Celebrating CAMB Graduates

Please join us in our celebration as we highlight our CAMB graduates.
The profiles are sectioned by degree type:


Doctor of Philosophy

Mary Margaret Addison

Mary Margaret Addison
 Mentor: Laurence Eisenlohr, VMD, PhD
Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology Program
Public Health Certificate Program (PHCP) Certificate

Thesis Title: The MHCII-Restricted Presentation of HIV-1 Antigens by CD4+ T Cells

Thesis Title: The MHCII-Restricted Presentation of HIV-1 Antigens by CD4+ T Cells

Marcus Bolton

Marcus Bolton
 Mentor: Scott Hensley, PhD
Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology Program

Thesis Title: Characterizing viral antigenic drift and using immunoglobulin G3 to increase antibody breadth
Mentor Comment: Marcus is an extraordinary scientist who always has a knack for discovery interesting things. His studies in the lab have furthered our understanding of antibody-antigen interactions and have immediate therapeutic implications. Marcus not only is a great scientist, but also a super person who was willing to help out others in the lab and he will be sorely missed!

Thesis Title: Characterizing viral antigenic drift and using immunoglobulin G3 to increase antibody breadth
Mentor Comment: Marcus is an extraordinary scientist who always has a knack for discovery interesting things. His studies in the lab have furthered our understanding of antibody-antigen interactions and have immediate therapeutic implications. Marcus not only is a great scientist, but also a super person who was willing to help out others in the lab and he will be sorely missed!

Rebecca Brooks

Rebecca Brooks
 Mentor: Chi Van Dang, MD, PhD
Cancer Biology Program
Graduate Training in Medical Science (GTMS) Certificate

Thesis Title: PBAF-associated circadian lncRNA ADIRF-AS1 regulates renal clear cell tumorigenesis
Research and Lab Description: My thesis work in the Dang lab focused on identifying a circadian regulated lncRNA, uncovering its interaction with the PBAF chromatin modifying complex, and discovering its functional role in ccRCC tumorigenesis.
Post PhD Plans: In June, I will start as a scientist at Altos Labs in Dr. Ebru Erbay’s group.

Thesis Title: PBAF-associated circadian lncRNA ADIRF-AS1 regulates renal clear cell tumorigenesis
Research and Lab Description: My thesis work in the Dang lab focused on identifying a circadian regulated lncRNA, uncovering its interaction with the PBAF chromatin modifying complex, and discovering its functional role in ccRCC tumorigenesis.
Post PhD Plans: In June, I will start as a scientist at Altos Labs in Dr. Ebru Erbay’s group.

Blake Caldwell

Blake Caldwell
 Mentor: Marisa Bartolomei, PhD
Genetics and Epigenetics Program

Thesis Title: The Role of Active DNA Demethylation in Mammalian Epigenetic Reprogramming
Research and Lab Description: My research probed the mechanistic requirement for different forms of DNA demethylation during periods of genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming, with a particular focus on mammalian germline reprogramming and the formation of induced pluripotent stem cells from somatic tissues. The Bartolomei Lab is interested in all things involving DNA methylation, from the effects of endocrine disruptors on embryonic development to the weird, wild world of genomic imprinting.
Post PhD Plans: I am currently working as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Liwu Li at Virginia Tech, where I'm studying the role of epigenetic regulation in innate immune memory. In my spare time, I'm working with my partner to restore a 19th century farm in Wytheville, VA (https://robersonsara.wixsite.com/3crowssporthorses).
Mentor Comment: Blake is an extraordinarily creative, smart and productive individual. He helped establish an exciting collaboration with the Kohli lab that led to a beautiful paper as well as additional work that we are continuing to pursue collaboratively with the Kohli lab. Blake is also known for asking some of the most insightful questions in seminars and lab meetings, some of which we wished we had thought of. The Bartolomei lab is much better off having trained Blake and we miss him. We look forward to seeing his future accomplishments (including his continually evolving farm animal collection) and interacting with him as a colleague. Congratulations Blake.

Thesis Title: The Role of Active DNA Demethylation in Mammalian Epigenetic Reprogramming
Research and Lab Description: My research probed the mechanistic requirement for different forms of DNA demethylation during periods of genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming, with a particular focus on mammalian germline reprogramming and the formation of induced pluripotent stem cells from somatic tissues. The Bartolomei Lab is interested in all things involving DNA methylation, from the effects of endocrine disruptors on embryonic development to the weird, wild world of genomic imprinting.
Post PhD Plans: I am currently working as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Liwu Li at Virginia Tech, where I'm studying the role of epigenetic regulation in innate immune memory. In my spare time, I'm working with my partner to restore a 19th century farm in Wytheville, VA (https://robersonsara.wixsite.com/3crowssporthorses).
Mentor Comment: Blake is an extraordinarily creative, smart and productive individual. He helped establish an exciting collaboration with the Kohli lab that led to a beautiful paper as well as additional work that we are continuing to pursue collaboratively with the Kohli lab. Blake is also known for asking some of the most insightful questions in seminars and lab meetings, some of which we wished we had thought of. The Bartolomei lab is much better off having trained Blake and we miss him. We look forward to seeing his future accomplishments (including his continually evolving farm animal collection) and interacting with him as a colleague. Congratulations Blake.

Sydney Campbell

Sydney Campbell
 Mentor: Kathryn Wellen, PhD
Cancer Biology Program

Thesis Title: Hexosamine Salvage in Pancreatic Cancer
Research and Lab Description: I studied how pancreatic cancer cells generate substrate for N-glycosylation when nutrients are limited and found that, under glutamine deprivation, the substrate pool was maintained via a previously unappreciated salvage pathway. I am so lucky to have had the chance to work with such kind, smart, and hardworking people.
Post PhD Plans: After graduation, I started as a postdoctoral scholar in the Christofk Lab at UCLA where I am working on pancreatic and liver cancer.
Mentor Comment: Sydney is a terrific scientist- rigorous, dedicated, and insightful.  I feel fortunate to have had her in the lab.  Her work uncovered an important role for a little studied metabolic pathway- the hexosamine salvage pathway- in supporting pancreatic tumor growth.  In addition to her outstanding scientific contributions, Sydney also cares deeply about working towards a more inclusive culture and made a positive impact here at Penn through her activities.  I look forward to seeing all that Sydney does in the future!

Thesis Title: Hexosamine Salvage in Pancreatic Cancer
Research and Lab Description: I studied how pancreatic cancer cells generate substrate for N-glycosylation when nutrients are limited and found that, under glutamine deprivation, the substrate pool was maintained via a previously unappreciated salvage pathway. I am so lucky to have had the chance to work with such kind, smart, and hardworking people.
Post PhD Plans: After graduation, I started as a postdoctoral scholar in the Christofk Lab at UCLA where I am working on pancreatic and liver cancer.
Mentor Comment: Sydney is a terrific scientist- rigorous, dedicated, and insightful.  I feel fortunate to have had her in the lab.  Her work uncovered an important role for a little studied metabolic pathway- the hexosamine salvage pathway- in supporting pancreatic tumor growth.  In addition to her outstanding scientific contributions, Sydney also cares deeply about working towards a more inclusive culture and made a positive impact here at Penn through her activities.  I look forward to seeing all that Sydney does in the future!

Karina Chaudhari

Karina Chaudhari
 Mentor: Greg Bashaw, PhD
Cell Biology, Physiology, and Metabolism Program

Thesis Title: Mechanisms of axon guidance receptor regulation and signaling during midline crossing
Research and Lab Description: My thesis work identified the Wave regulatory complex as a conserved and direct downstream effector of axon guidance receptors which are essential for the proper wiring of the nervous system. The Bashaw lab focuses on understanding fundamental mechanisms that control the assembly of neural circuits. Greg is an incredible mentor who provided the best research environment I could have hoped for!
Post PhD Plans: I will be starting a postdoctoral fellowship in the lab of Alex Kolodkin at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Mentor Comment: It has been an absolute pleasure having Karina as a student in the lab. She has been a powerful force in my lab and her research accomplishments are truly remarkable. She is a delightful person and a fearless experimentalist. She was critical to the expansion of our research program from flies to mice, and in securing our first RO1 funding this work. She is generous with her time and expertise and an incredible resource for the lab. I am lucky to have had such an exceptional student in the lab, and I look forward to watching her continued development as a postdoctoral fellow and beyond.

Thesis Title: Mechanisms of axon guidance receptor regulation and signaling during midline crossing
Research and Lab Description: My thesis work identified the Wave regulatory complex as a conserved and direct downstream effector of axon guidance receptors which are essential for the proper wiring of the nervous system. The Bashaw lab focuses on understanding fundamental mechanisms that control the assembly of neural circuits. Greg is an incredible mentor who provided the best research environment I could have hoped for!
Post PhD Plans: I will be starting a postdoctoral fellowship in the lab of Alex Kolodkin at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Mentor Comment: It has been an absolute pleasure having Karina as a student in the lab. She has been a powerful force in my lab and her research accomplishments are truly remarkable. She is a delightful person and a fearless experimentalist. She was critical to the expansion of our research program from flies to mice, and in securing our first RO1 funding this work. She is generous with her time and expertise and an incredible resource for the lab. I am lucky to have had such an exceptional student in the lab, and I look forward to watching her continued development as a postdoctoral fellow and beyond.

Ryan Pei-Yen Cheng

Ryan Pei-Yen Cheng
 Mentor: Jonathan Raper, PhD
Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology Program

Thesis Title: The role of neuropilin2a/2b and sema3fa in the protoglomerular targeting of zebrafish olfactory sensory neurons
Mentor Comment: Ryan made major contributions to the lab's 'toolkit'. He was the first to perform live cell imaging comparing the behavior of olfactory sensory growth cones in wild type and mutant embryos as they find their target locations in the olfactory bulb, and he developed a method by which the positions of numerous targeting cues can be localized and compared on a consensus model of the bulb. His thesis work used these tools to examine how olfactory sensory neurons target specific regions within the bulb.

Thesis Title: The role of neuropilin2a/2b and sema3fa in the protoglomerular targeting of zebrafish olfactory sensory neurons
Mentor Comment: Ryan made major contributions to the lab's 'toolkit'. He was the first to perform live cell imaging comparing the behavior of olfactory sensory growth cones in wild type and mutant embryos as they find their target locations in the olfactory bulb, and he developed a method by which the positions of numerous targeting cues can be localized and compared on a consensus model of the bulb. His thesis work used these tools to examine how olfactory sensory neurons target specific regions within the bulb.

Lisa Cucolo

Lisa Cucolo
 Mentor: Andy Minn, MD, PhD
Cell Biology, Physiology, and Metabolism Program
Graduate Training in Medical Science (GTMS) Certificate

Thesis Title: Tumor RIPK1 Signaling Regulates Intrinsic and Extrinsic Mechanisms of Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy
Research and Lab Description: My thesis work in Dr. Andy Minn's lab focused on understanding cancer resistance mechanisms to immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Our lab found that chronic interferon signaling in cancer cells can promote resistance to immune therapy. Upregulation of certain interferon stimulated genes drives tumor evasion of immune responses and promotes tumor growth. I found that one interferon stimulated gene, called RIPK1, can promote tumor resistance to immune mediated killing by driving NF-kB and MAPK dependent pro-survival signals and inflammation associated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Deletion of RIPK1 sensitzed tumors to cell death and improved tumor response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy.
Post PhD Plans: I am a Senior Scientist at Dispatch Biotherapeutics here in Philadelphia.
Mentor Comment: Lisa was an exemplary graduate student. Her success stemmed from her unyielding drive, uncompromising standards, and a dedication to excellence across all the big and little "things" that go into being a stellar scientist and colleague. Lisa's commitment to these qualities did not waver regardless of whether her science was going well or seemingly at an impasse. I am so happy for all her achievements and look forward to her continued success!

