Tyler Alexander
Tyler.Alexander@students.jefferson.edu
MD/PhD Program
College
- Center City Campus
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Degree Earned
- Doctorate
Program Length
8 years
Leadership
Name:
Scott A. Waldman, MD, PhD, FCP
Position:
Director, MD/PhD Program
1020 Locust Street
Jefferson Alumni Hall, 368
Philadelphia, PA 19107-5244
Email:
Scott.Waldman@jefferson.edu
Contact Number(s):
Leadership
Name:
Manuel Covarrubias, MD, PhD
Position:
Director, MD/PhD Program
233 South 10th Street
Bluemle Life Sciences Building, 221A
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Contact Number(s):
Program Information
Name:
Danielle Park
Meet Our Current Students
| Undergrad | Swarthmore College, BA, 2017 |
| Year | MD/PhD 8, JeffMD Phase 3, SKMC 4 |
| Mentor | Manuel Covarrubias, MD, PhD |
| PhD Program | Neuroscience |
| Research Interests |
I am highly interested in neuroscience, biophysics, and mathematics. In particular, I enjoy exploring computational and electrophysiologic questions with translational applications. I am particularly excited by the interdisciplinary aspects of the field and its intersection with physics, mathematics, and philosophy. |
| Anticipated Residency | Diagnostic Radiology |
| Hobbies/Interests | I enjoy running long distances and playing blues and jazz guitar. I am an avid reader and love to look at the stars with my telescope. |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Run along the Schuylkill River trail, read a book in Rittenhouse Square. |
| Honors/Awards |
PhD Award for Excellence in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (TJU, 2020) Excellence in Social Impact Award (University of Pennsylvania, 2018) |
Rachel Cain
Rachel.Cain@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Penn State Premedical/Medical Accelerated Program, 2018 |
| Year | MD/PhD 8, JeffMD Phase 3, SKMC 4 |
| Mentor | Matthew Dalva, PhD |
| PhD Program | Neuroscience |
| Research Interests | Neuroscience, synaptic biology, macular degeneration |
| Anticipated Residency | Ophthalmology |
| Hobbies/Interests | Running, home-made pasta making, crocheting, travelling |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
N/A |
| Honors/Awards |
SKMC AOA (2025) George McClellan Surgical Honor Society (2024) Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F30) SKMC Dean’s Student Research Award (2020) Hobart Amory Hare Society Member (2020-present) Pennsylvania State University Summa Cum Laude Euroscholar Scholarship Award (2018) Evan Pugh Senior Scholar Award (2017) Dean’s List (2015, 2016, 2017) Mark and Sharon Robb Research Award (2017) Pre-Medicine Scholarship (2016, 2017) Ruth E.Duffy Pre-Medicine Endowment (2016, 2017) |
Signe Caksa
Signe.Caksa@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Brown University, BSc, 2016 |
| Year | MD/PhD 8, JeffMD Phase 3, SKMC 4 |
| Mentor | Andrew Aplin, PhD |
| PhD Program | Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine |
| Research Interests |
I am interested in translational research in cancer biology, with an emphasis on therapy resistance and the tumor microenvironment. |
| Anticipated Residency | General Surgery |
| Hobbies/Interests | Reading, writing, and taking photographs. I also enjoy hiking, running, being outdoors, and traveling. |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Checking out the Rodin Museum and Barnes Foundation, grabbing coffee in Rittenhouse and going for a walk around Graduate Hospital, hiking in Wissahickon Valley Park, eating pizza in Fishtown. |
| Honors/Awards |
Women in Cancer Research Scholar Award (American Association for Cancer Research, 2023) Medical Student Award (Melanoma Research Foundation, 2021) Hobart Amory Hare Medical Honor Society (Thomas Jefferson University, 2020) James B. Erdmann Student Award for Excellence in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (Thomas Jefferson University, 2020) Inducted to Sigma Xi: The Scientific Honor Society (Brown University, 2016) Karen T. Romer Undergraduate Teaching and Research Award (Brown University, 2015) BrownConnect LINK Award (Brown University, 2014) |
Lara Cheslow
Lara.Cheslow@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Rutgers University, BA, 2014 | |
| Year | MD/PhD 8, JeffMD Phase 3, SKMC 4 |
|
| Mentor | Scott Waldman, MD, PhD | |
| PhD Program | Neuroscience | |
| Research Interests | I’m interested in studying neurodegenerative diseases and have spent just under four years researching the potential of ketamine to treat depression and the possibility of endogenous factors in the brain to treat multiple sclerosis. Learning new techniques is exciting and rewarding, but I appreciate being trained on how to approach new scientific problems. |
|
| Anticipated Residency | TBD | |
