Program Overview

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MD-PhD Combined Degree Program

The University of Texas Medical Branch offers a combined MD-PhD degree program that allows students to pursue both medical and graduate studies simultaneously.

Program Overview

Philosophy

The program's philosophy is to provide students with a comprehensive education in both medicine and a chosen field of research, enabling them to become leaders in their field.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the MD-PhD program is designed to integrate medical and graduate studies, providing students with a strong foundation in both areas.

PhD Programs

The program offers a range of PhD programs for students to choose from, including:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology and Toxicology
• Pathology
• Other programs available through the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Admissions

Application Process

The application process for the MD-PhD program involves submitting an application through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), as well as additional materials required by the program.

Interviews

Applicants who are selected to move forward in the process will be invited for an interview with the program's admissions committee.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions about the program, including admission requirements, curriculum, and research opportunities, are available on the program's website.

Current Students

Student Profiles

Profiles of current students in the MD-PhD program are available, highlighting their research interests and experiences.

Quick Facts

Quick facts about the program, including the number of students enrolled, graduation rates, and match rates for residency programs, are available.

Program Alumni

Alumni by Year

A list of program alumni, organized by graduation year, is available.

Alumni Relations

Information about alumni relations, including ways for alumni to stay connected with the program and with each other, is available.

Research Areas

Research areas available to MD-PhD students include:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Cancer Biology
• Cardiovascular Sciences
• Cell Biology
• Gene Therapy
• Immunology
• Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
• Neuroscience
• Pathology
• Pharmacology and Toxicology
• Other areas available through the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Current MD-PhD Students

Medical Year One

• Mitchell Litvinov
• Matthew Murphy
• Thomas Mathew
• Steven Yu

Medical Year Two

• Lorraine-Rana Benhamou
• Harsha Tamtam
• Sharon Vaz

Publications

• Wu, G., Ma, T., Hancock, C.E., Gonzalez, S., Aryal, B., Vaz, S., Chan, G., Palarca-Wong, M., Allen, N., Chung, C., Shu, X., Liu, Q. (2024). Opposing GPCR signaling programs protein intake setpoint in Drosophila._ Cell_ 187: .
• Vaz SM (2025, August). From Confidence therein seek Humility [Poem]. The Oslerian , 26(2), 9.

Oral Presentations

• Vaz SM. "Leprosy: Exploring the History of a Cursed to Curable Affliction." UTMB Osler Symposium 2025, Galveston, TX. March 29, 2025.

Medical Year Three

• Melissa Henwood
• Omar Johnson
• Jerricho Tipo

Medical Year Four

• Sarah Bowser
  • Year in Program : MY4
  • Mentor : Alfredo Torres, PhD, MS
  • Graduate Program : MICR

  Research Interest

  I am interested in the interactions between bacteria and the host immune system, as well as discovering new treatments and vaccines to protect against multi-drug resistant bacterial pathogens.

  Honors & Awards

  • Blocker Scholar Fellowship , UTMB. 2024/2025
  • The Arthur V. Simmang Scholarship Fund , UTMB. 2023/2024
  • Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences Fellowship , UTMB.
  • VTEC Travel Award , VTEC 2023 Conference
  • Harold T. Sanders Endowed Fellowship in Vaccine Development , UTMB. 2022/2023
  • Robert Shope Endowed Scholarship , UTMB. 2021/2022
  • Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences Scholarship , UTMB. 2020/2021
  • Outstanding Student Abstract , ASM Microbe 2016**
  • Cum Laude , Auburn University 2014

