Current Students C-G

I was born in Chengdu, one of the biggest cities in the southern part of China. I attended college at Sichuan Agricultural University (SICAU) and received my Bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine. During my study in SICAU, I applied a Youth Innovation Program of Sichuan Science and Technology Department and started doing research in my sophomore year in Dr. Kaiyu Wang’s lab. There, I worked on projects to construct the E.coli cloning bacteria system of single mature peptide protein of channel catfish’s NK-lysin antibacterial peptide, and performed induced expression, purification, fusion, tagging and excision, which led to my acquisition of the protein of the NK-lysin antibacterial peptide with antibacterial activity. In my senior year of Bachelor degree, I attended University of Helsinki in Finland as an exchange student and spent time in Dr. Miia Lindström’s lab on Clostridium botulinum. My research experience along with my interest in medicine has motivated me to pursue a career as a medicine scientist. I have a strong passion for immunology and cancer biology, and I am excited to join the OSU community and conduct medicine projects with like-minded people there.

I was born and raised in Colorado. I attended the University of Colorado at Boulder where I received a B.A. and an M.A. in history, and a J.D. I then practiced environmental law in Denver for 16 years. I returned to school in 2012 at Colorado State University in Fort Collins where I received a B.S. in Microbiology before coming to The Ohio State University.

I’m Yuanyuan Cao from Shandong, China. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Engineering from Shandong Agricultural University. Over the past two years, I have been working in Dr. Xun Ai’s lab, where I discovered my passion for research. This experience inspired me to apply for the graduate program in BSGP.

I was born and raised in Beavercreek, Ohio which is located in the greater Dayton region. I attended The Ohio State University, where I majored in Biomedical Science and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science in May of 2019. During my undergraduate years at OSU, I became involved in several activities pertaining to the James Cancer Hospital. Since August of 2016, I have been involved in volunteer services at the hospital, assisting in the James Emergency Department during my time in college. I have also been able to become involved in the James Cancer Hospital mission through Pelotonia, a fundraising and public awareness initiative focused on advancing both clinical care and research for cancer patients. While at The Ohio State University, I became involved in cancer research in the lab of Dr. Lawrence S. Kirschner, which focuses on examining the genetics and molecular mechanisms associated with inherited endocrine tumor disorders. I have been a part of Dr. Kirschner’s lab in the Department of Internal Medicine since 2017, and my project has primarily focused on characterizing and understanding the effects of a missense mutation within a mitochondrial enzyme gene that has been frequently found in patients with thyroid cancer and other inherited endocrine tumor disorders. The findings from this scientific investigation could be critical in better understanding how tumor progression occurs due to mutations through altered metabolic conditions. Based on my experiences in both research and healthcare, I am interested in pursuing an education and career in medical research, with an emphasis on applying scientific findings towards the clinical environment. I am specifically interested in studying cancer immunology and hope to gain incredible experiences and knowledge from faculty members and mentors while in the BSGP program.

I am from Prince Georges County, Maryland where I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Bowie State University. During my undergraduate studies, I found my love of research when I had my first summer internship in Dr. Devyn Gillette’s lab investigating immune response of cystic fibrosis airway epithelial cells challenged with B.cenocepacia. Upon graduation, I participated in a Post baccalaureate program at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I worked in the lab of Dr. Mark Heise evaluating the repressive mechanisms of methyl-CpG-binding protein 1 against endogenous retrovirus expression. The experiences I gained from these opportunities have served a critical role in my pursuit to being a biomedical researcher. I’m excited for the training I will receive in microbial immunology for the next few years here at The Ohio State University.

I am from Gates, NC located near the border of North Carolina and Virginia near the coast of North Carolina. I was a Biology major at Western Carolina University located in the mountains of North Carolina and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Cellular and Molecular Biology. During my time at Western Carolina University, I worked with the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neofomans to localize the Mip1p protein that encodes for DNA Polymerase Gamma using green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the supervision of my research mentor, Dr. Indrani Bose. By localizing this protein, we hoped that it would provide insight into a possible drug target for this pathogen that afflicts the immunocompromised population leading to meningoencephalitis. During the summer of my junior year, I participated in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Johns Hopkins University where I worked in Dr. Alfredo Kirkwood's lab to determine the role of serotonin in inducing metabotropic glutamate receptor-mediated long-term depression (LTD) in the primary visual cortex. My research interests are in immunology, microbial pathogenesis, and overall infectious disease. I hope to study infectious diseases and the organisms that cause them to help in developing vaccines and treatments to combat these diseases. I look forward to learning and training at OSU that will allow to grow and develop a successful career in science.

