2025 PhD Graduate Recognition and Awards Ceremony

Dr. Sydney Murphy
Dean

Dr. Erin Norcross
Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs

Dr. Jan Williams
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Recruitment

 Joshua Hardy
Director of Operations

Melody Turner
Project Manager

   Andrea Love
Education Administrator 

Dr. Scott Rodgers

Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Dr. Natalie Gaughf

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Dr. John Clemmer

Alumni Board Representative

• Dr. John Clemmer, Alumni Board Representative
• Dr. Scott Rodgers, Associate Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs
• Dr. Natalie Gaughf, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs

Presenter: Dr. Jan Williams, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs & Recruitment

Graduates:

Dr. Summer Morrissette – MS in Clinical Investigation – Clinical Trials Track

• Capstone project: The itch of CTCL.

Dr. Chaudhry Sohail - MS in Clinical Investigation – Clinical Trials Track

• Capstone project: Evolving trends in pulmonary embolism (PE) treatment: opposing results from propensity score matching (PSM) and survey-weighted analyses (SVY) using the nationwide inpatient sample (NIS).

Dr. Yasmin Elzaki– MS in Clinical Investigation – Translational Human Research Track

• Capstone project: Patterns of prescription of biologic medications for pediatric patients with polyarticular non-systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis at the University of Mississippi Medcial Center.

• Thesis: Characterizing inflammatory mechanisms of glucose intolerance and the therapeutic impact of metformin on T-cell pathways in diabetic pregnancies.

• Thesis: A role for CD4+ T-cells in mediating gestational diabetes phenotype.

Presenter: Dr. Jan Williams, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs & Recruitment

                  Dr. Erin Norcoss, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs

Graduates:

• • Adesanya Akinleye – Doctorate in Experimental Therapeutics & Pharmacology
    • Mentor: Dr. Gene Bidwell
    • Dissertation: A kidney targeted MMP-2 inhibitory biologic furor treatment in renal fibrosis.
    • Publications:
      • First authored publications: 1
      • Co-authored publications: 2
      • Abstracts accepted: 16
    • Current Position: Industry Research (location: undecided)
  • Laura Alberto – Doctorate in Biomedical Materials Science
    • Mentor: Dr. Yuanyuan Duan
    • Dissertation: Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis and Fatigue Lifetime Prediction of Zygomatic Implants.
  • Michael Brown – Doctorate in Clinical Anatomy
    • Mentor: Dr. Timothy Dasinger
    • Dissertation: The Effects of Peripheral Visual Attention on Shoulder Range of Motion.
    • Publications:
      • First authored publications: 1
      • Co-authored publications: 3
      • Abstracts accepted: 3
    • Current Position: Associate Professor (Physical Therapy)-University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)
  • Aubrey Cantrell – Doctorate in Experimental Therapeutics & Pharmacology
    
    • Mentor: Dr. Jian-Xiong Chen
    • Dissertation: Novel Mechanisms of Ferroptosis in Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Heart Failure.
  • Amanda Criswell – Doctorate in Nursing
    • Mentor: Dr. Angela Duck
    • Dissertation: Considering a Relationship Between Nurse Stigma and Quality of Nursing Care.
  • Breland Crudup – Doctorate in Physiology & Biophysics
    • Mentor: Dr. Barbara Alexander
    • Dissertation: The Role of Sex Hormones on Renal and Cardiac Susceptibility in the Male.
    • Publications
      • First authored publications: 1
      • Co-authored publications: 4
      • Abstracts accepted: 15
      • Book Chapter: 1
    • Current Position: Internal Medicine (Internship) - Univer
  • Shelley Edwards – Doctorate in Neuroscience (MD-PhD)
    
