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