I was born in Taipei, but grew up outside of Chicago (the city remains my first love). Following high school I attended Penn State University where I received my B.S. in Pre-Medicine in 2014. At Penn State I had my first, real experience with scientific research working on analyzing the mutational relationships in the Hippo Cancer Pathway. This signaled a turning point in my interests as I began to truly appreciate the importance of research in the advancement of medicine. Following my graduation, I matriculated into a Master’s program at Harvard University where I had the amazing opportunity to work in Dr. Li-Li Hsiao’s Lab at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Here I had a front row seat at the intersection of the lab and clinic. While I was involved in a number of projects ranging from cancer identification to endothelium nitric oxide production, my main focus was on cell death and its contribution to vascular calcification. Outside of the classroom and lab I became involved with the student government and local shelters (poverty reduction is another passion of mine). All in all, while my current research interests lie within in the renal-cardiovascular field, I hope to gain experiences in therapeutic development and translational research as I explore the numerous opportunities at THE Ohio State University under the guidance of its remarkable faculty.

I am a Graduate Research Associate in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at The Ohio State University. I hold both a master’s in data science and bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Shandong University in China. My research centers on single-cell omics data, leveraging computational and mathematical methods to develop models for these complex datasets. Beyond my research, I enjoy playing football and running.

I was born in Qingdao city, China. I graduated from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in June 2021 with my MS degree in genetics and genetic engineering. After graduation, I worked as a research assistant in the State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where I studied the negative effects on the reproductive system caused by aging in primate species. Up to now, I am a graduate student in Dr. Sun’s laboratory. For my research interests, I want to know the role of mitophagy in cellular senescence and aging-related diseases， such as Sarcopenia and Alzheimer's disease.

My passion for biomedical science started from my work experience in Pfizer. When I cooperated with several local ICU departments in China, I noticed that drug resistance and drug-tolerance problems have always been the most serious situations troubling clinicians. Every time when I saw a patient had no effective drug to use, I would reflect on what I could do to solve those problems. With this idea, I enrolled in the masters’ program of Chemical Biology at Stevens Institute of Technology in 2017. Although bio-techniques are currently enjoying a rapid growth, the medical problems we are facing are constant. Today, there are still a lot of diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), whose etiology is still a mystery. To grasp a better understanding of AD, I began a lab internship with Dr. Harry Fu at Columbia University Medical Center in 2018. Our work focused on clarifying the underlying principle of selective vulnerability of excitatory neurons to tau pathology. However, we are still far from thoroughly solving all the AD problems. What I desire to know more about is the exact positions of origin for the AD lesion and how the microenvironment changes around these positions before the formation of pathological features. The College of Medicine at Ohio State University provides us a very good opportunity for professional training with many talented scientists, and the biomedical sciences graduate program also offers a cross-disciplinary platform allowing me to reexamine all the evidence found from different respects of AD. Thus, doing research at OSU will be a very good start for me to unravel the mystery of AD in the future.

I was born in Akron, Ohio and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I attended Purdue University for my undergraduate studies and graduated with a B.S. in Biology in May 2022. For my undergraduate research in the lab of Dr. Robert Stahelin, I investigated which residues of the Ebola Virus matrix protein are necessary for dimerization, a process that is essential for the virus to assemble on the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. Towards the end of my time at Purdue, I also assisted on a project investigating how the lipid binding of the SARS-CoV-2 matrix protein regulates its assembly. During my junior year, I became very intrigued by the field of cancer immunology and the bright outlook of immunotherapies, which are the topics that I hope to pursue during my PhD and beyond.

I'm from Bakersfield, CA. I attend California State University, Bakersfield in Bakersfield, CA and intend to graduate in May 2021 with my Bachelor's of Science in Biology and a concentration in Biotechnology. As of April of 2021, I am an undergraduate student. My personal research interests are in functional genomics and translational research.

