Current Students

Year: MSTP-3, Grad 3
Mentor: Dr. John Arthur
Research interests: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, acute kidney injury, biomarker discovery
Spouse/Kids: Mikah
Hometown: Charleston, SC
Undergraduate Institution: Wofford College
Interests: Reading, foreign films, world travel, languages, philosophy, sports

Year: MSTP-7, Grad-5
Mentor: Dr. Scott Argraves
Research interests: The role of Cubilin in HDL homeostasis
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Kabul, Afghanistan
Undergraduate Institution: Morehouse College
Interests: Soccer, Travel, Reading, Movies, Billiards

Tiffany Baker

Year: MSTP-4, Med 2
Mentor: Dr. Lisa Cunningham
Research interests: drug-induced ototoxicity
Spouse/Kids: none
Hometown: Charleston, SC
Undergraduate Institution: College of Charleston
Interests: knitting and crocheting, visual arts, -ologies, good food, music, movies, and television

Year: MSTP-5, Grad-3
Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Wu
Research interests: Immunology, Neuroscience, Bioengineering
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Orangeburg, SC
Undergraduate Institution: University of South Carolina
Interests: Reading, Cooking, Crafts, Working out, The Beach

Year: MSTP-6, Grad-4
Mentor: Dr. James Norris
Research interests: Cancer Signaling
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Aiken, SC
Undergraduate Institution: Clemson University
Interests: Kayaking, Tennis, Cooking, Cycling, Horticulture

Year: MSTP-4, Grad-2
Mentor: Dr. Gary Aston-Jones
Research interests: Neuroscience, Addiction Medicine and Physics
Spouse/Kids: none
Hometown: Mullica Hill, NJ
Undergraduate Institution: The College of New Jersey
Interests: Running, Cycling (Mtn./Road), Hiking, Dancing, Cooking, and Zen

Year: MSTP-6, Grad-4
Mentor: Dr. Craig Beeson
Research interests: Biochemistry, Peptide Synthesis, Immunology
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Ora, SC
Undergraduate Institution: Erskine College
Interests: American Literature, Writing, Camping and Hiking, Independent and Foreign films, Baking

Year: MSTP-2, Med-2
Mentor: undecided
Research Interests: Immunology/Oncology; Neurology
Spouse: Krystal Ann Bowers
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Undergraduate Institution: University of Utah
Interests: Reading, Hiking, Tennis, The Beach, Funny Movies, Writing, Art, Fitness

Year: MSTP-5, Grad-3
Mentor: Dr. Arno Wessels
Research Intersts: Cardiovascular Development/Disease
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Leesburg, FL
Undergrad: University of Florida
Interests: Running, live music, birds, tennis, college football

Year: MSTP 2, Med-2
Mentor: undecided
Research interests: Biased agonism, biogenesis, therapeutic development
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Germantown, TN
Undergrad: Davidson College
Interests: Cooking, trivia, literature

Year: MSTP-8, Med-3
Mentor: Dr. James S. Norris//Dr. Xiang Liu
Research interests: Carcinogenesis & Tumor Microenvironment
Spouse/Kids: wife - Tina Zhang
Hometown: New York, NY
Undergraduate Institution: Dartmouth College, NH
Interests: Reading, running, swimming, cooking

Year: MSTP-3, Med-3
Mentor: Dr. Craig Crosson/Dr. Zsolt Ablonczy
Research interests: Diabetic Retinopathy and Pathophysiology of Macular Edema
Spouse/kids: N/A
Hometown: Chhim, El Shouf, Lebanon
Undergrad institution: American University of Beirut
Interests: Music, Imaging, Tennis, Scuba Diving and Photography

Year: MSTP-7, Med-3
Mentor: Dr. M. Rita Young
Research interests: Oncology, Tumor Immunology
Spouse/Kids: husband - Brian, son-Ben
Hometown: North Charleston, SC
Undergraduate Institution: Wofford College
Interests: soccer, reading, camping, boating, foreign food, sleep

Year: MSTP-2, Grad-1
Mentor: Undecided
Research interests: Ophthalmology, OB/GYN, undecided
Spouse/kids: Simba the cat
Hometown: The Northeast (NH, Maine, Boston) and Myrtle Beach in SC
Undergrad institution: Boston University
Interests: NPR, Indie Music, Craft Beer, Jewelry crafting, finding a beachy hobby while I'm in SC

Year: MSTP-9, Med-4
Mentor: Dr. Rick Schnellmann
Research interests: Renal Failure/Cancer/Proteomics
Spouse/Kids: Son: Deontae, wife-Nicole
Hometown: Columbia, SC
Undergraduate Institution: Morehouse College
Interests: Water Sports

Year: MSTP-3, Grad-1
Mentor: Dr. Jens Jensen
Research interests: Medical Imaging,  Stroke
Spouse/kids: N/A
Hometown: Spartanburg, SC
Undergrad institution: Wofford College
Interests: Painting

