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Katherine Alexander
Alma Mater: Washington University in St. Louis
Rotations: Emrah Er laboratory, 2020, Finn/Perkins, 2021 and 2022
Research/Interests: Inflammation, tumor microenvironment, metastasis, microbiome, metabolomics
PhD Dept/Program: Pharmaceutical Science
Mentor: Jan Kitajewski, PhD
Marilyn Barragan
Alma Mater: University of Kansas Main Campus
Rotations: Argos Laboratory, 2020, Peterson Laboratory, 2021
Research/Interests: Cancer health disparities
PhD Dept/Program: SPH-Epidemiology Biostatics
Mentor: Caryn Petersen, PhD, MS
Drew Burns
Alma Mater: Centre College
Rotations: Gao Laboratory, 2020, Cologna Laboratory, 2021
Research/Interests: To better understand the temporal trajectory of development of Alzheimer’s disease pathology, particularly neurodegeneration, as well as determining the factors that impact the development of neurodegeneration
PhD Dept/Program: Bioengineering/Department of Biomedical Bioengineering
Mentor: Alex Leow, MD, PhD
Duncan Claypool
Alma Mater: Macalester College
Rotations: Oberstein Laboratory, 2020, Chronis Laboratory, 2021, Loeb Laboratory, 2022
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PhD Dept/Program: Bioengineering/Department of Biomedical Bioengineering
Mentor: Jeffrey Loeb, MD, PhD
Alyssa Debra
Alma Mater: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Rotations: Hsu Laboratory, 2020, Donenberg Laboratory, 2021 and Crooks Laboratory, 2021
Research/Interests: Black Women’s Perspectives about Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk: A Grounded Theory Study. Multilevel Comprehensive HIV Prevention for South African Adolescent Girls and Young Women
PhD Dept/Program: SPH-Epidemiology
Mentor: Geri Donenberg, PhD and Ronald Hershow, PhD
Emily Hayes
Alma Mater: University of Rochester
Rotations: Buhimschi Laboratory, 2020, Stocco Laboratory, 2021
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PhD Dept/Program: GEMS–Integrative and Translational Physiology Concentration
Mentor: Carlos Stocco, PhD
Elise Hu
Alma Mater: Washington University in St. Louis
Rotations: Peterson Laboratory, 2020, Herbert-Beirne, 2021
Research Interests: Long-term care and aging in public health and community health Molecular mechanisms of propofol to the immune response to Klebsiella pneumoniae infection
PhD Dept/Program: SPH–Community Health Sciences
Mentor: Naoko Muramatsu, PhD
Deanna Keen
Alma Mater: University of South Carolina
Rotations: Lutz Laboratory, 2020, Freitag Laboratory, 2021
Research Interests: Molecular mechanisms of propofol to the immune response to Klebsiella pneumoniae infection
PhD Dept/Program: Pharmaceutical Sciences
Mentor: Nancy Freitag, PhD
Brenna Kirkpatrick
Alma Mater: University of Kentucky
Rotations: Burdette Laboratory, 2020, Eisenlohr Moul Laboratory, 2021
Research Interests: The Role of microRNAs in the progression of Prostate Cancer
PhD Dept/Program: GEMS–Cancer Biology Concentration
Mentor: Larissa Nonn, PhD
Katherine Knowles
Alma Mater: University of Illinois at Chicago
Rotations: Shin Laboratory, 2020, Alsberg Laboratory, 2021
Research Interests: Tissue engineering
PhD Dept/Program: GEMS–Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Concentration
Mentor: Eben Alsberg, PhD
Victoria Marino
Alma Mater: Harvey Mudd College
Rotations: Esmailbeigi Laboratory, 2020
Anisha Nagpal
Alma Mater: Johns Hopkins University
Rotations: Eisenlohr Moul Laboratory, 2020, Penalver Laboratory, 2021