I am from Novi, Michigan and completed my undergraduate studies at The Ohio State University in December of 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and a minor in French. From January of 2020 until beginning in BSGP in 2022, I worked in the lab of Dr. Natividad Ruiz studying the biosynthesis of the cell membrane of Escherichia coli. While E. coli is a very well understood organism, one of the last unknown structural processes is the method by which phospholipids migrate to the inner leaflet of the outer membrane. I worked alongside Dr. Sujeet Kumar to study three proteins that we theorized were responsible for this process. This experience led to my decision to pursue research. I am interested in studying the immune response to disease, both infectious and chronic, and using my research to advance the field of medicine.

I am from a small town in northeast Tennessee called Elizabethton. I obtained my B.S. in Biology (Biochemistry Concentration) from East Tennessee State University in 2020. In 2022, I earned my M.S. in Biology (Microbiology Concentration) at the same institution, under the direction of Dr. Sean Fox. My research focused on characterizing the previously uninvestigated polymicrobial interactions between the fungus Candida albicans and the bacterial genus Enterobacter. After graduating, I worked as a rotating research technician within the Department of Biomedical Sciences at ETSU. During my time there, I worked in three neuroscience labs and was a part of their various projects: (1) Dr. Michelle Chandley’s autism spectrum disorder project examining gene expression and synaptic markers in mice with either genetic or generated social deficits compared to control mice and investigating genetic markers in humans with ASD versus those without ASD; (2) Dr. Russ Brown’s Alzheimer’s project assessing a novel anti-inflammatory TNF-α/DAT inhibitor’s effect on spatial memory, auditory sensorimotor gating, and anxiety using a triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease; and (3) Dr. Diego Rodriguez-Gil’s CD11b project to determine the role integrin CD11b plays in recruiting microglia to methimazole-induced injury sites in the olfactory system by utilizing behavioral tests on mice, determining the location of microglia in response to an injury, and RNA expression. I have decided to pursue my Ph.D. at The Ohio State University, and I intend to conduct research in a lab within the Department of Microbial Infection & Immunity. My broad research interests are pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions.

I was born and raised in Beijing, China. I came from an electrical and computer engineering background, where I am interested in digital signal processing and circuit design. I was first introduced into the field of bioinformatics through a project involving the drug’s mechanism of action (MOA). I was hooked into the field immediately. Making use of science to combat sickness excites me. Thus, I made a brave switch to my academic path, and I am now a trainee at the BMI PhD program. Currently, I am learning biology foundations, statistical methods, and BMI research methodologies to help me make a smoother transit. In the future, I am looking forward to learning more in computational bioinformatics and I am eager to apply what I’ve learnt to advance the diseases prevention.

I was born in Arlington, Virginia and grew up just outside of Washington D.C. I graduated from the University of Virginia in 2015 with a degree in Chemistry with specialization in Biochemistry. At UVA, I worked in the lab of Dr. Alison Criss, studying how N. gonorrhoeae is able to evade clearance by the human immune system. In addition to maturing my scientific skill set at UVA, I also joined and led a student-run service organization, Alpha Phi Omega. In my time working alongside friends and community partners, I developed a passion for and commitment to helping people directly. I am currently enrolled in the OSU Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD). After completing pre-clinical training in medical school, I joined the lab of Dr. Amal Amer. In the lab, I will study regulation of inflammatory pathways in Alzheimer’s disease. The MSTP is a place for me to continue to unfold my passion for immunology, and become an effective, thoughtful, and empathetic physician-scientist. I want to fully understand how to translate between bench and bedside, and learn to be a leader in making medicine better.

I was born in Birmingham, Alabama but grew up in Augusta, Georgia. I attended the University of Georgia where I graduated with both my Bachelor of Science and my Master of Science in Microbiology in 2022 and 2023, respectively. While at UGA, I worked in the lab of Dr. Ellen Neidle, studying the various aspects of genetic regulation and expression using the malleable genetic system of Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1. My focus involved the degradation of aromatic compound using homologous foreign metabolic modular pathways and synthetic biology to integrate and express these new metabolic enzymes. I’m excited to explore my current research interests in microbial pathogenesis and subsequent immune responses here at The Ohio State University.

