Patrick Hart

Education: B.S., University of Virginia
Graduate Program(s) of Interest: Center for Public Health and Genomics, Biomedical Engineering (BME)

Patrick was born in the Boston area but has spent most of his life in Free Union, VA, a small town just outside of Charlottesville. He majored in Chemistry and minored in Spanish at UVA and took two gap years to work in Proteomics at the Broad Institute prior to returning to UVA for his MD/PhD. Patrick is interested in applying multi-omics techniques to study metabolic and cardiovascular disease. In his free time, he enjoys lifting weights, running, cooking, going to UVA sports games, and trying every cold brew in the area!

Scientific interests: Multi-omics, cardiometabolic disease, computational and systems biology

Alexandra “Sasha” Kuznetsov

Education: B.S., New York University
Graduate Program of Interest: Undecided

Sasha is originally from Boston and graduated from New York University with a degree in mathematics and a minor in physics. Following college, she studied microRNA’s involved in cardiac remodeling in heart failure and exercise at Massachusetts General Hospital in Anthony Rosenzweig’s lab. Her current research interests involve cardiovascular disease, developmental biology, and genomics. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, playing guitar/piano and drinking lots of coffee.

Scientific interests: Cardiovascular development, heart failure, genomics

Clinical interests: Cardiology, interventional radiology

Vignesh Senthilkumar

Education: B.S., University of California, Los Angeles
Graduate Program(s) of Interest: Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology (MIC)

Vignesh graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics and a minor in History. A Southern California native, Vignesh has previously studied Natural Killer cell immunometabolism and protein interactions in the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. He entered the UVA MSTP in 2023 and his research interests revolve around infectious disease and immunology, with particular focuses on emerging and neglected tropical diseases. In his free time, Vignesh enjoys playing soccer and basketball, kayaking, and yelling at his favorite sports teams.

Scientific interests: Infectious disease, emerging disease, immunology, microbial genetics
Clinical interests: Infectious disease, Critical care

Jeevan Tewari

Education: B.S., Duke University
Graduate Program(s) of Interest: Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

Jeevan is a first year medical student who is interested in biophysics and membrane proteins. He graduated from Duke University where he studied olfaction with a focus in odorant receptor protein biochemistry. He enjoys tennis, cooking, and trying Charlottesville’s amazing coffee spots.

Scientific interests: Membrane proteins, conformational dynamics, cellular signaling

Emily Golden

Education: B.S., Northeastern University
Graduate Program: Neuroscience
PhD Advisor: Alban Gaultier, PhD

Emily is from Massachusetts and earned her B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience at Northeastern University. Her research interests are neuroimmunology, neurodegenerative disease, and neuron-glia interactions. She will be joining Dr. Alban Gaultier’s lab for her PhD. In her free time, Emily enjoys dancing, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

Scientific interests: Neuroimmunology, neurodegenerative disease, neuron-glia interactions

Clinical interests: Neurology

Evan Lam

Education: B.S., Boston College
Graduate Program: Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology (MIC)
PhD Advisor: Mariano Garcia-Blanco, MD, PhD

Evan was born and raised in New Jersey before attending Boston College, where he graduated in 2015 as a Biology major and Economics minor. His undergraduate research in the Johnson Lab examined evolutionary adaptations of SIV during cross-species transmission events. Having caught the research bug (pun intended), he stayed in the Boston/Cambridge area in the Balazs Lab at the Ragon Institute, studying antibody-based AAV gene transfer strategies against HIV as well as humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the University of Virginia, Evan is a member of the Garcia-Blanco Lab, where he studies immune sequestration during Ebolavirus infection and is developing AAV therapeutic technologies using RNA-based adaptations derived from viruses and cancer to enhance gene transfer efficacy and specificity. In his free time, Evan enjoys baking, leather crafting, boxing, and playing tabletop games with friends.

Scientific interests: Evolutionary virology, host-pathogen interactions, immunology, gene transfer therapy

Clinical interests: Infectious disease, pathology, cardiology, dermatology

Mika Poblete

Education: B.Sc., University of Virginia
Graduate Program: Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer (MIC)
PhD Advisor: Melanie Rutkowski, PhD

Mika comes from Baltimore, Maryland and earned her B.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of Virginia. Her research interests include host-pathogen interactions, and the interface between the human immune system and the microbiome. She recently joined the Rutkowski lab, where she will be investigating the effects of microbiome and systemic dysbiosis on tumor microenvironment and cancer metastasis. In her free time, Mika enjoys cooking, reading, and strolling through the Charlottesville farmers markets. When not in lab, she can sometimes be found her hiding from her responsibilities with a good book in a local coffee shop.