Research Interests: Pathophysiology of reproductive mood disorders and longitudinal clinical trial design and analysis
PhD Dept/Program: Graduate Program in Neuroscience (GPN)
Mentor: Tory Eisenlohr Moul, PhD
Joseph Najjar
Alma Mater: Occidental College
Rotations: Finn/Perkins Laboratory, 2020, He Laboratory, 2021
Research Interests: Engineering of a next-generation Oncolytic Herpesvirus
PhD Dept/Program: Bioengineering/Department of Biomedical Engineering
Mentor: Bin He, PhD
Judy Wang
Alma Mater: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Rotations: Gowrishankar Laboratory, 2020, Lee Laboratory, 2021, Sargis Laboratory, 2022
Research Interests: Environmental Toxicants and Neurocognitive Health
PhD Dept/Program: GEMS– Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Physiology Concentration
Mentor: Robert Sargis, PhD
Alia Welsh
Alma Mater: University of California- Los Angeles
Rotations: Rong Laboratory, 2020, Yoon Laboratory, 2021
Research Interests: Investigating the role of fetal-specific genes in normal hematopoiesis, wound healing, and leukemia development
PhD Dept/Program: Cambridge University – National Institute of Health (NIH)
Reggie Woods
Alma Mater: The Ohio State University
Rotations: Federle Laboratory, 2020, Di Pietro Laboratory, 2021, Alonzo Laboratory, 2022
Research Interests: Host-microbe interactions and the human microbiome
PhD Dept/Program: Pharmaceutical Sciences
Mentor:
Heidi Yuan
Alma Mater: Pomona College
Rotations: Lazarov Laboratory, 2020, Di Pietro Laboratory, 2021
Research Interests: Exosomal microRNAs involved in wound repair
PhD Dept/Program: GEMS–Integrative and Translation Physiology Concentration
Mentor: Luisa Di Pietro, DDS, PhD
G2s
Suzanne Alvernaz
Alma Mater: California Polytechnic State
Rotations: Richner Laboratory, 2019
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Luis Aponte Cofresi
Alma Mater: University of Puerto Rico
Rotations: Brodie Laboratory, 2019
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Alejandra Cavazos Saldana
Alma Mater: University of Texas-San Antonio
Rotations: Hay Laboratory, 2019
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Haley Cropper
Alma Mater: University of Michigan
Rotations: Lutz Laboratory, 2019
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Ali Farhat
Alma Mater: University of California- Los Angeles
Rotations: Yang Dai Laboratory, 2019
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Samuel Feldstein
Alma Mater: Northwestern University
Rotations: T. Sano Laboratory, 2019
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Chen Han
Alma Mater: Georgetown University
Rotations: Darbar Laboratory, 2019
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Julianne Jorgensen
Alma Mater: Franklin Olin College of Engineering
Rotations: Minshall Laboratory, 2019
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Kyle Kremiller
Alma Mater: Rutgers University
Rotations: Moore Laboratory, 2019
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Jacob Neethling
Alma Mater: University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana
Rotations: Kitajewski Laboratory, 2019
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Theresa Nguyen
Alma Mater: University of California- Berkely
Rotations: Ajilore Laboratory, 2019
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Adam Ruprecht
Alma Mater: University of Pennsylvania
Rotations: Krishnan Laboratory, 2019
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Juliana Theorell
