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MD/PhD Students
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Rany Abdallah MSTP-6, Med-4 Mentor: Dr. Ayad Jaffa Research interests: Diabetic neprhopathy, stroke, stem cell research Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Kefreya El-Koura, Lebanon/ Montreal, Canada Undergraduate Institution: American University of Beirut Interests: Philosophy, poetry, water sports, guitar, dance |
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Adnan Al-Ayoubi Year: MSTP-5, Grad-5 Mentor: Scott Eblen Research interests: Signal Transduction, Cancer, Drug Development Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Tripoli, Lebanon Undergraduate Institution: American University of Beirut Interests: Fencing, Aikido, Squash, Traveling |
| Obaidullah Aseem |
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DeAnna Baker Year: MSTP-6, Grad-4 Mentor: Dr. Gary Gilkeson Research interests: Autoimmune disease, inflammation Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland Undergraduate Institution: University of Maryland Baltimore County Interests: Reading, watching movies |
| Tiffany Baker Year: MSTP-1, Med-1 Mentor: Dr. Lisa Cunningham Research interests: drug-induced ototoxicity Spouse/Kids: none Hometown: Charleston, SC Undergraduate Institution: College of Charleston Interests: knitting and crocheting, visual arts, -ologies, good food, music, movies, and television |
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| Fahmin Basher Year: MSTP-2, Med-2 Mentor: Undecided Research interests: Immunology, Neuroscience, Bioengineering Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Orangeburg, SC Undergraduate Institution: University of South Carolina Interests: Reading, Cooking, Crafts, Working out, The Beach |
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Thomas Beckham Year: MSTP-3, Grad-1 Mentor: unknown (currently in Dr. Norris' lab for rotation) Research interests: Cancer Biology, Gene Therapy, Regulation of Gene Expression Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Aiken, SC Undergraduate Institution: Clemson University Interests: Tennis, Kayaking, Cooking, Ethics |
| Brandon Bentzley Year: MSTP-1, Med-1 Mentor: Undecided Research interests: Neuroscience, Addiction Medicine and Physics Spouse/Kids: none Hometown: Mullica Hill, NJ Undergraduate Institution: The College of New Jersey Interests: Running, Cycling (Mtn./Road), Hiking, Dancing, Cooking, and Zen |
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Jennifer Blakely Year: MSTP-3, Grad-1 Mentor: Undecided Research interests: Biochemistry, Peptide Synthesis, Immunology Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Ora, SC Undergraduate Institution: Erskine College Interests: American Literature, Writing, Camping and Hiking, Independent and Foreign films, Baking |
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Aly Bourreza |
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Laura Elizabeth Briggs |
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Jonathan Butler Year: MSTP-7, Med-3 Mentor: Dr. Naren Banik/Dr. Craig Beeson Research interests: Autoimmune disease, Multiple Sclerosis, T cells Spouse/Kids: Jennifer Hometown: El Cajon, CA Undergraduate Institution: Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA Interests: Travel, Surfing, Cycling |
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Joseph Cheng Year: MSTP-5, Grad-3 Mentor: Dr. James S. Norris Research interests: Tumor biology, gene therapy Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: New York, NY Undergraduate Institution: Dartmouth College, NH Interests: Reading, running, swimming, cooking |
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Anna-Maria Clark Year: MSTP-4, Grad-2 Mentor: Dr. M. Rita Young Research interests: Oncology, Tumor Immunology Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: North Charleston, SC Undergraduate Institution: Wofford College Interests: soccer, reading, camping, boating, foreign food, sleep |
| Danielle Clark Year: MSTP-1, Med-1 Mentor: Undecided Research interests: Cancer & proteins, Spouse/Kids: Hometown: Huntington, WV Undergraduate Institution:Marshall University Interests: Spending time at Folly Beach, movies & score music, learning to Kayak, needlepoint, watching football, & spending time with my boyfriend. |
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Andre C. Eaddy Year: MSTP-6, Grad-4 Mentor: Dr. Rick Schnellmann Research interests: Renal Failure/Cancer/Proteomics Spouse/Kids: Son: Deontae, 6 yrs old Hometown: Columbia, SC Undergraduate Institution: Morehouse College Interests: Water Sports |
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Justin Ellett Year: MSTP-7, Med-3 Mentor: Dr. Ken Chavin Research interests: Liver Transplantation, Fatty Liver Disease Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Richmond, VA Undergraduate Institution: Hampden-Sydney College Interests: |
