Scholars
2024 Cohort | 2023 Cohort | 2022 Cohort | 2021 Cohort
2024 Cohort
Nowah Afangbedji
Matthew Porteus
Pediatrics
Dr. Nowah Afangbedji is a postdoctoral scholar in the Porteus lab at Stanford University's School of Medicine, in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine. His research focuses on using the CRISPR/AAV system to develop a gene engineering strategy aimed at correcting the beta-globin gene in hemoglobinopathies. Additionally, Dr. Afangbedji serves on the American Society of Hematology's trainee council, where he contributes to developing programs designed to enhance career opportunities in science and medicine for underrepresented groups. He is dedicated to advancing health equity and has mentored numerous high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. Dr. Afangbedji earned his Ph.D. at Howard University, where his professional and academic work in the Nekhai lab focused on identifying early biomarkers of kidney disease in sickle cell patients, studying iron metabolism, and exploring the natural resistance of HIV-1 in sickle cell disease.
Mariame Diabate
HIPE (Healthcare Innovation, Policy and Equity) Lab
Alyce S. Adams and Tainayah Thomas
Epidemiology/Population Health
Mariame Diabate, PhD (she/her) is a postdoctoral scholar in the HIPE Lab (Healthcare Innovation, Policy and Equity), mentored by Dr. Alyce S. Adams in the Stanford Cancer Institute and the Departments of Health Policy/Epidemiology and Population Health, and Pediatrics and Dr. Tainayah Thomas in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health. A two-time Buckeye, she earned her PhD in Biomedical Sciences and BS in Biology with a minor in Global Public Health from The Ohio State University. Dr. Diabate uses bioinformatics to study breast and ovarian cancer variants, with the goal of reducing cancer treatment disparities for minority women. Through her postdoctoral training, she aims to addresses the genetic, social, and policy drivers of persistent health disparities. Dr. Diabate is currently focused on integrating community perspectives into observational research to improve population health outcomes and influence health policy. Additionally, she applies AI technology to support better treatment decisions, working alongside interdisciplinary teams to close the gap between cancer research and marginalized communities, while advocating for equitable healthcare. Previously, she served as the youngest state-level commissioner on Ohio’s New African Immigrant Commission and interned with UNAIDS in Geneva, Switzerland. Currently, Dr. Diabate is one of the co-presidents for Stanford’s Black Postdoctoral Association. Her passion for improving minority women's health continues to drive her research and advocacy.
Cathy Garcia
Steven Artandi
Biochemistry
Cathy Garcia, PhD (she/her) is a first-generation, low-income Latina with immigrant parents from El Salvador. She was born and raised in South Central, Los Angeles, and had the opportunity to attend a small all-women's liberal arts college in Los Angeles, Mount St. Mary's University (MSMU), for her undergraduate degree. During her time at MSMU, Cathy became fascinated with mechanisms of disease and cancer research. After her undergraduate degree, Cathy taught Biology laboratories at MSMU for four years, where she fell in love with teaching and supporting URM students in STEM. This led Cathy to apply to Yale where she completed her thesis project in the Muzumdar Lab studying how obesity is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer specifically, how beta cells adapt to obesity as a stressor, change their gene expression, and, in turn, promote tumorigenesis. At Stanford, Cathy's will continue researching a small population of beta cells that express telomerase reverse transcriptase and decipher the role these cells can play in cancer. During her postdoc, Cathy plans to continue supporting students in STEM through mentorship. When not in the lab, Cathy spends time with her family and fur babies. She loves trying new places to eat, going for nature walks, binge-watching shows, and taking naps. You can also find Cathy at the gym trying to set new personal records for herself. Connect with Cathy: Twitter/X
Elleni Hailu
Suzan Carmichael and Michelle Odden
Epidemiology/Population Health
Elleni (she/her) is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the School of Medicine with Dr. Suzan Carmichael (Pediatrics) and Dr. Michelle Odden (Epidemiology and Population Health). Broadly, her research employs interdisciplinary theories and advanced epidemiologic methods to assess how structural racism and its manifestations shape racial health inequities across the life-course, with the goal of informing equitable interventions and policies. Her work to date has examined multi-level sources of marginalization in relation to the risk of accelerated aging and pregnancy-related complications. She is interested in investigating cardiovascular health as a key outcome by which structural forces drive racial health inequities among birthing people and reproductive-age women. Elleni received her PhD in Epidemiology and her Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology/Biostatistics from the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, and holds a B.S. in Public Health Sciences from Santa Clara University. She is passionate about equity-oriented mentorship, teaching, and service, and enjoys spending quality time with loved ones outside of work.
