Current Scholars

Spetzler Scholar

• PhD Candidate in Neuroscience
• BS in Neuroscience and Psychology from Arizona State University
• Amanda’s work investigates the role of methamphetamine (METH)-induced neuroinflammation on adaptive decision making. METH use results in increased neuroinflammatory signals and immune cell activation, which continue to be observed in abstinence. Her work explores the impact this persistent inflammation has on behavioral flexibility and cue responsivity, two important factors that influence relapse. An additional aim of this work is to determine the potential benefit of an anti-inflammatory medication on these behaviors, with the overarching goal being to uncover novel targets for pharmacotherapies to restore behavioral control.

Wilhoit Scholar

• PhD Candidate in Environmental Life Sciences
• MS in Communication Disorders and BS in Speech and Hearing Science from Arizona State University
• Orofacial clefting is among the most common congenital anomalies globally, often leading to challenges in feeding, speech, hearing, dental health, and psychosocial well-being. Jessica’s research aims to translate clinical and imaging advances into improved treatment pathways for children with cleft conditions. Her research includes leveraging advanced imaging technology such as magnetic resonance imaging, identifying social determinants of health that impact care, and educating community partners on cleft treatment. By bridging the gap between research and clinical care, her work will improve the quality of life for children with cleft lip and palate.

Alison Hunter Johnston Memorial Endowment Scholar

• PhD Candidate in Microbiology
• BS in Biochemistry and Chemical Biotechnology from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
• Jenna earned her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Chemical Biotechnology from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. As a third-year Microbiology PhD student at Arizona State University, her research leverages untargeted volatile metabolomics for the development of biomarkers and diagnostics for fungal infections in humans and companion animals.

Theresa F. Jennings Memorial Scholar

• PhD Candidate in Speech and Hearing Science
• BS in Interdisciplinary Studies from Arizona State University
• Stephen's research develops tailored support programs for autistic adults which enhance social skills, independence, and clinician training. Early findings show improved satisfaction and effectiveness. Additional research explores sex-based differences, cognitive aging, and verbal fluency challenges in autism, contributing to precision medicine. By shifting interventions from deficit-based to strength-focused approaches, this work aims to improve quality of life, communication, and long-term support for autistic individuals across their lifespans.

Marie McSpadden Sands Scholar

• PhD Candidate in Neuroscience
• BA in Medical Humanities; MS in Neuroscience from Arizona State University
• Sammie's research addresses the genetic contributors to aging and sex differences on cognition and brain structure in a longitudinal cohort of middle-aged and older (MA+) autistic adults 40-75 years of age. She evaluates the effects of autism risk genes on memory decline and temporal lobe/hippocampal aging in MA+ autistic adults. Results will significantly impact the biological understanding of cognitive, brain aging, and sex differences in autism by incorporating both molecular and systems-level approaches. The dissemination of findings to the broader autism community will be empowered by Sammie's unique perspective as an openly autistic adult.

Dalke/ARCS Scholar
 

• PhD Candidate in Electrical Engineering
• BS in Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
• Razine is developing next-generation solar technologies to make them more efficient, accessible, and sustainable. His work focuses on cadmium telluride (CdTe) and cadmium selenium telluride (CdSeTe), materials that offer cost-effective, eco-friendly alternatives to traditional silicon solar cells. Using advanced semiconductor growth techniques, he has helped create and study micron-thin, pure monocrystalline solar devices with improved performance over thicker silicon cells. He also works on semiconductor physics modeling, bridging design and fabrication to accelerate device innovation.

Helen Jacobsen Pierson Scholar
 

• PhD Candidate in Neuroscience
• BS in Cell and Developmental Biology from UC Santa Barbara
• Briana is currently investigating the role of neuroinflammation in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Her research aims to answer how the immune cells of the brain communicate with one another and how this becomes dysfunctional in ALS/FTD and contributes to disease pathology. She uses induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from patient blood to model these disease cell types. Understanding crosstalk between the cells of the brain can reveal novel targets for therapeutics for ALS/FTD.

The Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation Scholar

• PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering
• BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering from Arizona State University
• Taylor studies how different cells in the brain utilize nutrients to maintain energy balance and physiological function. She is studying how metabolism is tied to cell health and identifying pathways vulnerable to neurological disease. Her research leverages 3D organoids derived from human stem cells to understand how metabolic traits are established in different cells throughout development and aging. The overall goal is to understand how metabolism influences cortical health and degeneration to improve treatment strategies for sporadic disease.

Lauber Endowment Scholar

• PhD Candidate in Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering 
• BS in Aerospace Engineering, Earth and Environmental Sciences from the University of Michigan 
• Nora researches Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light delivery methods, using Side Emitting Optical Fibers (SEOF) paired with UV-C Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for water treatment applications. UV-C light is biocidal in nature, and it can also be used to activate chemical reactions with photocatalysts within water for things like pollution degradation or hydrogen peroxide generation. UV light dissipates quickly in water systems, so SEOFs allow for direct light distribution over larger areas than low-power, mercury-free LEDs can achieve on their own. Nora uses the LED-SEOF system to research how water treatment systems can have less chemical waste and higher energy efficiency.

Horejsi Charitable Foundation Scholar

• PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering
• MS in Electrical Engineering from ASU; BS Mathematics and Computer Science from University of Kentucky
• Nathan’s work focuses on efficiently adapting existing machine learning models to ensure equitable predictions for underrepresented groups, even with unreliable or unavailable data annotations. His recent directions include fair image generation and theoretical foundations for fair machine learning in extremely deep neural networks.

