URL Profiles
2020-2021
Ari Mendel Asarch
Major: Neuroscience, Philosophy
Mentor: Paul Phillips, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Pharmacology
Contact: aasarch@uw.edu
Current research project: Characterization of Viral Mutagenesis in Transgenic Rodents
Brendan Ball
Major: Chemical Engineering : Nanoscience & Molecular Engineering
Mentor: Mike McKenna, Chemical Engineering; Dr. Elizabeth Nance, Chemical Engineering
Contact: bbkazu@uw.edu
Current research project: A Fluorescence-Based Approach for Characterizing Changes in Perineuronal Net Morphology
Jerry Cao
Major: Computer Science
Mentor: Shwetak Patel, Computer Science; Jennifer Mankoff, Computer Science
Contact: jcao22@uw.edu
Current research project: Wearable Cardiovascular Sensing using Pulse Transit Time
Ashika Capirala
Mentor: Alexis Licht, Earth and Space Sciences
Contact: ashikac@uw.edu
Current research project: Reconstructing Paleoenvironments of Middle Eocene Myanmar using Stable Isotope Data of Paleosols from the Pondaung Formation
Rahul Chaliparambil
Major: Neuroscience
Mentor: Dr. Josh Russell, Pathology; Dr. Matt Kaeberlein, Pathology
Contact: rahulc99@uw.edu
Current research project: Developing models for studying the impacts of Alzheimer’s Disease on EV signaling
Alina Chandra
Major: Biochemistry
Mentor: Jennifer Rabbitts, Department of Anesthesiology, Seattle Children’s Hospital
Contact: nchand@uw.edu
Current research project: 1) Associations Between Post-Surgical Acute Pain Functionality and Surgical Outcomes in Youth Project Project 2) Prevalence and Predictors of Chronic Pain Following Traumatic Musculoskeletal Injury
Zoe Chau
Major: Engineering Undeclared
Mentor: James Lai, Bioengineering
Contact: zoechau@uw.edu
Current research project: Profiling of Tissue-Specific Extracellular Vesicles Using Oligonucleotides
Casey Chen
Major: Chemistry
Mentor: Matthew Bush, Chemistry
Contact: chenxcas@uw.edu
Current research project: Uncovering Substrates of Yeast E3 Ligase Using an Integrative Mass Spectrometry Strategy
Elizabeth Chen
Major: Biochemistry
Mentor: Dr. Franck Kalume, Neurological Surgery
Contact: egc2@uw.edu
Current research project: Contribution of PV and SST Interneurons to Seizure Phenotype in a Mouse Model of Ndufs4-related Leigh Syndrome
Chloe Chiu
Major: Chemistry
Mentor: Anne McCoy, Chemistry; Mark Boyer, Chemistry
Contact: cchiu820@uw.edu
Current research project: Investigating the Effects on the Spectrum of Water Molecules
Antonio Cortez
Major: Pre-major (intended Biology)
Mentor: Department of Otolaryngology
Contact: tonypony@uw.edu
Current research project: Examining the Vestibular Synapses in Adult Mice
Isaiah Cuadras
Major: Aeronautics & Astronautics
Mentor: Jinkyu Yang, Aeronautics & Astronautics
Contact: iac3@uw.edu
Current research project: Optimizing Millifluidic Devices to Reduce Shear Stresses on Coral Propogates
Gwen Ellis
Major: Biology (General)
Mentor: Dr. Samuel Wasser, Biology
Contact: goellis@uw.edu
Current research project: A Comprehensive Analysis of the American Black Bear Diet through DNA Metabarcoding
Britney Ellisor
Major: Biochemistry
Mentor: Joyce Yi-Frazier, Seattle Children’s Research Institute
Contact: bellisor@uw.edu
Current research project: Palliative Care and Resilience Lab – Promoting Resilience in Stress Management
Devin Eng
Major: Bioengineering
Mentor: Masaoki Kawasumi, UWSOM Dermatology
Contact: URP@uw.edu
Current research project: Epigenome Editing of DNA Demethylation and Histone Acetylation to Inhibit Skin Cancer
Patrick Follis
Major: Aeronautics & Astronautics
Mentor: NASA Langley Research Center
Contact: pfollis@uw.edu
Current research project: Ultrasonic Cure Monitoring and Defect Detection in Composites
Rodrigo Gallardo
Major: Intended Major: Biology
Mentor: Kraig Abrams, Beverly Torok-Storb, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Contact: rodrig5@uw.edu
Current research project: Effects of Irradiation on NK, NKT and T-cells in NK Expansion Cultures
Samantha Garcia Perez
Major: Intended Public Health-Global Health
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Dawson-Hahn
Contact: sgarciap@uw.edu
Current research project: Understanding the Parenting Strength, Stress and Law needs of Latinx Families
