Posted by fettigma on Friday, June 28, 2024 in Student Spotlight .
This summer the Vanderbilt MSTP is hosting 8 undergraduateMSTP Summer Scholars. This summer program is designed to expose students to the career of a physician-scientist and help prepare them to apply to MD/PhD programs. These students are on campus for 9 weeks completing a research project and gaining clinical shadowing experience. In addition, they have many opportunities to connect with and learn from current MSTPstudents, the MSTPLeadership Team, and Vanderbilt physician-scientists. Get to know a bit more about these students below and say “hi”when you see them around campus!
Monique Armelle Dacanay
Undergraduate Institution: North Carolina Central University
Year: Rising Fourth-Year
Major: Biomedical Sciences and Spanish Minor
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina
What are you working on this summer? I am researching at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center under the mentorship of Dr. Justin Balko. The primary goal of our research is to improve breast cancer treatment outcomes. This summer, I am investigating how VU809, an inhibitor of MYC and WDR5 interactions, impacts macrophage polarization in vitro using macrophages from mouse bone marrow. Additionally, I am exploring how VU809 influences macrophage phenotype in mice breast tumors in vivo. Lastly, we aim to determine whether VU809 improves response to immunotherapy in breast tumors in mice.
Fun fact: I enjoy playing the violin, doing arts and crafts, and playing badminton in my free time!
Emil Dominguez
Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Los Angeles
Year: Rising Fourth-Year
Major: Biochemistry and Biomedical Research Minor
Hometown: North Whittier, California
What are you working on this summer? This summer, in Dr. Richard O’Brien’s laboratory, I am exploring how single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affect the activity of enhancers that regulate glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit 2 expression. I will then investigate the connection between these SNPs and disease/metabolic parameters using BioVU.
Fun fact: I participate in The Merck Compound Synthesis Challenge with my friends every year. The challenge involves developing the best synthetic route for a small molecule that Merck is interested in within a 96-hour time frame. If your team’s synthetic route is among the top ten worldwide, Merck will test it out in a wet lab and award the winning team 10,000 euros.
Taylor Holmes
Undergraduate Institution: Xavier University of Louisiana
Year: Rising Sophom*ore
Major: Biology Premed Major and Chemistry Minor
Hometown: Naples, Florida
What are you working on this summer? I am working in Dr. Janet Markle’s lab studying cytokines IL-1b and TNF using ELISA assays and screening TANK protein-deficient cells using Western Blots.
Fun fact: I’ve played lacrosse for 4 years and was captain of my high school’s varsity team for 2 years.
Nneka Otuonye
Undergraduate Institution: Georgia State University
Year: Rising Third Year
Major: Biology Major and Anthropology Minor
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
What are you working on this summer?This summer, I am conducting research at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center with the guidance of Dr. Julie Rhodes. The aim of our research is to understand the interactions between tumors and the bone microenvironment, with the goal of developing novel therapeutics targeting the treatment of tumor-induced bone disease (TIBD). Under the mentorship of Erik Beadle, I am investigating the mechanisms of IL-6 upregulation that allows MDA-MB-231 bone tumor cells to infiltrate blood vessels and vasculatures of the bone marrow. Through the utilization of molecular techniques, such as transfections, I intend to better understand the interactions between bone metastatic tumors, endothelial cells, and osteoblasts.
Fun fact:In my free time, I enjoy playing the board game Dungeons & Dragons, along with going cave exploring; I am always eager to explore and face the unknown!
Charlene Pobee
Undergraduate Institution: Washington University in St. Louis
Year:Rising Senior
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
What are you working on this summer?Work on accessing the effects of CADH11 on fibrosis in renal and cardiac fibroblasts
Fun fact:I can move my right ear!
Benjamin Rodriguez
Undergraduate Institution: University of Iowa
Year: Graduated May 2024
Major: Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences
Hometown: Ankeny, Iowa
What are you working on this summer?I am working on multiple projects for the lab to start, but the main project is determining the structure and the effects of a mutation in the mitochondria protein slc25a46
Fun fact: I once solved a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded
Gabriela Torres
Undergraduate Institution: University of Texas at El Paso
Year: Rising Senior
Major: Neuroscience
Hometown: El Paso, TX
What are you working on this summer?I am working at the Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital under the guidance of Dr. Heather Ward. The lab’s main goal is to reduce nicotine craving in schizophrenia patients with nicotine addiction by targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of their brain with repeated transcranial magnetic stimulations (rTMS).
Fun fact: I love puzzles and romcoms
Danielle Walker
Undergraduate Institution: Texas Southern University
Year: Rising Junior
Major: Biology
Hometown: Broken Arrow, OK
What are you working on this summer? I am in Dr. Williams lab and I am working on different projects. The one I am currently working on has to do with validating antibodies for the protein Selenop.
Fun fact: I love playing tennis and crocheting.