Scientific interests: Immunology, microbiome-immune system interface, host-pathogen interactions

Lucia Wagner

Education: St. Olaf College
Graduate Program: Genomics and Computational Biology
PhD Advisor: Charles Farber, PhD

Lucia, hailing from Iowa City, graduated summa cum laude from St. Olaf College in 2021 with degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics. Her undergraduate research centered around the motor symptoms seen in neurodegenerative disease. Following graduation, Lucia moved to Bergen, Norway as a Fulbright research scholar at the University of Bergen. At the University of Virginia, Lucia is thrilled to be joining Charles Farber’s lab, where she will utilize computational methods to further elucidate the genetic markers of bone density. Clinically, Lucia is interested in PM&R, neurology, and endocrinology. Outside of the ‘bench and bedside,’ she enjoys exploring the outdoors, knitting, reading classical mysteries, and tinkering around on her banjo.

Scientific interests: Motor functioning, computational neuroscience, mathematical modeling

Clinical interests: PM&R, neurology, endocrinology

Henry “Hank” De Hoyos

Education: B.S., University of Virginia
Graduate Program: Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
PhD Advisor: Jung-Bum Shin, PhD
Thesis Title: Elucidating the roles of cochlear mechanosensors

Hank grew up in San Antonio, Tx and came to UVa for undergrad. Hank graduated with a degree in Biology and minor in Art History in 2021. During his time as undergraduate researcher, he had the privilege of being in the labs of Todd Stukenberg, PhD (UVa BMG) and Kenneth Hargreaves, DDS, PhD (UTHSA Dept of Endodontics). Hank joined Jung-Bum Shin’s lab in the Department of Neuroscience in February 2023. Outside of lab, Hank enjoys playing guitar and being active around Charlottesville.

Scientific interests: Hair cell damage and repair, neurodegeneration, gene therapy

Clinical interests: Pathology, internal medicine

Jeffrey Hsu

Education: B.S., Brown University
Graduate Program: Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
PhD Advisors: Kevin Janes, PhD (primary); Hui Zong, PhD

Jeffrey graduated in 2019 with a B.S. in Biochemistry from Brown University, where he studied the biophysics of ovarian cancer. Following graduation, he spent two years as a research associate at the Broad Institute, delving into cancer epigenetics and tumor immunology. Currently, he is engaged in research under the guidance of Dr. Kevin Janes (BME) and Dr. Hui Zong (MIC), with additional mentorship from Dr. Mohammad Fallahi-Sichani (BME), as part of the NIH U54 Systems Analysis of Stress-adapted Cancer Organelles (SASCO) center. His current research involves utilizing highly multiplexed imaging to explore the tumor-immune microenvironment in breast premalignancies. His clinical interest is in hematology/oncology and gastroenterology, although it is largely subject to change in the near-future. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis and the cello, listening to podcasts, and engaging in travel hacking.

Scientific interests: Cancer systems biology, tumor immunology

Clinical interests: Hematology/oncology, gastroenterology

Isaiah Swann

Education: B.S., University of Texas, Dallas
Graduate Program: Cell and Developmental Biology
PhD Advisor: Bettina Winckler, PhD
Thesis title: (tentative) Discovering a role for neuronal intermediate filaments in tuning growth cone responses to guidance cues

Originally from Marietta, Georgia, Isaiah joined the UVa MSTP in 2021, one year after graduating from the University of Texas at Dallas, where he studied neuroscience and played baseball for the Comets. Currently, he is a graduate student in the lab of Dr. Bettina Winckler, where he studies the role of intermediate filament proteins in neuronal development. Isaiah co-founded the UVA chapter of Athletes in Medicine, participates on the UVA MSTP Diversity Committee, and serves as one of three graduated student-athletes on the NCAA Board of Governors. While passionate about research and medicine, he believes it’s important to lead a fulfilled life outside of work; Isaiah enjoys spending his free time sampling local restaurants with friends, working out, making music, and binging reality tv shows and anime.

Scientific interests: Neurobiology, neurodevelopment, regenerative neuroscience

Clinical interests: Neurology, neuroimmunology, neurocritical care

Andy Vo

Education: B.S., Virginia Commonwealth University
Graduate Program: Biomedical Engineering
PhD Advisors: George Christ, PhD (primary); Karen Hirschi, PhD
Thesis title: (tentative) Engineering vascularized skeletal muscle tissue constructs for volumetric muscle loss injuries repair

Andy graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.S. in biomedical engineering in 2018. During this time, he worked in the lab of Dr. Olivares-Navarrete, studying immune response to titanium implants with different surface modifications. Between undergrad and medical school, he worked as a Post-baccalaureate Fellow in the 3D Tissue Bioprinting Group led by Dr. Marc Ferrer at NIH/NCATS. His work at the NIH was on neural tissue engineering, focusing on endogenous ECM production of astrocytes for 3D tissue culture. He is currently pursuing a PhD in biomedical engineering, focusing on vascularization of skeletal muscle tissue to treat volumetric muscle loss, under the mentorship of Dr. Christ (BME) and Dr. Hirschi (Cell & Developmental Biology). His long-term career goal is to be a practicing physician-researcher, working with transplant patients and running a lab focusing on vascular tissue engineering and tissue/organ biofabrication for transplant. Outside of medicine and science, Andy likes to relax to a good book or TV show, play chess, or run.