Anthony Harris
Nicolas Altemose
Genetics
Anthony Harris is a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Nicolas Altemose’s lab within the School of Medicine. His research focuses on understanding mechanisms governing the transmission of genetic information in DNA from parent to progeny during a cellular program called meiosis. Specifically, he seeks to gain a more holistic understanding of factors that facilitate compaction and reorganization of DNA during early meiosis. Anthony completed his B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota in the lab of Professor Changbin Chen. During this time, he also participated in community outreach through a grassroots organization called Campus Camp Wellstone, which empowers underserved communities to engage in political action. After graduating, Anthony then earned his doctorate in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, where he continued to mentor underrepresented groups through programs like the NSF-REU and served on admissions as a DEI representative. In addition to research, Anthony enjoys playing tennis, biking, and exploring beaches and trails with his wife and kids. Connect with Anthony: LinkedIn
Marco Herrera
Ravindra Majeti
Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Marco Herrera's research focuses on the intersection of non-viral delivery systems and cell therapy applications for treating hematological malignancies. His current work utilizes lipid nanoparticles to deliver mRNAs to T cells, specifically targeting acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Additionally, he is developing logic-gated CAR T cells to enhance AML therapy. Marco earned his Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology from UC Davis and completed his doctoral training at Oregon State University, where he specialized in developing lipid nanoparticles for gene delivery applications. Marco is also deeply committed to mentoring undergraduates, both in the laboratory and through academic guidance. In his spare time, he volunteers with local astronomy clubs, participating in outreach programs that bring science to schools and engage with children and their families. Outside of his professional endeavors, Marco enjoys spending quality time with family and friends by going on hikes or visiting the local farmers market on the weekends.
Esmeralda Melgoza
Jennifer Newberry
Emergency Medicine
Esmeralda Melgoza, PhD, MPH, CHES (she/her/ella) is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Jennifer A. Newberry's lab in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Her research uses quantitative and qualitative methods to identify the multi-level factors that result in health disparities within the prehospital setting, with a focus on the Latine/Hispanic population, older adults, and persons with Limited English Proficiency. Dr. Melgoza earned her Ph.D. in Community Health Sciences with a specialization in Gerontology, an MPH in Community Health Sciences, and a B.A. in History with a minor in Public Health — all from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Melgoza enjoys mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds in academia. In her spare time, Dr. Melgoza enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, hiking, and exploring new coffee shops and restaurants. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Nancy Paniagua
Aaron Straight
Biochemistry
Nancy Paniagua (she/her/ella) is a Propel Postdoctoral Scholar in Aaron Straight’s lab in the Department of Biochemistry. Nancy is deeply interested in understanding how noncoding RNA define genome organization. Her research focuses on how chromatin associated RNA impact chromosome structure and gene regulation. Nancy received her B.S. in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology from the University of California Santa Cruz and then earned her Ph.D. in Genetics from Yale University. As a graduate student, Nancy developed the First-Generation Low-Income Peer Mentorship Program to guide freshman and sophomore undergraduate students on navigating the "hidden curriculum" at Yale. Additionally, she played a key role as a founding member of the SACNAS chapter at Yale, aiding in increasing the retention and recruitment of disadvantaged and underrepresented students. Outside of lab, Nancy enjoys powerlifting, swimming, movie nights, game nights and spending time with her dog, Taco. Connect with Nancy: Twitter | LinkedIn
Anahis Tena
Denise Monack
Microbiology and Immunology
Anahis Tena (she/her/ella) is a Propel Postdoctoral Scholar in Dr. Denise Monack’s lab in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology. Her research focuses on understanding host-pathogen interactions, with a particular emphasis on bacteriophages in various strains of Salmonella. Anahis earned her BS in Biomedical Sciences and PhD in Pathobiology at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where she discovered her passion for infectious diseases under the mentorship of Dr. Charles Spencer. Anahis’ doctoral work involved studying Francisella tularensis to investigate its effects on the brain and behavior. Throughout her academic journey, Anahis has developed a strong commitment to teaching and mentoring, especially in supporting undergraduate students. She is proud to have guided many studnets as they completed their bachelor’s degrees and moved on to pursue graduate studies. Outside the lab, Anahis enjoys collecting rocks, minerals, and plants. She loves exploring new beaches, playing board games, and hosting charcuterie board nights with friends.
Amara Thind
Elizabeth Egan
Pediatrics
Amara Thind is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Elizabeth Egan’s lab in the Department of Pediatrics at Stanford University’s School of Medicine. Her research focuses on red blood cell (RBC) host factors that are important for Plasmodium spp. infection to help develop new approaches to treat malaria. Her work also involves understanding erythrocyte development and biology through genetically modifying RBCs from primary hematopoietic stem cells by ex-vivo erythropoiesis. Amara received her B.S. from the University of California, Irvine and her Ph.D. from the Molecular Biology Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), under the mentorship of Dr. Peter Bradley. At UCLA, she investigated the roles of Toxoplasma gondii’s secreted dense granule effector proteins during infection. In her academic career, Amara has also been dedicated to promoting STEM education and expanding its accessibility for underrepresented students. Outside of research, she enjoys playing beach volleyball, painting, and exploring the outdoors.
