2026-27 Levinson Emerging Scholars

Alice Gettig

Major(s): Electrical and Computer Engineering

Project: Controlling Mouse Speed to Isolate the Influence of Locomotion in Cortical State

Mentor: Nick Steinmetz, Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics

Alice Gettig is a junior at the University of Washington studying Electrical and Computer Engineering. Drawn to computational neuroscience, she joined the Steinmetz lab in the Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics in 2025 to pursue this interest, and over the past year has been studying how locomotion affects cortical state in mice. Her project focuses on disentangling neural arousal from physical movement itself, by controlling the speed at which mice run and recording the associated brain activity with wide-field imaging. To make this possible, she has been designing a treadmill and its physical and electrical systems. Outside of research, Alice enjoys spending time in the mountains, watching movies, riding her bike, and doing yoga. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she plans to pursue a PhD in neuroscience, combining her technical engineering background with her scientific interest in the brain. Alice would like to extend her immense gratitude to Dr. Nick Steinmetz for his endlessly constructive mentorship, and to the entire Steinmetz lab for their rigorous pursuit of scientific discovery and welcoming environment.

Dahna Kim

Major(s): Biochemistry, Bioengineering

Project: Developing an In Vitro Model of Bladder Smooth Muscle Contraction to Study Pathophysiological Bladder Remodeling

Mentor: Maya Chandru, Department of Urology; Ashleigh Theberge, Department of Chemistry

Dahna is a junior at the University of Washington majoring in Biochemistry and Bioengineering. Passionate about the intersection between the biosciences, engineering, and health justice, she conducts research in the Bioanalytical Chemistry for Medicine and the Environment Laboratory and the GenitoUrinary Engineering Collaborative, mentored by Dr. Ashleigh Theberge and Dr. Maya Chandru. In her project, she aims to leverage microfluidics-based suspended tissue engineering platforms to create a 3D model of bladder smooth muscle contractions against varying levels of resistance. Using this model, she would like to elucidate little-understood mechanisms of histological remodeling processes in bladder smooth muscle tissue in response to bladder outlet obstruction. She hopes that this shareable, tunable model can also be applied to test the effects of existing bladder-relaxing medications, and ultimately aid in the screening and development of novel drugs targeting the bladder. Her research experiences have inspired her plans to become a physician scientist and explore how research and patient care continuously inform one another. She would like to extend her gratitude to the Levinson family for their generosity, and to her lab mentors and peers for their scientific insights and uplifting community.

Ruyan Li

Major(s): Neuroscience, Informatics

Project: Tracking Aperiodic Neural Activity Dynamics Across the Human Auditory-Language Hierarchy

Mentor: Jesse Miles, Department of Neurosurgery; Jeffrey Herron, Department of Neurosurgery

Alessandro Martinez

Major(s): Environmental Engineering

Project: Tire Wear Particles (TWPs) and Tire-Rubber-Derived Additives in Roadside Soils

Mentor: Edward Kolodziej, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Alessandro Martinez is a rising senior majoring in environmental engineering. He started his undergraduate research with Professor Edward Kolodziej’s lab group in the Summer of 2025, assisting in projects investigating urban streams for tire-derived contaminants like 6PPDQ, which is acutely lethal to Coho Salmon. His current project examines the concentration of tire-derived compounds and tire wear particles (TWPs) in roadside soils. The goal of his research is to illuminate the mass balances of tire-derived compounds and TWPs and consider how factors of traffic density, season, and vegetation may impact the accumulation of these pollutants. In doing so, his research hopes to guide improvements in the field of green infrastructure designed to treat stormwater carrying TWPs and tire-derived compounds so that communities can better mitigate environmental harm. Outside of research, Alessandro is also involved in other campus groups, currently serving as president for the UW chapter of the American Water Resources Association, and plays clarinet in the UW Wind Ensemble. Beyond graduation, Alessandro hopes to pursue a career focused largely on stormwater engineering, where he can design stormwater conveyance and treatment systems. This student would like to thank Ph.D. student mentors Emily Everton and Alanna Hildebrant for supporting him on his research journey, and Professor Kolodziej for pushing him to think more critically and always read more research papers.

