Our Team
Leadership
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Read MoreDonita Brady, PhD
Assistant Dean for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (IDE) in Research Training
Email
Dr. Brady's Lab
Donita Brady, PhD
Assistant Dean for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (IDE) in Research Training
bradyd@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Dr. Brady's Lab
Dr. Brady came to Penn in 2015 to begin her independent research career as the Presidential Termed Assistant Professor in the Department of Cancer Biology, appointed by President Gutmann. Dr. Brady is now the Harrison McCrea Dickson, MD and Clifford C. Baker, MD Presidential Associate Professor. She received her BS in Chemistry from Radford University and her PhD in Pharmacology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She completed her postdoctoral work with Dr. Christopher Counter at Duke University focusing on pharmacologically accessible signaling pathways downstream of oncogenes, like RAS. Dr. Brady’s innovative research program centers on the critical role played by metals, particularly copper (Cu), in oncogenic signaling and cancer biology. Her laboratory has been responsible for major conceptual advances in an entirely new field of oncogenic signaling that she helped to found.
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Lisa Lim, MA
Assistant Director for Research Training Programs
Lisa.Lim@Pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Lisa Lim has a Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Affairs from New York University. She oversees the recruitment and programming for Summer Undergraduate Internship Program (SUIP) and PennPREP. She is passionate about inclusive and equitable learning environments and supporting students on their growth journey. One fun fact about Lisa is that you can find a bottle of Sriracha at her desk.
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Vanessa Martinez Penn
Administrative Coordinator
Vanessa.MartinezPenn@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
215-898-3396
After completing her Bachelor's degree at Haverford College, Vanessa joined the UPenn community as a graduate student at the Graduate School of Education. She is currently pursuing her Master's in Higher Education there as she works full time in the IDEAL Research Office. She is passionate about cultivating welcoming and inclusive community spaces at UPenn and beyond. A fun fact about Vanessa is that she makes really good hot chocolate; be sure to stop by the office to try some!
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Kelly Jordan-Sciutto, PhD
Faculty Director, PREP
jordank@upenn.edu
Faculty Bio.
Dr. Jordan-Sciutto serves as the Faculty Director for the Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP). She is also the Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Director of the Biomedical Graduate Studies at the Perelman School of Medicine.
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Mariella De Biasi, PhD
Faculty Director, SUIP
marielde@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
De Biasi Lab
Dr. De Biasi serves as the Faculty Director for the Summer Undergraduate Internship Program (SUIP). She is affiliated with the Neuroscience and Pharmacology graduate groups, and is a Professor of Psychiatry in the Perelman School of Medicine.
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Paul Titchenell, PhD
Assistant Director of Recruitment
ptitc@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Titchenell Lab
Dr. Titchenell serves as the Lead Faculty member for our Recruitment Ambassadors team, which assists in our recruitment efforts throughout the academic year. He is affiliated with the Biochemistry and Molecular Physics and Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Groups, and he is an Assistant Professor of Physiology within the Perelman School of Medicine.
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Vanessa Fleites
IDEAL Research Lead SUIP Fellow
fleitesv@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Affiliated Graduate Group: Neuroscience
Matriculation Year: 2015
Why did you choose to work with IDEAL Research?
I am truly invested in doing what I can to increase minority representation and inclusion in STEM, which aligns with the mission of IDEAL Research. My career goal is to go into academic administration, specifically DEI programs. Therefore, having the opportunity to see what is done daily and assist with the planning/coordination of SUIP and PREP would better prepare me for this career path. Having participated in SUIP in 2014, I truly know the benefits and impact this program has on its students.
Lab: Mariella De Biasi
Research Interests & Experience: My research investigates the molecular underpinnings in drug abuse liability in Mariella De Biasi's lab. Specifically, I am interested in understanding the long-term consequences of maternal in-utero opioid use on offspring behavior. In addition, I have worked in the Office of IDEAL Research for 1.5 years, first as a fellow, and then transitioned to lead fellow for SUIP in 2021.
Fun Fact: I love trying new breakfast places and drinking coffee (especially Cuban cafesito).
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Maya Hale
IDEAL Research Lead PREP Fellow
hale5@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Affiliated Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology -- Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology
Matriculation Year: 2018
Why did you choose to work with IDEAL Research?
I have had the privilege of being part of amazing mentorship and career-development programs. With the limited availability of such programs, I believe that it is imperative to find ways to ensure that all students, but particularly individuals who are underrepresented in STEM, have access to the mentorship, training, and information they need to succeed. As a fellow in the IDEAL Research office, I knew I’d be able to start making a difference.
Lab: Greg Bashaw
Research Interests & Experience: My thesis research studies how axon guidance proteins at the growth cone membrane are regulated during midline crossing in the embryonic mammalian spinal cord.
Fun Fact: I once skipped school and flew to Vegas for a tattoo consult, only to get turned down for being too young.
Fellows
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Bailey Nance
IDEAL Research Fellow
bnance@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Affiliated Graduate Group: Cell & Molecular Biology -- Cancer Biology
Matriculation Year: 2018
Why did you choose to work with IDEAL Research?