Ivy Foundation Scholar

• PhD Candidate in Neuroscience
• BS in Natural Sciences and MS in Biological Sciences from the University of Alaska Anchorage
• Savannah’s research explores the cellular mechanisms that contribute to neurodegeneration. She is interested in understanding how basal forebrain cholinergic neurons – which are crucial for learning and memory, attention, and other cognitive functions – degenerate early in Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease. Her work focuses on understanding the role of the protein Intersectin 1 within neurons and what happens when it is elevated in Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Marley Foundation Scholar in Memory of Bud Webb

• PhD Candidate in Environmental Life Sciences
• BS in Geoscience from Drexel University
• Chris is studying how climate change will affect the below-ground components of dryland ecosystems. To investigate how plant roots grow and respond to changes in rainfall, he applies machine learning and remote sensing technologies to long-term ecological experiments. This research will provide critical information about changes in the functioning of dryland ecosystems, which cover over 40% of the Earth’s land surface and house nearly a fifth of the world’s human population. 

Anne Spychala Family Scholar

• PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering
• BS in Microbiology and Physiology from The University of Arizona; MS in Physiology from Boston University
• Kayleigh’s research uses a biomedical engineering approach to investigate molecular changes following an asthma exacerbation (attack). Asthma is a progressive and potentially fatal disease linked with decreasing levels of CC16, a crucial and abundant protein in the lungs. CC16 is an antioxidant anti-microbial, and modulates respiratory epithelial cell metabolism. We investigate how bronchoconstriction affects CC16 levels and how low levels lead to respiratory epithelial cell metabolic dysfunction. Elucidating the role of CC16 in asthma is critical for developing future drug therapies to prevent deadly exacerbations and modify the chronic progression of this disease.

ARCS Scholar

• PhD Candidate in Physiological Sciences
• BS in Physiology and MS in Physiological Sciences from The University of Arizona
• Keila aims to determine the role of lipid metabolism in immune cells in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Her research leverages multiple model systems to investigate the full impact of this work. Also, her work seeks to untangle sex differences in disease progression and therapeutic response. She has unveiled how immunometabolism, specifically sphingolipid metabolism, may be a potential therapeutic target in correcting inflammatory responses. This work may lead to new therapeutic approaches for IBD and colorectal cancer.

Anne Taylor Kunkel Scholar
 

• PhD Candidate in Cellular and Molecular Medicine
• BS in Biochemistry from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
• Katie studies structure-function relationships in the giant myofilament protein titin. Titin is part of the contractile apparatus of cardiac and skeletal muscle and plays roles in muscle structure, elasticity, and signaling. The goal of Katie’s research is to identify how titin’s C-terminal regions contribute to muscle structure and disease, with a particular emphasis on muscle atrophy.

Margaret "Peg" Moseley Scholar
 

• MD-PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering
• BA in Physics and Philosophy from Virginia Tech
• Dilara is an MD-PhD student in Biomedical Engineering and an aspiring physician-scientist in interventional radiology. Under the mentorship of Dr. Jennifer Barton, her work focuses on developing miniature optical endoscopes which enable high-resolution visualization of tissue microstructures, particularly in the fallopian tubes. Her research aims to advance diagnosis and understanding of diseases affecting women, including ovarian cancer, endometriosis, and infertility.

ARCS Scholar
 

• PhD Candidate in Neuroscience
• BS in Neuroscience from the University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Will investigates risk factor contributions to Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), focusing on aging, female biological sex, and APOE genotype in novel animal models of late-onset AD risk. He examines cognitive, metabolic, and inflammatory changes in these models, using single-nuclei RNA sequencing to more specifically explore estrogen deficiency’s impact upon brain cells and biological pathways associated with the menopausal transition. By identifying vulnerable cell populations and pathways in this translationally relevant manner, my work aims to bridge preclinical targets with individual risk profiles, ultimately contributing to the urgently needed future of precision medicine for AD.

Mary Ann White Memorial Scholar

 

• PhD Candidate in Physics
• BS in Physics from the University of Washington
• Anna’s research focuses on nanoscale optical imaging of 2D transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) semiconductors for eventual use in industry and technological applications. Joining the UA scientific community, responsible for such strong, interdisciplinary research, has been an instrumental step towards her goal of remaining in academia and one day leading her own research group.

Crawford Scholar
 

• PhD Candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering
• BS and MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from The University of Arizona
• Kama’s research focuses on creating sustainable, brain-inspired artificial intelligence (AI). She is developing Spiking Neural Networks using cutting-edge hardware called Antiferromagnetic Tunnel Junctions, which offer significant advantages in speed, size, and energy efficiency over conventional AI. By co-designing these systems in collaboration with materials scientists, Kama aims to reduce AI’s environmental impact without compromising performance. Her work has the potential to advance real-world AI applications—from medical devices to autonomous systems—for a future where technology and sustainability go hand in hand.

Sandra and Ralph Matteucci Endowment Scholar

• PhD Candidate in Cellular and Molecular Medicine 
• BS in Physiological Sciences from The University of Arizona 
• Catherine’s research focuses on investigating the efficacy of small molecule Z06 in treating a heart disease known as Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). She will use the transgenic mouse model of a missense mutation to test if Z06 can improve heart function by correcting the structural changes seen in this mutation. She hopes her research can further therapeutic development of heart disease by targeting structural changes at the protein level.

Kathryn Johnston West Scholar

• PhD Candidate in Optical Sciences
• BS in Physics from Arizona State University; MS in Optical Sciences from The University of Arizona
• Ryland's research specializes in high-resolution spectroscopy of laser-produced plasma. These laser plasmas tell us about the chemistry that occurs in certain environments as well as providing a method for material identification. This potentially can act as a powerful tool for isotopic identification in nuclear forensics or for material identification in the mining industry.