Grad Phase Students
Department: Grad Phase Students
Marc Kealhofer
Education: University of Chicago, B.S. in Statistics; Johns Hopkins University, Sc.M. in Epidemiology
Hometown: Lafayette, CA
PhD Advisor: Brien Riley, PhD; Tan Hoang Nguyen, PhD
Graduate Program: Integrative Life Sciences - Behavioral and Statistical Genetics
Publications
Bio: Marc is interested in the genetic and epigenetic factors that contribute to psychiatric disorders and how they manifest in different environmental contexts, as well as the statistical methods that facilitate those analyses. As a master’s student and data analyst at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, he worked on a variety of projects, including studying insurance policy and its effect on access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, the role of comorbid mood disorders in predicting SUD progression and recovery, and the genomics and epigenomics of mood and psychotic disorders. Marc enjoys running, playing music, and coxing boats in his free time.
Lauren Dain
Education: Western Washington University: BS in Behavioral Neuroscience, BA in Philosophy, minor in Chemistry (2018)
Hometown: Spokane, WA
PhD Advisor: Tomasz Kordula, PhD, MS
Graduate Program: Microbiology/Immunology
Publications
Bio: Lauren is extremely interested in the field of oncology, specifically in pediatrics. With her background education being in neuroscience, Lauren finds she strongly gravitates towards research in glioblastoma and other primary brain cancers. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Lauren loves most outdoor activities such as skiing, rock climbing, hiking, swimming, and backpacking.
Galen Goldscheitter
Education: University of Colorado Boulder, B.S. Chemical Engineering (2017), B.A. Chemistry (2017)
Hometown: Boulder, CO
PhD Advisor: Henry Donahue, PhD
Graduate Program: Biomedical Engineering
Publications
Bio: Galen has worked with research groups in Colorado and Oregon investigating disorders of thrombosis and hemostasis, most recently how clotting factor deficiencies alter signaling at the PAR1 axis in bones. He is interested in researching how mechanical forces alter cellular and molecular behavior, and how changes at the cellular and molecular level influence bulk tissue morphology and function. Galen enjoys cycling, rock climbing, mountaineering, whitewater kayaking, music, and occasionally running.
Sarah Marks
Education: Yale University, B.S. Molecular Biochemistry and Biophysics (2012); UNC-Chapel Hill, M.S. Biostatistics (2016)
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
PhD Advisor: Andrew Barnes, PhD
Graduate Program: Healthcare Policy & Research
Publications
Bio: Sarah is interested in using quantitative approaches to study the delivery of healthcare and improve health outcomes, particularly in underserved populations. She is excited to be in Virginia to see the impact of Medicaid expansion on healthcare in the state. Outside of research, Sarah has visited over 35 countries and looks forward to traveling again; she also enjoys reading and hiking.
Chelsie Poffenberger
Education: Auburn University, B.S. Biomedical Sciences, with a minor in Psychology (2017)
Hometown: Huntsville, AL
PhD Advisor: Kirsty Dixon, PhD
Graduate Program: Microbiology/Immunology
Publications
Bio: Chelsie's research interests are centered around the immune response in neurodegenerative diseases. As a postbaccalaureate research fellow at the NIH, she worked to determine the underlying mechanisms, ameliorative properties, and deleterious effects of inflammation in the brain. When she isn’t in the lab, you will find her whitewater kayaking, traveling, painting, taking photographs, or searching for her next adventure!
Hannah Stadtler
Education: Davidson College, B.S. with a major in Biology and a minor in Medical Humanities (2018)
Hometown: Spotsylvania, VA
PhD Advisor: Dr. Gretchen Neigh (McCandless), PhD
Graduate Program: CaMM
Publications
Bio: Hannah’s undergraduate work explored hookah smoke and lung cells, but upon graduation her work has focused on infectious disease at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute. She is specifically interested in HIV and hopes to expand her experience beyond cell and molecular biology into behavioral and neuroscience research pertaining to HIV. Outside of lab work, Hannah also enjoys the latest Reese’s Book Club pick, sour beer, and spin classes.
Josephine (Josie) Wallner
Education: University of Washington, B.A. in Mathematics (2016)
Hometown: Seattle, WA
PhD Advisor: Dr. Dean Krusienski, PhD
Graduate Program: Biomedical Engineering
Publications
Bio: Josie worked in analytics consulting after graduating from the University of Washington, before applying her background in data management and applied mathematics as a research technician in the Physiology department at Northwestern. Her current interests are in the restoration of motor control after spinal cord injury - specifically, neurally driven spinal cord stimulation. To recharge, she loves biking, hiking & lifting weights or cozying up on the couch with a book.
Radina Lilova
Education: North Carolina State University: BS in Chemical Engineering, minors in Chemistry and Biotechnology (2018)
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
PhD Advisor: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
Bio: Radina is an M1 student who was born in a small town at the foot of the Balkans in Bulgaria. She has lived in many places such as Toronto, the Philadelphia suburbs, Raleigh, and Tampa amongst others. She has researched previous experiences in drug delivery, polymer chemistry, biomedical devices, and cell mechanics. She is interested in neuroscience research, particularly neurotrauma and neurodegeneration, and would like to integrate her engineering background into future work. She has also spent time working at a pain and spine clinic for two years, where she really solidified her love for patient care. Outside of school, Radina loves playing tennis, running, hiking, hanging out with family and friends, and watching sports.
