Jared S. Farrar
Education: BS in Biology, minor in chemistry, honors certificate; University of Utah (2010) Current MD/PhD Student at VCU
Current Program/Position: M4 medical student and webmaster
Dissertation Research: PhD in Clinical and Translational Sciences, with a concentration in Cancer and Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University (defended 02/05/2020; degree will be conferred in 05/2022). 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
Stephanie Duong
Education: B.S. in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University (2019)
Previous Position: Full-time Laboratory/Research Technician & Master of Mice
Current Position: Endoscopy Technician at VCHS Hospitals
Lab interests: Linking the clinical and molecular aspects of type 2 diabetes with hepatocellular carcinoma in a high-fat diet-induced mouse model
Outside lab interests: Birdwatching, volunteering/community outreach, collecting squishmallows from around the world, and spoiling my wonderful collie puppy
Shamar Matthews
Education: Currently pursuing a B.S. in Health Science at Virginia Commonwealth University (est. 2023)
Current Position: Unit Secretary at St. Mary’s Hospital (previously Master of Mice-II (Laboratory/Research Technician)
Lab Interests: Keep everything in the lab organized and running; assist other lab members with daily tasks
Outside lab interests: Pursuing a Medical Assistant certification to eventually become a Nurse Practitioner. Motorcycles, musically inclined, and photography.
Grayson Way
Education: B.S. in Biology from James Madison University (2011)
Previous Position: Microbiology/Immunology M.S. StudentÂ
Current Program/Position: Microbiology/Immunology Ph.D. StudentÂ
M.S. Thesis Research: Development of a rapid clinical diagnostic test utilizing SARs-CoV-2 as a platform for testing, that is adaptable to other pathogens with a sensitivity, accuracy, and speed benefit over current methodologies.
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: Postdoctoral Fellow in the Laboratory of Chuck Harrell, PhD. in the Department of Pathology at VCU.
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!
Carmen Camarena
Education: B.S. in Biological Sciences from California State University San Marcos (2018)
Current Program/Position: Center for Clinical and Translational Research Ph.D. Student at VCU.
Past Lab Position: Center of Health Disparities’ Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) Scholar
Past Lab Project: Treatment of breast cancer with epigenetic modulators.
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: M1 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: Studying for the MCAT and working at PPD
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)
Current VCU MD-PhD Program Student (Matriculated 2013)
PhD in Clinical and Translational Sciences, with a concentration in Cancer and Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University (defended 12/06/2018; degree will be conferred in 05/2021)
Current Position: M4 medical student; VCU School of Medicine, and working in the lab as many hours as possible.
PhD Dissertation Topic: The Role of ADAM10 and ADAM17 in Humoral and Type 2 Immunity