Thesis Title: Tumor RIPK1 Signaling Regulates Intrinsic and Extrinsic Mechanisms of Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy
Research and Lab Description: My thesis work in Dr. Andy Minn's lab focused on understanding cancer resistance mechanisms to immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Our lab found that chronic interferon signaling in cancer cells can promote resistance to immune therapy. Upregulation of certain interferon stimulated genes drives tumor evasion of immune responses and promotes tumor growth. I found that one interferon stimulated gene, called RIPK1, can promote tumor resistance to immune mediated killing by driving NF-kB and MAPK dependent pro-survival signals and inflammation associated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Deletion of RIPK1 sensitzed tumors to cell death and improved tumor response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy.
Post PhD Plans: I am a Senior Scientist at Dispatch Biotherapeutics here in Philadelphia.
Mentor Comment: Lisa was an exemplary graduate student. Her success stemmed from her unyielding drive, uncompromising standards, and a dedication to excellence across all the big and little "things" that go into being a stellar scientist and colleague. Lisa's commitment to these qualities did not waver regardless of whether her science was going well or seemingly at an impasse. I am so happy for all her achievements and look forward to her continued success!

Jennifer Dumaine

Jennifer Dumaine
 Mentor: Boris Striepen, PhD
Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology Program

Thesis Title: Cryptosporidium parvum exports proteins into the cytoplasm of the infected host cell

Thesis Title: Cryptosporidium parvum exports proteins into the cytoplasm of the infected host cell

Laura Egolf

Laura Egolf
 Mentors: John Maris, MD and Sharon Diskin, PhD
Cancer Biology Program

Thesis Title: Defining the landscape of rare inherited and de novo germline structural variation in neuroblastoma
Mentor Comment: Laura did not let a little virus problem slow down her academic progress and discovering unique insights into the childhood cancer neuroblastoma. She has an incredibly bright future ahead, and I am proud to have contributed to her scholarship and professional growth.

Thesis Title: Defining the landscape of rare inherited and de novo germline structural variation in neuroblastoma
Mentor Comment: Laura did not let a little virus problem slow down her academic progress and discovering unique insights into the childhood cancer neuroblastoma. She has an incredibly bright future ahead, and I am proud to have contributed to her scholarship and professional growth.

Shaun Egolf

Shaun Egolf
 Mentor: Brian Capell, MD, PhD
Cancer Biology Program

Thesis Title: The MLL4-LSD1 Epigenetic Axis Regulates Epidermal Differentiation and Ferroptosis: Implications for Skin Cancer and Disease
Mentor Comments: Shaun is a tremendous person and scientist. Not only was he brave to join a new PI's lab for his thesis work, but he inspired others to join as well through his friendship and mentorship. His thesis research has not only made great discoveries at the intersection of epigenetics, metabolism, differentiation, and cancer, but perhaps even more excitingly, it has opened up an entirely new direction of study within our lab. Although we already really miss Shaun in the lab, I very much look forward to seeing Shaun's future contributions to science in the coming years!

Thesis Title: The MLL4-LSD1 Epigenetic Axis Regulates Epidermal Differentiation and Ferroptosis: Implications for Skin Cancer and Disease
Mentor Comments: Shaun is a tremendous person and scientist. Not only was he brave to join a new PI's lab for his thesis work, but he inspired others to join as well through his friendship and mentorship. His thesis research has not only made great discoveries at the intersection of epigenetics, metabolism, differentiation, and cancer, but perhaps even more excitingly, it has opened up an entirely new direction of study within our lab. Although we already really miss Shaun in the lab, I very much look forward to seeing Shaun's future contributions to science in the coming years!

Monika Eiva

Monika Eiva
 Mentor: Daniel Powell Jr., PhD
Cancer Biology Program
Graduate Training in Medical Science (GTMS) Certificate

Thesis Title: Disentangling T cell Heterogeneity in Human Ovarian Cancer: A Focus on Tumor-Specific and Early Memory T cells
Research and Lab Description: My thesis work examined which biomarker is most selective in identifying tumor-specific T cells, and investigated the heterogeneity of stem-cell memory T cells in human ovarian cancer to help provide a foundation to improve future immunotherapies for patients. The Powell lab studies tumor immunobiology, CAR-T cell biology and engineering, and conducts translational research with a focus on ovarian cancers.
Post PhD Plans: I am now a scientist at the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of J&J, where I work on late stage drug products, including CAR-T cell therapy.
Mentor Comment: Monika’s work focused on disentangling the heterogeneity of immune cell subsets in cancer and understanding the contribution of these immune cells to natural responses against cancer. She brought a high level of enthusiasm to the project as well as the lab environment. She quickly became our resident “guru” on immunophenotyping and identified important biomarkers of anti-tumor responses that will serve the immunotherapy field. It is no surprise that, with her enthusiasm for science and knowledge in phenotyping, she was rapidly recruited to industry.

Thesis Title: Disentangling T cell Heterogeneity in Human Ovarian Cancer: A Focus on Tumor-Specific and Early Memory T cells
Research and Lab Description: My thesis work examined which biomarker is most selective in identifying tumor-specific T cells, and investigated the heterogeneity of stem-cell memory T cells in human ovarian cancer to help provide a foundation to improve future immunotherapies for patients. The Powell lab studies tumor immunobiology, CAR-T cell biology and engineering, and conducts translational research with a focus on ovarian cancers.
Post PhD Plans: I am now a scientist at the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of J&J, where I work on late stage drug products, including CAR-T cell therapy.
Mentor Comment: Monika’s work focused on disentangling the heterogeneity of immune cell subsets in cancer and understanding the contribution of these immune cells to natural responses against cancer. She brought a high level of enthusiasm to the project as well as the lab environment. She quickly became our resident “guru” on immunophenotyping and identified important biomarkers of anti-tumor responses that will serve the immunotherapy field. It is no surprise that, with her enthusiasm for science and knowledge in phenotyping, she was rapidly recruited to industry.

Olivia Farrelly

Olivia Farrelly
 Mentor: Panteleimon Rompolas, MBA, PhD
Cell Biology, Physiology, and Metabolism Program
Graduate Training in Medical Science (GTMS) Certificate

Thesis Title: Investigating the mechanisms of corneal maintenance and regeneration by 2-photon live imaging
Mentor Comment: Olivia was the first graduate student to join our young lab. She was also brave enough to take on a new project that required the development of new in vivo assays and experimental tools. By doing so Olivia forged a new research path for the lab, using the mouse cornea to investigate mechanisms of stem cell regulation and tissue regeneration. With her elegant studies, Olivia showed that the mouse cornea is supported by a heterogeneous pool of stem cell populations with divergent roles in organ maintenance and regeneration after wounding. Olivia is a brilliant scientist and I am delighted to witness her present and future career successes.

Thesis Title: Investigating the mechanisms of corneal maintenance and regeneration by 2-photon live imaging
Mentor Comment: Olivia was the first graduate student to join our young lab. She was also brave enough to take on a new project that required the development of new in vivo assays and experimental tools. By doing so Olivia forged a new research path for the lab, using the mouse cornea to investigate mechanisms of stem cell regulation and tissue regeneration. With her elegant studies, Olivia showed that the mouse cornea is supported by a heterogeneous pool of stem cell populations with divergent roles in organ maintenance and regeneration after wounding. Olivia is a brilliant scientist and I am delighted to witness her present and future career successes.

Ian Folkert

Ian Folkert
 Mentor: Malay Haldar, MBBS, PhD
Cancer Biology Program

Thesis Title: Intratumoral Hemorrhage Inhibits BACH1 to Induce Ednrb-Expressing Iron-Rich Macrophages that Promote Tumor Growth
Research and Lab Description: My thesis research focused on understanding how microvascular dysfunction and red blood cell extravasation impact innate immune responses in soft tissue sarcomas. Our lab studies microenvironmental factors regulating innate immune responses in a variety of solid tumors, with a focus on sarcoma.
Post PhD Plans: I am currently finishing up my clinical residency in General Surgery at Penn and applying for fellowship in Complex General Surgical Oncology.
Mentor Comment: Ian epitomizes the surgeon-scientist. He is dedicated to how we can improve patient care by better understanding the basic science behind pathological processes. This is exemplified by his work in our lab that identified a novel macrophage subset in the tumor microenvironment. His efforts towards understanding the function and regulation of these macrophages has opened up a new area of investigation in my lab at the intersection of macrophage and vascular biology. I look forward to Ian’s continued success as a scientist and a surgeon.  

Thesis Title: Intratumoral Hemorrhage Inhibits BACH1 to Induce Ednrb-Expressing Iron-Rich Macrophages that Promote Tumor Growth
Research and Lab Description: My thesis research focused on understanding how microvascular dysfunction and red blood cell extravasation impact innate immune responses in soft tissue sarcomas. Our lab studies microenvironmental factors regulating innate immune responses in a variety of solid tumors, with a focus on sarcoma.
Post PhD Plans: I am currently finishing up my clinical residency in General Surgery at Penn and applying for fellowship in Complex General Surgical Oncology.
Mentor Comment: Ian epitomizes the surgeon-scientist. He is dedicated to how we can improve patient care by better understanding the basic science behind pathological processes. This is exemplified by his work in our lab that identified a novel macrophage subset in the tumor microenvironment. His efforts towards understanding the function and regulation of these macrophages has opened up a new area of investigation in my lab at the intersection of macrophage and vascular biology. I look forward to Ian’s continued success as a scientist and a surgeon.  

Alexis Gibson

Alexis Gibson
 Mentor: Boris Striepen, PhD
Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology Program

Thesis Title: A genetic screen reveals a protective type III interferon response to Cryptosporidium

Thesis Title: A genetic screen reveals a protective type III interferon response to Cryptosporidium

Yaoyu Gong

Yaoyu Gong
 Mentor: Chi Van Dang, MD, PhD
Cell Biology, Physiology, and Metabolism Program
Graduate Training in Medical Science (GTMS) Certificate

Thesis Title: Sodium hydrogen exchanger 1 enhances the anti-tumor activity of natural killer cells

Thesis Title: Sodium hydrogen exchanger 1 enhances the anti-tumor activity of natural killer cells

Christopher Greer

Christopher Greer
 Mentor: Hansell Stedman, MD
Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology Program

Thesis Title: Strategies to Modify the Therapeutic Efficacy and Immunogenicity of AAV-deliverable Transgenes for Gene Therapies and Vaccines

Thesis Title: Strategies to Modify the Therapeutic Efficacy and Immunogenicity of AAV-deliverable Transgenes for Gene Therapies and Vaccines

Nicholas Holdreith

Nicholas Holdreith
 Mentor: Wei Tong, PhD
Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology Program

Thesis Title: LNK (SH2B3) Inhibition Expands Healthy and Fanconi Anemia Human Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells
Research and Lab Description: My thesis work was focused on determining whether targeting LNK, a negative regulator of cytokine signaling, could be a viable strategy to expand human hematopoietic stem cells to improve hematopoietic stem cell based therapies, such as gene therapy approaches for Fanconi Anemia. The Tong Lab studies the role of cytokine and other cell signaling pathways in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and how dysregulation of these pathways can result in hematological malignancies and disorders.
Post PhD Plans: I have joined Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein and Fox as a Biotechnology Technical Specialist.
Mentor Comment: Nick is kind, compassionate, respectful to everyone, and very generous. He started a challenging project and did an excellent job completing it. He showed that LNK plays a critical role in controlling human hematopoietic stem cells, which can be exploited to expand both healthy and disease stem cells. Nick is smart, meticulous and thoughtful, and those traits will make him successful in his future endeavors.

