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IMSD Scholars

Current scholars: 

Zhané Adamson
Prior Education:
BS in Biochemistry, Appalachian State University
Mentor:
James Munro, PhD
Research Project:
HIV Restriction of Entry via IFITM Proteins

Lauren Intravaia
Prior Education:
BS in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island
Mentor:
Celia Schiffer, PhD
Research Project:
Integration of machine learning and molecular dynamics to avoid resistance in structure-based drug design

Calvin Johnson
Prior Education:
BS in Microbiology, UMass Amherst
Mentor:
Jason Pitarresi, PhD
Research Project:
Mechanistic interrogation of tumor-derived factors molding the immune milieu of pancreatic tumors

Sophia Liu
Prior Education:
BS in Behavioral Neuroscience, Centre College
Mentor:
Phillip Tai, PhD
Research Project:
Uncovering the Mechanism for Cross-Correction During Neuronal Gene Therapy

Syed Naqvi
Prior Education:
BS in Biology and Culture, Environment and Health, University of Connecticut
Mentor:
Tony Nunes, PhD
Research Project:
Effects of family involvement on quality of care received and health outcomes among older adults living in nursing homes.

Carolyn Senneca
Prior Education:
BA in Cellular Neuroscience and Literature, Colgate University and Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow, NIH
Mentor:
Haley Melikian, PhD
Research Project:
The role of presynaptic metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 in cocaine addiction

Previous scholars still in training: 

Ellen Acheampong
Prior Education:
BS in Biomedical Sciences, Salem State University
Mentor:
 Samuel Behar, MD, PhD
Research Project
: Does CD4 T ‘Help’ prevent CD8 T cell exhaustion?

Nathan Bamidele
Prior Education:
BS in Molecular, Cell & Development Biology, UC Santa Cruz
Mentor:
Erik Sontheimer, PhD
Research Project:
Developing and improving CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing tools for therapeutic applications

Stephanie Becker
Prior Education:
BS in Biological Sciences (Neurobiology and Behavior), Cornell University
Mentor:
Douglas Golenbock, MD
Research Project:
Investigating gasdermin D deficiency in Alzheimer’s disease 

Amina Bradley
Prior Education:
BS in Biology, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and PREP Scholar, UMass Chan Medical School
Mentor:
Elizabeth Shank, PhD
Research Project:
Investigating Cryptic Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Activation In Bacilli

Sarah Cleveland
Prior Education:
BS in Biological Sciences and Philosophy, University of Connecticut
Mentor:
Eric Huseby, PhD
Research Project:
Investigation of the Cellular and Molecular Properties that Define the Neonatal Window of T Cell Development

Kha Dam
Prior Education:
BS in Biochemistry, UMass Boston
Mentor:
Rachael Sirianni, PhD
Research Project:
How the shape of a nanoparticle impacts its distribution through the subarachnoid space and parenchymal tissues

Alejandro Felix Mejia
Prior Education:
BS in Biochemistry/Molecular Genetics, Arizona State University
Mentor:
Li Li, PhD
Research Project:
Engineering Group 1 intron for making fully N1- Methylpseudouridine- modified circular mRNAs

Xavier Gonzalez
Prior Education:
BS in Biology, Oregon State University and PREP Scholar, University of Rochester Medical Center
Mentor:
Javier Irazoqui, PhD
Research Project:
Investigating host-microbe interactions in C. elegans

Kristopher Holloway
Prior Education:
BA in Biology, Case Western Reserve University
Mentor:
Hong Zhang, PhD
Research Project:
Investigating the role of the cyclin-dependent kinase p16lnk4a in cellular senescence, apoptosis and AD pathogenesis

Jafira Johnson
Prior Education:
BS in Biology, University of Maryland Baltimore County
Mentor:
Megan Orzalli, PhD
Research Project:
Tonic Epidermal and Dermal communication in antiviral defense

Timmy Le
Prior Education:
BS in Biochemistry, The Catholic University of America and MS in Neuroscience, University of Hartford
Mentor:
Gilles Martin, PhD
Research Project:
The impact of binge drinking on prefrontal cortex and basolateral amygdala synaptic gating

Helen Magana
Prior Education:
BS in Biology, Rhode Island College
Mentor:
Mary Munson, PhD
Research Project:
Regulation of endosomal SNARE complex assembly by VPS45 and its neutropenia- associated mutants 

Michelle Mosqueda
Prior Education:
BS in Biology, UMass Boston and PGSP Scholar, UMass Chan Medical School
Mentor:
Francesca Massi, PhD
Research Project:
Elucidating how ALS-linked mutations in Profilin-1 can alter the allosteric communication between its two binding sites through changes in protein dynamics 

Shayla Newman-Toledo
Prior Education:
BS in Biology, UMass Boston and PREP Scholar, UMass Chan Medical School
Mentor:
Gabriella Boulting, PhD
Research Project:
What is The Evolutionary Purpose of Osteocrin Expression in The Brain?

Humberto Ochoa
Prior Education:

Mentor:
Craig Mello, PhD
Research Project:
Investigating Argonaute loading and stability in C. elegans

Marta Pérez Vázquez
Prior Education:
BS in Biotechnology and MS in Biology, Towson University
Mentor:
Lee Quinton, PhD
Research Project:
LIF-dependent modulation of lung endothelial cells during pneumonia

Naideline Raymond
Prior Education:
BA in Biology, Bryn Mawr College
Mentor:
Michael Czech, PhD
Research Project:
Delineating the role and functionality of hHSD17B13 in NASH

Iris Valeria Rivera Flores
Prior Education:
BS in Microbiology, University of Puerto Rico
Mentor:
Anastasia Khvorova, MS, PhD
Research Project:
RNAi-Mediated Silencing of SOD1 as a Therapy for ALS

Leslie Torres Ulloa
Prior Education:
BS in Biology and Philosophy, UMass Boston
Mentor:
Athma Pai, PhD
Research Project:
Genome-wide kinetic profiling of pre-mRNA 3’ end cleavage 

Kristen Woods
Mentor:
Charles Emerson, PhD
Research Project:
Investigating Translational Reprogramming and Cell Death in FSHD