Jewel White
Laura Simons
Anesthesia
Jewel White, Ph.D. (she/her) is a postdoctoral scholar in the department of Anesthesia in the Biobehavioral Pediatric Pain (BPP) lab lead by Dr. Laura Simons. Her research focuses on uncovering biomarkers of pain recovery versus persistence in adolescents with chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain. She is particularly interested in the neural correlates of childhood chronic pain and the neural predictors of pain outcomes. She completed her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and her BA in Biology from the University of Virginia. As a graduate student, Jewel was active in several outreach and community activities, including volunteering for the Baltimore Underground Science Space (BUGSS). She also served as a member of the Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) and Program in Neuroscience Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism in Science (IDEAS) committees, and as a research mentor for undergraduate and high school students. Outside of the lab, Jewel enjoys spending time with her little family, traveling, trying something new, communicating science for all, and is a huge foodie. Connect with Jewel: Google Scholar | LinkedIn | Twitter
Astrid N. Zamora
Abby C. King
Epidemiology/Population Health
Astrid (she/her/ella) is a postdoctoral scholar in the HEARTS Lab within the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health. To date, her work has examined the impact of diet and environmental pollutant exposure on psychosocial and metabolic health outcomes during adolescence and midlife. As a postdoc, she is receiving training in study design and citizen science methods, learning how to bridge her epidemiology training with community-based research approaches to ensure that her research agenda maintains a meaningful connection to the community and its real-world context. Astrid completed her MPH at UC Berkeley and PhD at the University of Michigan. She holds leadership roles in the American Society for Nutrition and is passionate about mentorship, having served as a mentor for programs, including the AHA’s Hispanic Serving Institution Scholars Program, Project SHORT - a pro bono mentoring program for grad school admissions, and CCOP at Stanford. Astrid loves hiking with her family, traveling, eating, and taking long walks with her dog. Connect with Astrid: Google Scholar | Twitter/X
2023 Cohort
David Au
Stephen Baccus
Neurobiology
David Au (he/him) is a postdoctoral scholar in Stephen Baccus’ lab in the Department of Neurobiology. His research focuses on understanding 1) how multiplexed photoreceptor systems contribute to complex visual processes of the early visual system of mammals, and 2) the effects of sleep on the visual neural code. These ideas take advantage of sophisticated computational models that David will generate from his experiments measuring retinal and cortical responses to complex natural scenes stimuli. David earned his BS in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Utah as a Miller Scholar and his PhD in Biomedical Sciences at the University of California, Irvine as an NIH NRSA F31-Divesity Fellow. He has mentored 20+ students from a range of disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds, improved DEI efforts within his graduate community as a liaison between students and faculty and recruited students through organizations like SACNAS and the NIH. David loves climbing, volleyball, and tennis.
Brittany J Bush
William Giardino
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Brittany Bush (she/her) is a postdoctoral scholar in the Giardino Lab in the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Her work focuses on sex differences in neurocircuitry— specifically the amygdala and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST)— involved in sleep, addiction and mood disorders. In the future, she also plans to investigate the role of comorbidities (sleep disorders, reproductive disorders, and addiction) and socioeconomic factors in the development of neuropsychiatric disorders using human models. Brittany earned her BS in Biology from Savannah State University, as well as two master’s degrees, in Biomedical and Clinical research, and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences, all from Morehouse School of Medicine. Brittany, with a colleague, founded Let's Get STEMulated, LLC, an organization with a mission of increasing STEM exposure for minority high school students. She also serves as a mentor to several high school and college students. Brittany enjoys dancing, skating, traveling, participating in the arts, and being outdoors.
Ixel Hernandez-Castro
Andres Cardenas
Epidemiology/Population Health
Ixel is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health in the School of Medicine in Dr. Andres Cardenas' lab. Her research has broadly focused on investigating the impact of exposures to chemical mixtures during the pre/postnatal period on maternal and infant health. She is particularly interested in understanding the co-occurring effects of pre/postnatal chemical and psychosocial stressors on fetal development, along with possible underlying mechanisms. She completed her Ph.D. in Epidemiology and MPH in Biostatistics/Epidemiology from the University of Southern California, and her BA in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. Outside of research, Ixel enjoys running, painting, reading, and kickboxing.
Connect with Ixel: Google Scholar | Linkedin | Twitter
Kathryn “Katie” Kapp
Sharon Pitteri
Radiology
Kathryn, or Katie, (she/her) is a Propel Postdoctoral Scholar in Dr. Sharon Pitteri's lab in the Department of Radiology at the Canary Center at Stanford for Early Cancer Detection. Her research uses biological mass spectrometry to study protein glycosylation altered in various cancers, with the goal of improving early cancer detection. Katie enjoys teaching and mentoring and is active in various STEM outreach activities. Katie earned her B.S. in chemistry, summa cum laude, from Gannon University in Erie, PA, and her Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, with Dr. Renã A. S. Robinson. At Vanderbilt, Katie was a Vanderbilt Chemistry-Biology Interface Predoctoral Trainee using proteomics to study survival outcomes from sepsis in diverse patient populations. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crafting, yoga, watching Steelers games, and spending time with family.