| Hobbies/Interests | As soon as I save enough money, I spend it on traveling somewhere new and I tend to contract food poisoning at least once every trip. I enjoy hiking, reading, and spending a good amount of time drinking coffee with my family and alcohol with my friends. | |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
One of my routine activities in Philly is Muay Thai, which I practice a few times a week in Philly. No official fighting yet, though. I also love browsing the Italian market for the deal of the day (like a bucket of tangerines for $1), and when money is decent, I splurge on the best cappuccinos in the city at Function Coffee Labs. | |
| Honors/Awards | Graduated magna cum laude from Rutgers |
Colleen Isabelle
Colleen.Isabelle@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Wellesley College, BA, 2013 | |
| Year | MD/PhD 8, JeffMD Phase 3, SKMC 4 |
|
| Mentor | Anjali Mishra, PhD | |
| PhD Program | Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine | |
| Research Interests | I am conducting my graduate research in the lab of Dr. Anjali Mishra in the Department of Medical Oncology. My current work is investigating novel targets for therapeutic intervention in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma. My research interests span the fields of dermatology, hematology, and immunology. |
|
| Anticipated Residency | TBD | |
| Hobbies/Interests | At Jefferson, I was on the elected board of the Jefferson Physician Scientist Association for three years and am active in volunteering with the intensive care nursery cuddling program in the hospital. In my spare time, I enjoy exploring restaurants in Philly (especially Dim Sum) and spending time outdoors. | |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Spruce St. Harbor Park is a great place to go during the summer for music, food, and fun. The Schuylkill River Trail is also a lovely place to walk and ride bikes. | |
| Honors/Awards | Hobart Amory Hare Medical Honor Society, Phi Beta Kappa, Wellesley College Durant Scholar, The Klein Prize in Neuroscience 2013 at Wellesley College |
Selin Isguven Billmyer
Selin.Isguven@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Yale College, BS, 2015 | |
| Year | MD/PhD 8, JeffMD Phase 3, SKMC 4 |
|
| Mentor | Noreen Hickok, PhD / Flemming Forsberg, PhD |
|
| PhD Program | Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine | |
| Research Interests |
Clinical neurology research PhD thesis research: Infection control, antibiotic prophylaxis, biomaterials, therapeutic ultrasound, drug delivery Past experience: Computational analysis, glucose metabolism, endocrinology; Clinical research, acute kidney injury, acute interstitial nephritis, nephrology |
|
| Anticipated Residency | TBD | |
| Hobbies/Interests | Art and art history, humanities in medicine, baking, traveling, photography | |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
I love trying new food (or revisiting old favorites) and going to art galleries or other cultural places. One of my favorites has been the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival so far, which I believe is the largest one in the country! | |
| Honors/Awards | Phase-1 Dean’s Student Research Prize (2019); Euroson Best Poster Award (2023); American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) Top 8 Abstracts Award (2023) |
Saul Kushinsky
Saul.Kushinsky@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | University of Massachusetts Amherst, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2014 |
| Year | MD/PhD 10, JeffMD Phase 3, SKMC 4 |
| Mentor | Christine Eischen, PhD |
| PhD Program | Immunology & Microbial Pathogenesis |
| Research Interests | I am focusing on understanding the contributions of the DNA replication stress response to hematopoiesis and the effects of different replication stressors on developing hematopoietic cells. |
| Anticipated Residency | Internal Medicine followed by a fellowship in Hematology & Oncology |
| Hobbies/Interests | Hosting/attending potlucks, board games, reading/watching science fiction/fantasy and anime, spending time with the Jewish community |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Spruce Street Harbor, Schuylkill river trail and dog park |
| Honors/Awards |
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, F30 Fellowship (2020) Abstract Achievement Award – 62nd Annual ASH Conference (2020) Thomas Jefferson University Dean’s Student Collaborator Award (2016) Northeast Undergraduate Research and Development Symposium Best Poster Presentation (2014) Elected into Phi Beta Kappa (2013) Commonwealth Honors College Research Grant, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2013) C.D. Youngren Research Scholarship, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2013) Scientific Research Assistant Fellowship, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2011) Eagle Scout Award, Boy Scouts of America (2009) |