Alma Mater: University of Illinois at Chicago
Rotations: Richner Laboratory, 2019
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G3s
Miles Barney
Alma Mater: University of Chicago
Rotations: Pradhan Laboratory, 2018 Komarova Laboratory, 2019
Research Interests:The role of mechanotransduction in compensatory lung growth
PhD Dept/Program: GEMS–Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Concentration
Mentor: Dawood Darbar, MBChB, MD
Jordan Barone
Alma Mater: Vanderbilt University
Rotations: Maki Laboratory, 2018 Ajilore Laboratory, 2019, Eisenlohr-Moul Laboratory, 2020
Research Interests: The impact of ovarian steroid hormone fluctuations on risky behavior across the menstrual cycle in women with suicidal ideation
PhD Dept/Program: Graduate Program in Neuroscience (GPN)
Mentor: Tory Eisenlohr-Moul, PhD
Mitchell Butler
Alma Mater: University of Southern California
Rotations: Leow Laboratory, 2018
Zhou Laboratory, 2019, Loeb Laboratory, 2020
Research Interests: Whole-brain Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Imaging (MRSI) as a tool to diagnose and discover clinical biomarkers for epilepsy
PhD Dept/Program: Bioengineering/Department of Biomedical Engineering
Mentor: Jeffrey Loeb, MD, PhD
Deion Cheng
Alma Mater: Northeastern University
Rotations: MacDuff Laboratory, 2018 G. Cho Laboratory, 2019
Research Interests: The role of HOIL1 in interferon induction
PhD Dept/Program: GEMS–Microbiology, Immunity, and Inflammation Concentration
Mentor: Donna MacDuff, PhD
David Gong
Alma Mater: Johns Hopkins University
Rotations: Leow Laboratory, 2018 J. Liang Laboratory, 2019, Abrams Laboratory, 2020
Research Interests: Pathogenicity prediction of single nucleotide polymorphisms for charcotmarie-2
PhD Dept/Program: Bioengineering/Department of Biomedical Engineering
Mentor: Charles Abrams, MD, PhD
Cody Justice
Alma Mater: Ohio State University
Rotations: O’Donnell Laboratory, 2018 Darbar Laboratory, 2019
Research Interests: Cardiac Arrest
PhD Dept/Program: GEMS–Integrative and Translational Physiology Concentration
Mentor: Mike O’Donnell, PhD and Terry Vanden Hoek, MD, FACEP
Jessica Lee
Alma Mater: University of California-Los Angeles
Rotations: Federle Laboratory, 2018 Finn/Perkins Laboratory, 2019
Research Interests: Predicting asthma and allergy risk from single cell analysis of cord blood and placenta
PhD Dept/Program: GEMS–Microbiology, Immunity, and Inflammation Concentration
Mentor: Patricia Finn, MD and David Perkins, MD, PhD
Bani Medegan Fagla
Alma Mater: University of Nebraska
Rotations: Rong Laboratory, 2018, Buhimschi Laboratory, 2019, Buhimschi Laboratory, 2020
Research Interests:The role of the environment in modulating the microbiota in pregnancy and its influence on the incidence of pre-term birth
PhD Dept/Program: GEMS–Integrative and Translation Physiology Concentration
Mentor: Irina Buhimschi, MD
Samuel “Tanner” Roach
Alma Mater: Washington University – St. Louis
Rotations: Diamond Laboratory, 2018 Federle Laboratory, 2019, Kitajewski Laboratory, 2020
Research Interests: Expression of ACKR1 (Atypical Chemokine Receptor 1 (Duffy Blood Group) on endothelial cells affects the metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer in diverse populations
PhD Dept/Program: GEMS–Cancer Biology Concentration
Mentor: Jan Kitajewski, PhD
Margaret Schulz Weiss
Alma Mater: Loyola University – Chicago
Rotations: Sargis Laboratory, 2018 Argos Laboratory, 2019