I chose to become work in the office to directly interface with students, faculty, and Penn Leadership about issues of diversity, inclusion, and equity. I want to be the bridge for students to communicate about their experiences, to amplify their voices, and to create a safe space at Penn for underrepresented trainees like myself.
Lab: M. Celeste Simon
Research Interests & Experience: My research focuses on cancer metabolism, specifically looking at how protein structure effects function and localization of a key moonlighting enzyme in adult soft tissue sarcomas.
Fun Fact: I make a Spotify playlist for every occasion (even failed experiments!). I am slowly curating the soundtrack to my graduate school career.
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Courtney Marshall
IDEAL Research Fellow
courtney.marshall2@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Affiliation: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Position: 3rd year postdoctoral fellow
Why did you choose to work with IDEAL Research?
I want to assist in further developing and facilitating the inclusion, diversity, and equity programs currently in place at Penn in order to increase the presence of underrepresented minorities (URM) students in scientific careers.
Lab: Virginia Lee (Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research)
Research Interests & Experiences: I graduated with a BS in psychology from Davidson College and a PhD in neuroscience from Drexel University. I started as a postdoc at Penn in 2018 in Dr. Virginia Lee's lab, where I study the underlying pathological mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease.
Fun Fact: I visited 5 national parks in two weeks.
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Emily Stephanie Cribas
IDEAL Research Fellow
ecribas@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Affiliated Graduate Group: Cell & Molecular Biology -- Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology
Matriculation Year: 2017
Why did you choose to work with IDEAL Research?
The mission of IDEAL research directly aligns with my own and offices like this one helped foster my own development and confidence as a scientist starting in college. My hope is to provide and expand those same support structures to more students that are new to academia.
Research Interests & Experience: My research explores the role of cytokines in intestinal regeneration during bacterial infection using organoid models. I'm also interested in exploring other applications of intestinal organoids including food digestion and drug metabolism/transport.
Lab: Michael Abt
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Franklin D. Staback-Rodríguez
IDEAL Research Fellow
fds@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Affiliated Graduate Group: Immunology
Matriculation Year: 2019
Why did you choose to work with IDEAL Research?
To help shape STEM into a more inclusive and diverse environment.
Research Interests & Experience: I am a PhD candidate interested in T cell cytoskeletal signaling and migration.
Lab: Janis K. Burkhardt
Fun Fact: I collect & barrel age Scotch whiskey.
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Jose J. Gorbea Colón
IDEAL Research Fellow
gorbea@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Affiliated Graduate Group: Biochemistry & Molecular Physics
Matriculation Year: 2017
Why did you choose to work with IDEAL Research?
IDEAL Research has been an invaluable part of my and many other student's lives at Penn, enriching them through new connections, activities, and mentorship opportunities without equal. Being able to give back to the office as a fellow is a great privilege and its mission is something I wish to continue contributing to long after I graduate from Penn.
Lab: Kenji Murakami
Research Interests & Experience: My research is focused on understanding the structural biology of gene regulation, specifically how regulatory factors interact with the transcription machinery to enact responses to developmental cues, metabolic stress, and external stimuli. I graduated with a Bachelors in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras in 2017, and have participated in diverse research experiences, most recently finding my passion in structural biology and gene regulation.
Fun Fact: I enjoy photography as a hobby (shameless self promo: follow @jjg.pics on instagram for some cool images!)
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Kahealani (Kahea) Uehara
IDEAL Research Fellow
ueharak@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Affiliated Graduate Group: Biochemistry & Molecular Physics
Matriculation Year: 2017
Why did you choose to work with IDEAL Research?
Coming from a small island with minimal research opportunities, IDEAL Research and SUIP allowed me to experience top-tier research and develop skills to thrive as a scientist. Thus, I am excited to inspire and encourage the next generation of scientists by supporting the same mechanisms that influenced my career goals.
Research Interests & Experience: My research interests broadly span the elucidation of biochemical mechanisms underlying metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cancer. Throughout my academic career, I have aimed to study metabolic flux, circadian regulation of metabolism, regulation of systemic glucose and lipid homeostasis, and substrate utilization.
Lab: Paul Titchenell
Fun Fact: My name translates to 'Heavenly Call'.
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Kyabeth Torres-Rodriguez
IDEAL Research Fellow
Kyabeth.Torres-Rodriguez@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Affiliated Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology -- Cancer Biology
Matriculation Year: 2018
Lab: Mike Betts
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Maria Fernanda Carrera Rodriguez
IDEAL Research Fellow
mariafcr@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Affiliated Graduate Group: Cell and Molecular Biology -- Genetics and Epigenetics
Matriculation Year: 2019
Why did you choose to work with IDEAL Research?
The mission of IDEAL Research aligns with my goal of contributing to the advancement of underrepresented communities in research and higher education. Being part of this office allows me to promote the inclusion and retention of URM trainees while expanding and giving back to my community.
Lab: Andrés Blanco
Research Interests & Experience: My lab studies the interception of chromatin biology and cancer. I am interested in the mechanisms of how chromatin modifiers regulate oncogenes and the possibility of targeting them to ameliorate cancer phenotypes.
Fun Fact: I currently own 23 different types of house plants and I'm always looking for more.
