Contact

Caitlyn B. Smith

Caitlyn B. Smith is currently a PhD Candidate at the University of Kentucky, focusing on the immunological profile of adipose tissue and its deleterious effects in aging and obesity. Caitlyn fiercely works to aid in the betterment of STEM training via commitments to this council and various local programs at their university. Outside of the lab, Caitlyn enjoys a bit of everything - hiking, video games, cooking, motorcycles, cosplaying, camping, plants, reading, dancing and more.

Abass Oduola, Ph.D.

Abass Oduola joined Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist in March 2024. His research is focused on the pathogenesis of Klebsiella pneumoniae and the host immune response (murine model). Abass enjoys biking, dancing, and gardening when he is not playing with his microbial friends. 

Llaran Turner

Llaran Turner is currently in the fourth year of her PhD studies in Genetics & Epigenetics at UTHealth MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Texas. Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms that promote elimination of defective cells from living epithelial tissues, and how this goes awry in pathogenic conditions using zebrafish. In her free time, she enjoys support community events, pilates, and coffee shop runs!

Izuchukwu Francis Okpalanwaka

Izuchukwu Francis Okpalanwaka is a Ph.D. candidate at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. His research focuses on developing innovative and novel bispecific antibodies and therapeutic vaccines and testing their efficacy and safety in animal cancer models.

Jessica Watts

​

Carlos Ventura

​