Debotri Chatterjee
Debotri.Chatterjee@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Cornell University, BA, 2017 |
| Year | MD/PhD 7, JeffMD Phase 2, SKMC 3 |
| Mentor | Richard Smeyne, PhD |
| PhD Program | Neuroscience |
| Research Interests | I'm currently interested in neuroscience, specifically the molecular pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. |
| Anticipated Residency | TBD |
| Hobbies/Interests | Baking/cooking, reading, watching soccer and cricket, learning new languages. |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
I have much more exploring to do, but so far, I'm enjoying exploring the varied food options and the arts and music scene here! |
| Honors/Awards |
Tata Scholarship (Cornell University, 2013-2017) Von Stade Fellowship (CSHL, 2016) Burroughs Wellcome Fellowship (CSHL, 2016) |
Phuong Le
Phuong.Le@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Colby College, ME, Class of 2017 |
| Year | MD/PhD 7, JeffMD Phase 2, SKMC 3 |
| Mentor | Sue Menko, PhD |
| PhD Program | Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine |
| Research Interests | Cancer immunobiology and tumor microenvironment |
| Anticipated Residency | Maybe Pediatric Hem/Onc or Pathology |
| Hobbies/Interests | Biking, hiking, handicrafts, baking |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Riding along Schuylkill river is my jam! |
| Honors/Awards |
Phi Beta Kappa American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Travel Award (2017) Biddle Fund Award for International Research (2015) Charles A. Dana Scholar (2014) Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas Summer Scholar (2013, 2014) |
Samantha Thomas
Samantha.Thomas@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Rutgers University-New Brunswick, BA, 2013 |
| Year | MD/PhD 7, JeffMD Phase 2, SKMC 3 |
| Mentor | Angelo Lepore, PhD |
| PhD Program | Neuroscience |
| Research Interests | Promoting circuit-specific synaptic re-connectivity after spinal cord injury |
| Anticipated Residency | N/A |
| Hobbies/Interests | Travel, hiking, camping, cooking, video games |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Philadelphia has a surprisingly big park system, and I like to walk the trails, especially around the Schuylkill River |
| Honors/Awards | Undergraduate: Division of Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (2010) Division of Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (2011) |
Yanki Yarman
Yanki.Yarman@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Columbia University, BA, 2016 |
| Year | MD/PhD 7, JeffMD Phase 2, SKMC 3 |
| Mentor | Peisong Ma, PhD |
| PhD Program | Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine |
| Research Interests | Previously, I researched the genetic causes of Autism Spectrum Disorder, pachygyria, and meningiomas for two years using whole exome sequencing, gene editing, molecular and biochemical analytical techniques, and data prioritization methods to arrive at genetic discoveries. My current research focuses on the regulation of G-protein-coupled receptor signaling in platelets to better address the genetic determinants of stroke and venous thromboembolism with alternative therapies. |
| Anticipated Residency | N/A |
| Hobbies/Interests | I like listening to live music, especially R&B and alternative rock, dancing, reading, and traveling. |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
N/A |
| Honors/Awards |
Inducted to Sigma Xi (2023) American Society of Hematology (ASH) Abstract Achievement Award (2022) Guest speaker at ASH Poster Walk on “Platelets from Bench to Bedside”: Chosen for abstract titled “A Common Variant in GRK5 Reveals a PAR1-Specific Mechanism for Its Regulation of Platelet Function” (2022) |
Miao Cao
Miao.Cao@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | University of Wisconsin-Madison, BS, 2020 |
| Year | MD/PhD 6, JCLS 4 |
| Mentor | Adam Snook, PhD |
| PhD Program | Immunology & Microbial Pathogenesis |
| Research Interests | Cancer biology, CAR-T Cell Therapy |
| Anticipated Residency | N/A |
| Hobbies/Interests | Longboarding, ballet, and hiking. |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
I love going to Broadway shows and Philadelphia Orchestra concerts. Chinatown is a great place to explore as well. |
| Honors/Awards |
Undergraduate: 2019 CPRIT-CURE Summer Undergraduate Program, MDA Cancer Center 2019-2020 Hilldale Undergraduate Research Fellowship, UW-Madison 2019-2020 Anna L. Rowe Scholarship, CALS, UW-Madison 2018-2019 Sophomore Research Fellowship, UW-Madison 2018 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Mayo Clinic 2017-2018 Dorothy Strong Scholarship, CALS, UW-Madison |
David Jaffe
David.Jaffe@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | UC Davis, BS, 2018 |