Thesis Title: LNK (SH2B3) Inhibition Expands Healthy and Fanconi Anemia Human Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells
Research and Lab Description: My thesis work was focused on determining whether targeting LNK, a negative regulator of cytokine signaling, could be a viable strategy to expand human hematopoietic stem cells to improve hematopoietic stem cell based therapies, such as gene therapy approaches for Fanconi Anemia. The Tong Lab studies the role of cytokine and other cell signaling pathways in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and how dysregulation of these pathways can result in hematological malignancies and disorders.
Post PhD Plans: I have joined Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein and Fox as a Biotechnology Technical Specialist.
Mentor Comment: Nick is kind, compassionate, respectful to everyone, and very generous. He started a challenging project and did an excellent job completing it. He showed that LNK plays a critical role in controlling human hematopoietic stem cells, which can be exploited to expand both healthy and disease stem cells. Nick is smart, meticulous and thoughtful, and those traits will make him successful in his future endeavors.

Elizabeth Howell

Elizabeth Howell
 Mentor: Nancy Speck, PhD
Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology Program
Certificate in Regulatory, Translational, or Entrepreneurial Science (ITMAT)

Thesis Title: Transcriptional and Epigenetic Regulation of Endothelial-to-Hematopoietic Transition
Research and Lab Description: My thesis focused on how blood cells formed from endothelial cells and how the transcription factor Runx1 regulated this process. The Speck Lab was a great place to do my thesis! Shoutout to Nancy!
Post PhD Plans: Currently I’m working as a Consultant at Boston Consulting Group in the Chicago office.
Mentor Comment: Elizabeth was an exceptional student and scientist. She is also one of the most organized people I ever worked with. Elizabeth knew how to drive a project forward, overcome obstacles, and think critically. Her project, to understand the specification of hemogenic endothelial cells by the transcription factor RUNX1, required extensive bioinformatics analyses which Elizabeth taught herself to do. She made several important insights into the chromatin barriers to RUNX1 activity and how they change over the course of endothelial cell development. It was a great deal of fun to work with her, and I learned at least as much from Elizabeth as she learned from me. She will be successful in anything she chooses to do.

Thesis Title: Transcriptional and Epigenetic Regulation of Endothelial-to-Hematopoietic Transition
Research and Lab Description: My thesis focused on how blood cells formed from endothelial cells and how the transcription factor Runx1 regulated this process. The Speck Lab was a great place to do my thesis! Shoutout to Nancy!
Post PhD Plans: Currently I’m working as a Consultant at Boston Consulting Group in the Chicago office.
Mentor Comment: Elizabeth was an exceptional student and scientist. She is also one of the most organized people I ever worked with. Elizabeth knew how to drive a project forward, overcome obstacles, and think critically. Her project, to understand the specification of hemogenic endothelial cells by the transcription factor RUNX1, required extensive bioinformatics analyses which Elizabeth taught herself to do. She made several important insights into the chromatin barriers to RUNX1 activity and how they change over the course of endothelial cell development. It was a great deal of fun to work with her, and I learned at least as much from Elizabeth as she learned from me. She will be successful in anything she chooses to do.

Allison Jamieson-Lucy

Allison Jamieson-Lucy
 Mentor: Mary Mullins, PhD
Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology Program

Thesis Title: A PROTEOMICS APPROACH IDENTIFIES NOVEL RESIDENT ZEBRAFISH BALBIANI BODY PROTEINS CIRBPA AND CIRBPB

Thesis Title: A PROTEOMICS APPROACH IDENTIFIES NOVEL RESIDENT ZEBRAFISH BALBIANI BODY PROTEINS CIRBPA AND CIRBPB

Priya Khurana

Priya Khurana
 Mentor: Hamid Bassiri, MD, PhD
Cancer Biology Program

Thesis Title: Delineating the immunometabolism of primary human invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells
Mentor Comment: Priya was the first PhD student to commit to my lab for her thesis and she will be a difficult act to follow! She worked tirelessly to establish a new focus in the lab, drove the project from start to finish – and did this all while smiling! I have no doubt that Priya’s drive, passion and meticulous approach will make her a success in her future career. Although we will sorely miss her, she left us with many new and exciting questions to follow up on – thank you for that Priya!

Thesis Title: Delineating the immunometabolism of primary human invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells
Mentor Comment: Priya was the first PhD student to commit to my lab for her thesis and she will be a difficult act to follow! She worked tirelessly to establish a new focus in the lab, drove the project from start to finish – and did this all while smiling! I have no doubt that Priya’s drive, passion and meticulous approach will make her a success in her future career. Although we will sorely miss her, she left us with many new and exciting questions to follow up on – thank you for that Priya!

Ayano Kondo

Ayano Kondo
 Mentor: Klaus Kaestner, PhD
Genetics and Epigenetics Program

Thesis Title: Highly multiplexed image analysis of intestinal tissue sections in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Mentor Comment:  Dr. Ayano Kondo was an outstanding CAMB/GE student.  While first working on a mouse genetic project, analyzing the function of the Wnt pathways in organ development of the gastrointestinal tract (which led to her first first-author paper), she became fascinated with the opportunity to make an impact on human disease by developing imaging mass cytometry to the study of inflammatory bowel disease. In what is rare these days, Ayano took care of the entire project from start to finish, from working with our clinical colleagues to obtain the relevant tissue samples, to the development of her own antibody panel for the study of the human GI tract, which involved conjugation of antibodies to heavy metal isotopes and extensive validation, to tissue staining, image acquisition with the Fluidigm Hyperion instrument, and finally, the development and application of novel computational tools to capture the spatial relationships between various immune cell types and the epithelium, and comprehensive neighborhood analysis. This was truly a heroic effort, and only her dedication, intellect, and precision made this possible. This study was published in the premier journal in the field, Gastroenterology, with an impact factor of 23, and has already been widely cited.  In sum, I wished all students were as talented and dedicated as Ayano! 

Thesis Title: Highly multiplexed image analysis of intestinal tissue sections in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Mentor Comment:  Dr. Ayano Kondo was an outstanding CAMB/GE student.  While first working on a mouse genetic project, analyzing the function of the Wnt pathways in organ development of the gastrointestinal tract (which led to her first first-author paper), she became fascinated with the opportunity to make an impact on human disease by developing imaging mass cytometry to the study of inflammatory bowel disease. In what is rare these days, Ayano took care of the entire project from start to finish, from working with our clinical colleagues to obtain the relevant tissue samples, to the development of her own antibody panel for the study of the human GI tract, which involved conjugation of antibodies to heavy metal isotopes and extensive validation, to tissue staining, image acquisition with the Fluidigm Hyperion instrument, and finally, the development and application of novel computational tools to capture the spatial relationships between various immune cell types and the epithelium, and comprehensive neighborhood analysis. This was truly a heroic effort, and only her dedication, intellect, and precision made this possible. This study was published in the premier journal in the field, Gastroenterology, with an impact factor of 23, and has already been widely cited.  In sum, I wished all students were as talented and dedicated as Ayano! 

Nathan Krump

Nathan Krump
 Mentor: Jianxin You, PhD
Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology Program

Thesis Title: Examining the Cellular Responses to the Most Recently Discovered Cancer-causing Virus
Research and Lab Description: My thesis research sought to characterize innate immune responses to Merkel cell polyomavirus: a little-understood member of the skin virome and causative agent of Merkel cell carcinoma.  The Jianxin You Lab pursues research questions based on patient need, with topics encompassing viral oncogenesis, immune oncology, and fundamental cell biology.
Post PhD Plans: I am currently employed as a Research Scientist on the Virology Team at Integral Molecular, Inc. a biotech company in West Philly co-founded by CAMB-MVP graduate Benjamin Doranz 20 years ago.
Mentor Comment: It has been wonderful working with Nate. Nate’s thesis project focuses on a novel DNA tumor virus, Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), which has been shown to cause Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), one of the most aggressive skin cancers. Nate examined how this cancer-causing virus interfaces with the host immune system. His research provided fundamental insight for understanding how MCPyV immunoevasion contributes to the development of the devastating virus-associated cancers. Nate also dedicated significant effort to developing novel cancer therapeutics for treating MCPyV-induced MCCs. He published 8 manuscripts during his time in the lab. Nate is also a very generous and kind person, who cares deeply about contributing to the community. He routinely participates in Outreach Programs and non-profit organizations to help others in our community. I am very proud of Nate’s accomplishments and look forward to hearing more success stories from him. 

Thesis Title: Examining the Cellular Responses to the Most Recently Discovered Cancer-causing Virus
Research and Lab Description: My thesis research sought to characterize innate immune responses to Merkel cell polyomavirus: a little-understood member of the skin virome and causative agent of Merkel cell carcinoma.  The Jianxin You Lab pursues research questions based on patient need, with topics encompassing viral oncogenesis, immune oncology, and fundamental cell biology.
Post PhD Plans: I am currently employed as a Research Scientist on the Virology Team at Integral Molecular, Inc. a biotech company in West Philly co-founded by CAMB-MVP graduate Benjamin Doranz 20 years ago.
Mentor Comment: It has been wonderful working with Nate. Nate’s thesis project focuses on a novel DNA tumor virus, Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), which has been shown to cause Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), one of the most aggressive skin cancers. Nate examined how this cancer-causing virus interfaces with the host immune system. His research provided fundamental insight for understanding how MCPyV immunoevasion contributes to the development of the devastating virus-associated cancers. Nate also dedicated significant effort to developing novel cancer therapeutics for treating MCPyV-induced MCCs. He published 8 manuscripts during his time in the lab. Nate is also a very generous and kind person, who cares deeply about contributing to the community. He routinely participates in Outreach Programs and non-profit organizations to help others in our community. I am very proud of Nate’s accomplishments and look forward to hearing more success stories from him. 

Vineet Kulkarni

Vineet Kulkarni
 Mentor: Sandra Maday, PhD
Cell Biology, Physiology, and Metabolism Program

Thesis Title: Compartment-specific regulation of autophagy in neurons
Research and Lab Description: My research focused on using high-resolution imaging to discover key details of how fundamental physiological processes (such as synaptic activity and metabolic stress) regulate autophagy in neurons and astrocytes. The Maday lab more broadly investigates mechanisms, regulation and organization of autophagy and lysosomal pathways in neuronal cells, in both health and neurodegenerative disease.
Post PhD Plans: I'm currently a Postdoctoral fellow at Genentech in Casper Hoogenraad's lab.