Gabriela Lomeli
Carolyn Bertozzi & Polly Fordyce
Bioengineering
Gabriela Lomeli, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the ChEM-H Institute at Stanford, co-advised by Professor Carolyn Bertozzi and Professor Polly Fordyce. Gabriela earned her PhD from the UC Berkeley – UC San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, and holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University. Her research is broadly centered on the development of microfluidic tools for protein analysis and protein engineering. At present, her main project seeks to engineer proteases to target mucins using a high-throughput microfluidic platform. Mucins are heavily glycosylated cell-surface proteins that make for an interesting target, as they are often abnormally expressed in cancer, yet are typically considered undruggable. Throughout her academic journey, Gabriela has been dedicated to outreach efforts aimed at enhancing accessibility to STEM education and careers, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. When she's not in the lab, Gabriela loves surfing, running, and assisting others in organizing their closets.
Maria Jose Medrano Matamoros
Adam Wang
Radiology
Maria Jose Medrano Matamoros is a postdoctoral scholar in the Wang Group in the department of Radiology at Stanford School of Medicine. Her research focuses on the development of novel image reconstruction and deep-learning techniques to optimize CT image quality and patient dose delivery. She completed her PhD in electrical engineering at Washington University in St. Louis where she was a recipient of the Imaging Science Pathway Graduate Student Fellowship through the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences. Maria Jose's thesis focused on assessing and implementing x-ray CT model-based image reconstruction techniques and spectral material decomposition methods in proton radiotherapy. Outside of her research, Dr. Medrano passionately promotes the participation of underrepresented minorities in engineering and medical physics. She is an active member of AAPM’s Working Group on Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee on Outreach and Social Media (WGEDIO) and AAPM’s Hispanic and LatinX Medical Physics Subcommittee (HLMPSC). In her free time, Maria Jose enjoys Olympic Weightlifting, long-distance running, hiking, rock climbing, and CrossFit.
Leanne Miles
Stanley Qi
Bioengineering
Leanne Miles is a postdoctoral researcher in Stanley Qi's lab at Stanford. Her research aims to promote nerve regeneration and to help develop a novel and effective treatment for nervous system injuries and diseases. Leanne is interested in answering her scientific questions through genetics, synthetic biology, and CRISPR technology. Before becoming a postdoc at Stanford, Leanne majored in Biochemistry at Syracuse University and completed her PhD at the University of Pennsylvania with the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics (BMB). In grad school, Leanne was particularly interested in the role of mechanosensation in axon regeneration and especially the role of PIEZO1, a mechanosensitive ion channel, in axon regrowth. Now, she hopes to continue my passion in nerve regeneration, and this time through the perspective of synthetic biology! Outside of lab and research, Leanne's favorite hobby is rock climbing: bouldering, top roping, and lead. She also loves hiking, kickboxing, running, painting sunsets, and exploring interesting and beautiful new places with her dog.
Connect with Leanne: LinkedIn
Michelle M. Miranda Vélez
Dylan Dodd
Pathology
Michelle Miranda (she/her) is a postdoctoral scholar in the Dodd Lab in the Pathology Department. Her research interest lies in bridging science and medicine by implementing core chemistry to study and improve human health. Specifically, her focus is on understanding choline metabolism and the production of trimethylamine by commensal gut bacteria, investigating the influence of diet and microbiota on choline metabolism in the gut, and studying the regulation of metabolosomes in this pathway to contribute to the development of novel treatments. Michelle holds a B.S. in Forensic Chemistry from the University of Tampa and earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Florida International University under the guidance of Dr. Moon. She participates in DEI events, including discussions on social justice within biosciences and academia, and WISE mentoring groups. Additionally, Michelle volunteers for a pet rescue organization and enjoys teaching. Originally from Puerto Rico, Michelle loves the beach, working out, and watching documentaries. Connect with Michelle: LinkedIn
Jordan Taylor Moore
Sarah C. Heilshorn & Marion Buckwalter
Engineering Neurology
Jordan Moore is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in the Departments of Materials Science & Engineering and Neurology. His research focuses on developing biomaterial based strategies for gene and protein delivery to treat stroke injury. Jordan received both a Bachelors of Science in Applied Mathematics and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from The Ohio State University. Outside of research, Jordan enjoys exploring new restaurants, breweries, and working out.