| Year | MD/PhD 6, Post-Doctoral Fellow |
| Mentor | Angelo Lepore, PhD |
| PhD Program | Neuroscience |
| Research Interests | My PhD focused on neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury in the lab of Dr. Angelo Lepore. I solidified the link between the receptor EphB2 and neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury. With this knowledge I hope to further pursue ways to target this protein and one day apply this science to human patients. |
| Anticipated Residency | Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) |
| Hobbies/Interests | It's a cliche, I know, but I really love eating. I usually cook, but there's only so much I can make. Thankfully, Philadelphia delivers a plethora of cuisine. I also love simply walking around the city and rock climbing at our local gym. |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Washington Square is one of my favorite parks to just sit down and relax. South St. is always bustling with life and has some truly fantastic restaurants. Lastly, it would be unfair not to recommend the Reading Market to find great food and cooking ingredients. |
| Honors/Awards | N/A |
Siddharth Karthikeyan
Siddharth.Karthikeyan@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Penn State, Premedical/Medical Program (PMM), 2020 |
| Year | MD/PhD 6, JCLS 4 |
| Mentor | Le Ma, PhD |
| PhD Program | Neuroscience |
| Research Interests | I am interested in the cell biology of axon development, with a focus on how intracellular transport is regulated to deliver cargos to specific sites along the axon and facilitate proper growth and circuit formation. Much of my work also involves developing optogenetic tools to enable spatiotemporally precise manipulation of local signaling and transport to better interrogate the role of these processes in local growth dynamics. |
| Anticipated Residency | TBD |
| Hobbies/Interests | I love soccer, and I play in local Philly circuits and help run the Jefferson Soccer Club. I also geek out about US history, and I love growing carnivorous plants, including sundews, sarracenia, and of course, the famed venus fly trap! |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Philly has an amazing food scene, and I love going to Reading Terminal and Chinatown to try new places. I also enjoy visiting different museums as well as going for runs along the Schuylkill River. |
| Honors/Awards |
Ruth E. Duffy Pre-Medicine Endowment (2019) Eberly College of Science Ovadia Scholarship (2019) President Sparks Award (2019) Rodney A. Erickson Discovery Grant (2019) Evan Pugh Senior Scholar Award (2020) Hobart Amory Hare Society Inductee (2022) PMI (UPenn) Best Poster Award (2025) |
Genevieve Lewis
Genevieve.Lewis@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Barnard College of Columbia University |
| Year | MD/PhD 7, JCLS 5 |
| Mentor | Emad Alnemri, PhD |
| PhD Program | Biochemistry, Structural, & Molecular Biology |
| Research Interests | Innate immunity |
| Anticipated Residency | Internal Medicine |
| Hobbies/Interests | Painting, Biking, Walking |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Wissahickon, Schuykill trail, Art Museum |
| Honors/Awards | Mrs. Doris Schloss Rosenthal ’35 Mathematics and Science Award |
Elizabeth Magno
Elizabeth.Magno@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Cornell University, BA, 2017 |
| Year | MD/PhD 6, JCLS 4 |
| Mentor | Karen Bussard, PhD |
| PhD Program | Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine |
| Research Interests | I have previously studied chemoresistance in ovarian cancers, and I would like to continue in women’s health research during my MD/PhD. I am interested in breast, ovarian, and cervical cancers and infertility. |
| Anticipated Residency | Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| Hobbies/Interests | I love baking, reading, and writing poetry. I also enjoy trying new restaurants and seeing live music with friends! |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Philly has fantastic museums! Some of my favorites are the Barnes Foundation, one of the world’s largest impressionist collections, and the Mutter Museum, which documents medical history through specimens and medical tools. I love the collection of over 2,000 swallowed objects removed by one surgeon! |
| Honors/Awards | Undergraduate: Society of American Naturalists Ruth Patrick Student Poster Award |
Adam Marc
Adam.Marc@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Johns Hopkins University, BA, 2016 |
| Year | MD/PhD 7, JCLS 5 |
| Mentor(s) | Chang-Gyu Hahn, MD, PhD & Karin Borgmann-Winter, MD, MS |
| PhD Program | Neuroscience |
| Research Interests | Neuropsychiatry, Schizophrenia, Synaptic Biology, Proteomics |
| Anticipated Residency | N/A |