Thesis Title: Compartment-specific regulation of autophagy in neurons
Research and Lab Description: My research focused on using high-resolution imaging to discover key details of how fundamental physiological processes (such as synaptic activity and metabolic stress) regulate autophagy in neurons and astrocytes. The Maday lab more broadly investigates mechanisms, regulation and organization of autophagy and lysosomal pathways in neuronal cells, in both health and neurodegenerative disease.
Post PhD Plans: I'm currently a Postdoctoral fellow at Genentech in Casper Hoogenraad's lab.

Derek Liberti

Derek Liberti
 Mentor: Edward Morrisey, PhD
Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology Program

Thesis Title: Elucidating the determinants of alveolar epithelial cell fate from lung development to regeneration
Research and Lab Description: My thesis work defines how cell fate decisions impact the generation and regeneration of the lung and identifies targetable pathways for manipulation of these processes. The Morrisey lab consists of a team of clinicians, bioinformaticians, and scientists, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of lung developmental and regenerative biology toward a future with improved therapeutic interventions for both chronic and acute lung diseases.
Post PhD Plans: I will continue my training as a post-doctoral fellow at CHOP.
Mentor Comments: Derek will be missed in our lab. He was one of the most creative grad students we’ve ever had and has contributed to many different projects and stories beyond his own thesis work. One of the things I will remember about Derek is his rigorous insight into his work and that of others in lung biology. He has been fearless in his willingness to challenge various dogmas in lung biology. He also has a rare attribute amongst grad students-he’s a closer. I’ve rarely had such complete and polished manuscripts as first drafts from my graduate students!

Thesis Title: Elucidating the determinants of alveolar epithelial cell fate from lung development to regeneration
Research and Lab Description: My thesis work defines how cell fate decisions impact the generation and regeneration of the lung and identifies targetable pathways for manipulation of these processes. The Morrisey lab consists of a team of clinicians, bioinformaticians, and scientists, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of lung developmental and regenerative biology toward a future with improved therapeutic interventions for both chronic and acute lung diseases.
Post PhD Plans: I will continue my training as a post-doctoral fellow at CHOP.
Mentor Comments: Derek will be missed in our lab. He was one of the most creative grad students we’ve ever had and has contributed to many different projects and stories beyond his own thesis work. One of the things I will remember about Derek is his rigorous insight into his work and that of others in lung biology. He has been fearless in his willingness to challenge various dogmas in lung biology. He also has a rare attribute amongst grad students-he’s a closer. I’ve rarely had such complete and polished manuscripts as first drafts from my graduate students!

Natasha Lopes Fischer

Natasha Lopes Fischer
 Mentor: Sunny Shin, PhD
Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology Program

Thesis Title: Evasion of innate immunity by the pathogen Coxiella burnetii
Research and Lab Description: My thesis work in the Shin lab investigated how the pathogen Coxiella burnetii interacts with and evades the host innate immune response. Our lab broadly studies the host-pathogen interplay between the innate immune system and bacterial pathogens.
Post PhD Plans: Postdoctoral Fellow at Regeneron.
Mentor Comment: Natasha’s thesis research provided fundamental and mechanistic insight into how the emerging bacterial pathogen Coxiella burnetii employs bacterial effector proteins to evade the innate immune response. Natasha is an exceptional scientist, and her creative insight and perseverance was critical to making a major scientific breakthrough in our understanding of this intracellular pathogen that is highly challenging to study. Natasha is also a highly collaborative, caring, and thoughtful person who is always willing to help others, and she was an excellent mentor to several students in our lab. In addition, Natasha helped promote a supportive and inclusive environment within our lab and the CAMB and BGS community in many ways, including by holding a leadership position on the Executive Board of the Penn SACNAS chapter. Natasha also took on other important leadership roles that greatly benefited the scientific community within the greater Philadelphia region, including by serving as Co-Vice President and then Co-President of the student chapter of the Eastern Pennsylvania Branch of the American Society for Microbiology and co-organizing the Philadelphia Infection and Immunity Forum. Natasha is also highly committed to community service, including by serving as a volunteer with the Penn Contact Tracing Program and with the Medical Reserve Corp at the South Philadelphia COVID-19 testing site during the pandemic. It has been a true pleasure and honor to serve as Natasha’s thesis advisor. I am so proud of Dr. Lopes Fischer and everything that she has accomplished during her time at Penn. I look forward to her continued success!

Thesis Title: Evasion of innate immunity by the pathogen Coxiella burnetii
Research and Lab Description: My thesis work in the Shin lab investigated how the pathogen Coxiella burnetii interacts with and evades the host innate immune response. Our lab broadly studies the host-pathogen interplay between the innate immune system and bacterial pathogens.
Post PhD Plans: Postdoctoral Fellow at Regeneron.
Mentor Comment: Natasha’s thesis research provided fundamental and mechanistic insight into how the emerging bacterial pathogen Coxiella burnetii employs bacterial effector proteins to evade the innate immune response. Natasha is an exceptional scientist, and her creative insight and perseverance was critical to making a major scientific breakthrough in our understanding of this intracellular pathogen that is highly challenging to study. Natasha is also a highly collaborative, caring, and thoughtful person who is always willing to help others, and she was an excellent mentor to several students in our lab. In addition, Natasha helped promote a supportive and inclusive environment within our lab and the CAMB and BGS community in many ways, including by holding a leadership position on the Executive Board of the Penn SACNAS chapter. Natasha also took on other important leadership roles that greatly benefited the scientific community within the greater Philadelphia region, including by serving as Co-Vice President and then Co-President of the student chapter of the Eastern Pennsylvania Branch of the American Society for Microbiology and co-organizing the Philadelphia Infection and Immunity Forum. Natasha is also highly committed to community service, including by serving as a volunteer with the Penn Contact Tracing Program and with the Medical Reserve Corp at the South Philadelphia COVID-19 testing site during the pandemic. It has been a true pleasure and honor to serve as Natasha’s thesis advisor. I am so proud of Dr. Lopes Fischer and everything that she has accomplished during her time at Penn. I look forward to her continued success!

Tomaz Manzoni

Tomaz Manzoni
 Mentor: Paul Bates, PhD
Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology Program

Thesis Title: Development of Novel Vaccination Strategies Against Emerging Bunyaviruses
Research and Lab Description: My thesis focused on developing vaccine platforms against severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), specifically using mRNA and VSV based vaccines in homologous or heterologous regimens. The Bates lab focuses on the virology of emerging Bunyaviruses with projects assessing mechanisms of viral entry, exit, and immune regulation as well as projects associated with vaccine development.
Post PhD Plans: My post PhD plans are to pursue a career in medical writing/science communication.

Thesis Title: Development of Novel Vaccination Strategies Against Emerging Bunyaviruses
Research and Lab Description: My thesis focused on developing vaccine platforms against severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), specifically using mRNA and VSV based vaccines in homologous or heterologous regimens. The Bates lab focuses on the virology of emerging Bunyaviruses with projects assessing mechanisms of viral entry, exit, and immune regulation as well as projects associated with vaccine development.
Post PhD Plans: My post PhD plans are to pursue a career in medical writing/science communication.

Danielle Minichino

Danielle Minichino
 Mentor: Edward Behrens, MD
Cell Biology, Physiology, and Metabolism Program
Graduate Training in Medical Science (GTMS) Certificate

Thesis Title: NOVEL MECHANISMS OF BRAF-V600E REGULATION OF INFLAMMATION IN DENDRITIC CELLS OF LANGERHANS CELL HISTIOCYTOSIS
Research and Lab Description: Danielle’s thesis work focused on how the expression of oncogenic BRAF-V600E effects inflammatory mechanisms of dendritic cells, which is relevant for a rare pediatric disease called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis.  The Behrens’ lab uses mouse models to study a variety of inflammatory mechanisms within the scope of hyper-inflammatory diseases.
Post PhD Plans: Danielle accepted a position as a Life Science Specialist at L.E.K. Consulting in Manhattan.
Mentor Comment: Danielle was a true pleasure to work with during her thesis. She had the courage to take on new directions, the tenacity to pursue the tough answers, and the intellect to put it all together. I am so proud of everything she has accomplished and wish her the best for her future career.

Thesis Title: NOVEL MECHANISMS OF BRAF-V600E REGULATION OF INFLAMMATION IN DENDRITIC CELLS OF LANGERHANS CELL HISTIOCYTOSIS
Research and Lab Description: Danielle’s thesis work focused on how the expression of oncogenic BRAF-V600E effects inflammatory mechanisms of dendritic cells, which is relevant for a rare pediatric disease called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis.  The Behrens’ lab uses mouse models to study a variety of inflammatory mechanisms within the scope of hyper-inflammatory diseases.
Post PhD Plans: Danielle accepted a position as a Life Science Specialist at L.E.K. Consulting in Manhattan.
Mentor Comment: Danielle was a true pleasure to work with during her thesis. She had the courage to take on new directions, the tenacity to pursue the tough answers, and the intellect to put it all together. I am so proud of everything she has accomplished and wish her the best for her future career.

Nawar Naseer

Nawar Naseer
 Mentor: Sunny Shin, PhD
Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology Program
Public Health Certificate Program (PHCP) Certificate
2022 CAMB Community Service Award Recipient
President & Provost's Honor for Developing New Initiatives in Graduate & Professional Student Life Recipient

Thesis Title: INVESTIGATING HUMAN CELL TYPE-SPECIFIC INFLAMMASOME RESPONSES TO SALMONELLA INFECTION
Research and Lab Description: I investigated how different human cells, such as intestinal epithelial cells and macrophages, use host guard proteins known as inflammasomes to sense and respond to Salmonella infection.  I conducted my thesis work in the Shin Lab, which broadly focuses on understanding how mammalian hosts use innate immune mechanisms to defend themselves against intracellular bacterial pathogens, and how such pathogens evade host innate immunity to cause disease.
Post PhD Plans: I currently serve as a scientific advisor for the GoVax Phillly project, where I train COVID-19 vaccine ambassadors to increase vaccine uptake in underserved neighborhoods of Philadelphia. Upon completing my Master of Public Health (MPH) from Penn in May 2022, I plan to use my multidisciplinary training in basic science and public health to bridge the gap between research and practice, and pursue community-engaged public health research.
Mentor Comment: Nawar’s thesis research provided fundamental insight into how the innate immune response senses and restricts Salmonella Typhimurium infection in macrophages and intestinal epithelial cells and evolutionary differences between cell type-specific mouse and human immune responses. Nawar is a superb scientist, collaborator, and mentor to several students in our lab. She is also a thoughtful, kind, and generous person who helped promote a supportive and inclusive environment within our lab and the CAMB and BGS community in many ways. Notably, she was the co-founder of the Minority Support Network, now called the Trainee Advocacy Alliance, and helped establish the CAMB Racial Equity and Action Lecture Series. Nawar also took on other important leadership roles that greatly benefited the scientific community within the greater Philadelphia region, including by serving as Co-Vice President and then Co-President of the student chapter of the Eastern Pennsylvania Branch of the American Society for Microbiology and co-organizing the Philadelphia Infection and Immunity Forum. Nawar is also highly committed to community service and public health. Notable highlights were Nawar’s leadership roles in Muslims Serve and in establishing and leading the Penn Contact Tracing Program during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been truly a pleasure and honor to serve as Nawar’s thesis advisor. I am so proud of Dr. Naseer and all that she has accomplished during her time at Penn. I look forward to her continued success!

