VA K-TUTOR (undergraduate)

Hometown: Charlottesville, VA

Luke Frank is a rising third-year undergraduate studying biomedical engineering at Brown University. Luke lives in Charlottesville, VA, and in his free time enjoys playing tennis, rock climbing, and learning to play the guitar. After being hospitalized in his sophomore year in high school due to the development of Guillain-Barre syndrome, an autoimmune disease that was fully treated at UVA Hospital, Luke has been on the premed track, hoping to help people who were in the same situation as him. Luke is particularly interested in immunology and the application of immunotherapy to target cancer and pathogens.

Hometown: Fairfax, VA

Evelyn Hicks is a rising third-year Biomedical Engineering student at the University of Virginia. Originally from Fairfax, Virginia, she is passionate about designing creative, user-centered solutions that enhance accessibility and improve the quality of life. Her interests span medical device innovation, clinical research, and incorporating sustainability into engineering. At UVA, Evelyn serves as co-president of Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM), where she leads teams in designing assistive technology for people with disabilities. Outside of academics, Evelyn enjoys running, playing soccer, reading, and learning to play guitar.

Hometown: Moorestown, NJ

Asha is a rising third-year at Virginia Tech, majoring in Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics. With prior experience at the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, she is excited to deepen her understanding of biomedical sciences through this summer program. Driven by a passion to help others through innovative engineering solutions, she is also an active member of Engineers Without Borders and the Society of Women Engineers. Asha currently serves as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair for her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, where she promotes inclusive leadership and community engagement. In her free time, she enjoys hiking local trails, baking, and spending time with friends.

Hometown: Charlottesville, VA

Chloe Walker is a rising fourth-year student studying Medical Anthropology at the University of Virginia, originally from Troy, Virginia. With a longstanding interest in biological sciences and academic research, Chloe was a scholar in the 2021 UVa SOAR program. She is honored to participate in the VA_K-Tutor research program and looks forward to making a meaningful contribution to research in Nephrology at UVa. Her professional goal is to attend medical school and become a compassionate doctor who treats patients from diverse backgrounds while continuing her research. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, watching documentaries, and spending time with her family.

Hometown: Gainesville, VA

Nirelle is a rising third-year student at the University of Virginia, majoring in biomedical engineering. She is excited to learn from her amazing mentors through the VA K-TUTOR program and looks forward to engaging in cutting-edge research in nephrology. She intends to pursue translational research further after graduation and is grateful for the immersion this program provides, as it will deepen her research skills. Outside of academics, Nirelle enjoys volunteering, playing guitar, drawing, and spending time with friends and family.

Hometown: Vienna, VA

Nema is a rising fourth-year student studying Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia. She has spent the past year in the Epstein lab studying cardiometabolic heart disease and advanced MRI techniques to improve diagnostic imaging of the heart. Through this work, she found a passion for using engineering to address clinical challenges. After developing a personal connection to kidney dialysis, she wondered how biomedical engineering could be applied to diagnose and treat it more effectively, leading her to this program. She is excited to explore the field of nephrology this summer and hopes to attend medical school in the future. In her free time, she loves weightlifting, trying new coffee shops, and reading.

Hometown: Ashburn, VA

Sri Posani is from Ashburn, Virginia, and a rising third-year student at Virginia Tech studying Neuroscience and Computer Science. She is passionate about leveraging technology to develop data-driven solutions for communities that need them most, particularly in rural and underserved areas. She previously developed algorithmic models to address barriers to prenatal care in rural regions, which were published in the Journal of Health Equity of the UAID. Outside of the lab, Sri serves as the Outreach Chair on the Virginia state board of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), where she advocates for mental health awareness. She is also a member of the outreach committee for Virginia Tech’s Relay for Life—the largest Relay event in Virginia—supporting childhood cancer awareness and fundraising efforts. She serves as a board member for Her Campus at Virginia Tech. In addition to her academic and advocacy work, she works as a medical assistant. In her free time, Sri enjoys working out, taking Pilates classes, and cooking new recipes.

Hometown: Old Greenwich, Connecticut

Originally from Greenwich, Connecticut, Karina is a rising third-year student at the University of Virginia, where she is pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in General Business. She is passionate about harnessing innovation and creativity within BME to improve health and wellness and address disparities in healthcare access and treatment. Since transferring to UVA, Karina has taken an active role in building community and support for fellow transfer students as the Transfer Chair of the Engineering Student Council. She also serves as a venture analyst at The Foundry, UVA’s student entrepreneurship hub, conducts research in the Multiscale Muscle Mechanophysiology (M3) Lab, and is a member of the Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity. Outside of her academic and extracurricular pursuits, Karina enjoys playing guitar, exploring new matcha spots with friends, and (attempting) to learn how to cook.

