RTI Administration Mission Statement

Our Staff

• Darryl Conte Jr., Ph.D.

  Assistant Professor, Research development and science writing

  Darryl works as a scientific writing coach and editor, helping RTI faculty, students, and postdocs develop successful grant proposals and manuscripts. Darryl earned his B.S. in Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the State University of New York at Albany. Darryl discovered and cultivated his passion for helping others write well while he was a postdoc and then research faculty in Dr. Craig Mello’s laboratory. When not writing or editing grants or papers, Darryl enjoys working with his wife on their hobby farm near Glens Falls, NY.

  Office Location: AS4-1059
  Office Phone: 774-455-3690

• Laura Cummings

  Administrative Assistant

  Laura comes to the RTI with a diverse background. Recently, working in a fast paced, multinational office coordinating and collaborating with outside vendors, and assisting in both domestic and international travel arrangements for local executives and international visitors. Laura will assisting RTI staff with several administrative initiatives.  Outside of work, Laura enjoys cooking, reading, hiking, and having an active lifestyle in the outdoors with her 3 dogs.

   

• Mary Beth Dziewietin

  Administrative Coordinator

  With a professional background ranging from curating nineteenth-century manuscripts to freelance writing to clerking in an ICU, Mary Beth brings a variety of skills to her role as administrative coordinator for Anastasia Khvorova and Jon Watts and their labs. Since 2014, Mary Beth has managed their meetings, money, and most other non-science work; as Anastasia promised, the job is never boring. Outside the office, Mary Beth enjoys reading, hiking, and being with her family.

  Office Location: AS4-1046
  Office Phone: 774-455-3781

• Tiffanie Gardner, CAPM

  HHMI Administrative Coordinator

  Tiffanie Gardner has supported Phil Zamore, Chair of the RTI, and his lab members since 2002. As Phil's HHMI Administrative Coordinator, her major responsibilities include calendar management, budget management, assisting with both UMass & HHMI hiring and onboarding, grant management, special projects, and other administrative duties. She is also a Notary Public and a Certified Associate in Project Management. She has been a part of the UMass community since her early teens when she began as a volunteer in Volunteer Services and then as a temp through the Temprite program.  

  Office Location: AS4-2045
  Office Phone: 508-856-6286
  LinkedIn Profile

• Amie Goodspeed

  Administrative Coordinator

  Amie began work as an Administrative Coordinator in the RTI in February 2019.  Prior to joining UMMS she was an Office Manager for a telecom company for 13 years. Amie supported the executive team and managed the company's travel and expense program.  She currently supports the Sontheimer and Xue Labs as well as other departmental administrative duties. 

  Office Location: AS5-2046
  Office Phone: 774-455-4322
  LinkedIn Profile

• Nikki Grace

  HHMI Administrative Coordinator

  Nikki has over twenty years combined executive level administrative experience.  Prior to joining the Mello Lab, she spent ten years working for the Dean of the School of Nursing at MCPHS University where she fell in love with academia.  Nikki thrives in a cultured work environment that embraces transparency, values contributions, inspires employee autonomy, promotes a team atmosphere and communicates purpose and passion. 

  Office Location: AS5-2047
  Office Phone: 508-856-2856

• Emily Mohn Haberlin, Ph.D.

  Scientific Writer

  Emily earned her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Providence College in 2010, and her Ph.D. in Nutritional Biochemistry from Tufts University in 2016. Before joining the RTI, Emily worked as a postdoc at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in Boston, where she studied the effects of dietary bioactive compounds on vision and cognition. Emily’s scholarly activities as a student and postdoc sparked her passion for communicating science. In the RTI, Emily provides one-on-one grant and manuscript writing support to students, postdocs, and faculty. She also hosts writing accountability groups, informational seminars, and workshops to help students and postdocs prepare fellowship applications.

  Office Location: AS4-1055
  Office Phone: 774-455-4683

• Angela Messmer-Blust, Ph.D.

  Senior Scientific Advisor, Assistant Professor

  Dr. Angela Messmer-Blust studied cell motility during her graduate studies at the University of Toledo where she received her PhD (2009). She began her postdoctoral research at the CardioVascular Institute at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School under Jian Li, investigating transcriptional regulation in diabetes and obesity. Following her postdoctoral studies, she held editorial positions at the Journal of Visualized Experiments, and later joined Cell Press as the director of scientific conferences from 2012 - 2017. In 2017, Dr. Messmer-Blust joined the faculty of the RNA Therapeutics Institute as Assistant Professor and Senior Scientific Advisor where she develops and manages departmental initiatives including the annual scientific symposium and educational outreach in the Worcester area.

  Office Location: AS4-1057
  Office Phone: 774-455-4587
  LinkedIn Profile

• Stacey O'Neil

  Project Coordinator

  Stacey has over 20 years of experience in executive administrative support and project & event management.  Stacey joined the RTI in 2017 and has been with the University of Massachusetts for 9 years, previously working in business operations at UMassOnline in the President's Office.  She coordinates departmental initiatives including the annual scientific symposium, RTI seminar series, faculty searches, human resources, website updates and also provides support for the Grigorieff Lab.

  Office Location: AS4-2045
  Office Phone: 774-455-4682
  LinkedIn Profile

• Rina Paladino

  Grants & Contract Specialist

  Rina has rejoined the RTI in 2021 as the Grant & Contract Specialist. Previously, she was the Administrative Coordinator for Dr. Melissa J Moore as well as the Department of Orthopedics at UMMS.  She brings over 20 years’ experience in event operations, administrative planning, coordinating and grants/contracts.

  LinkedIn Profile

• Ann Powers

  Administrative Coordinator

  Ann brings over 15 years of administrative planning, coordinating, reporting and management experience to the RTI.  Ann's mission at UMMS is to perform complex and varied duties associated with the coordination of the departmental administrative functions while supporting three tenure/tenure-track faculty and their respective labs.

  Office Location: AS4-1046
  Office Phone: 774-455-4205
  
  

• Kathy Sloan

  Administrative Coordinator

  Kathy comes to the RTI with a variety of skills including program coordination, event, budget and grant management in academia. She values being able to make an impact while fostering collaboration within the team. Outside of work, Kathy is a founding member of a local non-profit, she writes when times allows, teaches meditation and spends time with her three children. She will support the Pai and Li labs.

   LinkedIn Profile

• James Thompson

  Senior Academic Administrator

  Office Location: AS4-2059
  Office Phone: 508-856-8864