Preclinical Students
Department: Preclinical Students
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 research 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 in 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.
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.
Lauren Dain
Education: Western Washington University: BS in Behavioral Neuroscience, BA in Philosophy, minor in Chemistry (2018)
Hometown: Spokane, WA
PhD Advisor: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
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: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
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: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
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: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
Publications
Bio: Chelsie is interested in the neuroinflammatory components of the blood-brain barrier and tumor microenvironment. 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, rock climbing, painting, taking photographs, or searching for her next adventure!
Lia Signaevskaia
Education: University of California, San Diego; BS in Human Biology (2018)
Hometown: San Diego, CA
PhD Advisor: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
Publications
Bio: Lia's past research experiences in pancreatic cancer and the hematopoietic niche have informed her interest in cancer biology and the tumor microenvironment. She is looking forward to expanding her bioinformatics abilities within those fields. Outside of class and lab, Lia enjoys longboarding, dancing, and camping.
Hannah Stadtler
Education: Davidson College, B.S. with a major in Biology and a minor in Medical Humanities (2018)
Hometown: Spotsylvania, VA
PhD Advisor: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
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: None chosen yet
Graduate Program: None chosen yet
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.