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Jamie L. Fraser Year: MSTP-8, Med-4 Mentor: Dr. Ling Wei Research interests: Neonatal Stroke, Stem cell transplantation, infarct microenvironment in neonate Spouse/Kids: Husband: Brent; Daughter: Zoe, 2 dogs: Scout & Sugar Hometown: Hiram, GA Undergraduate Institution: Agnes Scott College Interests: playing with my husband, baby, and the dogs; gardening, reading, crocheting |
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Chris Gault Year: MSTP-7, Grad-5 Mentor: Dr. Lina Obeid Research interests: Cancer/Inflammation Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Santa Barbara, CA Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Santa Barbara Interests: Traveling, Volleyball, Hiking, Politics |
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Daniel Grass Year: MSTP-2, Grad-2 Mentor: Dr. Bryan P. Toole Research interests: Tumor Microenvironment and Signal Tranduction Spouse/Kids: Kathryn L. Grass Hometown: Aiken, SC Undergraduate Institution: Charleston Southern University Interests: Guitar, Reading, Spending time with my wife |
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Linda Heffernan-Stroud Year: MSTP-6, Grad-4 Mentor: Dr. Lina Obeid Research interests: Sphingosine Kinase 1 in Cancer Biology Spouse/Kids: Zach Stroud Hometown: Born in Savannah, GA; Grew up in Harrisburg, PA Undergraduate Institution: George Washington University & Oxford University Interests: Taking dogs to the park, Surfing, Painting, Hiking, Yoga, Friends |
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Loretta Hoover Year: MSTP-7, Med-3 Mentor: Dr. Steven W. Kubalak Research interests: Retinoids and Cardiovascular Development Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Kansas City, MO Undergraduate Institution: Rockhurst University/College of Charleston Interests: Cooking, Wine, Skydiving, Travel, Minoan Civilization |
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Russell William Jenkins Year: MSTP-6, Grad-4 Mentor: Dr. Yusuf A. Hannun Research interests: Role and Regulation of Acid Sphingomyelinase in Inflammation Spouse/Kids: Courtney Porter Jenkins Hometown: McLean, VA Undergraduate Institution: University of Virginia Interests: Playing guitar, reading, running, lifting, cooking, and relaxing... |
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Christopher Bryce Johnson Year: MSTP-1, Grad-1 Mentor: Undecided Research interests: MRI/MRS and mechanisms of apoptosis Spouse/Kids: Danielle Johnson Hometown: Chesapeake, VA Undergraduate Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Interests: Volleyball, soccer, tennis, racquetball, wakeboarding, table tennis, lifting, chess |
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Patricia Kearney Year: MSTP-5, Grad-3 Mentor: Dr. Chris Parsons Research interests: Effect of SHV Infection on Human Momonuclear Cells Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Fairfax, VA Undergraduate Institution: University of South Carolina Interests: running, swimming, biking and anything having to do with coffee |
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Anthony Leonard Year: MSTP-3, Grad-1 Mentor: Dr. Baerbel Rohrer Research interests: Brain Tumors (Glioblastoma) Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Galax, VA Undergraduate Institution: Emory & Henry College Interests: Reading, Music and DJ, Motorcycling, Outdoors, Boating, |
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Jason Lockrow Year: MSTP-7, Med-3 Mentor: Dr. Lotta Granholm Research interests: Neurodegeneration Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Chattanooga, TN Undergraduate Institution: University of South Carolina Interests: soccer, bocci, and the beach |
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Sarah Tucker Marrison Year: MSTP-2, Med-2 Mentor: Undecided Research interests: Cancer Biology and Therapy Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Brewster, NY Undergraduate Institution: Yale University, CT Interests: Running, Athletics, Cooking, Baking, Reading |
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Ahmad Mashmoushi Year: MSTP-3, Grad-3 Mentor: Dr. Gil Gilkeson, Dr. Jim Oates Research interests: Auto-immunity REactive Intermediates Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Bsaba Al-Shouf, Lebanon Undergraduate Institution: American University of Beirut Interests: History, Physics, Arabic Poetry |
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Keely Morris Year: MSTP-3, Grad-2 Mentor: Dr. Steve Tomlinson Research interests: Complement System in Ischemia Reperfusion Injury Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Missoula, MT Undergraduate Institution: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Interests: Traveling, Cooking, Running, Snow skiing |
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Phillip Moschella Year: MSTP-8, Med-3 Mentor: Dr. Dhan Kuppuswamy Research interests: Cardiology Spouse/Kids: Married with 1 new baby boy Hometown: N/A Undergraduate Institution: Wofford Interests: Movies, Reading, Getting Some Sleep |