Scientific interests: Tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, developmental biology, biomaterial, ECM, transplant immunology

Clinical interests: Transplant medicine, transplant surgery

Samuel Wachamo

Education: B.S., University of Virginia
Graduate Program: Neuroscience
PhD Advisor: Alban Gaultier, PhD
Thesis title: (tentative) Deciphering the role of bacterial extracellular vesicles in Alzheimer’s disease

Sam was born and raised in Ethiopia and then moved to Alexandria, Virginia to start his junior year of high school. He received his B.S. in Biochemistry with high distinction in the distinguished majors program at UVA, where he has been an Echols Scholar and a member of the Raven Society, the oldest and most prestigious honorary society at UVA. After undergrad, he did neuroscience and biochemistry related research at NIH for a year and a half prior to joining the MSTP, with an outstanding MSTP candidate award. Currently, he is in the Neuroscience Graduate Program, where his primary project involves deciphering the role of bacterial extracellular vesicles in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Outside of research, Sam has been a leader in the Christian Medical Association at UVA and an avid mentor with involvement with many mentorship initiatives and volunteer organizations. He also enjoys running, playing soccer, reading books, writing songs, and leading worship.

Scientific interests: Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis, Neurodegeneration, Neuroimmunology

Clinical interests: Neurology, neurosurgery

Aman Mangalmurti

Education: University of Virginia
Graduate Program: Neuroscience
PhD Advisor: Thomas P. Loughran, MD
Thesis title: Investigating the role of microglial ferroptosis in the 5xFAD model of Alzheimer’s disease

Aman is a 3rd year graduate studying neuroimmunology in the center for Brain, Immunology and Glia. His work focuses on the microglial responses to amyloid plaques found in Alzheimer’s disease. After completing his degree in Neuroscience from the University of Virginia, Aman spent two years as a post-baccalaureate fellow in the Neurobehavioral Clinical Research Section of the National Human Genome Research Institute where he studied the genetic underpinnings of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Aman returned to Charlottesville and University of Virginia to join the MSTP. He is excited to continue his career as a physician-scientist by applying his knowledge to further the understanding of neuro-psychiatric disease, especially those that impact children.

Scientific interests: Innate immunity, cell death, neuroimmunology

Clinical interests: Psychiatry

Arun Dutta

Education: University of Virginia
Graduate Program: Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
PhD Advisor: Michael Guertin, PhD
Thesis title: Transcription factor function and regulation in development and disease

Arun studies transcription factor biology in the context of cell differentiation. He uses a combination of experimental and computational approaches to examine how transcription factors cooperate and antagonize one another to affect chromatin accessibility and gene expression. Outside the lab he enjoys running, watching basketball, and playing trumpet.

Scientific interests: Molecular biology, computational biology, genetics

Wei Feng Ma

Education: Colby College
Graduate Program: Center for Public Health Genomics
PhD Advisor: Clint Miller, PhD
Thesis: Investigating Atherosclerosis and Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiomyopathy at the Single-Cell Resolution

Wei is a medical student at the University of Virginia. He recently earned his PhD from UVA’s Experimental Pathology Dept. His research focused on using single-cell genomics (e.g. scRNA-seq, scATAC-seq) to understand complex cardiovascular diseases, e.g. atherosclerosis and dilated cardiomyopathy. In his free time, he enjoys playing with his two yellow labs, read science and horror fictions, and hang out with his husband, Noah. Wei hopes to go into a residency that will allow him to connect with a broad population of patients and continue his research in genomics and data science. He is broadly interested in anesthesiology, dermatology, internal medicine, and pathology.

Scientific interests: Single-cell genetics, cardiovascular, pain, bioinformatics

Clinical interests: Anesthesia, pain, dermatological malignancies

HeeJin Cheon

Education: Cornell University
Graduate Program: Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
PhD Advisor: Thomas P. Loughran, MD
Thesis: Genomic Landscape of Large Granular Lymphocyte Leukemia

HeeJin Cheon is an MD/PhD student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with distinction in research from Cornell University and received a doctorate in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at the University of Virginia School of Medicine as part of the Medical Scientist Training (MD/PhD) Program. She is now a full-time medical student at the University of Virginia. In her free time, she enjoys taking a walk with her family dog, inventing new cookie recipes, and tending to her house plants.

Scientific interests: Aging, immunology, genomics, cancer

Clinical interests: Hematology/oncology