Graduate Students of Distinction

Abigail Hall

PhD Candidate in IGPBS – Immunology, Pathology, and Infectious Disease

American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship (2025)

The American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship program aims to enhance the integrated research and clinical training of promising students who are matriculated in pre-doctoral or clinical health professional degree training programs and who intend careers as scientists, physician-scientists or other clinician-scientists, or related careers aimed at improving global cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and brain health. Abigail Hall was awarded a one-year AHA fellowship for her project, entitled “Regulation of Thiol Homeostasis by the Spx Redox Switch”. Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of infective endocarditis, in part due to its ability to survive the oxidative stress generated by the host immune system. A key player in this defense is the global transcriptional regulator Spx, which helps maintain thiol homeostasis as a critical component of the oxidative stress response. However, the effects of Spx dysregulation in S. aureus remain poorly understood. In this project, we will investigate how Spx regulates low molecular weight thiols in response to oxidative stress to enable survival within the host. This will provide new insights into the S. aureus oxidative stress response on a metabolic level. Abigail is a PhD candidate in the Immunology, Pathology, and Infectious Disease Graduate program at UNMC, working under the supervision of Dr. Vinai C. Thomas, in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology.

Taylor Burke

PhD Candidate in IGPBS-Immunology, Pathology, and Infectious Diseases

NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (2025-2029)

The NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease offers Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Fellowship Predoctoral MD/PhD fellowships to support promising doctoral candidates to perform dissertation research and training for an MD/PhD degree in an area relevant to the mission of the NIAID. Taylor Burke, a UNMC MD/PhD scholar, has been awarded a 5-year F30 NSRA from the NIAID for her project, “Nitrogen Metabolism of Staphylococcus aureus”. Environmental nitrogen acquisition is essential for bacterial growth. To meet the intracellular nitrogen requirements of S. aureus, the transport of exogenous nitrogen is required. A common nitrogen source for many pathogens is glutamine, which along with glutamate, functions as the primary amino donors for cellular reactions requiring nitrogen. This project seeks to research the unexplored role of nitrogen metabolism and regulation in S. aureus pathogenesis. Additionally, these data will inform systems biology approaches to determine novel therapeutic approaches to inhibit staphylococcal disease. Taylor is a PhD candidate in the IGPBS-Immunology, Pathology & Infectious Disease Graduate Studies Program under the supervision of Paul D. Fey, PhD, in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology.

Natalia Santos

PhD Candidate in Health Promotion

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Predoctoral Fellowship (2024-2026)

The United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Predoctoral Fellowship supports the development of new scientists and professionals in research, education, and extension within the food and agricultural sciences. Natalia Santos, MPH, a PhD Candidate in the UNMC College of Public Health, has been awarded a 2-year grant for her research "Spatial Analysis of Food Insecurity in Latino Communities Across Rural Nebraska."  This study gathers data from the U.S. Census and USDA to create a more inclusive and robust measurement of food insecurity by creating a Food Insecurity Vulnerability Index using spatial analysis and the assessment of local food vendors through store surveys. This research aims to create a novel methodology to improve minority health and reduce health disparities caused by food insecurity, a pressing global issue. With a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Exercise Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Natalia has worked on food access issues for over a decade, consistently demonstrating her dedication to addressing food insecurity through her years of schooling and research. Natalia is a PhD Candidate in the Health Promotion doctoral program under the supervision of Tzeyu Michaud, PhD, in the Department of Health Promotion and is co-mentored by Lisa Franzen-Castle, MS, RD, PhD, in the Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences at UNL.

Meghan Ramirez

PhD Candidate in IGPBS – Neuroscience

NIH Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience Award (2024-2030)

The Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience Award provides a structured pathway across career stages for exceptional graduate students who have demonstrated an interest in a neuroscience research career in NIH Blueprint and/or BRAIN Initiative research areas. This two-phase award supports both the completion of the doctoral dissertation (2024-2026) and the transition to competitive postdoctoral research positions in neuroscience (2026-2030). Meghan Ramirez, a doctoral candidate, has been awarded a 6-year F99/K00 D-SPAN award from the NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke for her project titled “Understanding the developmental impact of environmental risk factors on brain and cognitive systems vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease in children.” Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease is frequently sporadic, without obvious genetic drivers, implying a significant role for non-genetic risk factors such as environmental influences. While Alzheimer's Disease is commonly associated with aging, emerging research indicates that early-life factors—such as prenatal environment, socioeconomic status, and education—can influence the risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease. Meghan’s research adopts a lifespan approach, beginning in childhood (F99 phase) and extending into adulthood (K00 phase), to examine how social and environmental determinants of health shape AD risk. Meghan is a PhD candidate in the IGBPS Neuroscience program, working with mentor David E. Warren, PhD, in the Department of Neurological Sciences.

