Xiaoyue Yang 

Postdoctoral Scholar | Engineering | Biomedical Engineering

Postdoc Talk: Targeted in vivo gene editing for cancer immunotherapy in solid tumors

Dr. Xiaoyue Yang received her B.S. from the College of Agriculture and Biotechnology in 2015 and Ph.D. from the College of Pharmaceutical Science at Zhejiang University in 2020. Currently, she is a postdoctoral research scholar in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Kentucky. Her research is focused on developing immunological interventions for cancer treatment including developing DNA vaccines for personalized cancer therapy and using CRISPR/cas9 gene editing for immune checkpoint blockade.

Prashant Purushottam Damke 

Postdoctoral Scholar | Agriculture, Food and Environment | Veterinary Sciences

Postdoc Talk: DNA transfer from Helicobacter pylori to humans

Prashant Purushottam Damke, Ph.D. is a postdoctoral research scholar at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA. He obtained his doctorate in biochemistry from the Indian institute of science in Bangalore, India, and subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Cellular and Molecular Radiobiology in Fontenay aux Roses, France. His research interests focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms of DNA processing and transport during bacteria-to-bacteria and bacteria-to-eukaryote horizontal gene transfer. He is also interested in understanding the biochemical and cellular functions of proteins and enzymes that play critical roles in various biological processes such as membrane transport of DNA and proteins, DNA repair, homologous recombination, and host-pathogen interactions.

Taraman Kadayat 

Postdoctoral Scholar | Pharmacy | Pharmaceutical Sciences

Postdoc Talk: TK-006: Unveiling the Journey of Discovery and Progress in the Fight Against Cancer

Taraman Kadayat is a Postdoctoral Scholar (Drug Discovery Chemist) working with Dr. Kip Guy at UK College of Pharmacy. Taraman’s major research interests are discovering small molecules that target epigenetics and protein-protein interaction for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Taraman received MS and PhD in Drug Discovery Chemistry from the Yeungnam University (South Korea). His doctoral work focused on the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of heterocyclic small molecules as topoisomerase-targeted anticancer agents. From 2016 to 2021, he worked as a Research Scientist at the New Drug Development Center DGMIF, K-MEDIhub, a national drug research and development company in Korea, where he refined his skills in structure-guided drug design, multistep synthesis, structure-activity relationships, and pharmacokinetic studies of topoisomerase, epigenetics (HDAC, NSD) inhibitors, and nuclear receptor (ERRg and PPARd) modulators. He completed National Research Foundation-NRF Korea's Early Career Independent Research Grant (2018-2021) supported by the Ministry of Education-Korea. He is the author/co-author of over 40 scientific papers and patents and presented research work in several meetings, including ACS Meeting, Asian Medi Chem, IUPAC Chemistry Congress, KCS Meeting, ACS Medi Chem, and Gordon Research Medi Chem Seminar/Conference. 

Mostafa Khodakarami 

Postdoctoral Scholar | Engineering | Mining Engineering

Postdoc Talk: Functionalized aerogels Based on Biopolymers for Wastewater Treatment

Dr. Mostafa Khodakarami is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Mining Engineering at the University of Kentucky. He earned his Ph.D. in Mineral Processing Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology prior to his first postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta. His research lies at the intersection of interfacial science and materials engineering, with a fucus on the development of specialty chemicals and task-specific materials for separation and purification processes in complex multi-phase systems. Currently, Mostafa’s research is directed towards the development of eco-friendly platforms, including membranes, foams, emulsions, aerogels, ionic liquids, and polymer nanocomposites for recovery of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements from primary and secondary sources. Dr. Khodakarami’s research aims to tackle pressing global challenges associated with mining and metallurgical operations, including carbon emission, water-related issues, energy consumption, and waste generation to ensure our resources are utilized in a sustainable and responsible manner.  

Ajoy Aloysius 

Postdoctoral Scholar | Arts and Sciences | Biology

Postdoc Talk: Local Heroes of Healing: Tissue Resident Macrophages Impact on Spiny Mice Regeneration

Dr. Ajoy Aloysius obtained his Ph.D. in biology from India, where his research centered on the role of signaling pathways in stem cell maintenance and skeletal muscle regeneration. Subsequently, his passion for complex tissue regeneration led him to join Dr. Ashley Seifert's team at the University of Kentucky as a Postdoctoral Scholar. His postdoctoral work focuses on unraveling the mechanisms governing enhanced tissue regeneration in African spiny mice. His primary research emphasis lies in understanding the intricate involvement of innate immune cells, particularly macrophages, in these remarkable animal’s tissue regeneration processes. Ajoy is also dedicated to unraveling the connection between remarkable longevity and regenerative capabilities of spiny mice. His commitment extends beyond the laboratory, as demonstrated by his previous roles as Treasurer and Executive Committee member of SOPS.