Meron Girma
Major: Medical Anthropology and Global Health
Minor: African Studies
Mentor: Rachel Chapman, Anthropology
Contact: mgirma99@uw.edu
Current research project:ተስፋ መቁረጥ (The loss of hope):The Precarity of Hope and Healing in Ethiopia’s Medically Plural Health System
Kim Ha
Major: Intended Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Mentors: Dr. Michael Bamshad, Department of Pediatrics and Dr. Alejandro Rico-Guevara, Department of Biology
Contact:kimtha@uw.edu
Current research project: Spectrum of Variants in TPM2, TNNT3, and TNNI2 that cause Distal Arthrogryposis
Vivian Ha
Major: Biology (Physiology)
Mentor: Anthony Grillo PhD, Pathology; Grace Wandell MD MS, Otolaryngology
Contact: havt@uw.edu
Current research project: Hypoxia as a Therapy for Mitochondrial Disease
Skyler Hallinan
Major: Computer Science, Bioengineering, ACMS
Mentor: Dr. Paul Yager, Bioengineering
Contact: hallisky@uw.edu
Current research project: The Removal of Excess Tryptophan in the Small Intestine via Orally Ingested Hydrogel Microspheres
Alex Huynh
Major: Engineering Undeclared
Mentor: Dr. Ethan Buhr, Ophthalmology
Contact: urp@uw.edu
Current research project: 3D Printed Assistive Pipetting Guides
Vasan Jagadeesh
Major: Physiology
Mentor: Steve Perlmutter, Physiology and Biophysics
Contact: vasanj@uw.edu
Current research project: Multisite, Activity Dependent Spinal Stimulation to Promote Motor Function after Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
Raida Karim
Major: Computer Science
Mentor: Maya Cakmak, Computer Science & Engineering
Contact: rk1997@uw.edu
Current research project: Effective Measurement And Intervention of Adolescent Stress Levels with A Social Robot Named EMAR (Ecological Momentary Assessment Robot)
Sarah Kee
Major: Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology
Mentor: Ellen Schur, UW Medicine
Contact: sk7716@uw.edu
Current research project: Hypothalamic Gliosis and Change in Body Adiposity in Children with Obesity
Usman Khan
Major: Electrical Engineering
Mentor: Josh Smith, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering
Contact:usmank13@uw.edu
Current research project:3D Mapping Wireless Power for Neural Implants
Gargi Kher
Major: Biochemistry
Minor: Applied Mathematics
Mentor: Neil King, Biochemistry; Karla-Luise Herpoldt, Biochemistry
Contact: gmk6@uw.edu
Current research project: Optimizing in vitro Assembly of a Self-Assembling Protein Cage for Vaccine Design
Min Su Kim
Majors: Law, Societies, and Justice; Sociology; Accounting
Mentor: Jackson School of International Studies
Contact: minsukim@uw.edu
Current research project: Human Rights and Forensic Anthropology in Latin America
Alexandra Koriath
Majors: Bioengineering
Mentor: Jennifer Nemhauser, UW Department of Biology
Contact: akoriath@uw.edu
Current research project: The “Super AFB”: Creating an F-box With Super Auxin-Responsive Degradation
Neha Krishnam
Major: Public-Global Health
Mentor: Suchi Chandrasekaran, OBGYN UW medicine / Pamela Collins, UW DGH Global Mental Health
Contact: nehak3@uw.edu
Current research project: Assessing Barriers to Mental Health Resources in the United States for Immigrants
Jill Kumasaka
Major: Biology (Physiology)
Mentor: Jennifer Doherty, Biology
Contact: jkkuma@uw.edu
Current research project: Learning Progressions on the Development of Principle-based Reasoning in Undergraduate Physiology (LeaP UP)
Nikou Lei
Major: Physics: Comprehensive, Mathematics
Mentor: Prof. Samu Taulu, Physics
Contact: leinikou@gmail.com
Current research project: Frequency-dependent Calibration of MEG Signals
Millicent Li
Major: Computer Science
Mentor: Shwetak Patel, Computer Science; Noah Smith, Computer Science
Contact: limill01@uw.edu
Current research project: Multimodal Monitoring for Silent Speech Recognition; Debiasing Summarizations for Clinical Documents and Notes
Jenny Liang
Major: Computer science, informatics
Mentor: Amy Ko, Informatics
Contact: jliang9@uw.edu
Current research project: Explicit Programming Strategies
Keong Mu Jason Lim
Major: Neuroscience
Mentor: Matt Kaeberlein & Jason Pitt, Department of Pathology; Cory Kelly, Department of Neurological Surgery
Contact: kml0926@uw.edu