Mark Primeaux

PhD Candidate in IGPBS - Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

NIH Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (2024-2030)

The NIH National Cancer Institute offers Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00), which is designed to encourage and retain outstanding graduate students recognized by their institutions for their potential to become independent cancer researchers. Each institution may nominate one student to submit an application to the National Cancer Institute for this highly competitive award.  The award facilitates the transition from graduate school to a postdoctoral appointment by supporting up to two years of doctoral studies and up to four years of postdoctoral training. Mark Primeaux, a doctoral candidate, has been awarded a 6-year F99/K00 award from the NIH National Cancer Institute for his project entitled “Tumor-cell intrinsic and extrinsic determinants of drug resistance and metastasis.” Mark’s work investigates the role of Claudin-1 on chemoresistance in colorectal cancer. While early-stage colon cancer can be successfully treated with surgery, there are few options for treating disseminated disease since tumors rapidly develop resistance to current therapies. His research shows that Claudin-1 is highly upregulated in colon cancer, contributes directly to therapy resistance, and may be a promising target for new therapies. Since his doctoral work focused on tumor cell-intrinsic mechanisms of cancer progression, the next phase of his training will concentrate on the tumor immune microenvironment. Mark’s postdoctoral research will investigate factors that regulate metastatic microenvironments and tumor cell dormancy. Mark is a PhD candidate in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department under the mentorship of Dr. Punita Dhawan, in the Department of Biochemistry.

Rahul Dogiparthi

PhD Candidate IGPBS- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology

American Society of Hematology Graduate Hematology Award (2024-2026)

The American Society of Hematology Graduate Hematology Award supports talented graduate students to conduct blood science- focused research and thus fostering the interest and development of the next generation of researchers in the field. Rahul has been awarded a two-year American Society of Hematology Graduate Hematology Award for his project entitled, "Transcriptional Control of Erythropoiesis Via a Kit Response Cistrome."  The project investigates how signaling through the Kit cytokine receptor regulates gene expression in erythroid progenitor cells, which are essential for cell survival and proliferation. The study focuses on identifying Kit-responsive enhancers and their role in EPC transcription and proliferation. Additionally, it will explore the role of the transcription factor EGR1, a known Kit target, in regulating erythropoiesis. The findings may provide insights into mechanisms of gene regulation in EPCs and suggest new therapeutic approaches for hematological disorders. Rahul is a PhD candidate in the IGPBS - Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Doctoral Program under the mentorship of Dr. Kyle J Hewitt, PhD, Associate Professor and Dr. Jordan Rowley, PhD, Associate Professor, both in the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Anatomy.

Abi Heller-Wight

PhD Candidate in MSIA – Patient Oriented Research

 NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (2024-2028)

The NIH National Institute on Aging offers Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Predoctoral MD/PhD Fellowships to support promising doctoral candidates to perform dissertation research and training for an MD/PhD degree in a scientific health-related field relevant to the mission of the NIA, with specific funds dedicated to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Abi Heller-Wight, an MD/PhD Scholar at UNMC, has been awarded a 5-year F30 NSRA from the NIA for her project, “Measuring neurodevelopmental effects of genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease via cross-sectional study of brain, cognitive, and physical fitness variables in periadolescent children.” Alzheimer’s Disease is typically considered a disease of older adulthood, however the influence of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, beginning in childhood, significantly influence AD development later in life. Through a novel, multimodal approach, Abi’s project aims to collect data related to brain development (cognitive, brain imaging), modifiable risk factors (physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness) and non-modifiable risk factors (APOE-ε4 allele status) in order to understand early-life vulnerabilities that effect AD risk. Characterizing the development of AD-vulnerable brain systems, and how these risk factors influence them, could lead to new insights regarding early-life risk stratification and disease prevention. Abi is a PhD candidate in the MSIA Patient Oriented Research doctoral program under the supervision of David E. Warren, PhD, in the Department of Neurological Sciences.