Grace Boitnott is a rising third-year student studying biomedical engineering at the University of Virginia, originally from Crozet, Virginia. Driven by personal experiences, her professional goals aim to bridge the gap between engineering and medicine to develop solutions that improve the quality of life for individuals with diverse health challenges. In her free time, Grace also serves on the Health and Wellness Committee of the Engineering Student Council and is involved in the Society of Women Engineers, Intramural Sand Volleyball, Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity, and Delta Zeta Sorority.

Carson is a rising fourth-year student at the University of Virginia, majoring in biology and minoring in classical studies. She spent last summer studying the Ikaros transcription factor family in the Shevach lab at the NIH and the past year in the Okusa lab studying acute kidney injury at UVA. She is looking forward to continuing her research in Nephrology through this program. In her free time, Carson enjoys reading, sudoku puzzles, and trips to the gym.

Laila Guerrier will be a rising third-year at the University of Virginia, majoring in biomedical engineering. She is excited to learn about nephrology and to work with peers and mentors.  Her other involvements at UVA include the University Achievement Award Program, the National Society of Black Engineers, and the Society of Women Engineers. Outside of academics, Laila enjoys playing games and baking.

Isabel is a rising third-year student from Virginia Beach majoring in biomedical engineering. She is very excited to participate and contribute to the VA Kidney-Tutor research program and plans to continue to pursue her passion for disease research in graduate school. Aside from academics, she loves being involved in philanthropic activities, such as planning the Run for Life 5k for breast cancer awareness through her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha. She also enjoys traveling, exploring new recipes, and spending time with friends and family.

Originally from Akron, Ohio, Sandra is a rising third-year student majoring in Biology Pre-Professional with a minor in Chemistry at Norfolk State University. Her deep passion for healthcare and addressing disparities in the field has driven her academic and extracurricular pursuits. As a DNIMAS Scholar and LD Britt Scholar, Sandra has actively engaged in various academic and research activities, enhancing her understanding and skills in healthcare. Her ultimate goal is to become a physician, mentor, and advocate for underrepresented individuals in healthcare. In her free time, Sandra enjoys music, including singing and playing the piano, volunteering at her church and local healthcare facilities, and food banks. She also cherishes spending quality time with her family and friends.

Sukrit is a rising 4th-year student at Virginia Tech, double majoring in biomedical engineering and biological sciences. Growing up, he played many sports, and now and then, he would get an X-ray done to check out injuries. This sparked curiosity about how different medical devices operated and worked, and he discovered his passion for biomedical engineering. He is excited to work on more hands-on clinical projects through this program. Outside academics, he is involved with the Lambda Phi Epsilon Fraternity and plays soccer and basketball.

Merrill is a rising third-year at the University of Virginia, double majoring in English and Cognitive Science. She has researched interactions between the lung and the kidney for the past year in Dr. Swiatecka-Urban’s lab. She is excited to explore new projects and learn more about clinical treatments through this program. In her free time, Merrill also serves as News Editor for the Cavalier Daily and is involved in the Outdoors Club, Tri Sigma Sorority, and running.

Brian is a rising 4th-year at Virginia Tech majoring in Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, with a minor in Computer Science and Mathematics. As a child, Brian accompanied his parents to work; his mother worked as a dental hygienist, and his father worked as a computer engineer. As such, Brian had always been familiar with the medical and engineering world. Thus, he found a niche in biomedical engineering and chose to pursue this career, focusing on data science and medical devices.

Kayenat is a rising third-year student at the University of Virginia from Northern Virginia studying biomedical engineering and pursuing a minor in computer science. She is very excited to look at issues within nephrology through an engineering lens and apply data-driven reasoning to improve clinical outcomes. Kayenat enjoys spending time with family and friends outside of school, running, and painting.”

Saumya is a rising third-year student in the College at the University of Virginia majoring in Global Public Health and minoring in Computer Science. She is interested in focusing on preventative care and learning about diseases. Her other activities include the Cavalier Daily, The University Judiciary Committee, and research with the Connelly Lab. Outside of academics, Saumya enjoys representing South Asian Americans as Miss India Maryland, volunteering at the local animal shelter, and spending time with the people she cares about.