Polina Wright
Education: Virginia Commonwealth University: BS in Biology, BA in Foreign Language (Spanish), minor in Chemistry (2021)
Hometown: Richmond, VA
PhD Advisor: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
Bio: Polina is a Richmond native who spent four years at VCU working in an ovarian cancer laboratory studying protein-protein interactions, DNA repair, and the cell cycle. Her research experiences and her longitudinal clinical volunteer experience with the Children's Hospital of Richmond solidified her interest in a dual degree program, and she is hoping to conduct research in the cancer field. In her free time, Polina enjoys traveling, making charcuterie boards, walking with her German shepherd, and being a foodie.
Reafa Hossain
Education: James Madison University: BS in Biotechnology, minor in Chemistry (2018)
Hometown: Arlington, VA
PhD Advisor: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
Bio: Reafa is interested in virology and structural biology in order to develop targeted therapeutics against viral infections, research interests she developed while she was a postbaccalaureate at the NIH. When she's not doing science, Reafa loves everything involving food and going on different adventures around Richmond.
Julia Hartman
Education: University of Virginia: BS in Biomedical Engineering (2019)
Hometown: Charlottesville, VA
PhD Advisor: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
Publications
Bio: Julia worked in an atherosclerosis lab for four years during undergrad. Following graduation, she worked at the NIH for two years on Scleroderma genomics and health disparities. Both of these experiences led Julia to become extremely interested in genetics and precision medicine, and her long-term goal is to combine genomic studies with other techniques to deliver personalized medicine for patients with complex diseases. Outside of school and lab work, Julia enjoys cooking/baking, traveling to new countries, riding horses, and has a (bad) habit of singing 24/7.
Rufina Kore (she/her)
Education: City University of New York (CUNY) Hunter College, B.A. in Biological Sciences (2020)
Hometown: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Bio: Having moved to the U.S. in 2014, Rufina considers Brooklyn, NY, her home. She has been involved in research over the past five years, primarily in the field of neuroscience. For her Ph.D., she is interested in combining molecular and behavioral approaches to study psychiatric disorders. Outside her academic pursuits, Rufina enjoys her work as a mental health advocate, working out, singing in a choir, and creative writing.
Michael Taylor
Education: Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University: BS in Clinical Neuroscience, minor in Chemistry & French (2022)
Hometown: Ashburn, VA
Bio: At Virginia Tech, Michael was involved in a variety of neuroscience research, ranging from the epigenetics of neuro-communication disorders to exploring the role of the microbiome in epilepsy. His primary interest lies in using pharmacology to advance our understanding of endogenous systems and to develop novel compounds targeting neurological diseases. Outside of the lab, Michael enjoys exploring history, walking his dog, and listening to dad rock.
Hongkun Joy Lu
Education: Duke University, BS in Biology, BA in Global Health
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
Bio: Joy grew up in North Carolina and studied biology and global health at Duke University. Her research interests are centered around characterizing the molecular mechanisms of metabolic disorders and liver diseases. In her free time, she loves watching soccer and basketball, reading, and running.
Gevick Safarians
Education: Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience (2016-2019) and Master of Science in Bioengineering (2019-2022) at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Hometown: Tehran, Iran
Bio: Born in, Tehran, Iran, Gevick moved to the United States with his family and settled in Burbank, California where he spent most of his upbringing. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience (2016-2019) and Master of Science in Bioengineering (2019-2022) at the University of California, Los Angeles. During his Masters, he developed biomimetic hydrogel models to study glioblastoma and screen therapeutics targeting mechanisms of gliomasphere invasiveness. His current research interests include developing biomimetic, 3D in vitro systems to evaluate cancer phenotypes and curate patient-specific therapeutics, while his medical practice interests include Neurology and Oncology. Beyond science and medicine, Gevick enjoys playing basketball, practicing classical piano, and weight training.
David T. Zhu
Education: Western University, BSc in Medical Sciences (2022)
Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario
PhD Advisor: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
Bio: David grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, and proceeded to complete his undergraduate studies in London, Ontario, with a specialization in epidemiology and biostatistics. This is also where he developed a keen interest in health policy, health equity, and social determinants of health, notably, with regard to substance abuse and opioid use disorder (OUD) populations. He is interested in using quantitative epidemiological and econometric approaches to study the role of health policies and programs on OUD outcomes, and his research has been featured in journals such as The Lancet. Outside of class, David is a certified outdoors enthusiast who loves long-distance running, hiking, traveling to new places, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Sarah Lewicki
Education: Hobart and William Smith Colleges: BS in Chemistry, BA in Neuroscience
Hometown: Fayetteville, NY
PhD Advisor: Dr. Umesh Desai, PhD
Graduate Program: School of Pharmacy
Bio: Sarah is an M1 student who was born and raised in Upstate, NY. Throughout college she worked as the Captain of Operations of her college’s EMS agency, where she solidified her love for medicine. Additionally, she spent the entirety of her undergraduate career conducting research in an organic chemistry lab focused on the synthesis and purification of HDAC inhibitors as anti-cancer therapeutics. During her gap years, she worked as a Post Baccalaureate Research Fellow at the National Institutes of Health in a medicinal chemistry lab targeting purinergic and adenosine receptors for drug discovery and development. She is interested in continuing down the medicinal chemistry path in the hopes to practice translational medicine and discover anti-cancer therapeutics. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, lifting, cooking, and hanging out with her crazy cat George.
