2022 - 2023 Academic Year

 Taylor Bushika, BS 

 Taylor graduated from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in May 2021 with a B.S. in chemistry and biology. As an undergraduate, she discovered a passion for biochemistry in mutating human MDH2 for a biotechniques course which developed further into an independent project. In joining PREP, Taylor allowed her interests of addiction and mental health disorders to take the lead. She is currently working in the lab of Dr. Greer where members focus on the olfactory system with the goal of determining organismal responses and how they are disrupted in neurological disorders. Taylor has a budding interest in precision neuropsychiatry with an ultimate goal to yield some sense of relief to humanity regarding mental health, whether it be by pharmaceutical development or increasing understanding of addiction-like behaviors. 

 Joshuel Velasco, BS

Joshuel Velasco graduated from State University of New York at Fredonia in 2022 with a B.S. in Biochemistry, with a concentration in Chemistry. As an undergraduate, he worked in Dr. Milligan’s Analytical/Environmental Chemistry research group where he determined the concentrations of PAHs in air particulates through GC-MS. He discovered his passion for Chemical Biology when he worked at The Scripps Research Institute under Dr. Jeffery Kelly’s guidance for a summer, synthesizing autophagy activating small molecules and testing autophagic flux. This newly found passion led him to pursue a more medicinally inclined research group in the Biochemistry Department with Dr. Matthew Fountain during his last undergraduate year. His long-term goals are to earn a PhD in Biomedical Science, and to personally contribute to pharmaceutical interventions for emerging diseases.

 Suzannah De Almeida, BS

Suzannah De Almeida graduated from the university of Connecticut in May 2022 with a B.S. in Molecular Cell Biology as an LSAMP, McNair, Honors in the Major and University Scholar. Her interest in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) research was explored in Dr. Gregory Sartor's lab at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences where she investigated the epigenetic role of Bromodomain Extra Terminal Domain proteins in opioid abuse. During her undergraduate research, she also received the NIH MARC U STAR fellowship. Suzannah was part of the UMass Chan PREP 2022 - 2023 cohort and studied the role of dopaminergic mGluR5 in dopamine-dependent behaviors in Dr. Haley Melikian's lab. She is now matriculated to the Neuroscience Ph.D. program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. During her doctorate studies, Suzannah looks forward to further investigating neuropharmacological therapeutics for SUD. 

 Hillary Nna, BS

Hillary Nna is a first-generation student from Marlborough, MA, who plans to obtain a doctorate in neuroscience. She got her BS in Biology from Framingham State University and is currently a Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program student at The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. She works in the lab of Dr. Michael M. Francis, investigating the role a presynaptic cell adhesion molecule (Neurexin) plays in postsynaptic cell maturation in the Adult GABA motor neuron circuit in C. elegans (Caenorhabditis elegans). During her time at Framingham State, Hillary has served as a member of the Nipmuc Engagement Initiative, the Green Initiatives Club, the Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society, the Tau Sigma National Honor Society, the Pinnacle Honor Society for Adult Students, and the FSU Community Standards Education Plan Task Force. She also served as a Senator and Student Trustee in FSU’s Student Government Association. Hillary supports and is involved in the Black Lives Matter Movement. She is also involved in climate change advocacy and is an Extinction Rebellion (XR) Boston member. Hillary enjoys spending time in nature, learning about plants, and gardening. She is an avid animal lover and volunteers for ScienceLive. With an intent to live mindfully, Hillary has made meditation a part of her daily routine. She enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with family and friends. Ally Salinas graduated from the University of Hartford with a B.S in Biology and a minor in Psychology. During her time as an undergraduate, she worked as a certified nursing assistant and was exposed to patients with various neurodegenerative diseases. This sparked her interest in neuroscience, which led her to conduct research in Dr. Yingcui Li’s lab which studies the effects of lead on neurodevelopment in embryos. During her PREP year, she investigated the role of DAT trafficking in dopamine dependent signaling and behavior under the supervision of Dr. Haley Melikian. Ally is now a current graduate student in the Neuroscience program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. As a first-generation student and a woman in STEM, Ally hopes to continue investigating neurodegenerative diseases and mechanisms of regeneration, while also being involved in diversity groups and outreach programs. 

 Alison Salinas, BS

Ally Salinas graduated from the University of Hartford with a B.S in Biology and a minor in Psychology. During her time as an undergraduate, she worked as a certified nursing assistant and was exposed to patients with various neurodegenerative diseases. This sparked her interest in neuroscience, which led her to conduct research in Dr. Yingcui Li’s lab which studies the effects of lead on neurodevelopment in embryos. During her PREP year, she investigated the role of DAT trafficking in dopamine dependent signaling and behavior under the supervision of Dr. Haley Melikian. Ally is now a current graduate student in the Neuroscience program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. As a first-generation student and a woman in STEM, Ally hopes to continue investigating neurodegenerative diseases and mechanisms of regeneration, while also being involved in diversity groups and outreach programs. 

 Havi Fisher

 BS, The Evergreen State College

 Quintera Knight

 BS, Spelman College