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IMSD Alumni


Lauren R. Powell, MPA, PhD

2016 Graduate

Prior Education: Master of Public Administration, Harvard Kennedy School and BS in Biochemistry, Xavier University of Louisiana

Mentor: Stephenie Lemon, PhD

Dissertation: "Conceptualizing, Understanding, and Assessing Research Literacy in a Diverse Population"  

Post Graduation: Director, Office of Health Equity, Virginia Department of Health

 


Ganga Bey, MPH, PhD

2019 Graduate

Prior Education: Master of Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and BS in Anthropology, Princeton University

Mentor: Sharina Person, PhD

Dissertation: "Interpersonal Discrimination, Gendered Race, and Cardiovascular Disease Inequities: Application of the Emerging Identity Pathology Model"

Post Graduation: Postdoctoral Cardiovascular Research Fellow, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

 


Andrea Lopez-Cepero, MS, PhD

2019 Graduate

Prior Education: Master of Health Sciences and Nutrition, University of Puerto Rico and BS Cellular Molecular Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras

Mentor: Milagros Rosal, PhD

Dissertation: Physiological and Psychological Stressors Associated with Glucose Metabolism in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study 

Post Graduation: Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

 


Raziel Rojas-Rodriguez, PhD

2019 Graduate

Prior Education: University of Puerto Rico, Arecibo

Mentor: Silvia Corvera, MD

Dissertation: Adaptations of Adipose Tissue Expandability in Gestation are Associated with Maternal Glucose Metabolism

Post Graduation: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Tufts Medical Center

 


Ciearra Smith, PhD

2020 Graduate

Prior Education: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Mentor: David Weaver, PhD

Dissertation: It’s About Time: Monitoring The Circadian Clock From a Cre-Dependent Reporter

Post Graduation: Manager of DEI Programs, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)

 


Socheata Ly, PhD 

2020 Graduate

Prior Education: BS in Biology, Clark University

Mentor: Anastasia Khvorova, PhD

Dissertation: Investigating the Role of Mutant Huntington mRNA in Huntington's Disease

Post Graduation: Scientist, Molecular & RNA Sciences

 


Anne Jecrois, PhD

2021 Graduate

Prior Education: BS in Microbiology, UMass Amherst

Mentor: Celia Schiffer, PhD

Dissertation: CtBPs and IRF3 at the Intersection of Transcriptional Regulation by Macromolecular Complexes

Post Graduation: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

 


Jacqueto Zephyr, PhD

2021 Graduate

Prior Education: BS in Chemistry, Stony Brook University

Mentor: Celia Schiffer, PhD

Dissertation: Robust Drug Design Strategies and Discovery Targeting Viral Proteases

Post Graduation: Scientist, Enzymology

 


Maira Castañeda-Avila, MS, PhD

2021 Graduate

Prior Education: MS in Epidemiology, Universidad de Puerto Rico and BS in Cell and Molecular Biology

Mentor: Mara Epstein, PhD

Dissertation: The Role of a Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance Diagnosis in Healthcare Utilization 

Post Graduation: Postdoctoral Research Associate, UMass Chan Medical School

 


Nien (Anny) Chen Li

2021 Graduate 

Prior Education: MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Boston University

Mentor: Arlene Ash, PhD

Dissertation: Assessing and Modeling Quality Measures for Healthcare Systems

Post Graduation: Senior Biostatistician, Dialysis Clinic, Inc

 


Catherine Nagawa, MS, PhD

2022 Graduate

Prior Education: MS in Epidemiology, UMass Amherst and BS in Mathematics and Statistics, Makerere University 

Mentor: Rajani Sadisavam, PhD

Dissertation: Smoking Cessation in People with Mental Health Conditions: Exploring the Role of Family and Peers

Post Graduation: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital

 


Daniel Gutierrez, PhD

2022 Graduate

Prior Education: BS in Biological Sciences, Molecular Biology, San Jose State University

Mentor: William Kobertz, PhD

Dissertation: Repurposing Intracellular Biosensors for Detection of Extracellular Flux

Post Graduation: Scientist, CatanaBio

 


Daniel Hidalgo, MS, PhD

2022 Graduate

Prior Education: MS in Biology, Clark University and BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Clark University

Mentor: Merav Socolovsky, PhD

Dissertation: Novel Functions of Erythopoietin Receptor Signaling

Post Graduation: Scientist I, Ikena Oncology

 


Javier Solivan-Rivera, PhD

2022 Graduate

Prior Education: BS in Human Physiology, Penn State University

Mentor: Silvia Corvera, MD

Dissertation: Mechanisms Driving Human Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis in vivo and its Clinical Applications in Metabolic Health

Post Graduation: Stem Cell Research Scientist, Vertex Pharmaceuticals

 


Olivia Kugler-Umana, PhD

2022 Graduate

Prior Education: BS in Biology, UMass 

Mentor: Susan Swain, PhD

Dissertation: The Role of Age-Associated B Cells (ABC) in Combating Influenza Infection

Post Graduation: Research Scientist, Abcam

 


Oluwabunmi (Bunmi) Emidio, MPH, PhD

2022 Graduate

Prior Education: MPH in Applied Epidemiology and Population Health, and MBBS, Olabisi Onabanjo University

Mentor: Stephenie Lemon, PhD

Dissertation: Comprehensive Psychosocial Distress Screening Patients Newly Diagnosed with Lung Cancer - A Mixed Methods Study

Post Graduation: Health Scientist, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR) VA Boston

 


Christa Park, MS, PhD 

2023 Graduate 

Prior Education: MS in Biological Science, California State University, San Marcos and BS in Human Biology UC San Diego

Mentor: Francis Ka-Ming Chan, PhD

Dissertation: The Molecular Mechanism of RIPK1-Induced Cell Death and its Impact on the Immune Response 

Post Graduation: Postdoctoral Scientist - Discovery Immunology, Research and Development, Johnson & Johnson Inc. 

 


Kellianne Alexander, PhD 

2023 Graduate

Prior Education: BS in Biology, UMass Boston

Mentor: Mike Francis, PhD

Dissertation: Deconstructing the Nervous System: Transcriptional Mechanisms Sculpting Neuronal Connectivity in C. Elegans

Post Graduation: Postdoctoral Researcher, Brigham and Women's Hospital

 


Melissa Goulding, MS, PhD

2023 Graduate

Prior Education: MS in Medical Sciences, Boston University and BS in Biology, Emmanuel College

Mentor: Stephenie Lemon, PhD

Dissertation: Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines for Screening and Management of Pediatric High Blood Pressure: A Mixed Methods Study

Post Graduation: Postdoctoral Associate, UMass Chan Medical School

 


Seun Osundolire, MPH, MD, PhD

2023 Graduate

Prior Education: MD, Windsor University School of Medicine and MPH, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Mentor: Kate Lapane, PhD

Dissertation: Descriptive Epidemiology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in U.S. Nursing Home Residents with Heart Failure 

Post Graduation: Epidemiologist, Pfizer