Thesis Title: INVESTIGATING HUMAN CELL TYPE-SPECIFIC INFLAMMASOME RESPONSES TO SALMONELLA INFECTION
Research and Lab Description: I investigated how different human cells, such as intestinal epithelial cells and macrophages, use host guard proteins known as inflammasomes to sense and respond to Salmonella infection.  I conducted my thesis work in the Shin Lab, which broadly focuses on understanding how mammalian hosts use innate immune mechanisms to defend themselves against intracellular bacterial pathogens, and how such pathogens evade host innate immunity to cause disease.
Post PhD Plans: I currently serve as a scientific advisor for the GoVax Phillly project, where I train COVID-19 vaccine ambassadors to increase vaccine uptake in underserved neighborhoods of Philadelphia. Upon completing my Master of Public Health (MPH) from Penn in May 2022, I plan to use my multidisciplinary training in basic science and public health to bridge the gap between research and practice, and pursue community-engaged public health research.
Mentor Comment: Nawar’s thesis research provided fundamental insight into how the innate immune response senses and restricts Salmonella Typhimurium infection in macrophages and intestinal epithelial cells and evolutionary differences between cell type-specific mouse and human immune responses. Nawar is a superb scientist, collaborator, and mentor to several students in our lab. She is also a thoughtful, kind, and generous person who helped promote a supportive and inclusive environment within our lab and the CAMB and BGS community in many ways. Notably, she was the co-founder of the Minority Support Network, now called the Trainee Advocacy Alliance, and helped establish the CAMB Racial Equity and Action Lecture Series. Nawar also took on other important leadership roles that greatly benefited the scientific community within the greater Philadelphia region, including by serving as Co-Vice President and then Co-President of the student chapter of the Eastern Pennsylvania Branch of the American Society for Microbiology and co-organizing the Philadelphia Infection and Immunity Forum. Nawar is also highly committed to community service and public health. Notable highlights were Nawar’s leadership roles in Muslims Serve and in establishing and leading the Penn Contact Tracing Program during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been truly a pleasure and honor to serve as Nawar’s thesis advisor. I am so proud of Dr. Naseer and all that she has accomplished during her time at Penn. I look forward to her continued success!

Joshua Parris

Joshua Parris
 Mentor: Maureen Murphy, PhD
Cancer Biology Program
Certificate in Biomedical Informatics

Thesis Title: Contribution of the tumor microenvironment to the efficacy of cancer therapy
Mentor Comment: Josh was a true triple threat.  First, he was creative: he came up with his thesis project entirely on his own.  Second, he was careful and rigorous in his experiments.  And finally, he was a true humanitarian, who worked selflessly to help others in the lab, and in his community.  It has been my privilege to serve as his thesis mentor.

Thesis Title: Contribution of the tumor microenvironment to the efficacy of cancer therapy
Mentor Comment: Josh was a true triple threat.  First, he was creative: he came up with his thesis project entirely on his own.  Second, he was careful and rigorous in his experiments.  And finally, he was a true humanitarian, who worked selflessly to help others in the lab, and in his community.  It has been my privilege to serve as his thesis mentor.

Katherine Quiroz-Figueroa

Katherine Quiroz-Figueroa
 Mentor: Daniel Rader, MD
Gene Therapy and Vaccines Program

Thesis Title: Functional characterization of TRIB1, a gene associated with multiple cardiometabolic traits.
Research and Lab Description: The Rader laboratory focuses on studying novel pathways regulating lipid and lipoprotein metabolism and atherosclerosis inspired by unbiased human genetic studies
Post PhD Plans: Medical writer at Nucleus Global
Mentor Comment: Katherine has a warm and enthusiastic personality that was reflected in the easy way she accumulated friends both in the lab and across campus. In parallel with her research work, she actively worked to promote URM recruitment and retention in STEM at Penn including serving in her role as President of the Ernest E. Just (EE Just) Biomedical Society.
Katherine’s research significantly advanced our understanding of an important cardiometabolic pathway by showing that TRIB1 regulates the clearance of LDL particles from circulation, and by identifying ATF3 as a novel component of this pathway through its repression of LDLR transcription. Katherine’s dissertation work and defense were completed under challenging COVID-related restrictions, despite which she persevered in successfully completing a pivotal in vivoexperiment requested by reviewers.

Thesis Title: Functional characterization of TRIB1, a gene associated with multiple cardiometabolic traits.
Research and Lab Description: The Rader laboratory focuses on studying novel pathways regulating lipid and lipoprotein metabolism and atherosclerosis inspired by unbiased human genetic studies
Post PhD Plans: Medical writer at Nucleus Global
Mentor Comment: Katherine has a warm and enthusiastic personality that was reflected in the easy way she accumulated friends both in the lab and across campus. In parallel with her research work, she actively worked to promote URM recruitment and retention in STEM at Penn including serving in her role as President of the Ernest E. Just (EE Just) Biomedical Society.
Katherine’s research significantly advanced our understanding of an important cardiometabolic pathway by showing that TRIB1 regulates the clearance of LDL particles from circulation, and by identifying ATF3 as a novel component of this pathway through its repression of LDLR transcription. Katherine’s dissertation work and defense were completed under challenging COVID-related restrictions, despite which she persevered in successfully completing a pivotal in vivoexperiment requested by reviewers.

Osvaldo Rivera

Osvaldo Rivera
 Mentors: Yoseph Barash, PhD and Kristen Lynch, PhD
Cancer Biology Program

Thesis Title: Alternative mRNA splicing redefines the landscape of commonly dysregulated genes across the acute myeloid leukemia patient population.
Mentor Comments: Osvaldo joined the Barynch (Barash+Lynch) labs as a joint student working in the intersection of Bioinformatics, RNA, and Cancer Genomics. Although Osvaldo came to Penn with little computational and cancer background, he made up for this with his determination to learn and improve, attention to analysis details, beautiful presentations, weight lifting, and dancing skills. Ultimately, Osvaldo led beautiful work, from start to finish, to identify patterns of aberrant splicing in key AML genes. We are extremely proud of Osvaldo's path and how it led him to land multiple offers in both academia and industry for his next career step - Best of luck with it and may your coquito always taste so good!

Thesis Title: Alternative mRNA splicing redefines the landscape of commonly dysregulated genes across the acute myeloid leukemia patient population.
Mentor Comments: Osvaldo joined the Barynch (Barash+Lynch) labs as a joint student working in the intersection of Bioinformatics, RNA, and Cancer Genomics. Although Osvaldo came to Penn with little computational and cancer background, he made up for this with his determination to learn and improve, attention to analysis details, beautiful presentations, weight lifting, and dancing skills. Ultimately, Osvaldo led beautiful work, from start to finish, to identify patterns of aberrant splicing in key AML genes. We are extremely proud of Osvaldo's path and how it led him to land multiple offers in both academia and industry for his next career step - Best of luck with it and may your coquito always taste so good!

Ryan Roark

Ryan Roark
 Mentor: George Shaw, MD, PhD
Gene Therapy and Vaccines Program

Thesis Title: Recapitulation of HIV-1 V2 apex envelope-antibody coevolution in rhesus macaques
Research and Lab Description: My thesis work identified convergent features of both HIV-1 envelope evolution and broadly neutralizing HIV-1 antibody development in humans and rhesus macaques that may be leveraged for rational immunogen design. The Shaw Lab is highly supportive and dynamic group that specializes in viral phylogenetics, and has most recently pioneered the use of a rhesus macaque model of HIV-1 infection to serve as a molecular guide for HIV-1 vaccine design.
Post PhD Plans: Postdoctoral Researcher at Columbia University studying structural immunology
Mentor Comment: Ryan’s work in the lab culminated in a first author Science article, which revealed surprising and important similarities in human and rhesus B cell responses to HIV-1. This was a landmark achievement and speaks volumes to his skills and talents at the bench as well as his deep understanding of primate immunobiology. Ryan’s professional attributes were matched by his personal ones; it was a privilege for me to watch him mature from a young post-bac at the NIH to an only slightly older graduate of the Penn program. His future is very bright.

Thesis Title: Recapitulation of HIV-1 V2 apex envelope-antibody coevolution in rhesus macaques
Research and Lab Description: My thesis work identified convergent features of both HIV-1 envelope evolution and broadly neutralizing HIV-1 antibody development in humans and rhesus macaques that may be leveraged for rational immunogen design. The Shaw Lab is highly supportive and dynamic group that specializes in viral phylogenetics, and has most recently pioneered the use of a rhesus macaque model of HIV-1 infection to serve as a molecular guide for HIV-1 vaccine design.
Post PhD Plans: Postdoctoral Researcher at Columbia University studying structural immunology
Mentor Comment: Ryan’s work in the lab culminated in a first author Science article, which revealed surprising and important similarities in human and rhesus B cell responses to HIV-1. This was a landmark achievement and speaks volumes to his skills and talents at the bench as well as his deep understanding of primate immunobiology. Ryan’s professional attributes were matched by his personal ones; it was a privilege for me to watch him mature from a young post-bac at the NIH to an only slightly older graduate of the Penn program. His future is very bright.

Jonathan Rumley

Jonathan Rumley
 Mentor: John Murray, PhD
Genetics and Epigenetics Program

Thesis Title: Regulation Of Anterior Gene Expression In The Caenorhabditis Eleganse Embryo
Research and Lab Description: I studied the regulation of a set of five anterior-expressed genes in the C. elegans embryo with a focus on ref-2. I demonstrated that all five anterior genes, including ref-2, are regulated by the Wnt pathway components pop-1/TCF and sys-1/β-catenin, that ref-2 requires the transcription factors tbx-37 and tbx-38 for anterior expression, and that a predicted TBX-37/TBX-38 binding site from a ref-2 enhancer, when multimerized, is sufficient to drive anterior-biased expression. The Murray lab seeks to understand how genomes control animal development by using whole-organism live-cell imaging, and genomics methods, combined with classical genetics, to study gene regulation across the entire embryo of the model organism C. elegans.
Mentor Comments: It has been a real pleasure to work with Jonathan for his PhD research. His project identified novel mechanisms regulating anterior fates during C. elegans embryonic development. Jonathan had to overcome many hardships including the pandemic lab shutdowns and several other unexpected challenges in the lab, but he handled these admirably and has grown into a truly independent scientist. He asks good questions and brings a rigorous and systematic mindset to his scientific work and I am excited to see how his career progresses.

Thesis Title: Regulation Of Anterior Gene Expression In The Caenorhabditis Eleganse Embryo
Research and Lab Description: I studied the regulation of a set of five anterior-expressed genes in the C. elegans embryo with a focus on ref-2. I demonstrated that all five anterior genes, including ref-2, are regulated by the Wnt pathway components pop-1/TCF and sys-1/β-catenin, that ref-2 requires the transcription factors tbx-37 and tbx-38 for anterior expression, and that a predicted TBX-37/TBX-38 binding site from a ref-2 enhancer, when multimerized, is sufficient to drive anterior-biased expression. The Murray lab seeks to understand how genomes control animal development by using whole-organism live-cell imaging, and genomics methods, combined with classical genetics, to study gene regulation across the entire embryo of the model organism C. elegans.
Mentor Comments: It has been a real pleasure to work with Jonathan for his PhD research. His project identified novel mechanisms regulating anterior fates during C. elegans embryonic development. Jonathan had to overcome many hardships including the pandemic lab shutdowns and several other unexpected challenges in the lab, but he handled these admirably and has grown into a truly independent scientist. He asks good questions and brings a rigorous and systematic mindset to his scientific work and I am excited to see how his career progresses.