Marcela Radtke
Lisa Goldman Rosas
Epidemiology/Population Health
Marcela Radtke (she/her) is a postdoctoral researcher in the Food for Health Equity Lab at Stanford. Marcela's research focuses on the intersection of nutrition and medicine using a health equity approach. She is working on various projects that implement 'Food as Medicine' interventions in the healthcare setting to improve diet-related chronic disease risk outcomes, such as in the experience of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in underrepresented populations. Specifically, Marcela is exploring the effectiveness of medically administered dietary and/or behavioral lifestyle interventions on clinical and subclinical biomarkers of disease prevention. Marcela received her BS in Nutrition Science and PhD in Nutritional Biology from the University of California, Davis. While at UC Davis, she leveraged funding and support for the UC Davis SEED Scholars Program, a four-year fully inclusive college experience for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and served as the first teaching instructor for the inaugural course. Marcela also served as the UC Davis 2022-2023 President of the Graduate Student Association, representing over 5,200 graduate students, where her platform focused expanding support for diversity, equity, and inclusion to ensure education remains equitable for all individuals including the expansion of a food pantry specifically for graduate students and postdocs. In addition to research, Marcela is a certified spin instructor who loves being active; currently, she is training for the Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim! Marcela also loves to travel, listen to live music, and chef up new recipes using local, seasonal produce!
Aoon Rizvi
Serena Sanulli
Genetics
Aoon (On) Rizvi (he/him) completed his PhD in chemistry at the University of California, Irvine where he studied how polymers self-assembly on the nanoscale using advanced microscopy methods. Aoon's time at UC Irvine inspired him to use his expertise to study biological systems. At Stanford, Dr. Rizvi is studying how DNA is organized within human cells on the nanoscale. Beyond research, Aoon is passionate about mentorship of junior students and participating in outreach to get young kids excited about science. He has mentored undergraduate and graduate students to carryout research projects and navigate postgrad job opportunities. Aoon's goal is to be a Professor and show students from disadvantage backgrounds that Science is for them too! Aoon love's to travel and explore nature every chance he gets.
2022 Cohort
Josefina Flores Morales
Mathew Kiang
Epidemiology/Population Health
Josefina (she/her/ella) is a Propel Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health in the School of Medicine with Dr. Mathew Kiang's lab. Her research is about health and socioeconomic inequities across the life course. She is interested in diverging outcomes across race/ethnicity and documentation status. Josefina earned her B.A. in psychology with a public health minor from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She pursued her doctoral education in sociology at UCLA as well. Her doctoral studies were supported by the Health Policy Research Scholars program, a program by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In her free time, Josefina enjoys dancing bachata and salsa. She also enjoys playing and watching soccer.
Keith Garcia
Ashby Morrison & Daniel Jarosz
Biology
Keith Garcia is a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Ashby Morrison's lab. Keith's research focuses on how cellular/environmental stress impacts chromatin dynamics in development and disease. Using yeast as a model organism, he is exploring how signaling pathways respond to stress and relay this information into the nucleus to alter DNA templated processes. Before coming to Stanford, Keith earned a PhD in Biomedical Sciences (Cancer Biology) at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and holds a BS degree in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin. While at Iowa, Keith played a "Big Brother" role nearly every summer mentoring undergraduates from historically disadvantaged backgrounds through the CURE Iowa summer training program. He hopes to continue to play a mentorship role in analogous programs offered here at Stanford. Outside of research Keith enjoys film photography, pour over coffee, and binge watching Frasier.
Cellas Ari’ka Hayes
Michelle Odden
Neurology
Cellas Hayes, Ph.D., (he/him) is a postdoctoral scholar in Michelle Odden's lab at Stanford School of Medicine. His research focuses on understanding how topographic changes in markers of vascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease (tau PET) can predict cognitive decline and gray matter atrophy in aging. He obtained his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with an emphasis in Pharmacology and BA in Biology from the University of Mississippi. As a graduate trainee, he was a recipient of an NIH F31. His research background includes preclinical approaches to understanding how insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling in astrocytes and neurons influences learning, memory, and stroke outcomes. Outside of science, he enjoys Escape Rooms, traveling to new cities, playing tennis, and spending time with his wife and kids.
Colwyn “CoCo” Headley
Cardiovascular Institute, Tsao Lab
Philip Tsao
Cardiovascular Institute
Dr. Colwyn “CoCo” Headley (he/him) is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University’s Cardiovascular Institute, in the lab of Dr. Philip Tsao. Dr. Headley combines his long-term interests in aging-associated mitochondrial dysfunction and immunity, with Dr. Tsao’s veteran expertise in cardiovascular disease, to uncover novel perspectives within the immune-cardiovascular axis. Dr. Headley completed his B.S. (Microbiology) and Ph.D. (Biomedical Sciences —Immunology) at The Ohio State University. Dr. Headley’s doctoral work, in the lab of Dr. Joanne Turner, primarily focused on the impact of biological aging on adaptive immunity and potential strategies to boost elderly immune function. Outside of Lab, Dr. CoCo is involved in several non-profits, including Black-In-Immuno and Biotech Connection Bay Area. CoCo is also an avid runner and Fútbol player. He is also always on the hunt for new coffee and wines to try! Connect with CoCo: Twitter | Instagram
Dan McCalley
Claudia Padula
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Dan McCalley, PhD (he/him) is a postdoctoral fellow in in Dr. Claudia Padula’s lab within the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences department. Dan completed his graduate training in neuroscience at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) under the direction of Dr. Colleen Hanlon. His research aims to further the development of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as a therapeutic tool for individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder. He is particularly interested in leveraging patient-level, multimodal neuroimaging (functional MRI, structural MRI, diffusion weighted imaging) to optimize TMS parameters for AUD and improve treatment outcomes. He is committed to developing an impactful research portfolio, developing skills to excel as a mentor, and increasing LGBTQIA+ visibility/representation in academia. Outside of research, Dan enjoys traveling, hiking, tending to his plants, and spending time with friends and family.