| Hobbies/Interests | Bouldering, Cooking, Walking/taking my dog to the dog park |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Philly sports, Tehina shakes from Goldie, Trying new restaurants |
| Honors/Awards | N/A |
Andrea Berghella
Andrea.Berghella@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Brown University, BSc, 2020 |
| Year | MD/PhD 5, JCLS 3 |
| Mentor | Elena Blanco-Suarez, PhD |
| PhD Program | Neuroscience |
| Research Interests |
My main research interests are in neuroscience. I have always been fascinated by how changes at the synaptic or circuit level can lead to behavioral change or disease. Through my research, I want to better understand the systems underlying neural plasticity and work to harness this understanding to improve clinical outcomes. Most recently, I have been interested in investigating the potential mechanisms of psychedelic compounds and how they may play a therapeutic role in the context of psychiatric disorders and beyond. |
| Anticipated Residency | TBD |
| Hobbies/Interests | I am a fan of the NBA and enjoy playing pick-up basketball. I love to travel and explore new places, especially those rich in natural beauty. |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
I love trying new places to eat--Philadelphia has a wonderful restaurant scene. |
| Honors/Awards |
Hobart Amory Hare Honor Society (Thomas Jefferson University, 2023) SKMC Dean’s Student Research Award (Thomas Jefferson University, 2023) Inducted into Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Honor Society (2020) Karen T. Romer Undergraduate Teaching and Research Award (Brown University, 2018) |
Gavin Bond
Gavin.Bond@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | University of Pennsylvania |
| Year | MD/PhD 5, JCLS 3 |
| Mentor | Christine Eischen, PhD |
| PhD Program | Genetics, Genomics, & Cancer Biology |
| Research Interests | Cancer Biology |
| Anticipated Residency | Internal Medicine |
| Hobbies/Interests | Jogging, lifting, snowboarding, exploring Philly, cat owner |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Jogging around the Schuylkill River trail, trying out new restaurants. |
| Honors/Awards |
Nikolas Kinney
Nikolas.Kinney@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Georgetown University |
| Year | MD/PhD 5, JCLS 3 |
| Mentor | Hristelina Illieva, PhD, MD |
| PhD Program | Neuroscience |
| Research Interests | I am interested in neurodegenerative diseases, specifically identifying novel methods of diagnosing pre-symptomatic disease and non-pharmacologic methods of slowing disease progression based on cognitive reserve theory. |
| Anticipated Residency | Neurology |
| Hobbies/Interests |
I like to play/watch sports, especially basketball, soccer, and hockey. I play guitar and piano and dabble on the drum set. Recently, I’ve spent way too much time playing online chess. |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
I love to go to baseball games at Citizens Bank Park – I also like Spruce St. Harbor park both in the summer for the food trucks and arcade games and the winter for the ice rink and hot chocolate. |
| Honors/Awards |
Hobart Amory Hare Honor Society (Thomas Jefferson University, 2023) Georgetown University Dean’s List: Fall 2015 Georgetown University Medical Center Biotechnology – Highest Academic Merit Georgetown University Medical Center Biotechnology – Best Capstone Project |
Thomas Kuret
Thomas.Kuret@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | UC San Diego |
| Year | MD/PhD 5, JCLS 3 |
| Mentor | Scott Waldman, MD, PhD |
| PhD Program | Neuroscience |
| Research Interests | Neurodevelopment, Stem Cell Biology, Synaptogenesis |
| Anticipated Residency | Neurology |
| Hobbies/Interests | Making ice cream |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Explore new food in Reading Terminal Market! |
| Honors/Awards | Fellowship, Ledell Family Research Fellowship for Science and Engineering, UC San Diego |
Jacob Myers
| Undergrad | University of Scranton |
| Year | MD/PhD 5, JCLS 3 |
| Mentor | Matthias Schnell, PhD |
| PhD Program | Immunology & Microbial Pathogenesis |
| Research Interests | I'm interested in all things protein, with a specific focus on vaccine design and virology. I love coming to understand how small fractions of a protein's overall structure impact its function and developing ways to exploit that knowledge. My current research explores this idea in the context of arthropod vectors of disease. |
| Anticipated Residency | Internal Medicine |
| Hobbies/Interests | Beyond research, I love spending time outside enjoying nature, fishing, and spending time with my wife and family. I also love music, and occasionally sing with a local church choir. Otherwise, I spend a lot of my free time playing video games. |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