Samantha Russell

Samantha Russell
 Mentor: Greg Bashaw, PhD
Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology Program

Thesis Title: Netrin-independent Fra signaling in oogenesis and axon guidance
Mentor Comment: It was a very rewarding experience watching Sam develop and flourish as a scientist. Her enthusiasm and positive outlook helped her navigate the many twists and turns of her thesis project, which led us to a completely new research area in the lab. She was able to capitalize on an unexpected discovery of a role for an axon guidance receptor in the developing germ line and made a series of really interesting discoveries. I am proud of all of Sam’s accomplishments and I look forward to watching her continued development as a postdoctoral fellow and beyond.

Thesis Title: Netrin-independent Fra signaling in oogenesis and axon guidance
Mentor Comment: It was a very rewarding experience watching Sam develop and flourish as a scientist. Her enthusiasm and positive outlook helped her navigate the many twists and turns of her thesis project, which led us to a completely new research area in the lab. She was able to capitalize on an unexpected discovery of a role for an axon guidance receptor in the developing germ line and made a series of really interesting discoveries. I am proud of all of Sam’s accomplishments and I look forward to watching her continued development as a postdoctoral fellow and beyond.

Alexandra Sacharok

Alexandra Sacharok
 Mentor: Joseph St. Geme III, MD
Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology Program

Thesis Title: Kingella kingae PilC1 and PilC2 are adhesins with distinct roles in type IV pilus-mediated processes
Mentor Comment: Alex has performed beautiful work in pursuing studies of Kingella kingae, an important cause of invasive bacterial disease in young children.  She has characterized the molecular mechanism of Kingella pilus-mediated adherence and established that the pilus-associated PilC1 and PilC2 proteins are multifunctional and play a key role in the process of respiratory tract colonization, an essential first step in the pathogenesis of disease. She has also made the exciting observation that Kingella has co-opted a eukaryotic adhesive motif for promoting adherence to host structures.  It's been a treat to watch her develop as a scientist.

Thesis Title: Kingella kingae PilC1 and PilC2 are adhesins with distinct roles in type IV pilus-mediated processes
Mentor Comment: Alex has performed beautiful work in pursuing studies of Kingella kingae, an important cause of invasive bacterial disease in young children.  She has characterized the molecular mechanism of Kingella pilus-mediated adherence and established that the pilus-associated PilC1 and PilC2 proteins are multifunctional and play a key role in the process of respiratory tract colonization, an essential first step in the pathogenesis of disease. She has also made the exciting observation that Kingella has co-opted a eukaryotic adhesive motif for promoting adherence to host structures.  It's been a treat to watch her develop as a scientist.

Alexander Salomon

Alexander Salomon
 Mentor: Benjamin Prosser, PhD
Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology Program

Thesis Title: Microtubule post-translational detyrosination coordinates network stability and mechanics in the cardiomyocyte
Mentor Comment: Alex brought an energy, creativity and open-mindedness to the lab that is certainly missed – along with his sense of humor.  Through strong perseverance he produced an extensive body of work during his PhD, and demonstrated a clear mastery of his scientific niche in his dissertation.  Alex enjoys thinking deeply about complex scientific problems, and distilling them down to core elements that are digestible to many, a skill that will serve him well in his career ahead.

Thesis Title: Microtubule post-translational detyrosination coordinates network stability and mechanics in the cardiomyocyte
Mentor Comment: Alex brought an energy, creativity and open-mindedness to the lab that is certainly missed – along with his sense of humor.  Through strong perseverance he produced an extensive body of work during his PhD, and demonstrated a clear mastery of his scientific niche in his dissertation.  Alex enjoys thinking deeply about complex scientific problems, and distilling them down to core elements that are digestible to many, a skill that will serve him well in his career ahead.

Prioty Sarwar

Prioty Sarwar
 Mentor: Paul Planet, MD, PhD
Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology Program
2022 CAMB Community Service Award Recipient
President & Provost's Honor for Developing New Initiatives in Graduate & Professional Student Life Recipient

Thesis Title: Prevotella phylogeny: Genomic and molecular insights into the role of the human commensal Prevotella in health and disease
Mentor Comment: Prioty is an excellent scientist with the ability to tackle novel problems in difficult systems.  She contributed truly seminal work on the genus Prevotella and its critical role in the microbiome that will lead to new questions and a major reorganization of how we understand this organism that colonizes universally in human populations and may be an underappreciated cause of disease.  Prioty’s hard work, critical eye, and great sense of humor made her a pillar of the laboratory, and she will be missed as she moves on to what I am sure will be an outstanding career as a scientist.

Thesis Title: Prevotella phylogeny: Genomic and molecular insights into the role of the human commensal Prevotella in health and disease
Mentor Comment: Prioty is an excellent scientist with the ability to tackle novel problems in difficult systems.  She contributed truly seminal work on the genus Prevotella and its critical role in the microbiome that will lead to new questions and a major reorganization of how we understand this organism that colonizes universally in human populations and may be an underappreciated cause of disease.  Prioty’s hard work, critical eye, and great sense of humor made her a pillar of the laboratory, and she will be missed as she moves on to what I am sure will be an outstanding career as a scientist.

Elisha Segrist

Elisha Segrist
 Mentor: Sara Cherry, PhD
Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology Program
Public Health Certificate Program (PHCP) Certificate

Thesis Title: TISSUE SPECIFIC IMMUNITY: A STUDY OF ANTIVIRAL DEFENSES AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE MICROBIOTA
Research and Lab Description: My thesis focused on understanding how the microbiota influences enteric antiviral immunity. I completed my thesis work in the lab of Dr. Sara Cherry where I got a lot of freedom to explore whatever interested me through various side projects and collaborations with others in the lab. I am so grateful for Sara’s sponsorship and guidance throughout my time in her lab.
Post PhD Plans: I have accepted a postdoctoral fellowship position in the lab of Dr. Yasmine Belkaid at NIAID. 
Mentor Comment: Elisha was a trailblazer in the lab. Her creativity and technical prowess led her to make fundamental discoveries on the role of cyclic dinucleotides in regulating enteric antiviral immunity. Her discoveries lay the foundation for our future studies understanding of the interplay between the microbiota and intestinal defenses, and she will be sorely missed.

Thesis Title: TISSUE SPECIFIC IMMUNITY: A STUDY OF ANTIVIRAL DEFENSES AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE MICROBIOTA
Research and Lab Description: My thesis focused on understanding how the microbiota influences enteric antiviral immunity. I completed my thesis work in the lab of Dr. Sara Cherry where I got a lot of freedom to explore whatever interested me through various side projects and collaborations with others in the lab. I am so grateful for Sara’s sponsorship and guidance throughout my time in her lab.
Post PhD Plans: I have accepted a postdoctoral fellowship position in the lab of Dr. Yasmine Belkaid at NIAID. 
Mentor Comment: Elisha was a trailblazer in the lab. Her creativity and technical prowess led her to make fundamental discoveries on the role of cyclic dinucleotides in regulating enteric antiviral immunity. Her discoveries lay the foundation for our future studies understanding of the interplay between the microbiota and intestinal defenses, and she will be sorely missed.

Jennifer Shah

Jennifer Shah
 Mentor: Katherine Nathanson, MD
Cancer Biology Program

Thesis Title: Analysis of Matched Primary and Recurrent BRCA1/2 Mutation-associated Tumors Identifies Recurrence-specific Drivers
Research and Lab Description: For my thesis, I used a multi-omic approach to examine the molecular mechanisms behind breast and ovarian cancer recurrence in patients with germline BRCA1/2 mutations. More generally, the lab employs a variety of next-generation sequencing approaches to study the genetic basis and landscapes of different tumors, including melanoma, testicular germ cell tumors, and neuroendocrine tumors.
Post PhD Plans: I am a bioinformatic scientist at Illumina. I work on software that helps clinicians diagnose rare undiagnosed genetic diseases using whole genome sequencing.
Mentor Comment: Jenn was an absolutely wonderful graduate student to have in the laboratory.  She came to our lab as she pivoted her interests to computational analysis, and acquired impressive skills along the way.  Jenn is extremely thoughtful and asks insightful questions, which greatly contributed to everyone’s research projects in the laboratory.  I was continually impressed by her ability to advance her project, and have no doubt that she will succeed in her chosen career. 

Thesis Title: Analysis of Matched Primary and Recurrent BRCA1/2 Mutation-associated Tumors Identifies Recurrence-specific Drivers
Research and Lab Description: For my thesis, I used a multi-omic approach to examine the molecular mechanisms behind breast and ovarian cancer recurrence in patients with germline BRCA1/2 mutations. More generally, the lab employs a variety of next-generation sequencing approaches to study the genetic basis and landscapes of different tumors, including melanoma, testicular germ cell tumors, and neuroendocrine tumors.
Post PhD Plans: I am a bioinformatic scientist at Illumina. I work on software that helps clinicians diagnose rare undiagnosed genetic diseases using whole genome sequencing.
Mentor Comment: Jenn was an absolutely wonderful graduate student to have in the laboratory.  She came to our lab as she pivoted her interests to computational analysis, and acquired impressive skills along the way.  Jenn is extremely thoughtful and asks insightful questions, which greatly contributed to everyone’s research projects in the laboratory.  I was continually impressed by her ability to advance her project, and have no doubt that she will succeed in her chosen career. 

Jaimarie Sostre

Jaimarie Sostre
 Mentor: Paul Titchenell, PhD
Cancer Biology Program

Thesis Title: Elucidating the role of hepatic FOXO1 signaling in the regulation of adipose tissue biology
Mentor Comment: It has been a real pleasure to mentor and work with Jaimarie over the last few years. She is a star and has driven several projects on her own while also contributing to many others projects in and outside of my lab. Jaimarie’s studies represent important contributions to the field of insulin signaling and inter-organ communication in metabolism. She is dedicated, rigorous and true pleasure to have in the lab. There is no doubt that Jaimarie will be a leader in her career and I am anxiously looking forward to admiring her success in the years to come.

Thesis Title: Elucidating the role of hepatic FOXO1 signaling in the regulation of adipose tissue biology
Mentor Comment: It has been a real pleasure to mentor and work with Jaimarie over the last few years. She is a star and has driven several projects on her own while also contributing to many others projects in and outside of my lab. Jaimarie’s studies represent important contributions to the field of insulin signaling and inter-organ communication in metabolism. She is dedicated, rigorous and true pleasure to have in the lab. There is no doubt that Jaimarie will be a leader in her career and I am anxiously looking forward to admiring her success in the years to come.

