‘student profile’
Congrats, Dr. Benthal!
Sep. 3, 2025—Congrats, Dr. Benthal! Who: Joseph Benthal, PhD Department: Human Genetics PI Mentor: Dr. Michelle Southard-Smith Research: For my dissertation, I studied the development of the enteric nervous system (gut brain) using mice and single cell sequencing. Vanderbilt Impact: “I relied heavily on the Flow Cytometry shared resource for my experiments. I also appreciated the ASPIRE...
Congrats, Dr. Parker!
Aug. 28, 2025—Congrats, Dr. Parker! Who: Alyssa Parker, PhD Department: Human Genetics PI Mentor: Dr. Alexander Bick & Dr. Digna Velez Edwards Research: I have developed novel methods to detect, monitor, and treat clonal hematopoiesis. Vanderbilt Impact: “The VANTAGE sequencing core was essential for developing and deploying the sequencing assays used in my work. I am also...
Congrats, Dr. McClanahan!
Aug. 27, 2025—Congrats, Dr. McClanahan! Who: Kathleen McClanahan, PhD Department: Pathology, Microbiology, & Immunology PI Mentor: Dr. Luc Van Kaer Research: My research investigated how a breastmilk protein called osteopontin impacts the development of intestinal immune cells. Vanderbilt Impact: “The ASPIRE Program in Molecular Medicine really shaped my graduate training. It’s where I met the neonatologists that...
Congrats, Dr. Riedmann!
Aug. 27, 2025—Congrats, Dr. Riedmann! Who: Kyle Riedmann, PhD Department: Cell & Developmental Biology PI Mentor: Dr. Julie Bastarache Research: The impact of cell free hemoglobin on the blood vessels that line the lungs. Vanderbilt Impact: “The Cell Imaging Shared Resource (CISR), the ASPIRE Path in Molecular Medicine (APMM), and ASPIRE internship program were three impactful resources...
Congrats, Dr. Perkins!
Aug. 27, 2025—Congrats, Dr. Perkins! Who: Olivia Perkins, PhD Department: Cell & Developmental Biology PI Mentor: Dr. Matthew Tyska Research: Investigating the role of clathrin-mediated endocytosis in shaping epithelial cell morphology Vanderbilt Impact: “The Cell Imaging Shared Resource (CISR) along with the Cell and Developmental Biology department were essential in my training at Vanderbilt.” Post-PhD Plans: Academic...
Congrats, Dr. Hesterberg!
Aug. 27, 2025—Congrats, Dr. Hesterberg! Who: Amanda Hesterberg, PhD Department: Cancer Biology PI Mentor: Dr. Paula Hurley Research: My research focuses on understanding how the tumor microenvironment drives prostate cancer metastasis and how we can target those mechanisms to identify novel therapies. Vanderbilt Impact: “This work could not have been done without the incredible research cores at...
Congrats, Dr. Hospelhorn!
Aug. 25, 2025—Congrats, Dr. Hospelhorn! Who: Blythe Hospelhorn, PhD Department: Human Genetics PI Mentor: Dr. Gregor Neuert Research: Gene regulatory dynamics in stress stimulus response Vanderbilt Impact: “The faculty, staff, and my peers were impactful on my training. VANTAGE, Vanderbilt’s genomics research resource, was helpful too. ” Post-PhD Plans: I am looking for an academic/public/nonprofit postdoctoral fellowship.
Congrats, Dr. Stanley!
Jul. 7, 2025—Congrats, Dr. Stanley! Who: Jade Stanley, PhD Department: Molecular Physiology and Biophysics PI Mentor: Dr. Danielle Dean Research: How do amino acids contribute to the regulation of islet cell hormone secretion and cell growth? Vanderbilt Impact: “Without IMSD, ASPIRE, the CICT program, and CISR core, I would not have been able to successfully complete my...
Congrats, Dr. Adegboye!
Jun. 18, 2025—Congrats, Dr. Adegboye! Who: Hailey Adegboye, PhD Department: Neuroscience PI Mentor: Dr. Angela Jefferson Research: My research leverages plasma proteomics data to identify novel biomarkers of cognitive aging. Vanderbilt Impact: “I have been extremely grateful for the support of the MSTP leadership team throughout my training. I am also grateful for VUMC core facilities, such...
Congrats, Dr. Vassall!
Jun. 16, 2025—Congrats, Dr. Vassall! Who: Sarah Vassall, PhD Department: Neuroscience PI Mentor: Dr. Mark Wallace Research: I examined audiovisual spatial integration in autism, both function and relationship to core and associated features of the disorder. Vanderbilt Impact: “The Vanderbilt resources that made an impact in my training include the Teaching Certification Program for getting me closer...