Our Team
Vitoria Murakami Olyntho
Co-President
Vitoria is a third-year graduate student in Dr. Daniel Mucida’s lab, where she studies intestinal epithelial and immune cell responses to food allergy .
Michelle Yaochai
Co-President
Michelle is a second-year PhD student in the Birsoy lab studying metabolic regulation. She grew up in Singapore, and majored in Life Sciences at National University of Singapore before moving to Rockefeller for graduate school. Michelle is keen to help foster a thriving and inclusive community for all at Rockefeller.
Rohit Gokhale
Treasurer
Rohit is a second-year graduate student in Dr. Daniel Mucida’s lab, where he studies intestinal immune system development. He grew up in New Delhi, India, and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Delhi. He then went on to pursue a master’s degree at Radboud University in the Netherlands before joining The Rockefeller University as a graduate student. Living in three different countries and traveling widely has shaped his deep appreciation for the spirit of community. Through RIGS, Rohit hopes to bring people together and help foster a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for all.
Ana-Maria Tanasescu is the Lab Manager in the Chen Laboratory of Membrane Biology and Biophysics and she also specializes in cell culture. She joined Rockefeller University in 2016. She is originally from Eastern Europe but grew up in NYC, attending Hunter College for both her Undergraduate and Masters studies. Her degrees in Medical Lab Science and Biology with specialization in Biotechnology has also brought her to the Fischetti Lab of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology as a college student. Ana-Maria is eager to help international scholars adapt to their new surroundings and find a sense of community.
Ana-Maria Tanasecu
Staff representative
Brandon Chen
Postdoc representative
Brandon is a postdoctoral researcher in the Birsoy Lab investigating lipid metabolism and mitochondria. Having grown up between the US and Taiwan before completing his PhD at the University of Michigan, his cross-cultural upbringing shaped a lasting commitment to diverse global perspectives. Brandon looks forward to contributing to Rockefeller’s dynamic international community and helping foster broader cross-cultural dialogue on campus.
Raquelle Yu
Board Member
Zihan (Raquelle) Yu is a fifth-year PhD student in Dr Paul Cohen’s lab studying the role of immune cell in maintaining adipose tissue homeostasis. Born and raised in Shanghai, China, she went to Singapore for undergrad before coming to the Rockefeller University for grad school. She experiences and understands the struggles navigating life, study, and work as an international scholar in different countries. At the same time, she believes that diversity in science accelerates scientific progress; she also deeply enjoys scientific discourse with friends and colleagues from diverse backgrounds. She hopes to promote diversity in science and provide guidance for anyone navigating scientific careers or simply life in the country.
Lily Yu is a postdoctoral associate in the Kapoor lab, where she studies how microtubules are built and organized to support accurate chromosome segregation and cell division. She grew up in Beijing, China, and moved to the United States at age 18 to attend the University of Notre Dame. She began her PhD at the Jupiter campus of Scripps Research and later moved with her lab to Vanderbilt University after her third year. Having spent more than a decade in the United States as an international student, Lily understands both the challenges of being far from home and the importance of finding community. As RIGS Postdoc Representative, she hopes to help create a welcoming home away from home where international scholars feel supported, connected, and understood.
Lily Yu
Postdoc representative
Apply to be on the board.
We are looking for people who are passionate about supporting the international scholars on campus. If this sounds like you, please apply to be on the board!