Year: MSTP-5, Med-3
Mentor: Dr. Bryan P. Toole
Research interests: Tumor Microenvironment and Signal Tranduction
Spouse/Kids: Kathryn L. Grass
Hometown: Aiken, SC
Undergraduate Institution: Charleston Southern University
Interests: Guitar, Reading, Spending time with my wife

Year: MSTP-2, Med-2
Mentor: Dr. Daniel Riech - NINDS-NIH
Research interests: MRI, MR Physics, Neurological Disorders
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Saint Paul, MN
Undergraduate Institution: University of Minnesota
Interests: Fishing, Science Fiction, Archaeology

Year: MSTP-1, Med-1
Mentor: undecided
Research interests:
Spouse/Kids:
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Undergraduate Institution: New College of Florida
Interests: Music, basketball and birding

Year: MSTP-2, Med-2
Mentor: undecided
Research interests: Cancer Biology
Spouse/Kids: Holli Herr
Hometown: Lake Hopatcong, NJ
Undergraduate Institution: The University of Scranton
Interests: Cooking, going to the beach, reading

Year: MSTP-3, Grad-1
Mentor: Dr. Naren Banik
Research interests: Neuroscience
Spouse: Josh
Hometown: Ware Shoals, SC
Undergraduate Institution: Erskine College
Interests: Gardening, Reading, , Hiking, Outdoor activities

Year: MSTP-4, Grad-2
Mentor: Dr. David Cole
Research interests: Tumor Immunology
Spouse/Kids: Danielle Johnson, son Phineas
Hometown: Chesapeake, VA
Undergraduate Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Interests: Volleyball, soccer, tennis, racquetball, wakeboarding

Year: MSTP-5, Grad-3
Mentor: Dr. Michael Wargovitch
Research interests: Nutrition, Obesity, Diabetes, Chemoprevention
Spouse/Kids: Thomas
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Undergraduate Institution: Denison University
Interests: Golf, Running, Cooking, Quality Beer, Reading, Foreign food, Traveling

Year: MSTP-3, Grad-1
Mentor: Dr. Patrick Woster
Research Interests: Pharmacology, Cancer Biology, Bioengineering
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Undergraduate Institution: Minnesota State University Moorhead
Interests: Sports (Football, Baseball, Golf), hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, mountain climbing, playing guitar, traveling, astronomy, the beach, riding my Yamaha R6

Year: MSTP-6, Grad-4
Mentor: Dr. Baerbel Rohrer
Research interests: Retinal degeneration
Spouse/Kids: Emily
Hometown: Galax, VA
Undergraduate Institution: Emory & Henry College
Interests: Reading, Music and DJ, Motorcycling, Outdoors, Boating

Year: MSTP-5, Grad-3
Mentor: Dr. James Norris & Dr. Xiang Liu
Research interests: Cancer Biology and Therapy
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Brewster, NY
Undergraduate Institution: Yale University, CT
Interests: Running, Athletics, Cooking, Baking, Reading

Year: MSTP-6, Grad-6
Mentor: Dr. Jim Oates
Research interests: Auto-immunity Reactive Intermediates
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Bsaba Al-Shouf, Lebanon
Undergraduate Institution: American University of Beirut
Interests: History, Physics, Arabic Poetry

Year: MSTP-2, Med-2
Mentor: undecided
Research interests: MicroRNAs and cancer
Spouse/Kids: Ian Mills
Hometown: Concord, CA
Undergraduate Institution: California State University, Chico
Interests: Crocheting, baking, reading, spending time with family/friends

Year: MSTP-6, Grad-5
Mentor: Dr. Steve Tomlinson
Research interests: Complement System in Ischemia Reperfusion Injury
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Missoula, MT
Undergraduate Institution: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Interests: Traveling, Cooking, Running, Snow skiing

Year: MSTP-3, Grad-1
Mentor: Drs Rubenstein & Cole
Research interests: Cancer Immunology, Stem Cell Therapies
Spouse/kids: N/A
Hometown: Alexandria, VA
Undergrad institution: University of Virginia
Interests: Reading, Running, Traveling, Tennis

Year: MSTP-1, Med-1
Mentor: Undecided
Research interests: Cancer
Spouse/Kids: Katie
Hometown: Needham, Ma
Undergraduate Institution: Kenyon College
Interests:writing

Armina Omole

Year: MSTP-6, Med-3
Mentor: Dr. Peter Kalivas
Research interests: Neuroscience
Spouse/Kids: husband - Ero
Hometown: Germantown, MD
Undergraduate Institution: Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore County
Interests: Singing, Playing basketball and Salsa dancing

Year: MSTP-8, Med-4
Mentor: Dr. Robert Gourdie
Research interests: Mass spectrometry, x-ray crystallography, cardiac conduction system, and wound healing
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Oak Ridge, TN
Undergraduate Institution: Davidson College
Interests: languages, 80s cars and time traveling

