Seven University of Iowa (UI) College of Pharmacy graduate students have successfully completed their graduate degrees or will finish this summer. Of those, five participated in the May 10 Graduate College Doctoral Commencement Ceremony at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, along with their advisors. Read on to learn about the research, plans, favorite memories, and more of these accomplished spring/summer graduates.
OLAJIDE FADARE
Track: Health Services Research
Degree: PhD
Advisor: Associate Professor Matthew Witry
Research Focus: Supporting pharmacy organizations in building resilient systems.
Upcoming Plans: To get a research and teaching position in a school of pharmacy.
How Did the UI College of Pharmacy Prepare You: I had excellent teachers and mentors in the HSR faculty. The faculty taught me everything I needed to get started doing research; from how to frame issues into empirical questions, to grant writing, and everything in between.
Favorite College of Pharmacy Memories: Seeing the east side of Iowa City from the (College’s) 6th floor during a building tour with new grad students. It was a beautiful sight.
RAN HUO*
Track: Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences
Degree: PhD
Advisor: Associate Professor Ethan Anderson
Research Focus: The role of Prohibitins in regulating mitochondrial function and heart disease.
Upcoming Plans: I'm really into heart disease research and am looking for a postdoc to continue my work.
How Did the UI College of Pharmacy Prepare You: The College of Pharmacy hosts many seminars with guest speakers from various fields, which really broadens my knowledge.
Favorite College of Pharmacy Memories: The PSET retreat, where I got to learn about other people’s research, enjoy great food, and hang out with friends and professors. I also appreciate our clean, quiet lab spaces equipped with the latest gear that lets me conduct any experiment I want.
NEHA PARANJAPE
Track: Human Toxicology
Degree: PhD
Advisor: Lach Chair and Professor Jonathan Doorn
Research Focus: Understanding how certain man-made chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) affect brain health. There are multiple types of cells in the brain, each having its own important set of functions, and we don't fully understand how each of these cell types gets affected and how it may cause adverse outcomes in the brain. I have tried to understand how one such cell type, called astrocytes, is affected by PCBs.
Upcoming Plans: I am interested in transitioning into industry.
How Did the UI College of Pharmacy Prepare You: Dr. Doorn's mentoring style encourages one to explore multiple avenues and become independent, which has helped both research progress as well as career aspects.
Favorite College of Pharmacy Memories: I really liked the research facility and the opportunities provided for students. We had a very collaborative environment, and all principal investigators were eager to help students in their research.
JONAH PROPP*
Track: Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry
Degree: PhD
Advisor: Professor Ashley Spies
Research Focus: The development of preventative therapeutics for gastric cancer and stomach ulcers using computer-aided drug discovery.
Upcoming Plans: Begin a career in pharmaceutical research.
Favorite College of Pharmacy Memories: Playing pool with other members of my department. For a while we had a weekly game to pass off a trophy between labs.
BRAHMENDRA VIYYURI
Track: Health Services Research
Degree: MS
Advisor: Associate Professor Mary Schroeder
Research Focus: Primarily working with health care data sources to investigate health outcomes, benefits, and risks associated with breast cancer treatment options. I am interested in understanding how chronic conditions are connected and co-occur together, predicting and visualizing the disease trajectory of these conditions over time, and developing clinical-decision support systems to support personalized treatment planning.
Upcoming Plans: Research support associate at the UI College of Pharmacy.
How Did the UI College of Pharmacy Prepare You: My program fostered a strong foundation in multidisciplinary approaches mirroring the collaborative nature of research. The faculty's diverse expertise created a rich learning environment.
Favorite College of Pharmacy Memories: Our program's annual picnics were always fun. I also really enjoyed the long road trips with my colleagues to attend conferences.
JOSHUA WILKINSON
Track: Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry
Degree: PhD
Advisor: Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education and Professor Dave Roman
Research Focus: Using a high-throughput approach to study chemical pollutants for their activity at hundreds of distinct receptors that regulate biological functions in humans. The main objective is to identify interactions between chemical pollutants and cellular targets to better understand the underlying mechanisms that contribute to toxic outcomes from exposure to chemical pollutants.
Upcoming Plans: Possibly a postdoc position.
How Did the UI College of Pharmacy Prepare You: I have learned a variety of skills and techniques that enable me to work as an independent scientist, and I have fostered relationships with faculty members.
Favorite College of Pharmacy Memories: The departmental trips to the MIKIW Conference (Minnesota, Illinois-Chicago, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin-Madison).
YAN XU*
Track: Pharmaceutics
Degree: PhD
Advisor: Bighley Chair and Professor Aliasger Salem
Research Focus: Finding a new way to prevent oral cancer.
Upcoming Plans: Seeking an industrial job.
How Did the UI College of Pharmacy Prepare You: Courses and training.
Favorite College of Pharmacy Memories: Attending the 3 Minute Thesis for the College of Pharmacy and being (selected) for the UI Dare to Discover (campaign).
*Studies will conclude this summer.