and M.Sc. Degree in Biotechnology from VNSGU, India. She pursued her second Master’s in Biology at UTA. Also, she is a coauthor of 5 non-scientific books. She plans on pursuing her PhD. 

PhD Students

Shiva Abasi


Shiva received her Master’s degree from Azad University, Science and Research branch, Tehran, Iran in Molecular Biology – Genetics. She then conducted some research in molecular biology and cardiogenetics. She is using her past research experience in tandem with her current research to study gene regulation in early stages of embryogenesis.

Anon Chaulagain,

Rotation Student

Anon received his master's degree from Kathmandu University, Nepal, in Biotechnology. He then continued his research by studying Agricultural Biotechnology and focusing on organic fertilizers, biofertilizers, and biopesticides in both Nepal and South Korea as a Koica Scholar. 

Master's Students

Akhilla S,

MSNT Student

Akhilla is working on her master's at UTA. She did her undergraduate studies at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, India in Zoology. 

Rohan Ponanji,

MSNT Student

Rohan is working on his master's at UTA. He did his undergraduate studies at SRM University, Chennai in Biotechnology. His research interests include cancer biology, immunology, and genetics.

Undergraduate Students

Phuong Duong

Phuong is a third year undergraduate pursuing her degree in Biology at UTA. She plans on earning her graduate degree after her bachelors. She likes to travel and being adventurous in new environments. 

Lisa Phan

Lisa is a fourth year undergraduate pursuing her degree in Biology at UTA. She participates in the Tex Bio Med summer program. She likes to crochet and thrift.

Karan Saini 


Karan is a fourth year undergraduate pursuing his degree in Biology at UTA.

Koromila Lab Alumni

Amanda Mendonsa, BS in Biology (UT Arlington), 2022

Nikos Xydas, High school student (American College of Athens), Cell Biology Summer Camp Intern (UT Arlington), 2022

Tina Makrinou, Masters of Bioinformatics (NKUA, GR), Visiting scholar (UT Arlington), 2022

Anupama Chandrasekhar, PhD Rotation Student (UT Arlington), 2022

Devmika Wickramasinghe Arachchi, PhD Rotation Student (UT Arlington), 2022

Hinduja Maidu Sathishkumar, MSNT Student (UT Arlington), 2022-23

Saubia Zareen, Post-Bac Student (UT Arlington), 2022-23

Jordyn Waters, BS in Biology (UT Arlington), 2023

Rana Kamal, Visiting Scholar (UT Arlington), 2023

Ranett Ghaly, BS in Microbiology and Biology (UT Arlington), 2023