Professional Background

I graduated from the University of Kansas in Spring 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology (Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental) and a Minor in Film & Media Studies. My interest in biomedical research began in high school, where I spent my summers volunteering in multiple laboratories at the KUMC Kidney Institute and Cancer Center. I continued this into college, where I began to spread my interest further into cancer research. During the school year at KU Lawrence, I worked in the lab of Dr. Kristi Neufeld to study the effects of Musashi-1 overexpression in colon crypt homeostasis.

My summer research experiences working with Dr. Nikki Cheng at KUMC and Dr. Bryan Allen at the University of Iowa strengthened my interest in translational cancer research. Furthermore, they inspired me to pursue physician-scientist training. My final summer research experience as a college student involved working with Dr. James Calvet in the Kidney Institute. This opportunity showed me the community of support, academic rigor, and creativity that exists at KU Medical Center - my home for so many summers. This was enough for me to choose the KU School of Medicine MD/Ph.D. Physician Scientist Training Program in June 2020.

My research interests primarily involve drug development and optimization, biomarker discovery, and understanding the tumor microenvironment. 

In my free time, I enjoy creative writing, video editing, and discovering new music.

Mentor: Reem Mustafa, Cell Biology & Physiology