I am from sunny San Jose, California. I completed my undergraduate degree in Microbiology at UC Davis in 2016. Following graduation, I started my research at Dr. Huang's neurology lab at Stanford University studying gene effects on mouse behavior and memory. In 2018 I transitioned to NGM Biopharmaceuticals researching suppressive immune cell biology involvement in cancer. My experience at NGM is the main motivator behind my own research interest in understanding the relationship between immune regulation and disease progression.

I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in microbiology at the University of Pittsburgh in April 2019. During my senior year I changed my career trajectory from veterinary school to one based in biomedical research. Since the majority of my lab experience came from undergraduate lab courses, I began to look for an opportunity to gain research experience and prepare myself for applying to graduate school. I began working as a Laboratory Technician under Dr. Prasenjit Dey at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY. Dr. Dey had recently relocated his lab to Roswell Park and so alongside the research experience I also gained an understanding on how to run and build a lab from the ground up. During my time at Roswell Park I helped in researching the tumor microenvironment of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Specifically, we were investigating the role of ILC2 cells and the alarmin IL-33 on tumorigenesis. This position helped to cement my interest in biomedical research and while I enjoyed broadening my horizons to include cancer biology, I look forward to furthering my understanding of microbiology and immunology in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at OSU.

I am, originally, from Mumbai, India where I completed my Undergrad in Pharmacy. I came to US in 2014 to pursue Master's in Pharmacology and Toxicology at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio; during which I studied the effects of a patented pharmacological drug combination and physical rehabilitation on the Ischemic stroke in a rat model. Further, I got an opportunity to work with Dr. Tendy Chiang and Dr. Christopher Breuer at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Fascinated by the intricate large and small in vivo models in these labs, I dived deeper in to the world of tissue engineering which continues to feed my curiosities every day. I look forward to being a Buckeye and am excited to meet and learn alongside all the budding scientists!

I was born and raised in Saigon, Vietnam then I moved to America when I was sixteen years old. I attended the University of Washington (UW), where I studied Biology and earned my Bachelor of Science degree in June 2019. During my undergraduate study at the UW, I trained and worked as a research assistant at Fred Hutch for five years and at Seattle Institute for Biomedical and Clinical Research for almost three years. I also spent two years volunteering at Swedish hospital as a Cope Health Scholar to provide healthcare for patients in different departments such as cardiovascular and cancer wards. In the fall of 2017, I started researching Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) in German Shepherds through the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center with Dr. Michael Harkey and have continued this project throughout my senior year. My project focused on three immune-related genes, two of which are major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, DLA88 and DRB1, and the other being an innate immunity gene, TLR5 to find diagnostic markers for GDV. This work could be used to identify the dogs at risk for GDV. My research experience and my time volunteering as a healthcare provider have motivated me to pursue my research in biomedical science. My primary interest is in cancer biology, specifically focused on the mechanism of stem cell differentiation. I look forward to the challenges and learning opportunities that will be presented to me in my career and am eager to make advancements in biomedical research at The Ohio State University.

I am from Louisville, Colorado, a suburb of Boulder, Colorado, and grew up with the Rocky Mountains in my backyard. I went to Washington University in St. Louis for undergrad, where I received a Bachelor's degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. During my time as an undergraduate I completed a senior thesis in an Dr. John Edwards' lab in the Department of Medicine and the Center for Pharmacogenomics at Washington University School of Medicine. My project aimed to characterize the role of Ecat11 in preventing novel L1 insertion. I then took a gap year to work as a research technician in Dr. Meredith Jackrel's lab in the Department of Chemistry. Apart from research, I played on WashU's competitive club ultimate team and volunteered with Gateway to the Great Outdoors, where we educated local children about environmental sustainability. Now at OSU, I am looking forward to starting my training as an MSTP.

This is Mahmoud Eid, has M.Sc. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at July, 2016 from College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Egypt. In 2017, I was awarded fellowship to The Ohio State University (OSU) for two years. Since then, I have been working and participating in many research projects in Dr. Jay Zweier’s laboratory in The Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, OSU. Zweier’s lab projects are mainly investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in nicotine inhalation and tobacco cigarettes smoke exposure induced cardiovascular disorders and vascular endothelial dysfunction. Zweier’s lab is also examining the validation of Cytoglobin role in the vasculature and elucidation whether the variation of Cytoglobin expression in vivo would result in comparative variation in cardiovascular function, vascular tone and blood pressure. The main proposal of my research in Zweier’s lab is totally concerned with lung cancer incidence following electronic cigarettes use and underlying mechanisms. I am investigating the inflammation/DNA damage/ lung cancer associated with e-cigarettes use and the role of stemness process, epithelial to mesenchymal reprogramming (EMT) and nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs) signaling pathways in e-cig-induced lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The research environment, the outstanding professors at OSU and the progress in my research project motivated me to pursue and start my PhD graduate studies in Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (BSGP) since 2021.