    • Mentor: Dr. Kevin Freeman
    • Dissertation: Behavioral Pharmacology of Fluorinated Fentanyl Analogues.
    • Publications:
      • First authored publications: 5
      • Co-authored publications: 11
      • Abstracts accepted: 25
    • Current Position: Resident Physician - Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston, SC)
  • Elizabeth Gordineer – Doctorate in Neuroscience
    • Mentor: Dr. Matthias Krenn
    • Dissertation: The Effect of Electrical Neuromodulation with Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation on Sensorimotor Processing in Humans.
    • Publications
      • First authored publications: 1
      • Co-authored publications: 2
      • Abstracts accepted: 12
    • Current Position: Project Manager - Wake Forest University School of Medicine (Winston-Salem, NC)
  • Ashley Johnson – Doctorate in Experimental Therapeutics & Pharmacology
    • Mentor: Dr. Michael Garrett
    • Dissertation: Models & Molecular Approaches to Study Arhgef11, A Novel Gene in Hypertensive Kidney Disease.
    • Publications 
      • First authored publications: 1
      • Co-authored publications: 6
      • Abstracts accepted: 2
  • Jordan Mallette – Doctorate in Physiology & Biophysics
    
    • Mentor: Dr. Barbara Alexander
    • Dissertation: Sex Steroids and Cardiovascular and Renal Disease in the Male.
    • Publications
      • First authored publications: 2
      • Co-authored publications: 3
      • Abstracts accepted: 13
      • Book Chapters: 1
    • Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellowship - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)
  • Douglas McLaurin – Doctorate in Cell & Molecular Biology
    • Mentor: Dr. Michael Hebert
    • Dissertation: A Role for the Cajal Body Marker Protein Coilin in m6A RNA Methylation & the Innate Immune Response in Zebrafish
    • Publications:
      • First authored publications: 3
      • Co-authored publications: 5
      • Abstracts accepted: 6
    • Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellowship - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)
  • Andrew Milner – Doctorate in Experimental Therapeutics & Pharmacology
    • Mentor: Dr. Michael Garrett
    • Dissertation: Genetic and Molecular Insight into Kidney Development using the HSRA Rat, a Novel Model of Nephron Deficiency.
    • Publications:
      • First authored publications: 1
      • Abstracts accepted: 9
    • Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellowship - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)
  • Stacee Naylor– Doctorate in Nursing
    • Mentor: Drs. Kenneth Butler & Laree Hiser
    • Dissertation: Engaging Older Adults in Aging and Cognition-Based Outcomes Research: A Comparative Analysis of Successful Recruitment Methods in Mississippi.
    • Publications:
      • First authored publications: 1
      • Co-authored publications: 2
      • Abstracts accepted: 2
    • Current Position: Director of Clinical Operation - The MIND Center; Deputy Director - The Jackson Heart Study  - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MC)
  • Kim Uyen Cong Nguyen – Doctorate in Cell & Molecular Biology (MD-PhD)
    • Mentor: Dr. Yann Gibert
    • Dissertation: The Role of Lipid Mediators Derived from N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Vertebrate Hematopoiesis during Zebrafish Development.
    • Publications:
      • First authored publications: 2
      • Abstracts accepted: 8
    • Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellowship (Location - undecided)
  • Tanya Pareek – Doctorate in Neuroscience
    • Mentor: Dr. Barbara Gisabella
    • Dissertation: Characterization of hippocampal molecular targets in alcohol use disorder.
    • Publications:
      • First authored publications: 6
      • Co-authored publications: 7
      • Abstracts accepted: 34
      • Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellowship - John Hopkins University: Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit (Baltimore, MD)
  • Amisha Parekh – Doctorate in Biomedical Materials Science
    • Mentor: Dr. Michael Roach
    • Dissertation: Hydroxy and Tricalcium-phosphate Anodization Coatings on Titanium to Improve Osseointegration.
    • Publications:
      • First authored publications: 6
      • Co-authored publications: 4
      • Abstracts accepted: 11
      • Book Chapters: 1
    • Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellowship - American Dental Association Forsyth Institute (Somerville, MA)
  • Iftekhar Rafiqullah – Doctorate in Microbiology & Immunology
    • Mentor: Dr. Yuanyuan Duan
    • Dissertation: Genomic Prediction of Complex Phenotypes in Gram-positive Pathogens.
  • Jaren Reeves-Darby – Doctorate in Neuroscience
    • Mentor: Dr. Donna Platt
    • Dissertation: The Relationship Between Alcohol Use Disorder and Sleep Disruptions.
    • Publications:
      • First authored publications: 4
      • Co-authored publications: 4
    • Current Position:  Postdoctoral Fellowship - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)
  • Juliana Sitta – Doctorate in Biomedical Sciences: Bioimaging
    • Mentor: Dr. Candace Howard-Claudio
    • Dissertation: Ultrasound-targeted Delivery of Microbubbles Containing Oncolytic Virus for Immune Modulation and Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.
    • Publications:
      • First authored publications: 4
      • Co-authored publications: 3
      • Abstracts accepted: 63
    • Current Position: Assistant Professor (Radiology) - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)
  • Kendra Stansak – Doctorate in Neuroscience
    • Mentor: Dr. Bradley Walters
    • Dissertation: The Role of Pou4f3 in Vestibular Sensory Cell Function and Aging.
    • Publications:
      • First authored publications: 1
      • Co-authored publications: 2
      • Abstracts accepted: 10
    • Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellowship - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)
  • Jaccare Jauregui Ulloa – Doctorate in Biomedical Materials Science
    • Mentor: Dr. Susana Salazar Marocho
    • Dissertation: Light-assisted debonding of zirconia ceramics.
    • Publications:
      • First authored publications: 2
      • Co-authored publications: 1
      • Abstracts accepted: 17
    • Current Position: Researcher IV (Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery) - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)
  • Xi Wang – Doctorate in Experimental Therapeutics & Pharmacology
    • Mentor: Dr. Denise Cornelius
    • Dissertation: The Role of NLRP3 Activation and IL-33 Signaling in the Pathophysiology of Preeclampsia.
  • Monica White – Doctorate in Nursing
    • Mentor: Dr. Angela Duck
    • Dissertation: The Relationship between Health Care Access, Health Care Utilization, and Type 2 Diabetes Control in African Americans in the Jackson Heart Study.
    • Publications:
      • First authored publications: 1
      • Abstracts accepted: 1
    • Current Position: Assistant Professor (Nursing) - University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS)

