Trainees
Recruited in 2020
Brittany Yancey - Major: Biology
Graduation Date: Fall 2021
Joined Dr. Whelan’s Lab as a Junior in the fall of 2020.
Project Title: Exploring the relationship between race/ethnicity and the clinical and molecular features of Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Accepted to Temple University Summer Research Opportunities Program in the summer of 2021.
Support Scientist at the Charles River Laboratories site in Horsham, PA.
Associate Clinical Specialist at Merck
Zamienta Coido - Biology BS
Graduation Date: May 2021
Joined Dr. Sapienza’s Lab as a Senior in the fall of 2020.
Project Title: Comparison of Bacterial Species in 16S Gut Microbiome in Colorectal Cancer Patients of Different Ethnicities
Participated in the Summer Cancer Research Institute in the summer of 2021.
Currently in medical school at Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Alex Armstead - Major: Biology (premed track, minor in Public Health)
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2024
Joined Dr. Soboloff’s Lab as a Sophomore in the fall of 2020.
Project Title: Calcium-dependent O-GlcNAcylation controls melanoma invasiveness
TU MARC program scholar (summer of 2021-present).
Accepted to the UCLA RMUF program in the summer of 2022.
Former E-Board for Temple University's APSA, FIMRC, and Health Link Society organizations and was a Public Relations Chair and DE&I Chair for Phi Delta Epsilon. He is in the UPenn with the Pennsylvania Hospital Premed Volunteer Program. He is applying to medical school to complete an MD/PhD.
Jasmine Cruz - Major: Biochemistry
Graduation Date: Spring 2021
Joined Dr. Whelan’s Lab as a Junior in the fall of 2020.
Project Title: Mitochondria as a noninvasive biomarker for Eosinophilic Esophagitis
LSAMP/MAK fellowship in the summer of 2021.
Temple University Biology Journal Club Co-President (2021 to 2022)
Currently in a postbac program (PREP) at Virginia Commonwealth University, doing research in Dr. Kimberly Jefferson's lab on identifying the binding region of cytopathic toxin A in Sneathia vaginalis
PhD student in the Virginia PhD Program since the Fall 2023
Jasmine Green - Major: Biology
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2021
Joined Dr. Swayam’s Lab as a Junior in the fall of 2020.
Project Title: Glycoengineering mesenchymal stem cells for ovarian cancer targeting; ultimately improving the effectiveness of chemotherapy
Participated in the CST Undergraduate Research Program in the summer of 2021.
After graduation, Jasmine plans on applying to graduate schools to gain more research experience relative to complications in female reproductive organs.
Jasmine hopes to attend medical school and pursue a career in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Elaine Vaughan-Williams, Biology BS - May 2021
Graduation Date: May 2021
Joined Dr. Sapienza's Lab as a Senior in the fall of 2020
Project Title: “Validation Study to Compare Methylation Differences in Fresh vs Frozen Embryo”
Hired as a research assistant in the summer of 2021
Elaine will be pursuing a Master's degree in Biological Sciences to expand upon her research experience and hopes to attend medical school in the future.
Research Technician at the Fels Institute, LKSOM
Recruited in 2021
Alex Martinez - Major: Biology, Minor in Psychology
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2022
Joined Dr. Sapienzas’s Lab as a Senior in the summer of 2021.
Project Title: Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in a Center of the Study for Epigenetics in Reproduction
Participated in the summer CST Undergraduate Research Program in 2021.
Alex, who is currently a Cell Culture Specialist at AnaBios Corporation, wants to continue expanding her research experience and plans on applying to a Master’s Program in Genetic Counselling.
Joy Gonzalez - Major: Biology, Minor: Psychology
Graduation Date: May 2022
Joined Dr. Graña’s Lab as a Senior in the summer of 2021.
Project Title: Tumor Suppressor PP2A/B55ɑ’s Substrate Recruitment and Binding Patterns with Model Substrate p107.
Participated in the 2021 U54 Summer Cancer Research Institute program.
Joy has been accepted to Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and will be starting medical school in 2023. She hopes to continue research and explore the field of pediatric oncology.
Seren Palacio - Major: Biology
Graduation Date: December 2022
Joined Dr. Graña's lab as a Junior in the Summer of 2021
Project Title: Regulation of the PPP2R2A Tumor Suppressor in Cellular Processes and Cancer.
Participated in the CST Undergraduate Research Program (fall of 2021)
Diamond Research Scholar program Summer-fall 2022
Accepted to SCRI in the summer of 2021
Seren was the secretary of Temple Talking Hands (ASL) and a certified EMT. She is working as an Ophthalmic Technician at Wills Eye Hospital's department of Neuro-ophthalmology in preparation for attending medical school.