Rin Prabhakaran

Major(s): Bioengineering, Biochemistry

Project: Understanding the Evolutionary Adaptations for Saline Tolerance in Mosquito Larvae through Transcriptomics and Morphometrics

Mentor: Andrea Durant, Department of Biology

Shrinidhi (Rin) Prabhakaran is a senior majoring in Bioengineering and Biochemistry at the University of Washington. Since joining the Durant Lab in her Freshman year, Rin has been studying how mosquito larvae have evolved specialized osmoregulatory organs that enable them to survive in challenging saline environments, using transcriptomics, morphometrics, and comparative physiology to investigate these adaptations. She is grateful to Professor Andrea Durant and PhD student Elissa Khodikian for not only teaching her technical skills, but also cultivating a welcoming environment that encourages her growth as a researcher. Through her undergraduate research experiences, Rin has deepened her interest in biomedical research and hopes to pursue a PhD in Bioengineering. She is honored to receive the Levinson Emerging Scholars Award and deeply grateful to Art and Rita Levinson for their support. Outside of research, Rin enjoys reading, spending time with her cat, and drinking coffee.

Sarah Ramzan

Major(s): Biochemistry

Project: Understanding the Role of MGRN1 in Promoting Mitochondrial Health and Deterring Neurodegeneration

Mentor: Jennifer Kong, Department of Biochemistry

Sarah Ramzan is a junior at the University of Washington studying Biochemistry with a minor in Bioethics. She joined the Kong Lab in the Department of Biochemistry in summer 2024 to explore her interests in cellular mechanisms, signaling sensitivity, and development. Her project focuses on understanding the origins of spongiform neurodegeneration by investigating how loss of the E3 ubiquitin ligase MGRN1 affects mitochondrial function and brain development. Using stem cell-derived neurons, Sarah hopes to identify how MGRN1 maintains mitochondrial integrity in neurons and determine whether mitochondrial dysfunction represents an early cellular event that precedes neurodegeneration. Ultimately, this work can reveal molecular targets for therapies aimed at slowing or preventing disease progression and also nurturing healthy brains. After graduation, Sarah plans to continue her commitment to lifelong learning and pursue a career as a physician-scientist. In her free time, Sarah enjoys creative pursuits like knitting and crocheting, as well as spending time with friends and family. She is grateful to her mentor, Dr. Jennifer Kong, for her guidance and for the support of the Levinson Emerging Scholars Award.

Padmaja Senthil

Major(s): Neuroscience

Project: Age Dependent Vulnerability in TDP-43 Pathology: Investigating Immunological and Molecular Determinants of Early Mortality in Mouse Models

Mentor: Martin Darvas, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology

Padmaja Senthil Kumar is a junior at the University of Washington studying Neuroscience with a minor in Neural Computation and Engineering. She joined the Darvas Lab at Harborview Medical Center in Winter 2025 under the mentorship of Dr. Martin Darvas, focusing on critical brain circuits and signaling pathways involved in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Her current project investigates age-dependent vulnerability in TDP-43 pathology. TDP-43 mislocalization and aggregate formation is a hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, and subsets of Alzheimer’s disease, and while aging is the strongest risk factor for neurodegeneration, early-onset forms of these diseases often progress more aggressively once established. The lab identified a striking paradox underlying this phenomenon: young mice injected with AAV-mediated TDP-43 overexpression experienced faster motor decline and earlier mortality, yet aged mice displayed higher TDP-43 burden and astrocytic activation in the lumbar spinal cord. Padmaja’s work focuses on uncovering the mechanisms behind this age-dependent vulnerability by analyzing motor and frontal cortex tissue for neuronal loss, microglial activation, and proteostatic stress, and correlating these findings with behavioral and survival outcomes. This research aims to clarify how age shapes vulnerability to TDP-43 toxicity and lay the groundwork for age-informed therapeutic strategies in early-onset neurodegenerative disease. Upon graduation, Padmaja hopes to pursue medicine and build a career at the intersection of surgery and neuroscience research. Outside the lab, she enjoys running, trying new recipes, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. Padmaja is deeply grateful to Dr. Martin Darvas, Dr. Daniel Fisher, and Marisol Lauffer for their continued mentorship and support in the development of this project. She also thanks the Levinson family for this award and their generous support of undergraduate research.

Shagun Seth

Major(s): Biology

Project: Decoupling Cue Perception from Drug-Seeking: Using Peripheral Biomarkers to Predict Fentanyl Relapse

Mentor: Todd Appleby, Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics

Shagun is a senior at the University of Washington pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Health Studies. In the Golden Lab, under the mentorship of Todd Appleby, her research addresses the fentanyl overdose epidemic by decoupling cue perception from drug-seeking behavior using peripheral biomarkers. Building on her experience with oral fentanyl self-administration (OFSA) mouse models, Shagun will assist with the surgical implantation of wireless Bio-Mechano-Acoustic Devices (BMAD) to continuously monitor the heart and respiratory rates of freely moving subjects. Her work isolates the “pre-approach window:” the critical period immediately following a visual trigger but strictly before physical movement toward a drug-delivery lever occurs. By testing how visual cue brightness modulates peripheral physiology during this window, she uses computational modeling to predict the trial-by-trial likelihood of fentanyl-seeking behavior. Shagun aims to establish physiological monitoring as a reliable predictor for impending relapse, paving the way for proactive, wearable therapeutic devices for individuals in recovery.