Tiffany Tsang

Tiffany Tsang
 Mentor: Donita Brady, PhD
Cancer Biology Program
2020 Blavatnik Family Fellowship Recipient

Thesis Title: Copper metabolism directly influences kinase functionality to modulate signal transduction in cancer
Research and Lab Description: The Brady lab has identified that protein kinases can bind copper and that this interaction can influence the activity of kinases. My research focused on elucidating the copper binding kinome and how this newfound mechanism of kinase regulation can then be targeted for anticancer therapy.
Post PhD Plans: Currently I am a Research Scientist at the Broad Institute within the PRISM group.
Mentor Comment: Tiffany entered into her PhD studies in the CAMB Cancer Biology Program with a proven research track record and immediately demonstrated a remarkable depth of scientific thinking and impressive command of experimental approaches. She provided fundamental insights towards a central role for Cu in kinase signal transduction in the context of cellular energy homeostasis and oncogene-driven tumorigenesis. Beyond her own thesis work, Tiffany positively contributed to the lab culture and the CAMB graduate group by selflessly aiding her peers with their research projects, which is illustrated by in inclusion as a first author or co-author on over eight peer reviewed publications. Tiffany also served as an outstanding mentor to several undergraduates and volunteered her time on the weekend to help facilitate a unique lab experience for middle school aged students.  It was truly an honor to be her PhD mentor.

Thesis Title: Copper metabolism directly influences kinase functionality to modulate signal transduction in cancer
Research and Lab Description: The Brady lab has identified that protein kinases can bind copper and that this interaction can influence the activity of kinases. My research focused on elucidating the copper binding kinome and how this newfound mechanism of kinase regulation can then be targeted for anticancer therapy.
Post PhD Plans: Currently I am a Research Scientist at the Broad Institute within the PRISM group.
Mentor Comment: Tiffany entered into her PhD studies in the CAMB Cancer Biology Program with a proven research track record and immediately demonstrated a remarkable depth of scientific thinking and impressive command of experimental approaches. She provided fundamental insights towards a central role for Cu in kinase signal transduction in the context of cellular energy homeostasis and oncogene-driven tumorigenesis. Beyond her own thesis work, Tiffany positively contributed to the lab culture and the CAMB graduate group by selflessly aiding her peers with their research projects, which is illustrated by in inclusion as a first author or co-author on over eight peer reviewed publications. Tiffany also served as an outstanding mentor to several undergraduates and volunteered her time on the weekend to help facilitate a unique lab experience for middle school aged students.  It was truly an honor to be her PhD mentor.

Fangxue Yan

Fangxue Yan
 Mentor: M. Andres Blanco, PhD
Cancer Biology Program
2021 Blavatnik Family Fellowship Recipient

Thesis Title: KAT6A initiates an epigenetic transcriptional control module to drive oncogene expression in acute myeloid leukemia
Research and Lab Description: The Blanco lab studies epigenetic regulation in the context of cancer, aiming to uncover new cancer-related mechanisms and therapeutics.
Post PhD Plans: Consultant at Bain&Company (Beijing office)
Mentor Comment: Fangxue (Yumi) has been an absolutely phenomenal graduate student from start to finish! Her extraordinary talent is matched only by her remarkable passion and work ethic. With this combination, she surmounted all hurdles that came her way and accomplished a PhD thesis that is nothing short of brilliant. Congratulations Yumi, it’s been a true honor to work with you! Enjoy your path forward – the sky is the limit!

Thesis Title: KAT6A initiates an epigenetic transcriptional control module to drive oncogene expression in acute myeloid leukemia
Research and Lab Description: The Blanco lab studies epigenetic regulation in the context of cancer, aiming to uncover new cancer-related mechanisms and therapeutics.
Post PhD Plans: Consultant at Bain&Company (Beijing office)
Mentor Comment: Fangxue (Yumi) has been an absolutely phenomenal graduate student from start to finish! Her extraordinary talent is matched only by her remarkable passion and work ethic. With this combination, she surmounted all hurdles that came her way and accomplished a PhD thesis that is nothing short of brilliant. Congratulations Yumi, it’s been a true honor to work with you! Enjoy your path forward – the sky is the limit!

Tammy Ying

Tammy Ying
 Mentor: Rebecca Simmons, MD
Genetics and Epigenetics Program

Thesis Title: The role of Interleukin-4 receptor signaling in neonatal adipocyte precursors
Mentor Comment: Tammy is an incredibly hard working, dedicated scientist who went above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She worked tirelessly during a difficult and challenging time. Her research for the first time identified a key role for IL-4 in adipogenesis in the newborn animal. This novel observation will lay the foundation for a better understanding of adipogenesis in the developing animal. I wish her the best and look forward to seeing her future accomplishments.

Thesis Title: The role of Interleukin-4 receptor signaling in neonatal adipocyte precursors
Mentor Comment: Tammy is an incredibly hard working, dedicated scientist who went above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. She worked tirelessly during a difficult and challenging time. Her research for the first time identified a key role for IL-4 in adipogenesis in the newborn animal. This novel observation will lay the foundation for a better understanding of adipogenesis in the developing animal. I wish her the best and look forward to seeing her future accomplishments.

Sixiang Yu

Sixiang Yu
 Mentor: Xiaolu Yang, PhD
Cancer Biology Program

Thesis Title: Investigating the role of chaperone-mediated autophagy in glioma stem cells
Mentor Comment:  It has been a great joy to have Sixiang in the lab and to watch him develop into a highly competent scientist. Sixiang is passionate about this work and is persistent in the face of difficulties. He completed his thesis project during the challenging time of the pandemic with strength and calmness. His main research project concerns cancer stem cells, an area that was completely new to our lab, and his results provided fundamental insights into the molecular mechanisms that govern the self-renewal and differentiation of glioma stem cells. Sixiang is also an enthusiastic collaborative and contributed significantly to several other major projects in the lab. I look forward to seeing his future accomplishments! 

Thesis Title: Investigating the role of chaperone-mediated autophagy in glioma stem cells
Mentor Comment:  It has been a great joy to have Sixiang in the lab and to watch him develop into a highly competent scientist. Sixiang is passionate about this work and is persistent in the face of difficulties. He completed his thesis project during the challenging time of the pandemic with strength and calmness. His main research project concerns cancer stem cells, an area that was completely new to our lab, and his results provided fundamental insights into the molecular mechanisms that govern the self-renewal and differentiation of glioma stem cells. Sixiang is also an enthusiastic collaborative and contributed significantly to several other major projects in the lab. I look forward to seeing his future accomplishments! 

Yeqiao Zhou

Yeqiao Zhou
 Mentors: Robert Faryabi, PhD and Warren Pear, MD, PhD
Genetics and Epigenetics Program

Thesis Title: Regulation Of Genome Topology In Notch-Mutated Cancers
Research and Lab Description: My PhD work focused on how signaling-dependent transcription factors such as Notch and lineage-determining factors such as TCF1 and EBF1 mediate chromatin looping in triple-negative breast cancer, T-cell leukemia and B-cell lymphoma. Our lab is generally interested in how chromatin conformation contributes to drug response and drug resistance in cancers.
Post PhD Plans: My short-term post-graduation plan is to continue the exciting projects I initiated in Faryabi lab as a postdoc.
Mentor Comment: When it comes to science, Yeqiao does not recognize boundaries. Before joining the lab, my lab had done next to nothing with genome topology and drug resistance. Yeqiao decided to just do both for her thesis project. By operating at the cutting-edge of both technological and biological advancements, Yeqiao’s studies provided fundamental insights into the role of genome topology plasticity and regulation in cancer therapy resistance. Perhaps most impressive is Yeqiao’s scientific generosity, and her ability to contribute to almost every project in the lab during her PhD studies. She will be an incredible scientist and invaluable colleague wherever her path leads.

Thesis Title: Regulation Of Genome Topology In Notch-Mutated Cancers
Research and Lab Description: My PhD work focused on how signaling-dependent transcription factors such as Notch and lineage-determining factors such as TCF1 and EBF1 mediate chromatin looping in triple-negative breast cancer, T-cell leukemia and B-cell lymphoma. Our lab is generally interested in how chromatin conformation contributes to drug response and drug resistance in cancers.
Post PhD Plans: My short-term post-graduation plan is to continue the exciting projects I initiated in Faryabi lab as a postdoc.
Mentor Comment: When it comes to science, Yeqiao does not recognize boundaries. Before joining the lab, my lab had done next to nothing with genome topology and drug resistance. Yeqiao decided to just do both for her thesis project. By operating at the cutting-edge of both technological and biological advancements, Yeqiao’s studies provided fundamental insights into the role of genome topology plasticity and regulation in cancer therapy resistance. Perhaps most impressive is Yeqiao’s scientific generosity, and her ability to contribute to almost every project in the lab during her PhD studies. She will be an incredible scientist and invaluable colleague wherever her path leads.


Combined Degree, MD-PhD

Rafael Fernandez

Rafael Fernandez
 Mentor: F. Bradley Johnson, MD, PhD
Cancer Biology Program

Thesis Title: GSK3 inhibitors rescue telomere defects in Dyskeratosis Congenita iPS derived AT2 Cells
Research and Lab Description: Rafi’s thesis focused on how short telomeres affect AT2 cells and he found that a specific drug could rescue the telomeric defects. Brad’s lab is a wonderful place to learn how to do science, from the big picture to the nitty gritty details.
Post PhD Plans: Rafi’s pursuing residency in Internal Medicine at Vanderbilt with the hopes of becoming a Pulmonary/Critical-Care physician focused on studying pulmonary fibrosis.
Mentor Comment: It has been a pleasure to work with Rafi, who successfully and nearly single-handedly established a new and technically challenging model system in my lab to investigate how telomere dysfunction impacts human lung alveolar epithelial cells.  He did this with a high degree of independence but also drew upon his remarkably affable nature to enlist the help of experts across both the Penn campus and the broader lung biology field.  Rafi also served as a caring mentor to several other students in the lab.  We will miss him dearly, but also look forward to witnessing his many future successes.

Thesis Title: GSK3 inhibitors rescue telomere defects in Dyskeratosis Congenita iPS derived AT2 Cells
Research and Lab Description: Rafi’s thesis focused on how short telomeres affect AT2 cells and he found that a specific drug could rescue the telomeric defects. Brad’s lab is a wonderful place to learn how to do science, from the big picture to the nitty gritty details.
Post PhD Plans: Rafi’s pursuing residency in Internal Medicine at Vanderbilt with the hopes of becoming a Pulmonary/Critical-Care physician focused on studying pulmonary fibrosis.
Mentor Comment: It has been a pleasure to work with Rafi, who successfully and nearly single-handedly established a new and technically challenging model system in my lab to investigate how telomere dysfunction impacts human lung alveolar epithelial cells.  He did this with a high degree of independence but also drew upon his remarkably affable nature to enlist the help of experts across both the Penn campus and the broader lung biology field.  Rafi also served as a caring mentor to several other students in the lab.  We will miss him dearly, but also look forward to witnessing his many future successes.

Bridget Gosis

Bridget Gosis
 Mentor: Zoltan Arany, MD, PhD
Genetics and Epigenetics Program
2020 Blavatnik Family Fellowship Recipient

Thesis Title: The role of folliculin in hepatic lipid metabolism and the pathogenesis of NAFLD and NASH
Mentor Comment: Bridget was an absolute delight to have in our lab — we miss her! Her highly impactful work (finally in press!) laid the foundation for multiple ongoing projects, and ongoing efforts at spinning out a company. But equally importantly, she brought a contagious enthusiasm and good humor to the lab that will be hard to match. Looking forward to her next successes, of which I am certain there will be many!