There are tons of restaurants within walking distance that I frequent. The park system in Philly is great, with tons of woods and streams that are easy to get to. As a Phillies fan, I'm thrilled to be just 20 minutes from the stadium complex. |
| Honors/Awards | Edward H Kass Travel Award, Infectious Disease Society of America (2025); Jefferson AOA Best Poster Award (2025); Outstanding Poster Award, Thomas Jefferson University MD/PhD Retreat (2024); Hobart Amory Hare Honor Society (Thomas Jefferson University, 2023); SPRING Award (Thomas Jefferson University, 2023); Jefferson AOA Oral Presentation Award (2023); Excellence in Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Scranton (2021); Presidential Scholarship at the University of Scranton (2017) |
Robert (Brian) Akins
Brian.Akins@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad |
University of Pennsylvania |
| Year | MD/PhD 4, JCLS 2 |
| Mentor | Anjali Mishra, PhD/ Christine Eischen, PhD (Co-Mentor) |
| PhD Program | Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine |
| Research Interests | I’m interested in combining computational advances and foundational biology to develop new cancer treatments. |
| Anticipated Residency | Internal Medicine |
| Hobbies/Interests | My favorite pastimes are singing, hiking, and complaining about Philadelphia sports teams. |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
I love Philadelphia’s music scene! You can often find me at one of the great concert venues around the city—or at karaoke with my friends. |
| Honors/Awards |
Hobart Amory Hare Honor Society (Sidney Kimmel Medical College, 2024) Undergrad: Summa cum laude with Distinction in Biochemistry (University of Pennsylvania, 2021) Roy and Diana Vagelos Scholar in the Molecular Life Sciences (University of Pennsylvania, 2021) Penn Biochemistry Hydra Prize (University of Pennsylvania, 2021) |
Hyun Hwan (Phillip) An
HyunHwan.An@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Grinnell College |
| Year | MD/PhD 4, JCLS 2 |
| Mentor | Christine Eischen, PhD |
| PhD Program | Genetics, Genomics, and Cancer Biology |
| Research Interests | Overcoming resistance mechanisms and testing novel therapeutics in cancer. |
| Anticipated Residency | TBD |
| Hobbies/Interests | Reading, writing, volleyball, and soccer. |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Finding cozy cafes to read at! I also enjoy playing pick-up volleyball games at Jefferson and in Chinatown. |
| Honors/Awards |
Phi Beta Kappa (2018) Graduated summa cum laude with Distinction in Biochemistry and Economics (2019) |
Geethanjali Annamalai
Geethanjali.Annamalai@students.jefferson.edu
|
Undergrad |
University of Pennsylvania |
| Year | MD/PhD 4, JCLS 2 |
| Mentor | Andrew Aplin, PhD |
| PhD Program | Genetics, Genomics, and Cancer Biology |
| Research Interests | I am interested in cancer genetics and biology and hope to explore this field's translational aspects during my MD/PhD training. |
| Anticipated Residency | TBD |
| Hobbies/Interests | Dancing, swimming, and cooking new foods! I also love hiking and going to the beach with my family. |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Running slowly on the Schuylkill River Trail, exploring the Italian Market, and trying new restaurants! |
| Honors/Awards |
T32 Training Program in Cellular, Biochemical, and Molecular Sciences (Thomas Jefferson University, 2025) Hobart Amory Hare Honor Society (Thomas Jefferson University, 2024) Phi Beta Kappa (University of Pennsylvania, 2023) Graduated summa cum laude with Distinction in Biochemistry (University of Pennsylvania, 2022) Roy and Diana Vagelos Scholar in the Molecular Life Sciences (University of Pennsylvania, 2022) |
Anne Kennedy
Anne.Kennedy2@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | |
| Year | MD/PhD 4, JCLS 2 |
| Mentor | Elda Grabocka, PhD |
| PhD Program | Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine |
| Research Interests | TBD |
| Anticipated Residency | TBD |
| Hobbies/Interests | TBD |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
TBD |
| Honors/Awards | TBD |
Linh Phuong Nguyen
Linh.Nguyen2@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Dickinson College |
| Year | MD/PhD 4, JCLS 2 |
| Mentor | Manuel Covarrubias, MD, PhD/ Angelo Lepore, PhD |
| PhD Program | Neuroscience |
| Research Interests | I am interested in Neuroscience and molecular biology, specifically neurodegenerative diseases and neuropathic pain. |
| Anticipated Residency | TBD |
| Hobbies/Interests | Aerial silks, traveling, spending time outdoors |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Try new restaurants and cafes, Rittenhouse Square farmer’s market, and have a picnic or enjoy a sunny day in Rittenhouse Square Park or Washington Square Park! |
| Honors/Awards |