Research Interests:The impact of environmental metal exposures on cardiometabolic diseases and how metals interact with genetic risk
PhD Dept/Program: SPH-Epidemiology
Mentor: Maria Argos, PhD, and Rob Sargis, MD, PhD
Michelle Sheena
Alma Mater: Tulane University
Rotations: Steiff Laboratory, 2018 Ajilore Laboratory, 2019
Research Interests: Neural biomarkers of anxiety and depression in a pediatric population
PhD Dept/Program: Graduate Program in Neuroscience (GPN)
Mentor: Olusola Ajilore, MD, PhD
Amanda Snead
Alma Mater: Tulane University
Rotations: Loeb Laboratory, 2018 Lazarov Laboratory, 2019, Gowrishankar Laboratory, 2020
Research Interests: Lysosomal and autophagic dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease
PhD Dept/Program: Graduate Program in Neuroscience (GPN)
Mentor: Swetha Gowrishankar, PhD
G4s
Tova Bergsten
Alma Mater: Princeton University
Rotations: Rong Laboratory, 2017, Burdette Laboratory, 2018
Research Interests: Ovarian Cancer
PhD Dept/Program: Medicinal Chemistry
Mentor:Joanna Burdette, PhD
Nathan Calzadilla
Alma Mater: Johns Hopkins University
Rotations: Khetani Laboratory, 2017 Linninger Laboratory, 2018
Research Interests: Microfabricated liver models for studying disease and drug screening
PhD Dept/Program: Department of Biomedical Engineering
Mentor: Ravinder K. Gill, PhD
Ellen Drake
Alma Mater: Oberlin College
Rotations: McLachlan Laboratory, 2017, Kenter Laboratory, 2018
Research Interests: Characterizing a specific IncRNA and its role in IgH compaction
PhD Dept/Program: Microbiology/
Immunology
Mentor: Amy Kenter, PhD
Samuel Eallonardo
Alma Mater: University of Notre Dame
Rotations: Freitag Laboratory, 2017 Prabhakar Laboratory, 2018
Research Interests: Understanding the biological mechanisms and outcome determinants of host-pathogen interactions
PhD Dept/Program: Microbiology/
Immunology
Mentor: Nancy Freitag, PhD
Benjamin Gordon
Alma Mater: Cornell University
Rotations: Kitajewski Laboratory, 2017, Frasor Laboratory, 2018
Research Interests: Cancer, Genetics, Development, Stem Cells, Angiogenesis
PhD Dept/Program:
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Mentor: Jan Kitajewski, PhD
Fred Lee
Alma Mater: Arizona State University
Rotations: Janson Laboratory, 2017, Merrill Laboratory, 2018, Naba Laboratory, 2019
Research Interests: Extracellular matrix, tumor microenvironment, cancer biology, fibrosis, proteomics
PhD Dept/Program: Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Mentor: Alexandra Naba, PhD
G5s
Gregory Heller
Alma Mater: University of California-Riverside
Rotations: Bongarzone Laboratory, 2016 Madhaven Laboratory, (1) 2017 L. Tai Laboratory, (2) 2017
Research Interests:Neurodegenerative disorders and epidemiology
PhD Dept/Program:Neuroscience
Mentor:Ernesto Bongarzone, PhD
Kai Huang
Alma Mater: Northwestern University
Rotations:Khetani Laboratory, 2016 Finn/Perkins Laboratory, 2017
Research Interests:Biomaterials, drug delivery, microfluidics, high throughput/organ on a chip assays, novel biochemical sensors
PhD Dept/Program:Bioengineering
Mentor:David Perkins, MD, PhD and Patricia Finn, MD
Mladen Rasic
Alma Mater: University of Chicago
Rotations: Leow Laboratory , 2016 P. Yu Laboratory, (1) 2017 Loeb Laboratory, (2) 2017
Research Interests: Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Physiology and Biophysics
PhD Dept/Program:Bioengineering
Mentor:David Perkins, MD, PhD and Patricia Finn, MD
Terilyn Stephen
Alma Mater: University of Alaska
Rotations: Dr. Jan Kitajewski Laboratory, 2016 Lazarov Laboratory, 2017