Samantha is from Waynesboro, Virginia, and is a rising third year studying statistics at the University of Virginia. She has been working in Dr.Erdbrügger’s Lab and presented her findings at the International Society of Extracellular Vesicles in Seattle. Last summer, she volunteered as a licensed nurse assistant at Camp Holiday Trails, a camp for children and teens with medical needs. She likes to bake, run, and spend time with her horses in her free time. She hopes to continue her passion for kidney research and attend medical school.

Hamada is a rising 3rd-year at Virginia Tech majoring in Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, with a minor in Science, Technology, and Society. During his childhood in Iraq, he enjoyed developing records on various animal species, which paved his track in the Gifted Secondary School of Baghdad. Later, in Charlottesville High School, he became interested in 3D modeling, texturing, and animation and developed proficiency in software like 3Ds Max, AutoCAD, and Substance Painter. After exploring the branches of BME, he’s currently most interested in Tissue Engineering and Biomimicking; he aims to research the intricate workings of biological systems such as cell machinery and vascularization. He’s thrilled to spend this summer with teammates and mentors, facing challenges, and being well-equipped to achieve exciting developments in kidney research!

Isaac is a rising fourth-year student at the University of Virginia pursuing a BS in Biomedical Engineering, and an accelerated ME in Systems Engineering. His academic interests include computational modeling and systems analysis of diseased states of the human body and science and technology policy. His other involvements include the Clark Scholars Program, Policy Internship Program, and Engineering Student Council. In his free time, Isaac enjoys running, swimming, and spending time with friends and family.

Meghan is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is a rising third year at the University of Virginia studying biomedical engineering. Aside from her academics, she plays on the women’s club basketball team, is a member of Delta Gamma sorority, and assists in research at UVA. In the future, she hopes to pursue a graduate degree in either biomedical engineering or medicine.

Trinity is a third-year at the University of Virginia, majoring in Biology and minoring in Bioethics. She is interested in disease research and how genetic diseases vary from person to person. She is excited to learn more about nephrology through the VA K-TUTOR Program. After college, she plans on pursuing her PhD in Biology to continue her love of research. In her free time, you can find her volunteering with her sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho, or painting outside.

Molly is a Northern Virginia native rising fourth-year at UVA, majoring in biomedical engineering. She is very excited to have this incredible opportunity to participate in cutting-edge nephrology research and to make the world a little bit brighter through biomedical engineering. Her particular interests are in tissue engineering, biocompatibility, and immunology. Outside of school, she enjoys talking with others, swimming, running, and making horrible puns (not kidneying).

Autumn is a rising fourth-year at the University of Virginia, majoring in Biomedical Engineering. She has always had a keen interest in research, specifically related to the human body and how it works. She has structured her educational goals to match her interests, beginning with her application and acceptance into the Governor’s Health Science Academy at Cosby High School. She is looking forward to learning from and working with instructors, mentors, and peers during the VA Kidney-Tutor Research Program. Autumn enjoys spending time with friends and family in her spare time and serving her community through various programs. In the future, she would like to pursue a career in the medical field.

Jackson is a Cincinnati, Ohio native and sophomore at Virginia Tech majoring in Biomedical Engineering. He loves playing and watching sports, tasting different teas, and exploring new places! Jackson’s future goals include studying human kinetics, inventing devices designed for injury prevention. He is passionate about being part of the fight against cancer.

Kaleigh is majoring in biomedical engineering and Spanish from Virginia Tech. She was born and raised in Ashburn, Virginia. She is a member of the Society for Women Engineers, Order of the Engineer, and Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. She is also an ambassador for the biomedical engineering and mechanics department, helping recruit new students to the major. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Ashwin is a rising fourth-year Biomedical Engineering student at UVA on the pre-med track. His research interests are diabetes and the use of biomaterials technology to create artificial therapies. In the future, Ashwin wants to attend medical school and possibly become a cardiologist. In his spare time, Ashwin enjoys making music, playing basketball, and watching basketball.

Marissa is a Northern Virginia native and rising third-year at UVa studying biomedical engineering. She is extremely excited to have this incredible opportunity to be a part of cutting-edge nephrology research. Outside of school, she is a volunteer EMT with the Charlottesville Albemarle Rescue Squad, an avid baker, and a self-taught amateur crochet-er. In her free time, you can find Marissa hammocking around Grounds, walking her sister’s dog, or hiking in the Shenandoah!