Undergrad: Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Dickinson College (2020) |
Gil Berreby
Gil.Berreby@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Johns Hopkins University, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering |
| Year | MD/PhD 3, JCLS 1 |
| Mentor | John Eisenbrey, PhD |
| PhD Program | Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine |
| Research Interests | Cancer therapy, Immunotherapy |
| Anticipated Residency | TBD |
| Hobbies/Interests | Cooking/Baking |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Trying new restaurants |
| Honors/Awards | TBD |
Andrea Feci
Andrea.Feci@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Boise State University, BS, 2023 |
| Year | MD/PhD 3, JCLS 1 |
| Mentor | Adam Snook, PhD |
| PhD Program | Genetics, Genomics & Cancer Biology |
| Research Interests | CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumors |
| Anticipated Residency | Internal Medicine |
| Hobbies/Interests | Tennis, running, gym, hiking |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Walking along the waterfront, hiking at Wissahickon, and trying new restaurants |
| Honors/Awards |
Undergraduate: INBRE Summer Research Fellowship (2022) INBRE Summer Research Fellowship (2021) HERC Research Fellowship (2021) |
Karan Shah
Karan.Shah@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Arizona State University |
| Year | MD/PhD 3, JCLS 1 |
| Mentor | TBD |
| PhD Program | TBD |
| Research Interests |
My background is in studying the interplay between biomolecular structure and function of membrane proteins involved in sensory physiology with a focus on understanding and leveraging biophysical properties for therapeutic potential. My current research extends this onto cellular signaling cascades, studying inter- and intra- protein communication to elucidate mechanisms of physiology and pathology with a focus on therapeutic approaches. |
| Anticipated Residency | TBD |
| Hobbies/Interests | I like to spend time outdoors, running, hiking, etc., and playing pick-up most sports. |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Having just moved here, I’ve been working on trying various restaurants and places to be in nature. |
| Honors/Awards | TBD |
Zhengyang (Kevin) Sun
Zhengyang.Sun@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | UCLA, BS/BA, 2021 |
| Year | MD/PhD 3, JCLS 1 |
| Mentor | Jianping Li, MD |
| PhD Program | Genetics, Genomics & Cancer Biology |
| Research Interests |
Cancer Immunology, Cancer Biology |
| Anticipated Residency | TBD |
| Hobbies/Interests | MMA/martial arts, guitar, running, listening to music |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Favorite place: Chinatown (for food) Favorite place: Schuylkill River Trail |
| Honors/Awards | TBD |
Sharanya Suresh
Sharanya.Suresh@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | University of Southern California |
| Year | MD/PhD 3, JCLS 1 |
| Mentor | Angelo Lepore, PhD |
| PhD Program | Neuroscience |
| Research Interests | I am currently interested in the mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease and hope to get involved in translational research. |
| Anticipated Residency | TBD |
| Hobbies/Interests | Reading, cooking, and traveling |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art, going to flea markets, and exploring food in the city |
| Honors/Awards | TBD |
Adrian Altieri
Adrian.Altieri@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | University of Pennsylvania |
| Year | MD/PhD 2, JeffMD Phase 1, SKMC 2 |
| Mentor | TBD |
| PhD Program | TBD |
| Research Interests | Cancer Immunology |
| Anticipated Residency | TBD |
| Hobbies/Interests | Cycling, Cooking, Baking, Basketball |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Walking along the Delaware River Trail, browsing street markets in Rittenhouse and South Philly |
| Honors/Awards |
N/A |
Chaitanya Karimanasseri
Chaitanya.Karimanasseri@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | University of Pennsylvania, Bioengineering |
| Year | MD/PhD 2, JeffMD Phase 1, SKMC 2 |
| Mentor | TBD |
| PhD Program | TBD |
| Research Interests | Computational and systems biology |
| Anticipated Residency | Surgery |
| Hobbies/Interests | Volunteering at worship centers; Improv/stand-up comedy; History enthusiast (especially American history and the history of Medicine); Hiking outdoors |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Mutter Museum, Independence Hall, Wissahickon Valley Park, Morris Arboretum |
| Honors/Awards | Undergrad: Bioengineering Student Leadership Award (2024); Tau Beta Pi (2022); Rachleff Scholar (2021) |
Caroline Markmann
Caroline.Markmann@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Villanova University |
| Year | MD/PhD 2, JeffMD Phase 1, SKMC 2 |
| Mentor | TBD |
| PhD Program | TBD |
