Alfred Boakye, MA, MPhil

Program: Gerontology

Mentors: Sarah Holmes, PhD, MSW

I am deeply grateful for receiving the MPower Early Scholars Investment Fund. This recognition demonstrates my sustained curiosity and commitment to exploring the perspectives and experiences of direct care workers and how they translate into care quality for older adults and people with disabilities across long-term care settings. This motivation is reflected in my research on “Psychological safety and task performance among certified nursing assistants in nursing homes.” Through this work, I hope to help address persistent, multifaceted workplace challenges related to nursing home resident care quality and staff well-being and advance scholarship, practice, and policy in gerontology. 

The MPower Early Scholars Investment Fund is instrumental in my doctoral journey as it will afford me protected time to finish my dissertation and transition into an academic role to drive change, mentor, and inspire the next generation of gerontology scholars. 

Carolyn Doty

Program: Neuroscience

Mentor: Daniel J. O. Roche, PhD

My research investigates the relationship between the gut microbiome and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Using clinical trial data, I am examining how the tetracycline antibiotic, minocycline affects the gut microbiome in individuals with AUD and healthy controls, and whether minocycline impacts drinking behaviors. The goal of my research is to provide insight into how chronic heavy alcohol consumption alters the gut microbiome in order to identify possible microbiome based therapeutic targets for AUD. By allowing me to bring my graduate research to completion and providing me with the resources to publish my findings, this award will strengthen my research output, which will both expand my opportunities and prepare me for the next stage in my career in biomedical research.  

Emily DeMarco

Program: Neuroscience

Mentor: Thomas A. Blanpied, PhD

Kurt Espinosa

Program: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Mentor: Alexander C. Drohat, PhD

Our lab studies enzymes that are involved in DNA repair. My research focuses on glycosylase enzymes that target DNA that has been damaged by oxidation, alkylation, or deamination. The goal of my project is to understand the specificity of thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG), which is an enzyme that targets G:T mismatches at CpG sites. The results of this work will help explain why G:T mismatches at CpG sites are a common mutation found throughout cancer, despite the presence of DNA repair enzymes, such as TDG.

The MPower Early Scholars Award has aided my research by funding my stipend and ensuring timely completion of my PhD studies. Without this award, it might've been possible that I would temporarily leave the lab until further funding has been acquired.

After graduation, I plan to pursue a postdoctoral position and eventually apply for a faculty position at a leading research university or institution.

Daniela Franco, MA

Program: Neuroscience

Mentor: Mary Kay Lobo, PhD

Sudeep Khadka

Program: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Mentor: Jianfei Qi, PhD

My research focuses on overcoming treatment resistance in aggressive, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, a lethal stage of the disease in urgent need of new therapies. Specifically, our work has uncovered a novel "molecular shield" mechanism where the protein JMJD1A stabilizes and partners with EZH2 to drive cancer growth. By defining how this JMJD1A-EZH2 complex functions, our study reveals a promising, untapped therapeutic target to guide precision oncology and improve patient outcomes. Support from MPower has ensured the translation of this research into real-world therapies while enabling a seamless transition to the next stage of my career in oncology research.

Carlos Medina Saldivar, MS

Program: Neuroscience

Mentor: Joseph F. Cheer, PhD

Ian Mills

Program: Molecular Medicine

Mentor: Daria A. Gaykalova, PhD

Shanaliz Natta, MS

Program: Molecular Medicine

Mentor: Alison J. Scott, PhD

I am a fifth-year doctoral candidate in the lab of Dr. Alison J. Scott. My current research project focuses on mapping the dysregulation of the lung immunolipidome during Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) infection in a cystic fibrosis (CF)-like mouse model. Securing the MPower award at this stage of my training is critical to my professional work and the development of my current thesis project. It will directly support the completion of key experimental aims that are essential in refining our knowledge of cystic fibrosis airway inflammation.

Madeleine Ndahayo, MS

Program: Molecular Medicine

Mentor: Daria A. Gaykalova, PhD

Derek Osorio-Luciano, MHS

Program: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Mentor: Silvia V. Montaner, PhD, MPH

Phuoc H. Nguyen (Dexter)

Program: Neuroscience

Mentor: Marta M. Lipinski, PhD

Amanda Pacheco-Spiewak

Program: Neuroscience

Mentor: Marco Venniro, PhD

I am transitioning into my 5th year of my PhD in the PIN program and my research in Dr. Marco Venniro's lab focuses on the intersection of social motivation and immunology. Specifically, I use a model of juvenile social isolation to explore contributions of peripheral and central immunological changes underlying abnormal social motivation in rodents. With the support of MPower funding I hope to use the research generated from my PhD to better understand how changes in social behavior are directly related to underlying alterations in the peripheral immuno-transcriptome and how we can intervene to rescue disruptions in social behavior. During these tumultuous times, MPower funding provides a critical reminder that the research we do is important and deserves to be funded.

Susweta Roy, MS

Program: Epidemiology and Human Genetics

Mentor: Timothy D. O'Connor, PhD

Binita Vedak, MS

Program: Neuroscience

Mentor: Maged M. Harraz, MB, BCh, MS, PhD

As a rising fourth-year PhD student, I am thrilled to have received the MPower Early Scholar Award. My research focuses on discovering novel targets that aid the development of drugs for cocaine use disorder in Dr. Maged Harraz’s lab. This award has been monumental in advancing my scientific career as an international student, with limited opportunities to secure funding. It was essential in bridging financial challenges and gave me adequate time to apply for further funding. I am glad to share with the community that I have been accepted to apply for a Predoctoral Fellowship under the drug discovery grant by the PhRMA Foundation. 

Laura Ventura

Program: Neuroscience

Mentor: Joyce Teixeira Da Silva, PhD