Saria McKeithen-Mead
KC Huang & Justin Sonnenburg
Bioengineering
Saria McKeithen-Mead, PhD, MS, (she/her) is a postdoctoral scholar in Bioengineering, Microbiology & Immunology. She holds a PhD in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an MS in Molecular and Cell Biology from Quinnipiac University, a BS in Biology and a BA in Anthropology from Case Western Reserve University. Her research aims to uncover relationships between human health and the evolution of microbial communities within the human gut. Specifically, she focuses on how diet and inflammation drive the movement of mobile DNA elements between bacterial species within the gut microbiome. She is passionate about promoting the inclusion of underrepresented communities in scientific research through outreach, mentorship, and teaching. While at MIT, she was Treasurer of the Black Graduate Student Association and a Graduate Ambassador. Outside of research, she loves experiencing new food along with cooking and crafting cocktails. She also enjoys hiking, fishing, and kayaking.
Alex Miranda
Seung Kim
Developmental Biology
Alex Miranda is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Seung Kim’s lab in the department of Developmental Biology at Stanford School of Medicine. His research focuses on understanding how pancreatic islets obtain and maintain their mature characteristics, processes dysregulated in diabetes. He obtained his Ph.D. in Developmental Biology at Washington University in St. Louis in the Lab of Dr. Heather Lawson. As a graduate trainee, he was awarded an NSF-GRFP honorable mention, an NIH F31 fellowship, and was inducted into the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. Alex has participated in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and served as a scientific mentor to many undergraduate and high school students. Outside of lab, Alex enjoys swimming, hiking, bar trivia, and spending time with his dogs.
Amy R. Nava
Merritt Maduke
Molecular and Cellular Physiology
Amy Nava is a postdoctoral scholar in the Maduke Lab. Her research focuses on determining the mechanisms of proton transport in the CLC-ec1 antiporter. Amy is specifically interested in the electrophysiological properties and important residues underlining the exchange of Cl- and H+. Amy completed a B.S. in Microbiology and an M.S. in Biology from New Mexico State University. She completed a PhD. in interdisciplinary clinical and molecular microbiology from The University of Texas at El Paso. Her future interests are elucidating the calcium transduction pathway as a means of mitigating antibiotic resistance and understanding how bacteria regulate antibiotic resistance mechanisms through calcium signaling and voltage depolarization. Other future interests include continuing with microbial bioremediation research. Amy is currently serving on the Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology's DEI cabinet as well as serving as a mentor for the Stanford Academic Transition Advising Program (ATAP). Her hobbies include getting outdoors, hiking, and teaching myself how to play piano.
Angelie M. Rivera Rodriguez
Katherine Ferrara & Michelle James
Radiology
Angelie Rivera Rodriguez, Ph.D., (she/her) is a postdoctoral scholar in Radiology. Her postdoctoral work focuses on identifying biomarkers of multiple sclerosis for disease diagnosis using nuclear imaging. She is also developing lipid nanoparticles for the in vivo modulation of immune cells. Angelie is particularly interested in the intersection of nanomedicine and molecular imaging to create diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Angelie completed her B.S. in Industrial Biotechnology at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida. Her thesis work focused on the biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles for cancer treatment and immune cell tracking. She was awarded the NSF-GRFP and the NIH-F31-Diversity fellowships during her Ph.D. As a female Latina, Angelie is passionate about the diversity and inclusion of minorities in STEM and has been an active member and mentor to the LatinXinBME community. Angelie enjoys doing ceramic art and kayaking. Connect with Angelie: Twitter
Anthony Venida
Michael Bassik
Genetics
Anthony Venida (he/him) is a postdoctoral scholar in Michael Bassik’s lab in the Department of Genetics. His research broadly focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern neuronal cell death. Specifically, his project investigates the role of lysosomal mediated degradation of mitochondria in Parkinson’s Disease using CRISPR technology to identify disease-modifying therapeutics. Anthony earned his PhD in the Biomedical Sciences from the University of California, San Francisco under the guidance of Dr. Rushika Perera and received his BSc in the Biological Sciences at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County as part of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program. At Stanford, Anthony is currently part of building a new program that focuses on increasing diversity within academia by promoting URM individuals at all stages of their training and professional development. Outside of lab, he loves the great outdoors, live music, ultraendurance sports and triathlon, and all things related to food.