Research Interests: Brain and heart ischemia and injury; cerebrovascular and cardiovascular physiology; neuroprotection and cell repair; and drug development
PhD Dept/Program: Neuroscience
Mentor: Orly Lazarov, PhD
M3s
May Barakat
Alma Mater: Harvard University
Rotations: Saxena Laboratory, 2016 DiPietro Laboratory, (1) 2017 Tamplin Laboratory, (2) 2017
Research Interests:Regeneration, stem cells, regenerative and personalized medicine, aging and development
PhD Dept/Program: Microbiology/Immunology
Mentor:Luisa DiPietro, DDS, PhD
YiShin Chang
Alma Mater: Duke University
Rotations: Lagenecker Laboratory, 2016 Phan Laboratory, (1) 2017 Loeb Laboratory, (2) 2017
Research Interests:Diffusion and functional MRI of the human brain. Potential areas of graduate study include neurology and biomedical engineering
PhD Dept/Program: Bioengineering
Mentor: David Perkins, MD, PhD and Patricia Finn, MD
Joseph Crutison
Alma Mater: Iowa State University
Rotations: Patton Laboratory, 2016 Leow Laboratory, (1) 2017 Lazarov Laboratory, (2) 2017
Research Interests: Bioengineering and Neuroscience
PhD Dept/Program: Bioengineering
Mentor: Thomas Royston, PhD
Trevor Leonardo
Alma Mater: University of California, Davis
Rotations: Finn and Perkins Laboratory, 2015 S. Pandey Laboratory, (1) 2016 Y. Dai Laboratory, (2) 2016
Research Interests: Epigenetics using a bioinformatics approach
PhD Dept/Program: Microbiology and Immunology
Mentor: Luisa DiPietro, DDS, PhD
Olivia Ly
Alma Mater: Cornell University
Rotations: Darbar Laboratory, 2016 Amirouche Laboratory, (1) 2017 Royston Laboratory, (2) 2017
Research Interests:Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, microfluidic devices for disease modeling and drug delivery, neurodegenerative diseases, 3-D virtual reality
PhD Dept/Program:Bioengineering
Mentor: Dawood Darbar, MBChB, MD
Richard Marszalek
Alma Mater: University of Illinois at Chicago
Rotations: Gaponenko Laboratory, 2015 A. Mankin Laboratory , (1) 2016 J. Liang Laboratory , (2) 2016
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PhD Dept/Program: Physiology and Biophysics
Mentor: John Solaro, PhD and Beata Wolska, PhD
Michael Metrick
Alma Mater: James Madison University
Rotations: 2015 and 2016 – NIH Laboratory
Research Interests: Protein misfolding disorders; Prions; Preventative methods for proteinopathies
PhD Dept/Program: NIH Cambridge Program
Mentor:
Hannah Pennington
Alma Mater: Western Kentucky University
Rotations: R. Chang Laboratory, 2015 N. Hay Laboratory, (1) 2016 Merrill Laboratory, (2) 2016
Research Interests: Cancer cell biology, mathematical modeling of tumorigenesis and wound healing
PhD Dept/Program: Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics
Mentor: Bradley Merrill, PhD
Daniel Principe
Alma Mater: Loyola University
Rotations: P. Grippo Laboratory, 2015 P. Grippo Laboratory, 2016
Research Interests: Gastronintestinal Malignancies. Tumor Cell Biology, Tumor Microenvironment/Immunology, Transforming Growth Factor β Singnaling, Transgenesis
PhD Dept/Program: Biochemistry and Molecular Genetic
Mentor: Ajay Rana, PhD
Rachael Smith
Alma Mater: University of Pittsburgh
Rotations: Maki Laboratory, 2015 Saxena Laboratory, (1) 2016 S. Langenecker Laboratory, (2) 2016
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Mentor:
Adam Szmelter
Alma Mater: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Rotations: Eddington Laboratory, 2015 Shin Laboratory, (1) 2016 Patton Laboratory, (2) 2016
