Grayson W. Way, MS
Education: BS in Biology, JMU, MS VCU Micro/Immuno 2021
Current Program/Position: Center for Clinical and Translational Research PhD Program at VCU in the laboratory of Huiping Zhou, PhD.
Dissertation Research: M.S. in Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University from the Martin lab. Title: Pushing the limits: Increasing the speed and specificity of SARS-CoV-2 testing.
Lab interests: Methodology development
Jared S. Farrar, PhD
Education: BS in Biology, minor in chemistry, honors certificate; University of Utah (2010) PhD from VCU in 2020.
Current Program/Position: Medical Science Liaison
Dissertation Research: PhD in Clinical and Translational Sciences, with a concentration in Cancer and Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University (defended 02/05/2020). Title: GENETIC AND CELLULAR MODELS FOR THE STUDY OF PTK2B AND ADAM10 IN ADAPTIVE THERMOGENESIS AND METABOLISM
Lab interests: Novel PCR technology and methodology development
Timothy “T.J.” Smith, Jr.
Education: B.S. in Biology/Pre-Health, minor in Chemistry from the Cormier Honors College at Longwood University.
Previous Position: Microbiology/Immunology Ph.D. Student
Current Program/Position: Director of Flow Cytometry, Quest Diagnostics
PhD Dissertation Research: Development of translational treatments against cancers through the administration of a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor to induce de novo antigen expression, with particular interest in increasing the expression of X-chromosome linked cancer testis antigens.
Outside lab interests: Sports, reading, board games, the dog (most days), and FOOD!
Leila Takahashi-Ruiz
Education: BS in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Cellular, Molecular, and Genetic Biology; minor in Microbiology. Colorado State University (2018)
Current Program/Position: Integrated Biomedical Sciences PhD program at the University of Texas Health at San Antonio
Past Lab Position: Center of Health Disparities’ Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) Scholar.
Past Lab Project: Benign IgE Provides Protection Against Asthmatic Symptomologies.
Interests: Cooking, hiking, and dogs. I love DOGS!
Jessica Wimberly
Education: Dual Degree, BS in Biology and BA in Spanish BA from Virginia Commonwealth University. Graduated with Honors.
Current Position: M4 Medical Student
Past Lab interests: ADAM17 regulation of Marginal zone B cell development; ADAM10 regulation of ICOS: ICOSL
Interests: CrossFit, my dog Kevin, teaching group exercise courses, and pediatric medicine.
Kayla Keller
Previous Education: BS in Biological Sciences from Shippensburg University
Current Position: Graduated from the Microbiology/Immunology Department with a M.S.
Interests: Mountain biking, fencing, climbing, drawing, and Dungeons and Dragons.
Matthew Rodriguez
Education: Chemistry BS, with a concentration in biochemistry; Forensic Sciences BS, with a concentration in forensic biology; Psychology BS; Virginia Commonwealth University (2019)
Current Position: Applying to Medical School
Past Lab interests: Role of ADAM10 and ADAM17 in adipocyte biology and immunometabolism.
Interests: Anime, tattoos, piercings, swimming, cosmetology/barbering, music, video gaming, studying for the MCAT.
Sharoon Arshad
Education: B.S. in Bioinformatics, VCU (2019)
Current Position: Awesome super-secret dream job!
Interests: Kicking science butt and taking names. Taking things apart. Rebuilding one working FPLC from two FPLCs.
Amanda Leonard
Education: B.S. in Biology minor in Anthropology, JMU (2018)
Current Position: Working as a consultant for a power company, helping them keep the environment as a top priority.
Past lab interests: Keeping all of our mouse colonies and genotyping straight with a gentle hand and kind spirit.
Andrea Luker
Education: B.S. in Biology; VCU, M.S. in Micro/Immuno (2015); VCU, Ph.D. in Micro/Immuno; VCU (2019)
Current Program/Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at the NIH in the Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, Mast Cell Biology Section.
PhD Dissertation Topic: The DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, guadecitabine, targets tumor-induced myelopoiesis and recovers T cell activity to slow tumor growth.
Joseph C. Lownik
Education: BS in Biochemistry; Beloit College, (2013), VCU MD-PhD Program Student (Matriculated 2013, Graduated 2021)
PhD in Clinical and Translational Sciences, with a concentration in Cancer and Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University (defended 12/06/2018; degree conferred 05/2021)
Current Position: Pathology Resident at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center
PhD Dissertation Topic: The Role of ADAM10 and ADAM17 in Humoral and Type 2 Immunity