Current research project: Large-Scale Screening of Genes that Affect Hypoxic Rescue of Frataxin Deficiency and ISC biogenesis in Yeast
Jacqueline McAleer
Major: Neuroscience, Philosophy
Mentor: Ryan Farero, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Contact: mcalejac@uw.edu
Current research project: The Effects of the Kappa Opioid System on Dopamine in Cocaine Addiction in Rats
Amanda An Nguyen
Major: Physics: Bioengineering
Mentors: Andre Berndt, Department of Bioengineering
Contact: aan5@uw.edu
Current research projects: Optogenetic Modeling of Chloride-Mediated Neurotransmission
Tai Nguyen
Major: B.S. Biochemistry; B.S. Biology (Molecular, Cellular & Developmental)
Mentor: Dr. Ray Monnat and Weiliang Tang; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Contact: hipwin@uw.edu
Current research project: Fanconi Anemia Head and Neck Cancer Cell Line Resource
Nathan Novy
Major: Biochemistry
Mentor: Shane Rea (Pathology); David Baker (Biochemistry), Nathan Ennist (Postdoc)
Contact: novyn@uw.edu
Current research project: Development of a Photo-regulatable Longevity Kinase; Rosetta Based Design of Chlorophyll-binding Proteins for Artificial Photosynthesis
Corinna Oswell
Major: Neuroscience
Mentor: Michael Bruchas, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Contact: oswelc@uw.edu
Current research project: Biased Signaling in a Dorsal Raphe to Nucleus Accumbens Circuit that Drives Motivated Behaviors
Ruby Padgett
Major: Public Health
Mentor: Elaheh Karbassi, Department of Pathology
Contact: padger@uw.edu
Current research project: Investigating the Role of PGC1B in Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocyte Maturation Using a CRISPR Activation System
Haley Pang
Major: Biology: Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental
Mentor: Takuma Uo, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
Contact: hjpang@uw.edu
Current research project: Understanding Molecular Logics Behind Adaptive Resistance of Prostate Cancer Cells to Androgen-targeted Therapies
Shreya Patel
Major: Biology: Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental
Mentor: Dr. Manda Patel PhD (True Binding, Inc.)
Contact: spatel97@uw.edu
Current research project: Anti-galectin3 Antibodies and Cardio-Renal Fibrosis
Sarah Pemberton
Major: Biology (Molecular, Cellular & Developmental)
Mentor: Elizabeth Rhea, Medicine
Contact: pembes@uw.edu
Current research project: Regulation of Insulin Endocytosis and Transcytosis at the Blood-Brain Barrier
Gillian Pereira
Major: Materials Science and Engineering
Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Kieran, Urology
Contact: gpereira@uw.edu
Current research project: A Study on the Effects of Covid-19 on Pharmacies in Washington
Jolie Phan
Major: Bioengineering
Mentor: Rachel Creighton, Bioengineering
Contact: joliep@uw.edu
Current research project: In situ 3D Nanofiber Patterning Using Composite Materials
Erik Bruce Philipson
Major: Neuroscience
Mentor: Monica Vavilala ( Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Pediatrics), Nancy Temkin (Neurological Surgery, Biostatistics, Rehabilitation Medicine)
Contact: erikbp@uw.edu
Current research project: Symptoms and Accommodations during Return to Learn Care Plan Utilization after Concussion
Daniel Piacitelli
Major: Astronomy & Physics: Comprehensive
Mentor: Iryna Butsky
Contact: piacid4@uw.edu
Current research project: Synthetic Spectroscopy and Cosmic Rays
Marium Raza
Major: Biochemistry; CHID
Mentor: Sharona Gordon, Dept. Physiology & Biophysics; Dr. Dale Langford, Dept. Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine
Contact: mraza99@uw.edu
Current research project: Visualizing Protein Conformational Dynamics Using Unnatural Amino Acids and FRET
Sharmila Roy
Major: Computer Science
Mentor: Amarda Shehu, Department of Computer Science
Contact: sharm1@uw.edu
Current research project: Systematic Study of Different Design Decisions in Markov Model-based Analysis of Molecular Structure Data
Micaela Ruiz
Major: Intended Physiology/ Psychology
Mentor: Kendan Jones-Isaac , Department of Pharmaceutics
Contact: mvr25@uw.edu
Current research project: Development of a Urinary Biomarker Assay for Measuring Acute Oxidative Stress
Annika Sahota
Major: Microbiology (B.S.), Biochemistry (B.A.)