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Khaled Moussawi Year: MSTP-5, Grad-5 Mentor: Dr. Peter Kalivas Research interests: imaging, development, neuroscience Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Beirut, Lebanon Undergraduate Institution: American University of Beirut Interests: philosophy, chess |
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Thomas (Tom) Drakeford Mullen Year: MSTP-7, Grad-5 Mentor: Dr. Lina Obeid Research interests: Role of sphingolipids in mitochondrial biology and apoptosis; cancer biology; inflammation Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Graniteville, SC Undergraduate Institution: Clemson University Interests: Music (guitar/vocals), photography, running/outdoor athletics, traveling, improv comedy, medical history |
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Benjamin Newcomb Year: MSTP-1, Med-1 Mentor: Undecided Research interests: cell signaling Spouse/Kids: none Hometown: Eugene, OR Undergraduate Institution:Seattle University Interests: Mountain Biking, Camping, snow sports, checking my email |
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Michael Patrick O'Quinn Year: MSTP-9, Med-3 Mentor: Dr. Robert Gourdie Research interests: Healing and regeneration of wounded myocardium Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Moore, SC Undergraduate Institution: Wofford College Interests: Outdoors activities (camping, hiking), traveling, history, and music |
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Joe Palatinus Year: MSTP-5, Grad-3 Mentor: Dr. Robert Gourdie Research interests: Mass spectrometry, x-ray crystallography, cardiac conduction system, and wound healing Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Oak Ridge, TN Undergraduate Institution: Davidson College Interests: languages, 80s cars and time traveling |
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David Perry Year: MSTP-4, Grad-2 Mentor: Dr. Yusuf A. Hannun Research interests: Ceramide Signaling, Gaucher Disease Spouse/Kids: Sara Clark Perry Hometown: Irmo, Sc Undergraduate Institution: Clemson University Interests: Ultimate Frisbee, Outdoors, Guitar |
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Ryan Rhome Year: MSTP-6, Grad-4 Mentor: Dr. Maurizio Del Poeta Research interests: Cryptococcus neoformans, sphingolipids Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Clover, SC Undergraduate Institution: University of Georgia Interests: the non-science ones are: music, concerts, movies, going out with friends, tae kwon do |
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Sahar Saddoughi Year: MSTP-4, Grad-2 Mentor: Dr. Besim Ogretmen Research interests: Cancer biology Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Clifton Park, NY Undergraduate Institution: Barnard College, Columbia University Interests: running, rowing, reading |
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Jennifer Scott Year: MSTP-1, Med-1 Mentor: Undecided Research interests: Immunology, microbiology, biochemistry Spouse/Kids: Hometown: Orlando, FL Undergraduate Institution: University of Central Florida Interests: Music, dancing, cooking fresh food, biking, philosophy, people, and reading |
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Amena Weston Smith Year: MSTP-5, Grad-3 Mentor: Dr. Naren Banik Research interests: I am interested in neurological and psychiatric illnesses. I hope to conduct a basic research project that will be clinically applicable to a disease with both neurological and psychiatric components. Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Augusta, GA Undergraduate Institution: Lee University, Cleveland, TN Interests: volunteering in the CARES clinic, making home improvements, swing and salsa dancing, going out to hear great live music when possible |
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Joshua A. Smith Year: MSTP-2, Med-2 Mentor: Undecided Research interests: Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, Neurodegenerative Disorders Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Spartanburg, SC Undergraduate Institution: Wofford College Interests: Music, Reading, College Sports, Spanish, Technology/Computers |
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Brian S. Snarr Year: MSTP-6, Med-3 Mentor: Dr. Andy Wessels Research interests: Cell Biology and Heart Development Spouse/Kids: Wife:Linden; Kids: Samantha 6, Spencer 4, Alexandria 4, Katherine 2, Talmage 0 Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah Undergraduate Institution: University of Utah Interests: Hiking, Fishing, Golf |
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Adrian D. Sproul Year: MSTP-7, Grad 5 Mentor: Shan Ping Yu Research interests: Neuroscience, Ion channels Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: South Burlington, VT Undergraduate Institution: Oberlin College Interests: Music, Spanish |