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PhD Dept/Program: Bioengineering
Mentor: Jae-Won Shin, PhD
Hannah Steinberg
Alma Mater: Johns Hopkins University
Rotations: Eddington Laboratory, 2017 Ross Laboratory, 2018
Research Interests: Diagnostic devices for preventable/treatable illness in low resource settings
PhD Dept/Program: Microbiology/Immunology
Mentor: Nancy Freitag
Paul Thomas
Alma Mater: Ohio State University
Rotations: Brady Laboratory, 2016 Ajilore/Phan Laboratory, (1) 2017 Cuervo Laboratory, (2) 2017
Research Interests: Neuromuscular disorders, movement disorders, neuroscience, mycology, deep brain stimulation, gene therapy
PhD Dept/Program: Neuroscience
Mentor: Olu Ajilore, MD, PhD
M4s
Russell Dulman
Alma Mater: Duke University
Rotations: S. Pandey Laboratory, 2015 J. Roitman Laboratory, (1) 2016 Pinna Laboratory, (2) 2016
Research Interests: Environmental Effects on the brain and development of psychiatric disorder
PhD Dept/Program: Neuroscience
Mentor: Subhash Pandey, PhD
Osama El-Sayed
Alma Mater: University of Michigan
Rotations: Z. Chen Laboratory, 2015 Prabhakar Laboratory, 2015
Research Interests: Role of regulatory t-cells in type 1 diabetes pathogenesis
PhD Dept/Program: Public Health- Epidemiology
Mentor: Lisa Powell, PhD
Joseph Geraghty
Alma Mater: SUNY Geneseo
Rotation: 1st – Summer 2014 – Feinstein Laboratory 2nd – Summer 2015 – Freitag Laboratory 3rd – Summer 2015 – Loeb Laboratory
Research Interests: Seizure Activity, Inflammation, and Drug Therapy in a Rat Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
PhD Dept/Program: Neuroscience
Mentor: J. Loeb, MD, PhD
Evguenia (Jane) Ivakhnitskaia
Alma Mater: Cornell University
Rotation: 1st – Summer 2014 – Bongarzone Laboratory 2nd – Summer 2015 Chiek – Chang Laboratory 3rd – Summer 2015 – Rosenblatt
Research Interests: Corneal nerve regeneration and functionality of new neurons
PhD Dept/Program: Neuroscience
Mentor: Mark Rosenblatt, MD, PhD, MBA
Matthew Kleinjan
Alma Mater: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Rotations: Ackerman Laboratory, 2015 Bonini Laboratory, (1) 2016 Kitajewski Laboratory, (2) 2016
Research Interests: Biochemistry; Protein Interactions and Kinetics, Development of new drugs
PhD Dept/Program: Physiology & Biophysics
Mentor: Jan Kitajewski, PhD
Cutler Lewandowski
Alma Mater: University of Minnesota
Rotations: Bongarzone Laboratory, 2015 Thatcher Laboratory, (1) 2016 Gemeinhart Laboratory, (2) 2016
Research Interests: Drug discovery and drug delivery in neurological diseases
PhD Dept/Program: Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacognosy
Mentor: Gregory Thatcher, PhD
Kate Rahbari
Alma Mater: Temple University
Rotations: Shukla Laboratory, 2015 Freitag Laboratory, (2) 2016 Federle Laboratory, (2) 2016
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PhD Dept/Program: Microbiology & Immunology
Mentor: Michael Federle, PhD
Michael Sun
Alma Mater: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Rotation: Malik Laboratory, 1st – Summer 2014 D. Mehfa Laboratory, 2nd Summer 2015 Rosenblat Laboratory, 3rd – Summer 2015
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PhD Dept/Program: Pharmacology
Mentor: Mark Rosenblatt, MD, PhD
Morgan Zenner
Alma Mater: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Rotations: Kenter Laboratory, 2015 Tyner Laboratory, (1) 2016 Nonn Laboratory, (2) 2016
Research Interests: microRNA and ProteinKinase
PhD Dept/Program: Pathology
Mentor: Larisa Nonn, PhD