Year: MSTP-7, Med-3
Mentor: Dr. Yusuf A. Hannun
Research interests: Ceramide Signaling, Gaucher Disease
Spouse/Kids: Sara Clark Perry, son Jack
Hometown: Irmo, Sc
Undergraduate Institution: Clemson University
Interests: Ultimate Frisbee, Outdoors, Guitar

Year: MSTP-3, Grad-3
Mentor: Dr. Zihai Li
Reasearch Interests: Musculoskeletal system, cancer biology, drug development
Spouse/Kids: None
Hometown: Saida - Lebanon
Undergrad institution: American University of Beirut
Interests: Basketball, football, bodybuilding, guitar, hanging out with friends, beach, making new friends

Year: MSTP-2, Med-2
Mentor: undecided
Research interests: Neuroscience
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Pleasantville NY
Undergraduate Institution: Hampshire College
Interests: Mindfulness meditation, the ocean, music

Year: MSTP-7, Med-3
Mentor: Dr. Besim Ogretmen
Research interests: Cancer biology
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Clifton Park, NY
Undergraduate Institution: Barnard College, Columbia University
Interests: running, rowing, reading

Year: MSTP-4, Grad-2
Mentor: Dr. Gary Gilkeson
Research interests: Immunology, microbiology, biochemistry
Spouse/Kids:
Hometown: Orlando, FL
Undergraduate Institution: University of Central Florida
Interests: Music, dancing, working out and my cat Oliver

Year: MSTP-8, Med-4
Mentor: Dr. Naren Banik
Research interests: I am interested in neurological and psychiatric illnesses. I hope to conduct a basic research project that will be clinically applicable to a disease with both neurological and psychiatric components.
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Augusta, GA
Undergraduate Institution: Lee University, Cleveland, TN
Interests: volunteering in the CARES clinic, making home improvements, swing and salsa dancing, going out to hear great live music when possible

Year: MSTP-5, Grad-3
Mentor: Dr. Naren Banik
Research interests: Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, Neurodegenerative Disorders
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Spartanburg, SC
Undergraduate Institution: Wofford College
Interests: Music, Reading, College Sports, Spanish, Technology/Computers

Year: MSTP-8, Med-4
Mentor: Dr. Sergey Krupenko
Research interests: Protein Science, Crystallography, Neuroscience
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Spartanburg, SC
Undergraduate Institution: College of Charleston
Interests: Improv comedy, public speaking, boating in the Charleston Harbor

Year: MSTP-4, Grad-2
Mentor: Dr. Louis Luttrell
Research interests: Myocardial infarction, cardiac remodeling
Spouse/Kids: wife-Amanda
Hometown: Green Bay, WI
Undergraduate Institution: University of Minnesota
Interests: Golf, tennis, and the beach

Year: MSTP-6, Grad-4
Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Chavin
Research interests: Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Metabonomics
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Pickens, SC
Undergraduate Institution: College of Charleston
Interests: Diving, Photography, Music, Human Rights, Imagination, Books...and I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.

Year: MSTP-7, Med-4
Mentor: Dr. Rosalie Crouch
Research interests: Photoreceptor degeneration, Ocular drug delivery, retinoid metabolism
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA and Changsha, China
Undergraduate Institution: University of Pennsylvania
Interests: Cycling, Volleyball, Performing Arts, Photography, running, Rockband

Year: MSTP-6, Grad-4
Mentor: Dr. Mark George
Research interests: Interleaved TMS-fMRI, pain
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Youngstown, OH
Undergraduate Institution: Davidson College
Interests: Running, Strength Training, Reading, Music

Year: MSTP-8, Med-3
Mentor: Dr. Anthony Alberg
Research interests: cancer biology
Spouse/Kids: April Wheless
Hometown: Durham, NC
Undergraduate Institution: Davidson College
Interests: running, guitar, mandolin, swing dancing

Year: MSTP-5, Grad-3
Mentor: Dr. Rick Schnellmann
Research interests: Cancer Biology, Gene Therapy, Experimental Therapeutics
Spouse/Kids: Marie
Hometown: Mount Pleasant, IA
Undergraduate Institution: University of Iowa
Interests: Movies, golf, the outdoors, cooking, going to the beach

Year: MSTP-8, Med-4
Mentor: Dr. Louis Luttrell
Research interests: Vascular Biology, Bioengineering
Spouse/Kids: N/A
Hometown: Boston, MA
Undergraduate Institution: Johns Hopkins
Interests: Water Polo, Triathlons

Year: MSTP-5, Grad-3
Mentor: Dr. Keith Kirkwood
Research Interests: Regulation of innate immunity in the tumor microenvironment
Spouse/Kids: husband - Joe Cheng
Hometown: Lexington, SC
Undergraduate Institution: University of South Carolina
Interests: Reading, Exercise, and all things food