Trainees
Recruited in 2020
Brittany Yancey - Major: Biology
Expected 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.
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
Expected 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
Accepted to the University of Virginia PhD Program for 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
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.
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
Aidan has been accepted in the Biomedical Science PhD Graduate Program at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine and will start in the fall of 2023.
William Nazario-Lugo - Major: Neuroscience: Cellular & Molecular
Expected 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 Salud
Director of Finance for the Asociación de Estudiantes Latinos at Temple
Treasurer for Lambda Theta Phi, Latin Fraternity Inc.
STARS Coordinator for SALUD+
CST Undergraduate Research Program 2023
Leonny Gathuka – Major: Bioengineering - Medical Devices
Expected 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
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
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.