Edward Vizcarra
Olivia Martinez
Transplant Surgery
Edward Vizcarra (he/him) is a postdoctoral scholar working under the guidance of Dr. Olivia Martinez. His research focuses on characterizing the immune response to Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in pediatric transplant patients. Specifically, he will compare EBV-seropositive patient samples with high vs controlled viral load, with an emphasis on understanding the EBV-specific T cell repertoire. He holds a BS in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from UC, San Diego, and a PhD in Biomedical Science from UC, Riverside. While at UCR, he spearheaded several community service projects such as food/ toy drives, campus tours for the local youth center, a speaker series highlighting the experiences of first-generation graduate students navigating higher education, and a podcast called “Welcome to Grad School”, in efforts to help undergraduates and the grad-curious understand what graduate school is like. In his spare time, you can find him either with family or out in nature.
Shai Waldrip
Tina Hernandez-Boussard
Medicine (Biomedical Informatics)
Shai Waldrip is a Propel Postdoctoral Scholar in the Boussard lab. Her research aims to develop a digital twin for breast cancer patients that will ultimately support the advancement of precision medicine and improve clinical decision-making and patient-centered care. Specifically, she uses machine learning, deep learning, and mechanistic modeling using multimodal and multiscale data (e.g., EHR, multi-omic, and socioeconomic). Shai is also working create a framework to evaluate bias and fairness of the algorithms as well as their clinical feasibility and utility. She holds a BS in Biology from Georgia Gwinnett College and a PhD in Biomedical Science from Morehouse School of Medicine. In addition to research, Shai enjoys discovering new cafes, traveling, and spending time with her loved ones.
2021 Cohort
Mary Arrastia
Kevin Wang
Dermatology
Mary Arrastia is a postdoctoral scholar in Prof. Kevin Wang’s lab at Stanford’s School of Medicine. Her research focuses on understanding how changes in the 3D organization of DNA contribute toward the development of diseases. Before arriving at Stanford, she obtained her PhD in Chemistry (sub-field Chemical Biology) from California Institute of Technology as a NSF Graduate Research Fellow and her BS in Chemistry from California State University, Los Angeles. In addition to her research pursuits, she engages in outreach activities with an emphasis towards mentoring and supporting underrepresented students in STEM fields. Outside of research and outreach, she enjoys traveling to new locations, eating at new restaurants as a foodie, amateur photography, and playing Pokémon Go while listening to audiobooks.
Shawna Follis
Marcia Stefanick & David Rehkopf
SPRC
Shawna Follis, PhD, MS is a postdoctoral scholar at the Stanford Prevention Research Center and the Center for Population Health Sciences. She received her PhD in epidemiology at The University of Arizona and her master’s degree in anthropology from Purdue University. Dr. Follis is a social epidemiologist researching race and ethnicity health disparities, aging, and chronic disease prevention. She is interested in the role that the structural environment and social determinants of health play in body composition and chronic disease outcomes. Dr. Follis was awarded the 2020 Aetna Award for Excellence in Research on Older Women and Public Health from the American Public Health Association for her research evaluating racial differences in social stress associated adipose tissue patterning. Dr. Follis promotes inclusion of underrepresented communities in scientific research through mentorship, teaching, and diversity committees. While at The University of Arizona she was appointed President of Health Sciences Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee. In her community, she has served in activism leadership positions for undocumented immigrant rights. Outside of research she is a passionate futbolista and former collegiate soccer player.
Lauren Hagler
Dan Herschlag
Biochemistry
Lauren Hagler is a Propel postdoctoral scholar in Biochemistry within Stanford’s School of Medicine. She holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a BS in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of Alabama. After spending her PhD studying how RNA could serve as a drug target for neurological diseases, she wanted to expand her expertise to a fundamental understanding of RNA interactions in cells and how drugs might influence those interactions. Her postdoctoral research broadly focuses on the relationship between RNA structure and function in the gene expression program, and how RNAs fold and bind regulatory proteins. Her current project blends biochemistry and genomics to define quantitative and predictive models for RNA-RNA and RNA-protein interactions in cells. In addition to research, Lauren enjoys capturing the world through photography, cooking for family and friends, and being in community with diverse groups of people.
Kamir Hiam-Galvez
Ansuman Satpathy
Pathology
Kamir Hiam-Galvez is a postdoctoral scholar in the Satpathy lab. His research aims to understand how the immune system makes decisions. Specifically, he focuses on dissecting how dendritic cells influence clonal T cell differentiation trajectories. He holds a BA in Psychology from Brock University, a BSc in Biochemistry from Kennesaw State University, and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from University of California, San Francisco. Kamir runs an annual "Immunology Crash Course" for high schoolers in the Bay Area. He volunteers as a mentor for prospective graduate students through Científico Latino and Project Short, and was a founding member of UCSF's Immunodiverse. He is now focusing on increasing science accessibility through Public Journal Club and new Spanish language science initiatives. Outside of the lab, Kamir is obsessed with music and you can often find him digging through dusty crates of vinyl records. He also loves fútbol, video games, and eating. Connect with Kamir: Twitter
McKay Mullen
Joseph Wu
Cardiovascular Institute
McKay Mullen is a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford's Cardiovascular Institute. His work focuses on congenital heart disease (CHD) as it disproportionately affects minority populations. Specifically his seeks to identify the underlying genetic correlation that may influence this disease's prevalence among African Americans. In addition, his future research will evaluate racial disparities as they relate to cardio-oncology. He plans to study the impact of chemotherapy on the cardiovascular system and evaluate whether racial disparities influence healthcare outcomes. McKay holds a BS in Psychology from Morehouse College in Atlanta as well as masters degree and PhD in Biomedical Science from Morehouse School of Medicine. McKay enjoys collecting donations and feeding the homeless. His hobbies include reading, cooking, and playing soccer whenever possible.