| Research Interests | Immunology, immunotherapy, translational research |
| Anticipated Residency | TBD |
| Hobbies/Interests | Running, baking, gardening, board games, hiking, & anything outdoors! |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Reading in Rittenhouse Square, running the Schuylkill River Trail, and trying new coffee shops and restaurants |
| Honors/Awards | Undergrad: American Association of Immunologists - Trainee Abstract Award (2022); Tri-Beta Rho Epsilon Chapter - National Biological Honors Society (2021) |
Mattan Orbach
Mattan.Orbach@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Drexel University School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, BS/MS |
| Year | MD/PhD 2, JeffMD Phase 1, SKMC 2 |
| Mentor | TBD |
| PhD Program | TBD |
| Research Interests | biomechanics, mechanobiology, mechano-transduction, multiscale modeling, orthopedics, spine, skeletal deformity, bone remodeling, injury prevention, skeletal development, and biomimetic materials |
| Anticipated Residency | TBD |
| Hobbies/Interests | Guitarist and Car Fanatic. |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Schuylkill River Trail and Rittenhouse Square Park |
| Honors/Awards | Undergrad: Graduated Summa Cum Laude with Honors; Students Tackling Advanced Research (STAR) Scholarship 2018 |
Oluwatobiloba (Tobi) Taylor
Oluwatobiloba.Taylor@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Geneva College |
| Year | MD/PhD 2, JeffMD Phase 1, SKMC 2 |
| Mentor | TBD |
| PhD Program | TBD |
| Research Interests | I am interested in immunology, biochemistry, and bioinformatics. I have had experience studying the human microbiome and how different microbial compartments may contribute to various diseases. |
| Anticipated Residency | TBD |
| Hobbies/Interests | I enjoy crocheting, kickboxing, dancing, and baking. |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
My favorite things to do in Philadelphia are running and exploring different neighborhoods in Philadelphia. |
| Honors/Awards | Undergrad: Both feet award (2018); Graduated summa cum laude with distinction in Biochemistry (2021); Metheny field prize winner (2021) |
David Akins
David.Akins@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Northeastern University |
| Year | MD/PhD 1, JeffMD Phase 1, SKMC 1 |
| Mentor(s) | TBA |
| PhD Program | TBA |
| Research Interests | In the past I’ve studied a range of neuroscience topics including the fundamentals of sleep, pharmacological neuroimaging, and the effects of mild traumatic brain injury. I plan to continue my work in translational neuroscience, focusing on how we can develop better patient treatments. |
| Anticipated Residency | TBA |
| Hobbies/Interests | In my free time, I like to sing, run, and play board games. |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
I love trying new restaurants in the city and running along the Schuykill River Trail. I also enjoy watching the latest horror movies at the Film Society Bourse. |
| Honors/Awards | Graduated summa cum laude with Distinction in Behavioral Neuroscience (2024) |
Adrien Chen
Adrien.Chen@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Penn State University |
| Year | MD/PhD 1, JeffMD Phase 1, SKMC 1 |
| Mentor(s) | TBA |
| PhD Program | TBA |
| Research Interests | Biochemistry, Oxidative stress, Cytoskeleton, Neurodegenerative diseases. |
| Anticipated Residency | TBA |
| Hobbies/Interests | Board games, Rock climbing, Fishing |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
TWalking around Washington square while memorizing class material. Going climbing at Movement Callowhill and then getting bubble tea in Chinatown |
| Honors/Awards |
Undergrad: PSU Schreyer Honors College’s Douglas Evans award for Research Achievement – 2025 PSU Peter Gold Memorial Award - 2025 PSU Chemistry Teas award – 2024 PSU BMB402H Metabolic Pathways poster for highest exam score - 2024 Biophysical Society Annual Meeting Travel award - 2023 American Heart Association Undergraduate Student Fellowship (AHA-USF) Summer Program at PSU College of Medicine - 2023 |
Isabella Vianna
Isabella.Vianna@students.jefferson.edu
| Undergrad | Boston University |
| Year | MD/PhD 1, JeffMD Phase 1, SKMC 1 |
| Mentor(s) | TBA |
| PhD Program | TBA |
| Research Interests | Cancer metabolism, pharmacology |
| Anticipated Residency | TBA |
| Hobbies/Interests | Music, theatre, dancing |
| Favorite Places/Things to Do in Philadelphia |
Going to the Philadelphia Museum of Art! |
| Honors/Awards |
Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Boston University (2023) UROP Supplies Award - Boston University (2023) Outstanding Achievement in Research and Scholarship – Boston University (2023) ASBMB Certification with Distinction (2023) Poster of Distinction - MGH Scientific Advisory Committee (2025) |