Driven by this work, Shagun plans to pursue an MD after graduation with the hopes of bridging preclinical biomarker research with clinical addiction medicine. In her free time, she enjoys baking and exploring new cafes. She extends her sincere gratitude to Todd Appleby, Sam Golden, the Golden Lab, and Art and Rita Levinson for their generous support, and is honored to receive the Levinson Emerging Scholars Award.

Jack Smith

Major(s): Biochemistry

Project: Investigating the Interactions of Microbiome Mimics with Epithelial and Immune Cells

Mentor: Shijie Cao, Department of Pharmaceutics

Jack is a fourth-year at the University of Washington studying biochemistry, with minors in statistics and pharmaceutical science. He is interested in drug development, and joined the PRIME lab to research nanoparticle drug delivery. One PRIME lab venture is to develop microbiome-mimicking nanoparticles to restore healthy immune system function. These mimics have been effective in preliminary testing, but the exact methods by which they are internalized by epithelial and immune cells remain unclear. Jack’s project focuses on figuring out which molecular pathways are involved; if elucidated, this information could allow the mimics to be improved and optimized at the cellular level. After Jack obtains his B.S., he plans to attend graduate school for a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical development.

Outside of academics, Jack enjoys listening to music, playing guitar at open mics, going to art galleries, playing pool, reading classics, and, most importantly, scrolling reels. He would like to sincerely thank Professor Cao, Brad Cleveland, Giulia Stewart, Lindsey Williams, Yitong Guo, and every other member of the PRIME lab for creating such a lovely and welcoming research environment. Finally, he is very grateful to Arthur and Rita Levinson for their generosity and support and thrilled at the opportunity to become a Levinson Emerging Scholar.

Chris Soetedjo

Major(s): Bioengineering

Project: Engineering FLIM-Compatible Genetically Encoded Sensors for Subcellular H2O2 Imaging in hiPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes

Mentor: Andre Berndt, Department of Bioengineering

Chris is a senior majoring in Bioengineering at the University of Washington. He conducts research in the Berndt Lab under the mentorship of Dr. Andre Berndt and postdoctoral mentor Dr. Justin Daho Lee. Since joining the lab in June 2025, he has contributed to projects that accelerate redox sensor optimization and improve the success rate of genotype retrieval of a high-throughput mammalian cell screening system. His current project focuses on utilizing microbe-independent deep assembly and screening methods (MIDAS) to engineer FLIM-compatible redox sensors. Compared to intensity-based fluorescent sensors, FLIM-compatible redox sensors minimize sensor-concentration artifacts and enable quantitative redox imaging. These sensors will allow researchers to visualize redox dynamics in living human cells and accelerate the development of redox therapeutics. In his free time, Chris enjoys volunteering at the UW Medical Center, reading, and gaming. After graduation, he plans to pursue an MD-PhD to continue his research on engineering tools for both research and clinical use. He is grateful for the support from his mentor, Dr. Andre Berndt, and the entire Berndt Lab for creating a fun and nurturing environment. He is incredibly honored to be a Levinson Emerging Scholar and thanks Art and Rita Levinson for supporting his research.

Sofia Solari

Major(s): Bioengineering

Project: Expanding HIV Treatment Monitoring for High-Potency Antiretrovirals

Mentor: Ayọ̀kúnlé Ọlánrewájú, Department of Bioengineering

Lloyd Son

Major(s): Bioengineering

Project: Deep Learning-Based Prediction and Optimization of Stimulation-Evoked Cortical Responses

Mentor: Azadeh Yazdan-Shahmorad, Department of Bioengineering

Shrey Stallard

Major(s): Biochemistry

Project: Elucidating the Role of Chloride Intracellular Channel 1 in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Mentor: Devasena Ponnalagu, Department of Pharmacology