  Publications

  • Bowser S , Chapartegui-González I, Torres AG. Fecal microbiome alterations of mice following immunization with gold nanoparticle vaccines against enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. Gut Pathogens. 2024 Dec 19; 16(1):75.
  • Chapartegui-González I, Stockton JL, Bowser S , Badten AJ, Torres AG. Unraveling the role of toxin-antitoxin systems in Burkholerdia pseudomallei : exploring bacterial pathogenesis and interactions within the HigBA families. Microbiology Spectrum. 2024 Aug 6;12(8):e.**
  • Bowser S , Melton-Celsa A, Chapartegui-González I, Torres AG. Further evaluation of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli gold nanoparticle vaccines utilizing Citrobacter rodentium as the model organism. Vaccines. 2024 May 8;12(5):508.**
  • Bowser S , Melton-Celsa A, Chapartegui-González I, Torres AG. Efficacy of EHEC gold nanoparticle vaccines evaluated with the Shiga toxin-producing Citrobacter rodentium mouse model. Microbiology Spectrum. 2024 Jan 11;12(1):e.
  • Huerta-Saquero A, Chapartegui-González I, Bowser S , Khakhum N, Stockton JL, Torres AG. P22-based nanovaccines against Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. Microbiology Spectrum. 2023 Mar 21;11(2):e.**
  • Bowser S , Chapartegui-González I, Torres AG, Khakhum N. Recent progress in and Burkholderia pseudomallei vaccines. Pathogens. 2021 Oct 20;10(11):1353.**
  • Ainsworth S, Ketter PM, Yu JJ, Grimm RC, May HC, Cap AP, Chambers JP, Guentzel MN, Arulanandam BP. Vaccination with a live attenuated Acinetobacter baumannii deficient in thioredoxin provides protection against systemic infection. Vaccine. 2017 Jun 8;35(26):.

  Presentations

  • ** Bowser S, Itziar Chapartegui-González, Angela Melton-Celsa, Alfredo Torres. Protective Efficacy of Gold Nanoparticle Vaccines Against Shiga-Toxin Producing Citrobacter rodentium as a Model for EHEC Infection. Abstract.Poster Presentation**. VTEC 2023. Banff, Alberta, Canada.
  • Bowser S , Itziar Chapartegui-González, Angela Melton-Celsa, Alfredo Torres. Evaluating the Protective Efficacy of Gold Nanoparticle Vaccines Against EHEC using Shiga-Toxin Producing Citrobacter rodentium as a Model for Infection. Abstract.Poster Presentation. UTMB McLaughlin Colloquium 2023. Galveston, TX.
  • Bowser S , Alfredo Torres. Protective Efficacy of Gold Nanoparticle Vaccines Against a Diarrheal Disease-Causing Pathogen. Abstract.Poster Presentation. ASM Microbe Conference 2022. Washington D.C.
  • Bowser S , Alfredo Torres. Protective Efficacy of Gold Nanoparticle Vaccines Against a Diarrheal Disease-Causing Pathogen. Abstract.Poster Presentation. UTMB McLaughlin Colloquium 2022. Galveston, TX.**
  • Ainsworth S , Patrick Ketter, Jieh-Juen Yu, M. Neal Guentzel, Bernard Arulanandam. Characterization of a Live Attenuated Vaccine for Protection Against Multi-Drug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Abstract.Poster Presentation. ASM Microbe Conference 2016. Boston, MA.**
  • Ainsworth S , Patrick Ketter, Jieh-Juen Yu, M. Neal Guentzel, Bernard Arulanandam. Characterization of a Live Attenuated Vaccine for Protection Against Multi-Drug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Abstract.Oral Presentation. SURF Conference 2016. San Antonio, TX.
  • Ainsworth S , Patrick Ketter, Jieh-Juen Yu, M. Neal Guentzel, Bernard Arulanandam. Characterization of a Live Attenuated Vaccine for Protection Against Multi-Drug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Abstract.Poster Presentation. SURF Conference 2016. San Antonio, TX.**
  • Ainsworth S , Patrick Ketter, Jieh-Juen Yu, M. Neal Guentzel, Bernard Arulanandam. Characterization of a Live Attenuated Vaccine for Protection Against Multi-Drug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Abstract.Poster Presentation. Vaccine Conference 2015. San Antonio, TX.**
  • Ainsworth S , Patrick Ketter, Jieh-Juen Yu, M. Neal Guentzel, Bernard Arulanandam. Characterization of a Live Attenuated Vaccine for Protection Against Multi-Drug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Abstract.Poster Presentation. UTSA COS Research Conference 2015. San Antonio, TX.
• Caleb Huang
  • Year in Program: MY4
  • Mentor: Physician Healer Track - Geary;
  • Summer 2020: Dr. Sheetz
  • Graduate Program: BMB (MBET)

  Research Interests

  I am interested in real-time imaging and mathematical modeling of contractile units in nonmuscle cells and their role in rigidity sensing and preventing cancer growth.