Thesis Title: The role of folliculin in hepatic lipid metabolism and the pathogenesis of NAFLD and NASH
Mentor Comment: Bridget was an absolute delight to have in our lab — we miss her! Her highly impactful work (finally in press!) laid the foundation for multiple ongoing projects, and ongoing efforts at spinning out a company. But equally importantly, she brought a contagious enthusiasm and good humor to the lab that will be hard to match. Looking forward to her next successes, of which I am certain there will be many!

Connie Jiang

Connie Jiang
 Mentor: Arjun Raj, PhD
Genetics and Epigenetics Program

Thesis Title: Tracing cell type determination in directed differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells

Thesis Title: Tracing cell type determination in directed differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells

Ricardo Linares-Saldana

Ricardo Linares-Saldana
 Mentors: Rajan Jain, MD and Jonathan Epstein, MD
Genetics and Epigenetics Program

Thesis Title: Brd4 orchestrates genome folding to promote neural crest progenitor differentiation
Research and Lab Description: My research sought to understand how chromatin architecture plays a role in shaping cell identity. Using a combination of mouse genetics, chromatin interaction mapping, and computational approaches, I was able to ascribe a new role to the transcriptional and epigenetic regulator BRD4 in regulating genome folding and cell differentiation.
Post PhD Plans: Medical student at Penn
Mentor Comment from Jon: Ricardo is a talented scientist who elevated the entire research team with his insights, hard work, and enthusiasm.  He drove a project focused on cell fate specification and gene regulation using cutting edge genomic techniques with confidence and skill. He has a bright future as a physician-scientist.
Mentor Comment from Raj: Ricardo is an exceptional physician-scientist in the making who was fearless in diving into a new area of research for the lab. He attacked the project with an incredible amount of enthusiasm and rigor! Ricardo was a pleasure to mentor and always willing to help out his fellow lab members. I am excited to see all the great things he will undoubtedly accomplish!

Thesis Title: Brd4 orchestrates genome folding to promote neural crest progenitor differentiation
Research and Lab Description: My research sought to understand how chromatin architecture plays a role in shaping cell identity. Using a combination of mouse genetics, chromatin interaction mapping, and computational approaches, I was able to ascribe a new role to the transcriptional and epigenetic regulator BRD4 in regulating genome folding and cell differentiation.
Post PhD Plans: Medical student at Penn
Mentor Comment from Jon: Ricardo is a talented scientist who elevated the entire research team with his insights, hard work, and enthusiasm.  He drove a project focused on cell fate specification and gene regulation using cutting edge genomic techniques with confidence and skill. He has a bright future as a physician-scientist.
Mentor Comment from Raj: Ricardo is an exceptional physician-scientist in the making who was fearless in diving into a new area of research for the lab. He attacked the project with an incredible amount of enthusiasm and rigor! Ricardo was a pleasure to mentor and always willing to help out his fellow lab members. I am excited to see all the great things he will undoubtedly accomplish!

Jing Luan

Jing Luan
 Mentor: Gerd Blobel, MD, PhD
Genetics and Epigenetics Program

Thesis Title: Roles of CTCF in nascent transcription and chromatin architecture
Mentor Comment: Jing has been a star student and role model for everyone in the lab. But Jing’s success is no accident. She is highly gifted, her energy and work ethic are second to none, and her dedication and drive for perfection are amazing. From the perspective of a PI, Jing has been an ideal student who raises the bar for everyone around her. With all of Jing’s accomplishments inside and outside of the lab, one might expect someone perhaps a bit aloof or overconfident. However, Jing was the same kind, helpful and collaborative person at the end of her graduate studies as when she entered the lab. I look forward to following her super promising career trajectory.

Thesis Title: Roles of CTCF in nascent transcription and chromatin architecture
Mentor Comment: Jing has been a star student and role model for everyone in the lab. But Jing’s success is no accident. She is highly gifted, her energy and work ethic are second to none, and her dedication and drive for perfection are amazing. From the perspective of a PI, Jing has been an ideal student who raises the bar for everyone around her. With all of Jing’s accomplishments inside and outside of the lab, one might expect someone perhaps a bit aloof or overconfident. However, Jing was the same kind, helpful and collaborative person at the end of her graduate studies as when she entered the lab. I look forward to following her super promising career trajectory.

Danielle Murashige

Danielle Murashige
 Mentor: Zoltan Arany, MD, PhD
Cell Biology, Physiology, and Metabolism Program
Saul Winegrad Dissertation Award Recipient
2019 Blavatnik Family Fellowship Recipient

Thesis Title: Comprehensive fuel metabolism of the human heart and the role for enhancing branched-chain amino acid catabolism in protection against heart failure
Research and Lab Description: Danielle's thesis work focused on reprogramming of cardiac metabolism in human heart failure and how targeting systemic BCAA metabolism might be leveraged for HF treatment.  Danielle did her PhD in the Arany lab, where they use study all things related to metabolism using models ranging from cells to (lots of) mice to even the perfect disease model--actual patients!
Post PhD Plans: As an MD/PhD student, Danielle returned back to medical school and is now facing the question of which specialty to apply into for residency--any and all advice is quite welcome!!
Mentor Comment: Danielle is brilliant and tireless. She arguably did two thesis-equivalents while in the lab — a highly impactful human study, and the most exhaustive (and exhausting?) mouse study we have ever done. Whatever she decides to do in life (and it better be Cardiology), she will impress and amaze. I can’t wait!

Thesis Title: Comprehensive fuel metabolism of the human heart and the role for enhancing branched-chain amino acid catabolism in protection against heart failure
Research and Lab Description: Danielle's thesis work focused on reprogramming of cardiac metabolism in human heart failure and how targeting systemic BCAA metabolism might be leveraged for HF treatment.  Danielle did her PhD in the Arany lab, where they use study all things related to metabolism using models ranging from cells to (lots of) mice to even the perfect disease model--actual patients!
Post PhD Plans: As an MD/PhD student, Danielle returned back to medical school and is now facing the question of which specialty to apply into for residency--any and all advice is quite welcome!!
Mentor Comment: Danielle is brilliant and tireless. She arguably did two thesis-equivalents while in the lab — a highly impactful human study, and the most exhaustive (and exhausting?) mouse study we have ever done. Whatever she decides to do in life (and it better be Cardiology), she will impress and amaze. I can’t wait!

Aileen Ren

Aileen Ren
 Mentor: Mark Kahn, MD
Cell Biology, Physiology, and Metabolism Program

Thesis Title: Investigating the Role of PI3K Signaling in Cerebral Cavernous Malformation Pathogenesis
Research and Lab Description: Discovered a role for oncogenic mutations in aggressive cerebrovascular malformations using genetic mouse models and human data that can be treated with anti-cancer drugs. The Kahn lab was a fantastic opportunity to gain skills in genetic mouse models with the opportunity to focus on a variety of translational topics in vascular biology.
Post PhD Plans: Completing medical school and applying for residency in Internal Medicine this fall
Mentor Comment: Aileen's scientific findings are a landmark study because they both establish a new paradigm for vascular malformation and identify a new and immediately actionable therapy for cerebral cavernous malformation, an important cause of stroke in young people.  During her time in the lab she demonstrated a combination of enthusiasm, determination and fearlessness that will carry her very far in her future scientific and medical pursuits. We will miss her greatly but look forward to following her future discoveries and career.

Thesis Title: Investigating the Role of PI3K Signaling in Cerebral Cavernous Malformation Pathogenesis
Research and Lab Description: Discovered a role for oncogenic mutations in aggressive cerebrovascular malformations using genetic mouse models and human data that can be treated with anti-cancer drugs. The Kahn lab was a fantastic opportunity to gain skills in genetic mouse models with the opportunity to focus on a variety of translational topics in vascular biology.
Post PhD Plans: Completing medical school and applying for residency in Internal Medicine this fall
Mentor Comment: Aileen's scientific findings are a landmark study because they both establish a new paradigm for vascular malformation and identify a new and immediately actionable therapy for cerebral cavernous malformation, an important cause of stroke in young people.  During her time in the lab she demonstrated a combination of enthusiasm, determination and fearlessness that will carry her very far in her future scientific and medical pursuits. We will miss her greatly but look forward to following her future discoveries and career.

Kamen Simeonov

Kamen Simeonov
 Mentor: Christopher Lengner, PhD
Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology Program
Saul Winegrad Dissertation Award Recipient

Thesis Title: Single-cell lineage tracing of cancer metastasis
Mentor Comment: Kamen is an extraordinary experimentalist, incredibly meticulous and fearless in his investigations.  Moreover, he appreciates the fundamental importance of identifying and asking the most salient questions, which is enabled by his relentless digestion and masterful synthesis of the literature.  I consider him among the greatest researchers I’ve ever had the fortune to work with, and this sentiment is borne out in the numerous accolades he and his work received.

Thesis Title: Single-cell lineage tracing of cancer metastasis
Mentor Comment: Kamen is an extraordinary experimentalist, incredibly meticulous and fearless in his investigations.  Moreover, he appreciates the fundamental importance of identifying and asking the most salient questions, which is enabled by his relentless digestion and masterful synthesis of the literature.  I consider him among the greatest researchers I’ve ever had the fortune to work with, and this sentiment is borne out in the numerous accolades he and his work received.


Master of Science

Zachary Beethem

Zachary Beethem
 Mentor: Montserrat Anguera, PhD
Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology Program

Research Project Title: Investigating the allele-specific epigenetic mechanism of Yy1-dependent Xchromosome inactivation maintenance during lymphocyte stimulation

Research Project Title: Investigating the allele-specific epigenetic mechanism of Yy1-dependent Xchromosome inactivation maintenance during lymphocyte stimulation

Sarah Campbell

Sarah Campbell
 Mentor: Thomas Jongens, PhD
Genetics and Epigenetics Program

Research Project Title: Elucidating dPGC-1/Spargel as a key regulator of bioenergetics, behavior, and cognition in a Drosophila model of Fragile X Syndrome

Research Project Title: Elucidating dPGC-1/Spargel as a key regulator of bioenergetics, behavior, and cognition in a Drosophila model of Fragile X Syndrome

Jeriel Dumeng Rodriguez

Jeriel Dumeng Rodriguez
 Mentors: Kimberly Christian, PhD and Guo-li Ming, MD, PhD
Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology Program

Research Project Title: Integrating Microglia in Forebrain Organoids

Research Project Title: Integrating Microglia in Forebrain Organoids

Joshua Shaffer

Joshua Shaffer
 Mentor: Zachary Schug, PhD
Cancer Biology Program

Research Project Title: Alcohol derived acetate as a dietary factor for cancer

Research Project Title: Alcohol derived acetate as a dietary factor for cancer

Kevin Wiles

Kevin Wiles
 Mentor: Greg Bashaw, PhD
Genetics and Epigenetics Program

Research Project Title: Determining how axon guidance molecules regulate tissue homeostasis in the Drosophila intestinal epithelium

Research Project Title: Determining how axon guidance molecules regulate tissue homeostasis in the Drosophila intestinal epithelium