Sophia Parks
Manuel Amieva
Pediatrics
Sophia is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Manuel Amieva’s lab in the department of Pediatrics. Her research focuses on how Helicobacter pylori colonizes the gastric epithelium. She is also utilizing human gastric organoids to investigate population specific virulence factors that enable H. pylori to persist in the gut and often lead to gastric ulcers and cancer. Sophia completed her BS and PhD at the University of California, Riverside in the departments of Neuroscience and Nematology. Her dissertation focused on characterizing immunomodulatory proteins from parasitic nematodes as well as elucidating the innate immune signaling mechanisms of the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. Sophia is passionate about diversity outreach and has hosted events to introduce and inspire girls to strive for careers in STEM fields. She has also served as a peer mentor throughout her education thus far. Outside of research Sophia enjoys yoga, rock climbing and getting outdoors.
Anthony Pho
Mitchell Lunn & Juno Obedin-Maliver
Nephrology
Anthony Pho, PhD, MPH, ANP-C is an adult nurse practitioner and postdoctoral scholar with The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet at Stanford University School of Medicine. His postdoctoral research explores how sexual and gender minority people use online information to make personal health decisions like whether to receive a vaccine. He is also exploring ways to improve the collection of sexual orientation and gender identity in population health research. Anthony earned his BA from U.C. Berkeley, BSN, MSN, and MPH degrees from Johns Hopkins University and PhD from Columbia University where he was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholar. He currently serves as board member at large for GLMA Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality and on the Executive Board of the LGBT Health Workforce Conference. Anthony continues to practice as a primary care provider with the Stanford Health Care LGBTQ+ Program. When he’s not working, he enjoys cooking and choral singing.
Alexis Reeves
Michelle Odden
Epidemiology/Population Health
Alexis is a Propel Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health in the School of Medicine with Dr. Michelle Odden’s lab. Her research is broadly focused on the causes and consequences of racial disparities in accelerated aging. She is particularly interested in the interplay of structural and interpersonal racism, and the psychobiological mechanisms in which they produce early health declines in minoritized populations. Her work to date has focused on the health of Black women as they enter into life-stages, such as the midlife menopausal transition, where cardio-metabolic risk is high. Alexis also has a strong interest in causal inference, and applies causal inference theory and methods to these areas of research to mitigate and quantify bias.
Alexis holds a BS in Biological Sciences from University of California Irvine, an MPH in Epidemiology/Biostatistics from University of California Berkeley and a Doctorate in Epidemiologic Science from the University of Michigan.
Outside of research, Alexis enjoys learning about other cultures and history by traveling. She also enjoys eating, cooking, and sharing food (and cocktails!) from around the world with friends and family. Connect with Alexis: Google Scholar
Epiphani Simmons
Marion Buckwalter
Neurology
Epiphani Simmons is postdoctoral scholar training under Dr. Marion Buckwalter within Stanford’s department of neurology. Her research is focused on understanding mechanisms by which astrocytes drive dysfunction and recovery of the blood brain barrier following a neuroinflammatory event such as stroke. Dr. Simmons’ holds a BS in biochemistry from the University of Missouri-Columbia as well as a PhD in neuroscience from the University of Arizona. Outside of her academic interests, she enjoys days out on a river or lake, rock climbing and keeping the occasional plant alive.
Jonathan Tyson
Karl Deisseroth, Carolyn Bertozzi & Zhenan Bao
Bioengineering
Tyson is a postdoctoral scholar working with Carolyn Bertozzi, Karl Deisseroth and Zhenan Bao on genetically targeted chemical assembly of functional bioelectronic materials in vivo—a project aimed at building new functions into life for communication, treatment and discovery by developing a universal methodology for targeted chemistry within living beings. Prior to Stanford, Tyson completed his PhD in chemistry at Yale and UC Berkeley under Dr. Alanna Schepartz, where he designed and synthesized chemical tools that enable extended, and multicolor, super-resolution imaging in live cells. As an undergraduate McNair scholar at Rider University, he performed total synthesis of gamma-butyrolactone-containing natural products with Dr. Danielle Jacobs.
Outside of lab, Tyson is the founder and host of Fresh Professor (inspired by “The Fresh Prince of Bel-air”), a small platform that provides resources and entertainment for first-generation professionals and academics. He is also a lover of music and an efficient collector of random information.