I am originally from Washington Township in southern New Jersey. For my undergraduate education, I attended Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, where I majored in Biology and minored in Biostatistics and German. I became involved in an independent research lab during my junior year under my advisor, Dr. Lyczak, to study mutations in crucial developmental proteins.  My project utilized confocal microscopy to study cell cycle efficiency, specifically meiotic divisions. I was able to investigate the relationship between two proteins, WEE-1.3 and PAM-1, through secondary suppression to restore wildtype behavior and fertility. The understanding of these pathways enabled me to better conceptualize the importance of functional cell divisions in a developing C. elegans embryo. This work has inspired me to continue biomedical research as a student of the Ohio State Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program by applying my knowledge of cell signaling to immunological processes. I hope to continue to emphasize the importance of biomedical research through public outreach and clinical applications.

Amidst my family's emigration from Tehran, Iran to the United States, I was born in Madrid, Spain. We moved around a few times before finally settling in Los Angeles, CA, where I spent the majority of my life. I attended UCLA in pursuit of my undergraduate degree and earned my Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience in 2010. In the five years following graduation I did research with various faculty members of the UCLA Departments of Physiology and Integrative Biology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences. My experience has carried me through many different experimental models and scientific techniques, but my time spent studying analytical chemistry and analyzing human biological specimens was especially formative. My research experiences and my lifelong experience as a type 1 Diabetic inspired me to pursue The Ohio State University's Medical Scientist Training Program and ultimately a career in academic medicine.

I am from Waterford, Michigan, which is a suburb about 45 minutes northwest of Detroit. I attended Concordia University Ann Arbor where I was a dual-sport athlete for Lacrosse and Esports. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Chemistry in May 2022. During my undergraduate studies, I worked under the guidance of Professor Lance Shultz on an independent research project that aimed at analyzing the antimicrobial properties of silver-infused clothing. Additionally, I assisted in summer research conducted by Dr. Alex Ketchum that aimed at improving silicone rubber biocompatibility through the use of lipophilic S-Nitrosothiols. I entered into the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at The Ohio State University in June 2022. I joined the lab of Dr. Stephanie Seveau in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. In the Seveau Lab, I plan to study the molecular mechanisms involved in the intracellular spread of the bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes.

I was born in Columbus and raised 15 minutes away from Ohio State, thus I have always been a Buckeye at heart. In my junior year of high school, I joined a BioScience Technologies program where I learned principles of microbiology and immunology, and biomedical science concepts. Most notably, I developed and presented a research project, and my success and passion for this work pushed me to further my education and receive my bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from The Ohio State University in May 2021. As an undergraduate, I earned a position in the Ohio State Marching Band and due to the responsibilities I took on as a member of the Student Advisory Council and as a Squad Leader within the band to develop myself as a leader and musician, I began collegiate-level research in the Spring semester of my sophomore year. I first had the opportunity to work in a molecular genetics laboratory under Dr. Helen Chamberlin. This project focused on the study of cell-signaling genes within nematode species, and I sought to differentiate between two homologous genes. In my third year I began work at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital under Dr. Kevin Mason in the Microbial Pathogenesis Department. Here, I studied the microevolution of Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae and its ability to effectively survive and persist within the host. My project aimed to elucidate the effect of the tryptophan biosynthesis mechanism on the formation of intracellular bacterial communities. These studies made progress in determining potential metabolic targets for the development of therapeutics to treat otitis media. I am inspired to pursue research in the biomedical sciences, particularly in microbial pathogenesis, and am looking forward to my growth as a research scientist alongside my peers in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at The Ohio State University.