Louise Dow

PhD Candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences

American Chemical Society, Medicinal Chemistry Division predoctoral fellowship (2024-2025)

The American Chemical Society, Medicinal Chemistry Division predoctoral fellowship aims to promote the development of promising young scientists engaged in predoctoral training programs in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery at US institutions. Through the predoctoral fellowship program the MEDI Division supports the training and development of scientists to continue the discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents. Louise Dow was awarded a one-year MEDI predoctoral fellowship for her project "Identification of 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 10 Modulators as A New Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease." Alzheimer's disease is one of the most prevalent neurological disorders worldwide, and due to the multiple hallmarks contributing to disease development and progression, it is likely a multifaceted approach will be required to develop therapeutics. Thus, the identification of next-generation drugs remains imperative. Louise's project focuses on the mitochondrial enzyme 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 10 which was identified to bind amyloid beta and potentiate its toxicity. The aim of this work is to identify new and improved compounds possessing the ability to modulate this enzyme and translate into a cytoprotective effect by preventing the production of reactive oxygen species, DNA fragmentation, and cell death. Louise Dow is a PhD candidate in the Pharmaceutical Science Graduate Program  under the guidance of Paul Trippier, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Co-Director of the T32 Training Program in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Drug Discovery.

Delia Omar

PhD Candidate in IGPBS – Integrative Physiology & Molecular Medicine

American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship (2024-2025)

The American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship program promotes the integrated research and clinical training of promising students in predoctoral or clinical health professional degree training programs and who intend careers as scientists, physician-scientists or other clinician-scientists, or related careers aimed at improving global cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and brain health. Delia Omar was awarded a two-year AHA fellowship for her project, entitled “Regulation of Lipid Droplets by Endosomal Sorting Complexes in Liver Steatosis”. This project will investigate the mechanisms underlying hepatic lipid droplets accumulation and degradation, by identifying the correlation between Endosomal Sorting Complexes with LDs biogenesis and catabolism within mammalian hepatocytes. The central hypothesis is that specific ESCRT proteins play diverse roles in lipophagy and LDs biogenesis critical for hepatocyte metabolism. Understanding these mechanisms will have significant impact in discovering new therapeutic strategies for targeting liver steatosis and improve cardiovascular health.

Delia is pursuing her dissertation research in the IGPBS - Integrative Physiology & Molecular Medicine program under the supervision of Micah Schott, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Gabrielle Watson

PhD Candidate in IGPBS – Immunology, Pathology, and Infectious Disease

American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship (2024-2025)

The American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship program aims to enhance the integrated research and clinical training of promising students in predoctoral training programs who intend careers as scientists or related careers aimed at improving global cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and brain health. Gabrielle Watson was awarded a two-year AHA fellowship for her project, entitled “Identification of Arginine Transporters in Staphylococcus aureus.” This project will explore the function of arginine transport during the establishment of a S. aureus infection, which is the leading cause of infective endocarditis in North America accounting for nearly 40% of cases. Arginine is required for S. aureus survival and, during the initiation of infection, arginine biosynthesis is repressed therefore the bacteria are dependent upon arginine transporters to acquire arginine from the host. The data generated will provide further insight into the pathometabolism of S. aureus and will inform systems biology approaches to determine novel methods to inhibit serious staphylococcal disease. The innovative nature of this application lies in the utilization of microbiological techniques to identify transporters we hypothesize are critical for growth and survival in the host as shown with various pathogens. Gabrielle is a PhD candidate in the IGPBS-Immunology, Pathology, and Infectious Disease program, working under the supervision of Paul D. Fey, in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology.

Kyle L. McAndrews

PhD Candidate in IGPBS – Cancer Research

NCI Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (2023-2025)

The NIH National Cancer Institute offers Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Predoctoral PhD Fellowships to support promising doctoral candidates who are obtaining specialized, mentored research training from preeminent faculty sponsors while completing dissertation research. Kyle McAndrews has been awarded a 3-year F31 award for his project, “Oncogenic insults within the pancreatic ductal glands produce pre-malignant lesions and PDAC.“  A broader understanding of pancreatic cancer initiation and early progression is needed in order to detect this disease and intervene at earlier stages. Kyle is utilizing a transgenic mouse strain which was generated at UNMC to interrogate the tumor-initiating capacity of a specific population of cells in the adult pancreas. He is pursuing this work as a PhD candidate in the IGPBS – Cancer Research program under the guidance of Michael (Tony) Hollingsworth, PhD in the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases.