Research Excellence AwardPresented to the postdoc who has made exceptional achievements in their research and field of study.
William de Souza, PhD, Department of Microbiology & Immunology
William has made outstanding contributions in the field of epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics of emerging viruses. He has achieved remarkable milestones, including the publication of nine articles in renowned journals such as The Lancet Microbe,
Nature Communications, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, and Virus Evolution. His work published in The Lancet Microbe in May 2023 was highlighted with an editorial and journal cover. Additional accomplishments include three manuscripts under peer
review and securing a Wellcome Trust (UK) project grant. Furthermore, he has accepted a position as an Assistant Professor Tenure Track at the College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, highlighting his substantial career development and impact
in the field.
William is appreciative of the full and generous support provided by his research mentor, Dr. Scott Weaver, and the guidance from his Academy of Research Mentoring team, Drs. Carole Tucker, Celeste Finnerty, and Ashok Chopra
Service AwardPresented to the postdoc whose service, teaching, and mentoring have made a significant impact on a community.
Laura Pulscher, PhD, Department of Internal Medicine
Laura’s impact spans UTMB and the wider community. Her mentorship has empowered numerous students and postdoctoral fellows, including those from UTMB and Galveston College, strengthening local educational resources. As a member of the Postdoctoral
Association Executive Committee, she has championed postdoc needs and forged stronger connections with UTMB administrators and faculty. Additionally, as a pivotal contributor to the One Health Newsletter, she broadens UTMB’s global reach, with
over 5,000 monthly subscribers, thereby enhancing international collaborations and global ties.
In helping her along the pathway to success, Laura would like to acknowledge the mentorship and support she has received from her PI, Dr. Gregory Gray, her research team and students. She is deeply appreciative of the Postdoctoral Association Executive
Committee, whose networks and interactions have offered crucial guidance and advice, and the support she has received from Dr. Sara Dann, the director of the Postdoctoral Certificate Program.
Eureka Evolution AwardPresented to the postdoc who demonstrates exceptional problem-solving skills and innovation in addressing laboratory challenges.
B. Adriana Gutierrez Grebenkova, MD, PhD, Department of Neurology
Adriana conducts research on neurodegenerative diseases. During the last year, she co-authored two original research articles and multiple poster abstracts and received a Trainee Professional Development Award from the Society of Neuroscience. Upon
returning from an advanced training course, Adriana’s lab experienced several challenges with their model system, which led to various troubleshooting attempts. Ultimately, through her efforts, they identified and resolved the underlying cause,
and fortunately, their experiments have been running smoothly ever since.
Adriana expresses gratitude to her mentor, Dr. Agenor Limon, and Drs. Elvis Cuevas and Rakez Kayed, all of whom have provided guidance and support in shaping her professional path. The Postdoctoral Association and Postdoctoral Program have also been valuable
resources, providing her with networking opportunities and workshops.
Kento Homma, MD, GSBS Postdoctoral Fellow under Dr. Enkhbaatar in the Department of Anesthesiology, recently received a travel award to present his research at the 45th Annual Conference on Shock in Toronto, Canada. Congratulations Dr. Homma!
Congratulations to Dr. William Marciel de Souza, a Microbiology & Immunology postdoc in Dr. Scott Weaver's lab, on his Notice of Award for the Burroughs Wellcome Fund grant entitled “Data science and genomic approach to mitigate
arboviruses in the current era of climate change.” This project is in collaboration with Dr. Weaver and Dr. Desiree LaBeaud (Stanford U) and the goal is to investigate mechanisms of (re-)emerging arboviruses in climate change scenario. This
will be accomplished using hypothesis-driven studies combined with a rigorous multidisciplinary framework that brings together virology, genomics, and data science analysis. Great job, William!
Claudia Di Gesù, a graduate student in the Neuroscience Graduate Program, is thewinner of the 2022 Dr. and Mrs. Seymour Fisher Academic Excellence Award in Neuroscience. This $5,000 monetary award is given for the best paper prepared
and submitted by a medical or graduate student, respectively, on any topic relevant to neurosciences in the broadest sense. Congratulations Claudia!
UTMB MD-PhD student Kseniya Masterova has been awarded a predoctoral training fellowship supported by the Institute for Translational Science TL1 Training Core. Elena Volpi, MD, PhD is her primary and clinical research mentor and Blake
Rasmussen, PhD is her basic science mentor. The award, effective April 2022, will provide support for graduate student salary, benefits, tuition and fees and a travel allowance to present her research at a scientific meeting.
Congratulations to Kevin Pritchard for being awarded an F31 fellowship from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Kevin is an occupational therapist and third-year student in the Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate
Program. Kevin’s mentor is Dr. Jacques Baillargeon, professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Population Health.
Congratulations to Ryan Murphy, who has been awarded a 2022 Predoctoral Fellowship in Drug Discovery from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Foundation (PhRMA Foundation). Ryan is a third-year PhD graduate student
in the Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Program and the Center for Addiction Research. His mentor is Dr. John Allen, assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and co-mentorship is provided by Dr. Jia Zhou, professor
in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.
Congratulations to GSBS student Reina Paez on being welcomed into the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Reina is a student in the Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program and currently works in the laboratory
of Dr. Janice Endsley, professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Click here to read more.
Congratulations to Tileena Vasquez on receiving the Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) from the Society for Neuroscience. The TPDA recognizes undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who demonstrate scientific
merit and excellence in research. Tileena is a fifth-year PhD graduate student in the Neuroscience Graduate Program. She is also a student in the UTMB - University of Palermo Joint Program. Her mentor is Dr. Thomas Green, Associate Professor in the
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.
Congratulations to Dr. Claudia Di Gesù on receiving the Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) from the Society for Neuroscience. The TPDA recognizes undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who demonstrate
scientific merit and excellence in research. Dr. Di Gesù is a fourth-year PhD graduate student in the Neuroscience Graduate Program. Her mentor is Dr. Shelly Buffington, Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and
Anatomy.
Congratulations to Nolan Dvorak on his selection for a prestigious 2021 Jess Hay Endowment for Chancellor’s Graduate Student Research Fellowship. Two annual fellowship awards rotate among applicable UT institutions, benefiting both
an academic and health institution each year. Nolan is a Presidential Scholar and third-year student in the Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Program in the laboratory of Dr. Fernanda Laezza, and his research investigates novel drug targets for
neuropsychiatric disorders. Congratulations Nolan!
This year, Kenya Moore participated both as a fellow and project manager at Enventure, completing two 8-week consulting projects in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry. Enventure is an organization driving the growth of Texas’ medical
innovation industry through training and consulting with established pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as startups. Kenya is a fourth-year PhD graduate student in the Pharmacology & Toxicology Graduate Program, and her mentor
is Dr. Rakez Kayed, professor in the Department of Neurology and the Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases.
Congratulations to the following GSBS students who were invited to participate in the NIH program called Concept to Clinic: Commercializing Innovation (eC3i) during the Summer 2021 academic term. This 10-week program is designed to teach
scientists and startup owners the skills needed to succeed in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.
Parsa Arman
Program: Pharmacology and Toxicology
Program Year: 2nd Year Master’s Student
Mentor: Dr. Fernanda Laezza
Tim Baumgartner
Program: Pharmacology and Toxicology
Program Year: 2nd Year PhD Student
Mentor: Dr. Fernanda Laezza
Angela Mosebarger
Program: Pharmacology and Toxicology
Program Year: 2nd Year PhD/Presidential Scholar Student
Mentor: Dr. Fernanda Laezza
Congratulations to Adam Hage for being selected for the 2021 Careers in Immunology Fellowship from The American Association of Immunologists. This fellowship supports the career development of young scientists in immunological research
and provides one year of salary support for a trainee in eligible mentor labs. Adam is a fifth-year PhD graduate student in the Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program, and his mentor is Dr. Ricardo Rajsbaum, Associate Professor in the Department
of Microbiology and Immunology.
Congratulations to the following trainees who received GSBS/IHII Awards for Excellence in COVID Research. These awards recognize UTMB predoctoral students and postdoctoral fellows who have excelled in research related to COVID-19. Congratulations!
Dr. Bryan Johnson
Program: Postdoctoral Fellow in Microbiology & Immunology
Program Year: 4
Mentor: Dr. Vineet Menachery
Corri Levine
Program: Human Pathophysiology & Translational Medicine
Program Year: 5
Mentors: Drs. Tom Geisbert and Susan McLellan
Emma Mantlo
Program: Microbiology & Immunology
Program Year: 5
Mentor: Dr. Slobodan Paessler
Rachel Sattler
Program: Experimental Pathology
Program Year: 5
Mentor: Dr. Slobodan Paessler
Congratulations to Jacob Stockton for being awarded a National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) Scientist Training Program Fellowship from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. This fellowship program is designed to
recruit the next generation of scientists to prevent, respond, and control outbreaks of emerging and foreign animal diseases. Jacob is a second-year PhD graduate student in the Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program and is working under the
mentorship of Dr. Alfredo Torres. Congratulations Jacob!
Congratulations to Naiju Thomas for being accepted as a Blackstone LaunchPad® (BLP) summer fellow! Naiju is the first student entrepreneur from the University of Texas Medical Branch to receive this prestigious fellowship. BLP is
a campus-based entrepreneurship program designed to introduce entrepreneurship as a viable career path. In collaboration with Future Founders, Blackstone LaunchPad® mentors students to navigate the path of entrepreneurship. Naiju is a first-year
PhD graduate student in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and is working under the mentorship of Dr. Guy Nir and Dr. Eric Wagner. Congratulations, Naiju!
Congratulations to GSBS student Nolan Dvorak on receiving the George Sealy Research in Neurology Award! The George Sealy Research in Neurology Award is given to either a medical or graduate student who has significantly contributed to
the knowledge of neurology (interpreted as clinical neurology, psychology, psychiatry, neurochemistry, neurophysiology, or neuroanatomy) through research. Nolan is a second year PhD graduate student in the Pharmacology and Toxicology graduate program.
His mentor is Dr. Fernanda Laezza, Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Congratulations Nolan!
Congratulations to LaNisha Patterson for her F31 – Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship from the NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The purpose of the
Kirschstein-NRSA program is to enable promising predoctoral students with potential to develop into productive, successful, and independent research scientists to obtain mentored research training while conducting dissertation research. LaNisha is
a fifth-year PhD graduate student in the Cell Biology Graduate Program. Her mentor is Dr. Jere McBride, Professor in the Department of Pathology. Congratulations LaNisha!
Congratulations to Sarah van Tol for being awarded an F31 – Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship from the NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
The purpose of the Kirschstein-NRSA program is to enable promising predoctoral students with potential to develop into productive, successful, and independent research scientists to obtain mentored research training while conducting dissertation research.
Sarah is a fifth-year PhD graduate student in the Microbiology & Immunology Graduate Program. Her mentors are Dr. Alexander Freiberg, Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology and Director of the Robert E. Shope Biosafety Level 4 Laboratory,
and Dr. Ricardo Rajsbaum, Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology. Congratulations Sarah!
Congratulations to Kathleen McDonough for being awarded an F99/K00 - NIH Blueprint Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke. The purpose of the NIH Blueprint D-SPAN Award is to support a defined pathway across career stages for outstanding graduate students in neuroscience research. Katie’s mentors are Dr.
Jun-Ho La, Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, and Dr. Jin Mo Chung, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy. Congratulations!
Congratulations to Ms. Olivia Solomon for her completion of the Yale Ciencia Academy Fellowship! The Yale Ciencia Academy (YCA) is a year-long program that equips biomedical or health sciences doctoral students from underrepresented backgrounds
in the final 1-2 years of their programs with the knowledge, skills, and networks they need to find great postdoctoral positions that will further their academic interests and career goals. Olivia’s mentor is Dr. Gracie Vargas, Professor in
the Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy. Congratulations!