I graduated from Case Western Reserve University with my Bachelor's degree in Chemical Biology and International Studies with a minor in Spanish. At Case Western, I worked as an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Sam Xiao’s lab studying the evasion of host defense mechanisms by Shigella Flexneri during bacterial infection. After graduating, I joined Dr. Dan H. Barouch’s lab at The Center for Virology and Vaccine Research and Harvard Medical School as a research associate where I managed the production of adenoviral vector vaccines. These experiences motivated me to pursue a PhD at The Ohio State where I’m hoping to focus on cancer and the gut microbiome.

Maria Ford is a proud native of Charlotte, North Carolina. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in Spring 2020 from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She was introduced to research when she joined the lab of Dr. Misty Thomas at NC A&T. In her first year, she researched the influence of different media types on the antibiotic production of soil bacteria. During her second year, she researched silver resistance in E. coli by studying the CusS protein. Maria also participated in the Summer Research Opportunities Program at The Ohio State University where she conducted research with Dr. Renukaradhya Gourapura in the Food Animal Health Research Program. During that summer, she evaluated the antibody response elicited by a nanoparticle-based vaccine for the swine flu for pigs. Because of her experiences, Maria has developed a passion for biomedical research and looks forward to continuing her education at The Ohio State University.

I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri and moved to Lawrence, Kansas in 2017. There, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Biology with an emphasis in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Kansas in 2019. As an undergraduate in Dr. Liang Xu’s laboratory, I studied RNA binding proteins Musashi 1/2, and their up-regulation in colorectal cancer. We focused on novel small molecule therapeutics to inhibit the binding of these Musashi proteins to their corresponding mRNA transcripts. After graduation, I began conducting research at the University of Kansas Cancer Center in Kansas City, Missouri. There, I worked in a translational Hematologic Malignancy laboratory under Dr. Rekha Rao. My primary research project was focused on a rare and highly aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Less than a decade ago the FDA approved Ibrutinib as a treatment for Mantle Cell Lymphoma. However, being a kinase inhibitor, development of resistance is common. My job was to determine mechanism’s of resistance and test combinatorial therapeutics to overcome this resistance. My time in the BSGP at the Ohio State University began in 2020. My goal as a scientist is to develop new diagnostics and therapeutics that will enable us to hinder the processes of metastasis and uncover new approaches in the field of cancer therapeutics.

I was born in North Carolina but moved to Europe shortly after. I grew up mostly in Berlin, where I went to an Italian-German high school. After graduating I needed a change, so I decided to move back to the States to attend university. I got my bachelor’s in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 2022. My first research experience focused on fruit fly development and genetic engineering. I decided to get more research experience that didn’t involve dissecting larvae, which led me to join a lab at the University of Chicago. I worked as a tech for 2 years working on mechanisms of resistance to common therapeutics in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. I joined the 2024 BSGP cohort and am hoping to find a lab that focuses on tumor immunology and therapeutic approaches.

I was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey. I majored in computer science and minored in math at The Ohio State University and graduated in May 2020. During my undergraduate years, I was involved in research within communication, computer science, and biomedical fields. My goal was to analyze the physical and mental illnesses people encounter and find solutions to them using machine learning. During my graduate studies, I wish to specialize in computational biology and cancer biology for the development of drug treatments and the monitoring of the patients. I am working towards controlling cancer cells using AI as a foundation and am looking forward to participating in the BSGP program.

I was born and raised in Izmir, Turkiye, and completed my Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics at Gebze Technical University, where I graduated with honors and ranked among the top three students in my university. I joined Ohio State University as a Research Assistant, and after a few months, I decided to pursue my PhD here. I am currently working in the Akkaya Lab, which is part of the Medicine - IM Immunology and Rheumatology Department. My research focuses on understanding how obesity affects B cell responses and activity. Our lab investigates the mechanisms by which metabolic conditions like obesity or autoimmunity influence B cell function and contribute to immune dysregulation. During my undergraduate studies, I received a trainee grant for my research on the neural etiology of obesity. Obesity research has been a field I have been committed to since my bachelor years. In addition to my research on B cells, I have a strong interest in bioinformatics. I have gained experience in this field and continue to apply these techniques to my work. I look forward to advancing my skills and contributing to the biomedical science community through my doctoral studies.

