Fellow Statements
Lucy Taylor
I am a third-year PhD student in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at UMMC, and I conduct my research under the mentorship of Dr. David Stec.
My academic career began at the University of Mississippi, where I earned a BA in Biology (2020). I then completed an MS in Biomedical Sciences (2021) from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Before transitioning into my PhD program, I gained valuable practical experience by serving for two years as a Laboratory Technician in Dr. Stec's lab. This role was instrumental in developing extensive laboratory techniques and animal handling skills.
My current research centers on the mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease in the context of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). Specifically, my dissertation will investigate the role of hepatokines, Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), as potential mediators in this liver-heart signaling.
In addition to my research, I am committed to professional development and collaboration as the co-chair of Physiologists in Training, our department's professional development and journal club.
Looking ahead, I am excited to pursue a career as a professor at a research-oriented university, a path inspired by many of my past educators who made learning a dynamic and engaging process. I also feel strongly about the broader impact of science and hope to engage in advocacy and policy efforts to secure greater support for critical yet overlooked areas of scientific inquiry.