Current Students
Monica Moore
Year 8, Clinicals
Research Interests: I study the stress-responsive protein FKBP51 and its role in the effects of prenatal stress on the development of the ovary and how this impacts ovarian health throughout the reproductive life course.
Email: monicamoore@usf.edu
Sarah Lulu
Year 7, Dissertation Research
Lab: Dr. Patrick Hwu
Research Interests: I have a background in cancer genetics and neurobiology. Currently, I am modifying the immunosuppressive micro-environment of Glioblastoma through chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy.
Evan Potts
Year 6, Dissertation Research
Lab: Dr. Jolan Walter
Research Interests: I am studying the origins of clinical variability within a cohort of patients with a shared RAG1 mutation. Specifically, I am testing the T cell competence of these patients against cytomegalovirus and correlating it with markers of T cell exhaustion and an inflammatory cytokine profile. I have a longstanding background in immunology, but plan on exploring translational research in neuroimmunological disorders.
Email: davidevanpotts@usf.edu
Natasha Ram
Year 6, Dissertation Research
Lab: Dr. Gopal Thinakaran
Research Interests: Neuroinflammation, neurodegenerative disease/ TBI and health disparities. For my PhD work, my overall objective is to identify genetic markers in chronic subdural hematomas through bioinformatic and molecular biology approaches to better understand disease prognosis and recurrence.
Email: natasharam@usf.edu
Emily Otmanowski
Year 5, Dissertation Research
Lab: Dr. Jasenka Zubcevic
Research Interests: Investigating the role of gut microbiota, intestinal nutrient transport, and the gut-brain axis in the pathogenesis of diet-associated cardiometabolic disease.
Email: emilyotmanowski@usf.edu
Jacob Connolly
Year 4, Dissertation Research
Lab: Dr. Nathan Schilaty
Research Interests: My research interests are in the fields of biomechanics, neuromechanics, and medical imaging of the effects of non-surgical spinal decompression as a treatment alternative to surgery.
Email: connolly45@usf.edu
Derek Jacobs
Year 4, Dissertation Research
Lab: Dr. Zachary Porterfield
Research Interests: I am studying HIV reservoirs in lymphatic tissue and working towards an HIV cure. The Porterfield lab also has a strong focus on global health.
Email: derekjacobs@usf.edu
Aahir Srinath
Year 2, Pre-Clinical
Research Interests: I have a background in cancer immunotherapy and tumor immunology. I have not joined a lab yet, but I am interested in elucidating mechanisms of tumor resistance to immunotherapy and generating novel CAR-T and BiTE therapies for cancer.
Email: asrinath@usf.edu
Cristina Dabrowski
Year 2, Pre-Clinical
Research Interests: I have a research background in biochemistry and immunology, specifically looking at the enzymatic regulation of innate immune proteins. While I have not yet joined a lab, I am interested in exploring the interplay between the maternal and fetal microbiomes and their impact on neonate immune function.
Email: cdabrowski@usf.edu
Carolina De Paula Cunha Almeida
Year 1, Pre-Clinical
Research Interests: I have a diverse research background spanning social neuroscience and neuropsychiatric disorders, regenerative medicine focused on cardiovascular and multisystem repair, neuromodulation approaches for obesity treatment, and the neuroscience of empathy, particularly in medical education and patient care. I plan to focus my future research on how interactions between the brain and peripheral systems influence health and disease. I am drawn to interdisciplinary, translational work that bridges neuroscience with immunology and metabolism, using systems biology frameworks to better understand and address complex conditions.
Email: cdepaulacunhaalmeida@usf.edu
Cemre Kayisli
Year 1, Pre-Clinical
Research Interests: My current research interests lie in vascular biology, with a particular focus on the microcirculatory response to injury and infection.
Email: cemrekayisli@usf.edu
Megan Ly
Year 1, Pre-Clinical
Research Interests: I investigate the genetic and molecular mechanisms of aging and neurodegeneration. As an NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholar, I will research the progression of retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and develop gene-based therapeutics targeting vision loss.
Email: synvie@usf.edu