Aidan Douglas - Major: Biology
Expected Graduation Date: May 2023
Joined Dr. Soboloff's Lab as a Junior in the Fall of 2021
Project Title: SOCE and Dose Response of NMP on Stable HEK Cell Lines
Participated in the 2022 U54 Summer Cancer Research Institute program.
TU CST Undergraduate Research Program 2023
PhD student in the Biomedical Science Graduate Program at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine since the fall of 2023.
Investigating NSAIDs effects on Embryonic Development in Dr. Conchi Estaras lab.
TU University Fellowship: 2023-Present
T32 predoctoral Fellow: 2024-present.
William Nazario-Lugo - Major: Neuroscience: Cellular & Molecular
Graduation Date: Spring 2025
Joined Dr. Zaidi’s lab as a freshman fall of 2021
Project title: Molecular mechanisms of UV radiation-induced melanomagenesis
Volunteer Interpreter at Puentes de SaludSALUD-LMSA+ President
Treasurer for Lambda Theta Phi, Latin Fraternity Inc.
CST Undergraduate Research Program Spring and Summer 2023
Leonny Gathuka – Major: Bioengineering - Medical Devices
Graduation Date: Fall 2023
Project Title: Exploring the role of eosinophil in esophageal cancer.
Joined Dr. Kelly Whelan’s lab as a junior fall of 2021
Part of Temple’s Prosthetic and Orthotics club
Drug Discovery Immunology at Bristol Myers Squibb
Recruited in 2022
Kendall Tyler - Major: Biochemistry
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2024
Joined Dr. Soboloff's Lab as a Junior in the summer of 2022.
Project Title: Targeting TRPC vs Orai1 for Control of Arthritis Induced Bone Erosion
Temple University's URP in the summer of 2022 and fall of 2022
Member of TU's dance organization Dare to Dance
Physical therapy aide in Maryland.
Her future goals are to attend medical to complete a MD/PhD.
Christopher Mejia-Gonzales - Major: Science in Genomic Medicine
Expected Graduation Date: 05/2025
Joined Dr. Graña's lab as a Sophomore in the fall of 2022
Project Title: Regulation of the PP2A/B55a phosphatase.
Participated in the CST Undergraduate Research Program in the fall of 2022.
Accepted to the TU-MARC program starting in June 2023.
Christopher is exploring Biomedical research and has an interest in medical practice.
Recruited in 2023
Tamai Mulbah- Major: Neuroscience: Cellular and Molecular
Expected Graduation Date: 12/2024
Joined Dr. Graña’s lab in Fall 2023
Project Title: Investigating the Role of the PP2A/B55a inhibitor
FAM122A in the Cell Cycle Progression of Glioblastoma Cells
CST Research Scholars Program Summer 2024
The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) TU/AMP Research Program Summer 2024
Olivia Harrison- Major: Public Health Major, Applied Epidemiology minor
Expected Graduation: May 2024
Accepted into the 4+1 Accelerated program in Fall 2022
Pursuing a master's degree in Epidemiology
Community Service Chair for the National Society of Leadership and Success
Post-graduation, my goal is to apply to an Infectious Disease Epidemiology PhD program
Korrey W. Hart- Major: Biochemistry
Expected Graduation: Fall 2024
Project Title: Investigating TNIK’s Mechanistic role in Promoting Lung Cancer and as a Therapeutic Target
Joined Dr. Pedro Torres-Ayuso lab in the summer of 2023
Accepted into the Summer Cancer Research Institute for Summer 2024
KSiani Barnes - Major: Biology, minor: Art
Graduation Date: Spring 2024
Joined Dr. Kelly Whelan's lab as a senior in fall of 2023
Project Title: Mechanisms of esophageal epithelial homeostasis
Joined Dr. Jayashri Ghosh's lab as a senior in spring of 2024
Peer Mentor for the College of Science and Technology LLC in Hardwick Hall.
Holds a position as treasurer on the E-Board for Temple University's dance organization Dare to Dance.
Future goal is to pursue a career in genetics and to hopefully become a genetic counselor to then transition into a lab setting.
Recruited in 2024
Courtney Worrell - Major: Biology
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2027
Joined Dr. Whelan's Lab as a freshman in the summer of 2024.
Project Title:
Peer Mentor and Ambassador for Temple Honors Program, Dancer and Social Media Chair for Temple Owlettes.
After graduation, Courtney plans to attend medical school to complete a MD/PhD and pursue a career in medical research.