  Honors & Awards

  • Graduate Student Poster Presentation Award 24th Annual Structural Biology Symposium 2019
  • Best Poster Presentation for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2nd place) National Student Research Forum 2019
  • Vesalius Osler Society Travel Grant School of Medicine 2019
  • Dr. F. Parker Gregg Scholarship School of Medicine 2019
  • Dea Bailey Calvin Research Scholarship School of Medicine 2019
  • Outstanding Poster Award NIH Postbaccalaureate Poster Day 2017
  • Intramural Research Training Award NIH
  • NSF Physics REU Fellowship Kansas State University 2016
  • Undergraduate Research Fellowship University of California, Los Angeles 2015

  Research Activities

  ResearchGate Profile
• Stephen Kunkel
  • Year in Program: MY4
  • Mentor: Dr. Michael Cornforth
  • Graduate Program: BMB

  Research Interest

  Ionizing radiation can damage cells in many ways, the most deleterious of which is by introducing double-strand breaks into chromosomes. When two or more double-strand breaks occur in the same cell, the broken chromosome ends can recombine with incorrect partners to form chromosome aberrations that are damaging to the cell and potentially even carcinogenic. Despite their utility and ubiquity as a measure of radiogenic damage, chromosome aberrations are generated through poorly understood mechanisms. We use novel cytogenomic techniques to elucidate the molecular nature of this radiation damage and how it changes as a function of ionization density and track structure. In effect, we are characterizing the molecular signature of different types of radiation, information which will be valuable in the design of biomarkers for biodosimetry, therapy adjuncts for radiotherapy patients, and radiomitigators and radioprotectors for astronauts on deep space missions.

  Honors & Awards

  • May 30th, 2025 - Blocker Scholar Fellowship, University of Texas Medical Branch, MD-PhD Program
  • January 31st, 2025 - NASA HRP Poster Competition Award for Graduate Students, NASA Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop
  • January 9th, 2025 - Dr. Mary Faggard Kanz Travel Award for Environmental Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch
  • September 15th, 2024 - Invited Speaker at Radiation Research Society Annual Meeting, Radiation Research Society
  • August 28th, 2024 - M. Jeanne Fairweather, MD Scholarship, University of Texas Medical Branch
  • December 21st, 2023 - Eva Yznaga Seger, MD Presidential Scholarship, University of Texas Medical Branch, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
  • December 21st, 2023 - Arthur V. Simmang Scholarship, University of Texas Medical Branch, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
  • August 27th, 2023 - Scholars and Trainees Travel Award, 17th International Congress for Radiation Research
  • August 11th, 2023 - 50/50 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Achievement Award, University of Texas Medical Branch, Biochem, Cell, and Molecular Bio Dept
  • June 2nd, 2023 - Wiktor W. Nowinski Endowed Scholarship, University of Texas Medical Branch, Biochem, Cell, and Molecular Bio Dept
  • April 13th, 2023 - Presentation Finalist, T1-T4 in 3 (Minutes) Competition
  • April 1st, 2023 - Best Overall Poster, National Student Research Forum
  • February 9th, 2023 - NASA HRP Poster Competition Award for Graduate Students, NASA Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop
  • January 26th, 2023 - Arthur V. Simmang Scholarship, University of Texas Medical Branch, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
  • January 26th, 2023 - Shirley Patricia Parker Scholarship, University of Texas Medical Branch, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
  • December 16th, 2022 - SHINE (Space Health Impacts for the NASA Experience) Training Program, NASA Human Research Program
  • May 17th, 2022 - Bolen Endowed Scholarship, University of Texas Medical Branch, Biochem, Cell, and Molecular Bio Dept
  • May 17th, 2022 - Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology Department Travel Award, University of Texas Medical Branch, Biochem, Cell, and Molecular Bio Dept
  • March 17th, 2022 - Wiktor W. Nowinski Endowed Scholarship, University of Texas Medical Branch, Biochem, Cell, and Molecular Bio Dept
  • February 10th, 2022 - NASA HRP Grant Augmentation, NASA Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop
  • February 1st, 2022 - Satish Srivastava Endowed Scholarship, University of Texas Medical Branch, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
  • May 15th, 2021 - Best Oral Presentation in Cancer Biology, National Student Research Forum
  • February 4th, 2021 - NASA HRP Grant Augmentation, NASA Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop
  • January 12th, 2021 - Bohdan Nechay Endowed Scholarship, University of Texas Medical Branch, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

  Research Activities

  ResearchGate Profile

  Publications, Posters & Presentations

  1. Kunkel SR , Kittler R, Michael MN. Cytogenomic analysis of human fibroblasts exposed to gamma rays or HZE ions. Radiat. Res. 2025; Accepted with minor revisions.__
  2. Kunkel SR , Cornforth, MN. When DSBs misrejoin: DNA sequencing of breakpoint junctions of chromosome exchange-type aberrations in human cells exposed to high- versus low LET radiations. Radiation Research Society Annual Meeting. San Juan, Puerto Rico. September 24, 2025.
  3. Poignant F, Huff JL, Kunkel SR , Plante I, Slaba TC. Effect of Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization detection threshold on chromosome aberration counting: a simulation study. Radiation Research Society Annual Meeting. San Juan, Puerto Rico. September 21, 2025.
  4. Jamison D, Kadamangudi S, Tumurbaatar B, Zhang W, Palmer L, Kunkel S , Kayed R, Limon A, Taglialatela G. Comparative analysis of brain-derived tau oligomer interactomes in Alzheimer's disease (AD), non-demented with Alzheimer's neuropathology (NDAN), and primary age-related tauopathy (PART): implications for neurodegeneration and cognitive resilience. J Alzheimers Dis. Accepted April 25, 2025.
  5. Patel S, Janssen C, Szeto JJ, Korrapati K, Lyte C, Kunkel SR , Syed G. Evaluating the Use of Generative AI for Large Scale Literature Screenings in Space Medicine: A Comparative Study of LLMs and Human Reviewers. Aerospace Medical Association & Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Annual Scientific Meeting. Atlanta, Georgia. June 5, 2025.
  6. Patel S, Gala T, Szeto JJ, Kunkel SR , Korrapati K, Gaja T, Lyte C, Janssen C, Gessinger R. Immunological Health Risks in Commercial Spaceflight: A Scoping Review for Clinical Preparedness.Aerospace Medical Association & Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Annual Scientific Meeting. Atlanta, Georgia. June 3, 2025.
  7. Kunkel SR , Cornforth MN. Space Radiation Effects on the Human Genome. UTMB Research Day. Galveston, Texas. May 29, 2025.
  8. Poignant F, Huff JL, Kunkel SR , Plante I, Slaba TC. Effect of Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Detection Threshold on Chromosome Aberration Counting: a Simulation Study. Life Sci Space Res. 2025;46: 154-168.
  9. Kunkel SR , Kittler R, Cornforth MN. Chromosome Breakpoint Sequencing in Human Cells Following Exposure to Gamma Rays vs Heavy Ions. NASA Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop. Galveston, Texas. January 28, 2025.
  10. Kunkel SR. Sizing Up the Damage; Investigating Radiogenic Chromosome Aberrations Using Cytogenomics. Radiation Research Society Annual Meeting. Tucson, Arizona. September 15, 2024.
  11. Bailey SM, Kunkel SR , Bedford JS, Cornforth MN. The Central Role of Cytogenetics in Radiation Biology. Radiat. Res. 2024;202(2): 227–259.
  12. McGowan M, Brugge D, Bailey S, Cross E, Kunkel SR , Tompkins, CJ. Trawling the Deeps; AI-Empowered High-Throughput dGH SCREEN. American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy. Baltimore, MD. May 7, 2024.
  13. Kunkel SR , Cornforth, MN. Is there any difference between chromosome damage induced by low- vs high-LET radiation at the DNA level? NASA Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop. Galveston, Texas. February 15, 2024.
  14. Kunkel SR , Mareth A, Brackman S, Loucas BD, Cornforth MC. Chromosome damage related to temporal aspects of GCR simulation: validation and beam time optimization. NASA Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop. Galveston, Texas. February 14, 2024.
  15. Kunkel SR , Cornforth, MN. Star track; the search for S.P.O.Q. (Signatures Predictive of radiation Quality). BMB Oktoberfest. Galveston, Texas. October 3, 2023.
  16. Kunkel SR , Cornforth, MN. Space radiation damage to the human genome detected through cytogenomics. GSBS Research Expo. Galveston, Texas. September 22, 2023.
  17. Cornforth MN, Kunkel SR , Shuryak I. Chromosome damage and radiation risk from heavy ions: scoring the right kinds of aberrations. 17 th International Congress for Radiation Research. Montreal, Quebec. August 30, 2023.
  18. Kunkel SR , Kittler R, Cornforth, MN. Long read sequencing characterizes structural variants induced by sparsely and densely ionizing radiation. 17 th International Congress for Radiation Research. Montreal, Quebec. August 27, 2023.
  19. Kunkel SR , Wiese C. Chaired session "Symposium 1: Chromatin, complex DNA lesion, damage response and repair." 17 th International Congress for Radiation Research. Montreal, Quebec. August 27, 2023.
  20. Kunkel SR , Kittler R, Cornforth MN. Space radiation damage to the human genome.T1-T4 in 3 (Minutes) Competition. Galveston, Texas. April 13, 2023.
  21. Kunkel SR , Kittler R, Cross E, Cornforth MN. Space radiation damage to the human genome.National Student Research Forum. Galveston, Texas. April 1, 2023.
  22. Kunkel SR , Kittler R, Cross E, Routh AL, Cornforth MN. Sequencing chromosome aberrations induced by sparsely or densely ionizing radiation.NASA Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop. Galveston, Texas. February 8, 2023.
  23. Kunkel SR , Kittler R, Routh AL, Cross E, Cornforth MN. Sequencing chromosome aberrations induced by galactic cosmic radiation.Radiation Research Society Annual Meeting. Waikoloa Village, Hawaii. October 16, 2022.
  24. Kunkel SR , Pecha MG, Marshall JET, Valencia W, Shah R, Auñón-Chancellor, S. COVID-19 from 1,300,000 Ft: assessing implications for the aerospace medicine community and developing guidelines for safe return to duty. Spaceflight Operations in the Time of COVID-19 panel. Aerospace Medical Association Annual Meeting. Reno, Nevada. May 24, 2022.
  25. Marshall JET, Valencia W, Kunkel SR , Korst G, Shah R, Auñón-Chancellor S. COVID-19: Astronaut Monitoring and Return to Duty: Neurologic, Neurocognitive, Ophthalmologic, and Dermatologic Considerations. Spaceflight Operations in the Time of COVID-19 panel. Aerospace Medical Association Annual Meeting. Reno, Nevada. May 24, 2022.
  26. Kunkel SR , Kittler R, Cornforth M. Sequencing Chromosome Aberrations Induced by Space Radiation. National Student Research Forum. Galveston, Texas. May 14, 2022.
  27. Loucas BD, Shuryak I, Kunkel SR , Cornforth MN. Dose-dependent Transmissibility of Chromosome Aberrations at First Mitosis after Exposure to Gamma Rays. I. Modeling and Implications Related to Risk Assessment. Radiat. Res. 2022;197(4): 376-383.
  28. Kunkel SR , Kittler R, Kollipara RK, Yu Y, Loucas B, Cross E, Cornforth MN. Cytogenomics Comes of Age: DNA Sequencing of Exchange Breakpoint Junctions of IR-Induced Translocations. NASA Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop. Virtual conference.__ February 9, 2022.
  29. Kunkel SR , Sishc B. Chaired session "Low Dose Rate Effects for Space Radiation Carcinogenesis - A Miniature Technical Informational Meeting (Tiny-TIM) Session 1 - Current Progress." NASA Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop. Virtual conference.__ February 8, 2022.
  30. Kunkel SR , Kittler R, Kollipara RK, Yu Y, Loucas B, Cross E, Thompkins C, Cornforth MN. Cytogenomics Comes of Age: DNA Sequencing of Exchange Breakpoint Junctions of IR-Induced Translocations. Radiation Research Society Annual Meeting. Virtual conference. October 3, 2021.
  31. Kunkel SR , Pecha MG, Marshall JET, Shah R, Auñón-Chancellor, S. COVID-19 From 417 km: a summary of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment options, and implications for spaceflight. Spaceflight Operations in the Time of COVID-19 panel. Aerospace Medical Association Annual Meeting. Denver, Colorado. September 2, 2021.
  32. Marshall JET, Valencia W, Kunkel SR , Korst G, Shah R, Auñón-Chancellor S. COVID-19: Astronaut Monitoring and Return to Duty: Neurologic, Neurocognitive, Ophthalmologic, and Dermatologic Considerations. Spaceflight Operations in the Time of COVID-19 panel. Aerospace Medical Association Annual Meeting. Denver, Colorado. September 2, 2021.
  33. Kunkel SR , Kittler R, Kollipara R, Cornforth M. Molecular characterization of stable chromosomal aberrations induced by sparsely and densely ionizing radiation. National Student Research Forum. Virtual Conference. May 15, 2021.
  34. Kunkel SR , Kollipara R, Kittler R, Cornforth M. Single-molecular real-time sequencing of radiation-induced chromosome aberrations. National Student Research Forum. April 24, 2020.
  35. Langsjoen R, Muruato AE, Kunkel SR , Jaworski E, Routh A. Differential alphavirus defective RNA diversity between intracellular and encapsidated compartments is driven by subgenomic recombination events. . 2020;11(4):e.
  36. O'Brien CJ, Nixon ZS, Holohan AJ, Kunkel SR , Tellez JL, Doonan BJ, Coyle EE, Lavigne F, Kang LJ, Przeworski KC. Part 1: The development of the catalytic Wittig reaction. Chem-Eur J. 2013;19(45):.
  37. O'Brien CJ, Tellez JL, Nixon ZS, Kang LJ, Carter AL, Kunkel SR , Przeworski KC, Chass GA. Recycling the waste: the development of a catalytic Wittig reaction. Angew Chem Int Edit. 2009;48(37):.
• Jonathan Lin
  • Year in Program : MY4
  • Mentor : Massoud Motamedi
  • Graduate Program : PHTO

  Research Interest

  I am interested in identifying and automatically quantifying image-based biomarkers for non-invasive imaging techniques like optical coherence tomography and in vivo corneal confocal microscopy, in order to study the ocular injury and wound healing following exposure to chemicals, such as sodium hydroxide and acrolein. As part of this work, I am developing both traditional and deep learning-based image processing methods for measuring cellular and morphological changes in the eye.

  Honors & Awards

  • UTMB Minnie and Ward Savage Endowed Award Scholarship (2025)
  • UTMB Harry B and Marie S Kelso Endowed Blocker Scholarship (2025)
  • NIEHS T32 Training Grant, T32ESS)
  • UTMB The George Palmer Saunders II Memorial Graduate Student Scholarship, University of Texas Medical Branch (2023)
  • UTMB Pharmacology and Toxicology Summer Research Symposium: Excellence Among Senior-Level Students (2023)
  • Society of Toxicology (SOT) Ocular Toxicology Specialty Section (OTSS) I2 (Innovation and Impact) Award Sponsored by Biomere (2023)
  • SOT OTSS Covance-OSOD Graduate Student/Postdoctoral Fellow Research Award (2023)
  • UTMB Edith and Robert Zinn Presidential Scholarship (2023)
  • UTMB Pharmacology and Toxicology Summer Research Symposium: Excellence in Rationale and Approach Award (2022)
  • SOT Graduate Student Travel Award (2022)
  • Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) Graduate Student Travel Award (2022)
  • Blackstone Launchpad IDEA Competition Finalist - Consumer Products & Services (2021)
  • SOT OTSS Poster of the Year Award (2021)
  • UTMB Travel Award in Memory of Christina Fleischmann (2020, 2023)

  Research Activities

  ResearchGate Profile

Graduate Year One

Maxsam Donta

Elizaveta Naydanova

Jack Plewa

Akshaya Venkatesh

Samuel Franklin

Jordan Hartmann

Tristan Nguyen

Hugo Certuche

• Year in Program : GY1
• Mentor : Dr. Peter McCaffrey
• Graduate Program : Pathology

Graduate Year Two

Abbigael Aday

• Year in Program : GY2
• Mentor : Dr. Rakez Kayed and Dr. Mauro Montalbano
• Graduate Program : Neurology

Abbigael Aday is a second year PhD student in the neurology program. She is studying under the direction of Dr. Rakez Kayed and Dr. Mauro Montalbano in the Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Honors & Awards

• Fischer Academic Excellence award recipient, 2025
• Recipient of the Carl J. Herzog Endowment for both the 2022 and 2023 academic years

ResearchGate
LinkedIn
Rakez Kayed Lab

Regan Schuetze

Jessica Selim

Alyssa Varghese

James Weatherhead

Graduate Year Three

Isabelle Bergman

Bruce Chang-Gu

• Year in Program: GY3
• Mentor: Dr. Lawrence Sowers
• Graduate Program: Pharmacology/Toxicology

Research Interests:

I am interested in the metabolic pathways that contribute to chemotherapy resistance in glioblastoma as well as processes involved in DNA repair. Previously at UT Austin, I investigated how binding motifs impact the specificity and efficiency of human helicase-mediated disruption of secondary DNA/RNA structures.

Honors & Awards:

• Translational Science Training Grant (TL1) from NCATS, UTMB (2024- )
• Truman G. Blocker Endowment for the MD/PhD Program )
• John Sealy School of Medicine Research Scholarship Grant (2022)
• UT Austin Graduate with Honors and Research Distinction (2020)
• UT Austin Undergraduate Research Fellowship (2018)

Research Activities:

Researchgate:**
Baljinnyam, T., Conrad, J. W., Sowers, M. L., Chang-Gu, B., Herring, J. L., Hackfeld, L. C., ... & Sowers, L. C. (2023). Characterization of a Novel Thermostable DNA Lyase Used To Prepare DNA for Next-Generation Sequencing. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 36(2), 162-176.

Sowers, M. L., Conrad, J. W., Chang-Gu, B. , Cherryhomes, E., Hackfeld, L. C., & Sowers, L. C. (2023). DNA Base Excision Repair Intermediates Influence Duplex–Quadruplex Equilibrium. Molecules, 28(3), 970.
Chang-Gu, B., Venkatesan, S., & Russell, R. (2022). Kinetics measurements of G-quadruplex binding and unfolding by helicases. Methods.

Chang-Gu, B. , Bradburn, D., Yangyuoru, P. M., & Russell, R. (2021). The DHX36-specific-motif (DSM) enhances specificity by accelerating recruitment of DNA G-quadruplex structures. Biological Chemistry, 402(5), 593-604.

Emmanuel Nyong

Alfredo Sandoval

Jessica Tierney

• Year in Program: GY3
• Mentor: Ping Wu, MD, PhD
• Graduate Program: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Research Interests

Jessica is researching the impact of maternal opioid use on fetal brain development and offspring behavior for her thesis project under the mentorship of Dr. Ping Wu. Previously, at UT Dallas, she researched the role dietary components in the western diet play in pain and diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Honors & Awards:

• CPDD NIDA Women & Sex/Gender Junior Investigator Travel Award, College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD), Brentwood, TN, 2025
• Saunders Student Award, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 2024
• T32DA: Translational Explorations in Substance Use Disorders, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 2023–2025
• Harry B. and Marie S. Kelso Endowed Blocker Scholarship, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 2022–2023
• Behavioral and Brain Sciences (BBS) Honors, University of Texas at Dallas, TX, 2018
• Larry Cauller Undergraduate Research Travel Award, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 2018
• Undergraduate Research Scholar Award, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 2018
• Buhrmester Undergraduate Research Award, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 2017

Research Activities:

ORCID ID:

1. Melissa E. Lenert, Nilesh M. Agalave, Emily K. Debner, Jessica A. Tierney , Syed A. Naqvi, Andreas M. Chavez, Marilyn Dockum, Phil Albrecht, Frank L. Rice, Theodore J. Price, Erica L. Sanchez, Michael D. Burton - _TLR4 + Dermal fibroblasts induce acute and transitional pain states. _Research Square 2025.**
2. Michelle Hagenimana, Audrey R. Green,Jessica A. Tierney , Melissa E. Lenert, Michael D. Burton - Intravenous streptozotocin induces variants in painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy in female mice. Research Square 2025. *=co-first author
3. Deyse Cristina Madruga Carvalho, Tiffany Dunn, Rafael Kroon Campos, Jessica A. Tierney , Florence Onyoni, Luiz Henrique Agra Cavalcante-Silva, Lindomar José Pena, Sandra Rodrigues-Mascarenhas, Ping Wu, Scott C. Weaver - Antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of ouabain against congenital Zika syndrome. Molecular Therapy 2025; 33:456-470 (DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.12.021)
4. Kathleen E McDonough, Regan Hammond, Jigong Wang, Jessica Tierney , Kali Hankerd, Jin Mo Chung, Jun-Ho La - Spinal GABAergic disinhibition allows microglial activation mediating the development of nociplastic pain in male mice. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 2023; 107:215-224 (DOI: 10.1016