Shrey Stallard is a senior at the University of Washington pursuing a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry. He joined the Ponnalagu Laboratory in the Department of Pharmacology in January 2024 to expand his understanding of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, two pathologies that have deeply impacted his family and personal life. His project explores the role of Chloride Intracellular Channel 1 (CLIC1), a metamorphic ion channel protein found to be enriched in cardiac tissue and myocardial cells, in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Through his work, Shrey found that a global knockout of CLIC1 resulted in exacerbated cardiovascular dysfunction and heart failure in diabetic mice. He extended and corroborated these findings at the cellular level using H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts by modeling lipotoxic stress following a CLIC1-specific knockdown. These findings support a novel protective role for CLIC1 in diabetes-related cardiovascular diseases. His current research aims to better understand the molecular mechanisms by which CLIC1 may protect the heart under diabetic and lipotoxic conditions. He has presented his research at the Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, the Biochemistry Undergraduate Research Symposium, and multiple UW Undergraduate Research Symposiums. He is also committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists through his involvement in UW Bright-Up and UW Feedback, where he supports the development of future researchers from underrepresented backgrounds. After graduation, Shrey plans to pursue a PhD in molecular biology, biochemistry, or pharmacology, with the hope of expanding his knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying cardiovascular pathologies. Beyond school and research, Shrey loves to go to the movie theater, camping, and supporting the San Francisco 49ers. He is immensely grateful to his mentor, Dr. Devasena Ponnalagu, who has been instrumental in his growth as a researcher, as well as the members of the Ponnalagu Laboratory for their guidance and encouragement. Shrey would also like to thank Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Levinson for their generous support of undergraduate research and for helping him and his colleagues to continue to grow as scientists.

Gianna Terra

Major(s): Bioengineering

Project: Biophysically Detailed Computational Models to Study Conduction Failure and Arrhythmogenesis in Anatomical Isthmuses in Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot

Mentor: Patrick Boyle, Department of Bioengineering

Gianna Terra is a senior at the University of Washington studying bioengineering. She has been a part of the Boyle CardSS lab since her freshman year, where her research focuses on designing cardiac computational models to study arrhythmia mechanisms. Her current project uses two and three dimensional models to investigate how specific anatomical features contribute to arrhythmia formation, with the goal of identifying clinically meaningful features. She is passionate about applying bioengineering principles to healthcare problems with the goal of improving patient outcomes. Outside of research, Gianna enjoys reading, being outside, and spending time with friends. Gianna is incredibly grateful for the support of the Boyle lab, and would especially like to thank her mentors Matthew Magoon and Dr. Boyle for always encouraging and supporting her success.

Yinuo Xu

Major(s): Chemistry

Project: Developing CLOCK Ion Mobility–Mass Spectrometry for Comparing Reference and Biosimilar Trastuzumab

Mentor: Matt Bush, Addison Roush, Department of Chemistry

Rachel Yin

Major(s): Bioengineering, Neuroscience

Project: Multimodal Parcellation of the Midbrain Reticular Formation

Mentor: Nicholas A. Steinmetz, Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics

Rachel Huiwen Yin is a fourth-year Bioengineering, Neuroscience, and Interdisciplinary Honors student. She joined the Steinmetz lab in her freshman year, where she initially conducted mouse behavioral training to study visually guided behavior and electrophysiology. She later developed a research project using dye injections to generate in vivo measurements of mouse brain locations and evaluate atlas accuracy. Her current work investigates the spatial organization of the midbrain reticular formation (MRF), a poorly differentiated brainstem structure. She aims to perform multimodal parcellation, clustering MRF neurons by their local cell type composition using spatial transcriptomics and comparing the organization against connectivity tracing, single-neuron reconstructions, and biophysical properties. Outside of research, she enjoys trying new boba spots, crafting, and working on puzzles. Rachel extends her gratitude to Dr. Nicholas Steinmetz and Kimberly Miller for their mentorship, the Steinmetz lab for their insights and community, and to Art and Rita Levinson for their support of undergraduate research.

Olivia Zhu

Major(s): Biochemistry

Project: Redesigning Recombinase Specificity for Targeted Gene Insertion

Mentor: David Baker, Department of Biochemistry

Olivia is a senior at the University of Washington majoring in Biochemistry. She joined the Baker Lab at the Institute for Protein Design, where she leads a project on redesigning recombinases — bacteriophage enzymes that insert entire genes into a genome at a single defined sequence. Recombinases have a useful property for therapeutic editing: they place large DNA payloads without leaving exposed double-strand breaks behind. Their limitation is that each one recognizes only the short DNA sequence it evolved to target, which is rarely where a therapy needs to go. Olivia is using computational protein design to reshape how these enzymes read DNA, so that their specificity can be redirected toward a chosen site in the human genome while preserving the machinery that makes the reaction work. She pairs this design work with a rapid biochemical assay for testing candidates and with computational screening to flag unintended sites before designs ever reach cells. The goal is to make large-payload gene insertion programmable rather than fixed by whatever sequence an enzyme happens to have evolved for. Olivia hopes to pursue a PhD in immune-engineering. Outside of the lab, she climbs, swims, and explore new restaurants with friends. She would like to thank Dr. David Baker and Bingxu Liu for their generous mentorship and for fostering a lab community where she has been able to take on an ambitious project. She is also deeply grateful to Art and Rita Levinson for their support and is honored to receive the Levinson Emerging Scholars Award.