Naomi Carter
Education: Hampton University: BS in Cellular and Molecular Biology (2021)
Hometown: Columbia, MD
PhD Advisor: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
Bio: Naomi is a certified EMT, CNA and Mental health first aid from Columbia, Maryland. During her undergraduate experience, Naomi researched GABAergic circuitry localization in response to Toxoplasma Gondi infections, middle cerebral artery occlusion, and the cooperation of anti-tumor drugs REV5901 and PTC 209 on glioblastoma multiform cell line growth. Naomi aspires to research neurotrauma and nerve regeneration in a clinical setting. Outside of school, Naomi enjoys running, painting, and spending time with family and friends.
Nina Dashti-Gibson
Education: Franklin & Marshall College, B.A. in Biology, minor in Spanish (2020)
Hometown: Eliot, ME
PhD Advisor: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
Bio: Nina grew up in Indiana but has lived all over the East Coast. She is interested in using genetics and cell biology to study the pathogenesis of liver disease and work towards developing better therapeutic options for patients, a need which she became aware of during her postgraduate research at the Yale Liver Center. Outside of research, Nina enjoys playing music, spending time outside, and exploring the food scene in Richmond.
Nico Druck
Education: College of William & Mary: BS in Computational and Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Biology track (2020)
Hometown: Vienna, VA
PhD Advisor: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
Bio: Nico grew up in the suburbs outside of DC for most of his life until he went to William & Mary, during which he worked in a molecular pathology lab investigating the genetic states in glioblastoma. Following graduation, Nico scribed for endocrinology and oncology clinics, as well as continued cancer research at Mass Gen Hospital. His current research interests include using computational neuroscience to create biologically meaningful models for degenerative diseases. Outside of medicine and research, Nico loves to go on runs, explore new restaurants, and re-watching Criminal Minds.
James Martin
Education: University of Virginia, B.A. Human Biology (2021)
Hometown: Berryville, Virginia
PhD Advisor: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
Bio: James' previous work focused on atherosclerosis, particularly in defining and exploiting cellular and molecular mechanisms of vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic transitions for therapeutic benefit. He is interested in researching the mechanisms by which cancer cells escape immunological surveillance and how immunotherapeutic approaches might be combined with traditional therapies. Outside of the class and lab, James loves mountain biking, road cycling, running, skiing, cooking, and music.
Marie Michenková
Education: MS in Biomedical and Health Informatics, Case Western Reserve University
Hometown: Brno, Czech Republic
PhD Advisor: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: Undecided
Bio: Marie was born in the Czech Republic and moved to the US for college. She studied neuroscience at UAB and after graduation moved to Cleveland where she obtained her MS in Biomedical and Health Informatics. She's mostly interested in computational neuroscience but sometimes dabbles in kidney physiology. She enjoys roller skating, geocaching, and outdoors in general.
Tuong Vi V. Nguyen
Education: George Mason University, B.S. Biology (2020); M.S. Translational Clinical Research (2021)
Hometown: Clifton, VA
PhD Advisor: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
Bio: Born in Saigon, Vietnam, Vi moved to Virginia in 2013. She spent three years working at the Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM) CAP/CLIA lab in Manassas, VA. It was here that she developed an interest in targeted therapy research and plans to pursue a career in oncology. Outside school and lab, Vi enjoys traveling, reading, binging Asian dramas (K-drama, C-drama, V-drama,...), exploring eateries, and music.
Emily Notari
Education: Washington and Lee University: BS in Mathematics and Economics (2014)
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia
PhD Advisor: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
Bio: After working in finance for 5 years, Emily changed paths and began working at the University at Buffalo researching the genetics of neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, she is interested in pursuing research in psychiatric and behavioral genetics. When Emily is not studying, she enjoys exploring our national parks, trying new recipes from The New York Times, and rooting for the Buffalo Bills.
Yogesh Rakholia
Education: The College of New Jersey: BS in Biology (2021)
Hometown: Wayne, New Jersey
PhD Advisor: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
Bio: Yogesh was born in Mumbai, India where he spent the majority of his childhood before coming to the U.S. He has experience with developmental biology work in fruit flies. His most recent research experience at Rutgers University focused on studying drug addiction circuitry and retinal regulation to treat neurodegenerative disorders in rats. Yogesh's current interests are in neurodegeneration, traumatic brain injury, and surgery. When he is not studying, Yogesh enjoys watching tv, hanging out with family and friends, working out, and board games!