Presenter: Dr. Jan Williams, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs & Recruitment

Award Selection Committee:

• Dr. Brian Akerley, Microbiology and Immunology
• Dr. Timothy Dasinger, Clinical Anatomy
• Dr. Angela Duck, Nursing
• Dr. Eric George, Physiology and Biophysics
• Dr. Michael Hebert, Cell and Molecular Biology
• Dr. Susana Salazar Marocho, Biomedical Sciences – PhD
• Dr. Joshua Speed, MD-PhD
• Dr. Eric Vallender, Neuroscience
• Dr. Jan Williams, Experimental Therapeutics and Pharmacology

Presenter: Dr. Natalie Gaughf, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs 

PHI KAPPA PHI Inductees:

• Sheetal Chowdhury
• Ashley Johnson
• Summer Morrissette
• Juliana Sitta

Presenter: Dr. Jan Williams, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs & Recruitment

Recipients:

• Amisha Parekh – 2025 Robert A. Mahaffey Jr. Memorial Award for Research Potential in Cell & Molecular Biology
  
  • This award is given to recognize, encourage and promote superior scientific research capability of young investigators.
• Andrew Milner – 2025 Excellence in Pharmacology Award
  • This award is presented to a Medical Pharmacology PhD candidate who has demonstrated academic and research excellence, outstanding professionalism, and service to the UMMC community.
• Jaren Reeves-Darby – 2025 Regions Outstanding Graduate Research Award
  • This award is in recognition of outstanding research accomplishments by a graduate student.
• Mohammad Khan, PhD – 2025 Postdoctoral Fellow Award
  • This award is in recognition of an outstanding postdoctoral fellow.
• Douglas McLaurin – 2025 Regions Randall Graduate Research Award
  • This award is in recognition of outstanding research accomplishments by a graduate student.

• Dr. LouAnn Woodward, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, Dean School of Medicine
• Dr. Scott Rodgers, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
• Dr. Natalie Gaughf, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
• Office of Alumni Engagement
• LoRose Moore, Regions Bank
• YOU, our Graduates, and Awardees