Mentor: Pierre Mourad, Neurological Surgery, Engineering and Mathematics at UW Bothell
Contact: asahota@uw.edu
Current research project: Applying Intense Focused Ultrasound to Clear Intraventricular Catheters in the Context of Hydrocephalus in Pediatric Patients
Deepthi Sathyanarayana
Major: Pre-Sciences
Mentor: Dr.Daniel Dürschmied – Department of Cardiology
Contact: deepts@uw.edu
Current research projects: Role of Platelet Serotonin in Metabolic Syndrome
Bhavica Saxena
Major: Bioengineering
Mentor: Dr. Scott Telfer, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Contact: bhavi12@uw.edu
Current research project: Assessment of Regional Bone Quality for Surgical Planning of Posterior Pelvic Ring Fracture Fixation
Vicky Shih
Major: Biochemistry
Mentor: Hu Lab, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica
Contact: shihv@uw.edu
Current research project: Assessment of Biocompatibility for Rigidity of Gelated Cells Enable T Cell Modulation
Sofia Shirley
Major: Biochemistry
Mentor: Michael Bruchas, Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Pharmacology, Bioengineering
Contact: sofia98@uw.edu
Current research project: Amygdalar-Striatal Neural Circuits that Encode Action-Outcome Strategies, Ventral Accumbens Shell Cholinergic Interneurons that Enhance Positive Reinforcement
Nadia Siddiqui
Major: Bioengineering
Mentor: Jennifer Davis, Cardiovascular Bioengineering
Contact: nadiasid@uw.edu
Current research project: Using Genetic Engineering Approaches to Inform Cardiac Wound Healing and the Fibrotic Response
Irika Sinha
Major: B.S. Biochemistry (Molecular, Cellular, Developmental), B.S. Biochemistry
Mentor: Dr. Andy McGuire
Contact: irika@uw.edu
Current research project: Engineered CAR T-Cell Immunotherapy Approach for Epstein-Barr Virus-related Cancers
Katherine Slack
Major: Psychology (intended)
Minor: Spanish
Mentor: Tonya Palermo, Psychology PhD; Alina Metje, MD
Contact: kslack12@uw.edu
Current research project: Seattle Children’s Hospital Research, & New Mom’s Connect
Varun Sridhar
Major: Microbiology
Mentor: Dr. Ajai Dandekar, Microbiology
Contact: varuns26@uw.edu
Current research project: Anti-activators of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum Sensing
Pavithra Sundaravaradan
Major: Microbiology
Mentor: Elia Tait Wojno, Immunology
Contact: pavitsun@uw.edu
Current research project: How the Notch Signaling Pathway Regulates Basophil Gene Regulation and Function in the Helminth-Infected Intestine
Cristian Swift
Major: Oceanography
Mentor: Gabrielle Rocap – School of Oceanography
Contact: cjswift@uw.edu
Current research project: The Hybrid Cluster Protein’s Role in Low-Light Prochlorococcus Ecotype Located in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific
Valerie Tsai
Major: Neuroscience and MCD Biology
Mentor: Steve Perlmutter, Physiology and Biophysics
Contact: v881@uw.edu
Current research project: Neural Activity and White Matter Remodeling Following Spinal Cord Injury
Shelley Tsui
Major: Visual Communication Design
Mentor: Annie T. Chen, Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education
Contact: tsuis@uw.edu
Current research project: Virtual Online Communities for Aging Life Experiences (VOCALE)
Amirah Ullah
Major: Microbiology
Mentor: Sandra Dross, Microbiology; Deborah Fuller, Microbiology
Contact: ullaha@uw.edu
Current research project: The Impact of aPD-1 on CD8+ T-cell Exhaustion and the Kinetics of Exhaustion in SHIV-Infected Rhesus Macaques Receiving a Novel Combinatorial Immunotherapeutic Regimen
Jackson Wezeman
Major: Biochemistry (BS)
Minor: Global Health
Mentor: Kavita Sharma, Comparative Medicine
Contact: wezemj@uw.edu
Current research project: SLAM
Harper Zhu
Major: Biochemistry and International Studies
Mentor: Anna Neufeld, Department of statistics
Contact: zrj0201@uw.edu
Current research project: Infectious Disease Modeling
Grace Zou
Major: Biochemistry
Mentor: Ahmed Diab, Bruce Clurman, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Contact: gzou@uw.edu
Current research project: Three-Dimensional in vitro models of Wee1 Inhibition in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells