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Jefferson Postdoctoral Association
2024-2025 Officers
Arun Kumar Jannu, PhD
President
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Arun Kumar Jannu is a native of Warangal, a small city in Telangana, located in the southern part of India. He did his masters at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) - Hyderabad, and then pursued his PhD in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology from NIPER - Guwahati in 2021. His studies focused on finding a novel carrier system for the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs. Later in 2021, Arun joined Thomas Jefferson University as a postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Translational Medicine under the supervision of Dr. Raymond Penn. Arun's research focuses on identifying the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which G protein-couple receptors regulate significant functions in human airway smooth muscle cells.
If time travel was a possibility, what era would you visit and why?
I'm very interested in the nature of cultural and human development, and how we came to be. I would love to travel to a time well before modern civilization was established, and watch the evolution of people as they spread from one location to another, and across the globe.
Sabrine Ben Hamed, PhD
Vice President, Career Development
Sabrine is originally from Djerba, a Mediterranean island in Tunisia, which is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site known for its authenticity and tolerant community. She earned a bachelor's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology and a Master's degree in Genetics and Cell Physiology from the Higher Institute of Biotechnology Monastir, Tunisia. She then earned her PhD in Virology and Immunology at the University of Monastir in Tunisia and the University of Justus Liebig Giessen in Germany; here she worked on novel antiviral approaches against the influenza virus. Sabrine was also an Erasmus PhD Scholar at the University of Padova in Italy. After graduation, she moved to the United States and joined Thomas Jefferson University as a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Schnell's lab, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, where she works on the development of next-generation vaccines and therapeutics. Sabrine is a nature lover who enjoys hiking, camping, and scuba diving.
Who is someone you admire, and why?
"Little me" inspires me! When I was five-years-old, I knew I would be a scientist who could help find therapies and save lives. Growing up in an agricultural and tourist environment, doing research seemed impossible but I always believed in it, and I still do! I admire "little me" for believing in herself, for her perseverance, passion, and patience along the journey!
Sophia (Sophie) Lazar, PhD
Treasurer
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Sophie Lazar graduated with her PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, in December 2022. Here she studied the role of AGO2-depending RNAi on platelet function. As a postdoctoral research fellow at Thomas Jefferson University, she chose to remain in the field of hematologic research, joining The Cardeza Foundation in the laboratory of Drs. Steve McKenzie and James Michael. Currently, her studies are focused on the role of 12-HETE in thrombocytopenia, using various ex-vivo and in-vivo models in additional to human patients.
What is your favorite place to visit in Philly?
My favorite place to visit in Philly is the Philadelphia Zoo, especially on a nice, warm day in the fall. I enjoy walking around with my family and seeing all the different animals; my son's reactions to the monkeys is priceless.
Melissa Molho Medina, PhD
Co-Vice President, Communications
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Melissa Molho is originally from Mexico, where she got her bachelor's degree in Genomic Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. In 2014, she moved to the United States to do her PhD in the Plant Pathology Department at the University of Kentucky (UK). During her PhD, she studied virus-host interactions in plants, specifically the role of the actin network in viral infection. She was also part of the UK graduate Student Congress leadership team and advocate for international students.
In 2021, she joined Dr. Ramage's lab as a postdoctoral fellow in the Microbiology Department at Thomas Jefferson University. Currently, she is studying virus-host interactions of emerging infectious diseases focusing on flaviviruses such as Dengue, Zika, West Nile, and Powassan viruses.
What do you enjoy in your work, as well as life in Philly?
I enjoy doing outreach activities to talk about plant health, viruses, and inclusion in science. My favorite thing to do in Philly is walking around the parks or streets in Center City and South Philly, because there is always something new to find.
Casey Stefanski, PhD
Secretary
Casey received her PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Notre Dame, where she studied chemotherapy resistant mechanisms in APC-deficient breast cancer. In September 2022, she joined Dr. Andrew Aplin's lab as a postdoctoral researcher investigating metabolic drivers of therapy resistance through their effect on the tumor immune microenvironment.
If you could go on vacation, where would you go and what would you do?
I love sharks, specifically whale sharks. My dream vacation is to swim with whale sharks in either Mexico or the Maldives.
Simon Thibault, PhD
Vice President, Nominations and Elections
Simon Thibault completed his PhD in cognitive neuroscience at the University of Lyon in France. In his dissertation research, he investigated how tool-use relates to different cognitive functions, such as language. Specifically, his work has demonstrated that the ability to process complex syntactic structures in language and the ability to use a tool are linked, such that training one ability improves the other ability. Simon joined Thomas Jefferson University and Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute in 2022 to work under the mentorship of Drs. Aaron L. Wong and Laurel J. Buxbaum. His work aims at understanding the neurocognitive mechanisms supporting deficit in using the tools in population suffering from a left hemisphere stroke.
What is your favorite hobby, and why?
I am a big fan of sports, especially basketball, that I have been playing since I was six-years-old. I am happy to live in the US where basketball is popular. I like to go to the 76ers games, and also try to keep playing basketball at least once a week.
Joice Thomas Gavali, PhD
President Emeritus
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Joice Thomas Gavali, PhD, earned her doctorate in Pharmacology at the Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV-IPN) in Mexico. Her graduate studies focused on regulation by reactive oxygen species of store-operated calcium release in adult rat cardiomyocytes preconditioned with diazoxide. She moved to the United States in October 2020. Before joining Thomas Jefferson University, she worked as a postdoctoral scientist at Smidt Heart Institute, Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles; there she worked on understanding the critical role of PMCA 1 in maintaining cardiack calcium homeostasis. She is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in Dr. Jianxin Sun's lab. Her research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanism of cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and pulmonary fibrosis.
Who do you most admire, and why?
I most admire my father, Thomas Gavali - he is my hero. I am who I am today because of him. He always encouraged us to get the best education, and he believed education was the best way to empower ourselves and be independent. Though he went through many difficulties in his life, he ensured we went to school. I believe I am empowered and independent because I've accomplished much, and will continue to accomplish more because of my education and his encouragement.