Our Students
Our Students
Translational Biomedical Science Students
EnviGene Lab
Mentor: Dr. Souvarish Sarkar
Research Interest: I study how environmental exposures and genetic susceptibility interact to influence brain health and neurodegenerative disease risk. My research focuses on identifying the biological mechanisms that link exposure to neuroinflammation, glial dysfunction, and neurodegeneration, with the goal of translating mechanistic findings into better risk assessment, biomarkers, and prevention strategies for disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Kamen Lab (under construction)
Mentor: Dr. Charles Kamen
ZVR Lab
Mentor: Dr. Benjamin Suarez-Jimenez
Research Interest: Development and application of computational approaches for biomarker discovery in PTSD using structural and functional MRI.
Nichols Lab
Mentor: Dr. Anne Nichols
Research Interest: T cell-mediated mechanisms of fibrosis following tendon injury
Lab: TBD
Mentor: TBD
Rossmann Lab
Mentor: Dr. Marlies Rossmann
Research Interest: My research focuses on anemia caused by ferroptosis, a regulated form of cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. I aim to identify key genetic factors and metabolic pathways that protect developing red blood cells from ferroptosis and preserve normal erythropoiesis.
Thakar Lab
Mentor: Dr. Juilee Thakar
Research Interest: Immune digital twin for treatment in systemic lupus erythematosus
Scheible Lab
Mentor: Dr. Kristin Scheible
Research Interest: Developmental Immunology in Preterm Infants
Korman Lab
Mentor(s): Dr. Benjamin Korman
Research Interest: Role of Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein-7 (IGFBP7) in Systemic Sclerosis-associated Pulmonary Hypertension (SSc-PH)
Muthukrishnan Lab
Mentor: Dr. Gowrishankar Muthukrishnan
Research Interest: In the Muthukrishnan lab, we study the immunobiology of musculoskeletal infections and work to identify novel biomarkers and therapeutics. I study the role of immune checkpoint TIM-3 and its role in modulating bacterial burden and T cell fates during chronic Staph aureus osteomyelitis. We aim to create more durable and effective treatment options for those suffering devastating consequences associated with bone infection.
Kamen Lab The lab's web page is under construction
Mentor: Dr. Charles Kamen
Research Interest: My research focuses on patient-reported quality-of-lie (QoL) outcomes in cancer immunotherapy, particularly among individuals receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Using mixed-methods approaches, I am interested in survivorship, cognitive outcomes, health disparities, and the integration of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) into cancer care and research to better capture patient experience and improve patient-centered care delivery. My broader interests also include supportive oncology, caregiver experiences, and community-engaged approaches aimed at improving psychosocial outcomes and quality of life among individuals affected by cancer.
Jin Xiao Lab
Mentor: Dr. Jin Xiao
Research Interest: My current research interest focuses on the oral microbiome, metabolome, and immune markers in infants and their associations with pediatric diseases.
Fries Simpson Lab
Mentor: Dr. Carol Fries Simpson
Research Interest: I am interested in translational cancer research, with a particular focus on pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). I hope to identify drivers of relapse in ALL, and to improve patient outcomes through personalized therapy.
Heffner Lab
Mentor: Drs. Kathi Heffner and Allison Magnunson
Research Interest: Enhancing communication about cognitive impairment in cancer for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their care partners. Additionally, evaluating behavioral interventions to support caregiver resilience and immune well-being.
Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab
Mentor(s): Drs. John Foxe & Ed Freedman
Research Interest: I am a third year PhD Candidate in the Translational Biomedical Science program and a member of the Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab with advisors John Foxe, PhD and Ed Freedman, PhD. My dissertation focuses on Rett syndrome, which is a rare, neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability, loss of communication, and motor impairments. I am particularly interested in better understanding cognition in Rett syndrome and how individuals with this disorder perceive and interact with their environment. Using electroencephalography (EEG), my research aims to identify brain-based biomarkers that may be useful in tracking changes in cognition in response to therapeutic intervention. My long-term goal is to facilitate clinical trials for rare disease communities through biomarkers and clinical endpoint development.
Thakar Lab
Mentor: Dr. Juilee Thakar
Research Interest: Systems Biology, Translational Immunology, Therapeutic Development, in silico Modeling using ML/AI, Global Health.