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Kyle Strickland Year: MSTP-5, Grad-3 Mentor: Dr. Sergey Krupenko Research interests: Protein Science, Crystallography, Neuroscience Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Spartanburg, SC Undergraduate Institution: College of Charleston Interests: Objectivism, independent films and sociology |
| Erik Strungs Year: MSTP-1, Med-1 Mentor: Undecided Research interests: Spouse/Kids: Hometown: Undergraduate Institution: University of Minnesota Interests: |
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Alton Sutter Year: MSTP-3, Grad-1 Mentor: Dr. Narendra Banik Research interests: Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Metabonomics Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Pickens, SC Undergraduate Institution: College of Charleston Interests: Diving, Photography, Music, Human Rights, Imagination, Books...and I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. |
| Mona Taleb Year: MSTP-5, Med-4 Mentor: Dr. Lisa Cunningham Research interests: Our lab is investigating the protective effect of heat shock on drug-induced hair cell death in mouse utricles Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Cologne, Germany and Beirut, Lebanon Undergraduate Institution: McGill University, Montreal, Canada Interests: Traveling, Ballroom dancing, Salsa, Running |
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Peter Hao Tang Year: MSTP-4, Grad-2 Mentor: Dr. Rosalie Crouch Research interests: Photoreceptor degeneration, Ocular drug delivery, retinoid metabolism Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Philadelphia, PA and Changsha, China Undergraduate Institution: University of Pennsylvania Interests: Cycling, Volleyball, Performing Arts, Photography, running, Rockband |
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Joseph Taylor Year: MSTP-3, Grad-1 Mentor: Undecided Research interests: Neuroplasticity, Neurophysiology Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Youngstown, OH Undergraduate Institution: Davidson College Interests: Running, Strength Training, Reading, Music |
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Juan C. Varela Year: MSTP-8, Med-4 Mentor: Dr. Steve Tomlinson Research interests: Tumor Immunology Spouse/Kids: Married 7 years, 4 year old son Hometown: Bogota, Colombia Undergraduate Institution: University of Florida Interests: Music, Soccer, and Football |
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Jarrett Walsh Year: MSTP-7, Med-3 Mentor: Dr. Rita Young Research interests: TGFb signaling in angiogenesis and tumor migration Spouse/Kids: Married, Jessica Walsh, no children Hometown: Hardeville, SC Undergraduate Institution: Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah, GA Interests: Music, journalism/publishing and design |
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Rebecca Weber Year: MSTP-2, Med-2 Mentor: Undecided Research interests: Nutrition, Obesity, Diabetes, Chemoprevention Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA Undergraduate Institution: Denison University Interests: Golf, Running, Cooking, Quality Beer, Reading, Foreign food, Traveling |
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Lee Wheless Year: MSTP-5, Grad-3 Mentor: Dr. Anthony Alberg Research interests: cancer biology Spouse/Kids: April Wheless Hometown: Durham, NC Undergraduate Institution: Davidson College Interests: running, guitar, mandolin, swing dancing |
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Ryan Whitaker Year: MSTP-2, Med-2 Mentor: Undecided (currently in Dr. Hannun's lab for rotation) Research interests: Cancer Biology, Gene Therapy, Experimental Therapeutics Spouse/Kids: Fiancee, Marie Dorell Hometown: Mount Pleasant, IA Undergraduate Institution: University of Iowa Interests: Movies, golf, the outdoors, cooking, going to the beach |
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Armina Wiggins Year: MSTP-3, Grad-5 Mentor: Dr. Peter Kalivas Research interests: Cocaine Induced Neuroadaptations in the Brain Reward Circuitry Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Germantown, MD Undergraduate Institution: Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore County Interests: Singing, Playing basketball and Salsa dancing |
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Parker Wilson Year: MSTP-5, Grad-3 Mentor: Dr. Ayad Jaffa/Dr. Louis Luttrell Research interests: Vascular Biology, Bioengineering Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Boston, MA Undergraduate Institution: Johns Hopkins Interests: Water Polo, Triathlons |
| Xiaoyi (Tina) Zhang Year: MSTP-2, Med-2 Mentor: Dr. Keith Kirkwood Research Interests: Cancer Biology, Innate immunity Spouse/Kids: N/A Hometown: Lexington, SC Undergraduate Institution: University of South Carolina Interests: Cooking, the Outdoors, Exercise |
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