I was born in Qingdao, China, and moved to the United States during my freshman year of high school in Los Angeles, California. This early transition provided me with a unique perspective and adaptability that has shaped my academic journey. I completed my undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley, where I majored in Molecular Cellular Biology with a focus on developmental genetics. During my time at Berkeley, I immersed myself in wet lab molecular and cellular biology research, establishing a strong foundation in experimental techniques and scientific inquiry. In 2022, I pursued a master’s degree in Biostatistics at New York University, seeking to bridge the gap between biological research and data science. Under the guidance of Dr. Jingmei Hsu, MD at NYU Langone, I applied machine learning models and survival analysis techniques to assess patient outcomes in an Acute Myeloid Leukemia project. This experience significantly enhanced my skills in handling large datasets and conducting sophisticated statistical analyses in a clinical research setting. Currently, I am a first-year PhD student at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, working in Dr. Xuefeng Liu's lab. My research interests have evolved to focus on cancer initiation and identifying targeted therapies for triple-negative breast cancer. I am particularly excited about leveraging machine learning techniques to aid in the identification and analysis of relevant factors in cancer biology. I believe this combination of skills will be crucial in advancing my understanding of cancer biology and developing novel therapeutic approaches. As I begin my PhD journey, I am eager to work alongside the knowledgeable and talented faculty at Ohio State and collaborate with my colleagues. I look forward to contributing to making meaningful advancements in the science and medical field during my time at OSU.

I am from South Elgin, IL. I attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), and graduated in May 2021 with my Bachelor’s of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a minor in Chemistry. I have just moved to Columbus to matriculate into their Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program. I was a member of the Johnson lab at UIUC and studied communication pathways between the brain and nervous system, specifically in regards to how fiber affects this crosstalk. I am looking to join a cancer-immunotherapy lab that is focused on discovering new treatment methods and targets for anticancer pharmaceuticals. I am very interested in taking research from the bench to trials and with patients to truly make a difference in their lives.

I am originally from Secaucus, New Jersey and attended Penn State University, Schreyer Honors College where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2022. At Penn State I was a part of Dr. Philip Bevilacqua’s lab where I researched the effects of the bacterial small RNA RyhB on the structure of its mRNA targets. The basis of my research project was to understand a component of the complex regulatory responses within Escherichia coli, to provide insights into possible new ways to combat pathogenic infections and antibiotic resistance. This research experience solidified my decision to pursue a career in research which led to me joining the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at The Ohio State University in 2022.

I was born in Newport News, Virginia and was raised in the adjoining city of Hampton, Virginia. I attended and earned my bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). During the summer of both my sophomore and junior years, I was selected for an internship at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s Institute of Child Health and Human Development at The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD. I worked with Dr. Mary Lilly in an oogenesis lab looking at an RNAi Screen to find new regulators of the GATOR complex. The GATOR complex is one upstream regulator of the Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (TORC1). TORC1 responds to multiple upstream signaling pathways and amino acid availability in order to regulate cell growth, metabolism and the meiotic cycle. Mutations in upstream inhibitors of TORC1 are associated with cancer syndromes and aging in humans; therefore, the understanding of this complex is critical to many aspects of health and development. During my undergraduate years, I also participated in Track and Field and Cross Country where I hold the indoor school record in the 600 meter and was a member of the indoor 4X800M Atlantic 10 Championship relay team. I am excited about working with the talented faculty at The Ohio State University.

I am originally from Mentor, Ohio. I completed my undergraduate studies at The Ohio State University, having graduated in December 2020 with a B.S. in Biology with Honors. My previous research experience comes from the lab of Dr. Devina Purmessur, where I studied the cellular and molecular biology of the intervertebral disc (IVD). My project focused on the aberrant immune cell modulation and changes in the peripheral nervous system that occur during human and canine intervertebral disc degeneration. This laboratory experience solidified my desire to pursue a career in biomedical science. My current research interests are still focused in immunology. I am looking forward to working with talented peers and faculty as I continue my academic career in Ohio State’s BSGP.

I grew up in China and attended Harbin Medical University for undergraduate studies in biomedical engineering. During my undergrad period, I discovered my interest in exploring complex diseases using algorithms through working with Dr. Li and Dr. Xu on elucidating the dynamic mechanism of cardiac hypertrophy to heart failure based on scRNA-seq data. I am currently co-mentored by Dr. Qin Ma and Dr. Phillip Popovich and focusing on applying algorithms to study complex neurological disorders, especially spinal cord injury, using multi-omics datasets.