Current Students

PhD Students

CLASS OF 2018

Makayla Brady

EDUCATION:
B.S. Biochemistry, 2017 - Bridgewater State Univ. Bridgewater MA
MENTOR(S): David Powell
PROJECT: Understanding the mechanisms of Lupus Nephritis development due to a genetic loss of ABIN1 function.

Annalara Fischer 

EDUCATION:
B.S. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology/ Music, 2016 - Centre College, Danville, KY
MENTOR(S):  Dr. Joseph Moore IV
PROJECT: The role of matricellular CCN proteins in chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy

CLASS OF 2019

Danielle Little

EDUCATION:  B.S. Biochemistry, 2018 - Oakwood Univ. Huntsville, AL
MENTOR(S): Steven Jones, PhD, Professor of Environmental Health
PROJECT:  The Dynamic Role of Hyaluronan in Ventricular Remodeling

Benjamin Rood 

EDUCATION:  B.S. Biology- Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA;B.S. Kinesiology- Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA
MENTOR(S):  Michal Hetman, MD, PhD
PROJECT: Induction of cellular senescence after spinal cord injury

Hieu Vo 

EDUCATION:  B.S. Molecular Biology & Genetics, 2015 - Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY; M.S. Biochemistry, 2018 - Murray State University, Murray, KY
MENTOR(S): Ben Lovely, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
PROJECT: Tissue Specific BMP Profile

CLASS OF 2020

Raeden Gray

EDUCATION:  B.S. in Biology, St. Thomas University, May 2020
MENTOR(S):  Ben Lovely, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
PROJECT: Characterizing the role of the Planar Cell Polarity in jaw development during prenatal alcohol exposure

Jonah Stephan

EDUCATION:  B.S. in Natural Sciences, Pre-Medicine Emphasis, Pensacola Christian College
MENTOR(S):  Marcin Wysoczynski, Associate Professor in Diabetes and Obesity Center
PROJECT:  Neutrophil Diversity after MI-induced Emergency Granulopoiesis

Collin Wells

EDUCATION:  B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Centre College, 2020
MENTOR(S): Brad Hill, Professor in Diabetes and Obesity Center
PROJECT: Role of Pck2 in cardiac fibrosis

CLASS OF 2021

Caitlin Howard

EDUCATION:  B.S. in Engineering, University of Louisville
MENTOR(S): Steve Jones, PhD, Professor in Diabetes and Obesity Center
PROJECT: TBD

Catherine Kaiser

EDUCATION:  B.S. in Chemistry, Pennsylvania State Unviersity
MENTOR(S): Melissa Smith, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
PROJECT: TBD

Andrea Poole

EDUCATION:  B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wright State University
MENTOR(S): T. Michael Sabo, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine
PROJECT: Understanding How Single Amino Acid Substitutions Impact the Structure and Function of hGMPK

Ghazal Sadri

EDUCATION:  B.S. in Chemistry, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
MENTOR(S): Joseph B. Moore, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine
PROJECT: FACIT collagens in regulation of cardiac ECM structure and function

Mary Sumlut

EDUCATION:  B.S. Biochemistry from Brescia University, Owensboro
MENTOR(S): Brian Clem, PhD, Associate Professor of Biochemistry
PROJECT: TBD

CLASS OF 2022

Ben Doelling

EDUCATION:  BS, Physiology and Cellular Biology, University of Louisville, 2017
MENTOR(S): Shahid Baba, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine
PROJECT: Role of Histadyl Dipeptides in Heart Failure

Eric Engelbrecht

EDUCATION:  BA, Molecular Biology 2014, Kenyon College
MENTOR(S): Corey Watson, PhD, Associate Professor of Biochemistry
PROJECT: TBD

Leanne Price

EDUCATION:  BS in Chemistry from Butler University, Dec 2021
MENTOR(S): Yoannis Imbert-Fernandez, PhD, Associate Professor of Medical Oncology
PROJECT: Targeting Metabolism to Overcome CDK4/6 Resistance in Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer

Makenzie Stearsman

EDUCATION:  BS in Biology from Murray State University, 2021
MENTOR(S): Ben Lovely, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
PROJECT: Examining the Interaction Between Shh and BMP in Jaw Development 

Jacob Young

EDUCATION:  BS, Psychological Sciences and BS, Biochemistry from Western Kentucky University, 2021
MENTOR(S): Ron Gregg, PhD, Chairman of Biochemistry
PROJECT:  Analyzing the Safety and Efficacy of a Potential Gene Therapy for Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa

CLASS OF 2023

Steven Nadakal - BS, Biochemistry, Baylor University, 2017

                          MS Immunology of Infectious Disease, 2018; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Nicholas Tong

MS STUDENTS

Class of 2023

Eric Kline

Steven Schultz

CLASS OF 2020

Haley Asplund