Anne Koontz

Research Manager for Publications and Communications | Alltech

Dr. Anne Koontz (she/her) earned her MS and PhD in Ruminant Nutrition from the University of Kentucky after completing her Animal Science BS with an emphasis in biotechnology at Oklahoma State University. Her research spans multiple countries and animal species, from bison to shrimp. Currently, at Alltech, she holds the role of Research Manager for Publications and Communications, leveraging her passion for science education and community engagement to translate complex research for diverse audiences.

Corey Brizzee

Senior Scientist | Demeetra AgBio, Inc

Corey Brizzee, PhD is a Senior Scientist at Demeetra AgBio, a gene-editing company located right in Lexington, Kentucky. Corey earned his PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky. His graduate research featured a multi-directional approach in which biochemical analysis of enzymes and cellular biology techniques were utilized to better understand carbohydrate metabolism in thermophilic red alga. At Demeetra, Corey manages multiple projects to advance Demeetra's two gene-editing technologies, Cas-CLOVER and piggyBac, in various cell systems. He has also submitted two international patent applications and has submitted a first-author manuscript for his work on generating yeast strains that produce mosquito biopesticides. In the future, Corey plans to expand his team to discover innovative techniques for employing gene-editing technologies in a broad range of industries.

Izzat Raheem

Distinguished Scientist in Discovery Chemistry | Merck

Izzat Raheem is currently a Distinguished Scientist in the Discovery Chemistry organization at Merck based at the West Point, PA site, having joined the company in 2007.  He currently has strategic and scientific responsibilities at the interface of Discovery Chemistry and Infectious Diseases and Vaccines.  Over the past 15 years, he has been involved with a range of drug discovery programs in both the Neuroscience and the ID therapeutic areas, including Merck’s Orexin, PDE10, HIV Integrase, and HIV Nucleoside programs, as well as programs targeting herpesviruses and Gram-negative bacteria.  He also oversees a range of efforts in Merck’s vaccine portfolio, including conjugate vaccines, RNA vaccine delivery, and novel adjuvants. He has contributed to the advancement of multiple small molecule and adjuvant candidates progressing into and through early- and late-stage development across range of indications.  Izzat holds a B.S. in Chemistry and Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University and a PhD. in Organic Chemistry from Harvard University, having studied in the laboratories of Prof. Eric Jacobsen.  He is the author/co-author of over 50 peer-reviewed publications and patents

Levi Bolin

Clinical Science Liaison | Millennium Health, LLC

Dr. Levi Bolin earned a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Kentucky in 2012. His research training spans effects of psychostimulants on learning processes and motivated behaviors in preclinical models, risk-taking and decision-making behavior in people who use stimulants, testing treatments for stimulant use disorders, and non-invasive brain stimulation and neuroimaging techniques. In 2019, Dr. Bolin accepted a position with the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services in the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental, and Intellectual Disabilities. There he served as the project director for a SAMHSA-funded grant to promote integrated behavioral and primary care services for adults with mental illness and/or substance use disorders and contributed to several initiatives for the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort (KORE). Dr. Bolin now works as a Clinical Science Liaison with Millennium Health, LLC a company that provides clinical drug testing services for healthcare providers in the areas of SUD treatment, behavioral health, pain management, and primary care. In this role, he delivers educational presentations about drug testing and its clinical utility, provides clinical and scientific support to practicing clinicians, and shares insights into real-time illicit drug and polysubstance use trends across the U.S. from Millennium Health’s proprietary Emerging Threat Intelligence (ETI) ProgramTM . 

Ran Hong

Controls Engineer | Argonne National Laboratory 

Ran Hong, Ph.D. is an engineer at Argonne National Laboratory, Advanced Photon Source (APS). Ran Hong graduated from the University of Washington, Department of Physics in 2016. His predoctoral research focused on the beta-decay of helium-6 searching for phenomena beyond the standard model of particle physics. Ran then pursued postdoctoral training from 2016 to 2020 at Argonne National Lab and the University of Kentucky. His postdoctoral research focused on the Muon g-2 Experiment based at Fermilab and he played important roles in the construction and commissioning of the experiment. With his strong background in physics and instrumentation, he obtained a position in the accelerator controls group. Ran Hong is currently working on the APS upgrade project focused mainly on the timing system of the new accelerator.

Abdullah Masud

Postdoctoral Scholar | Pharmacy | Pharmaceutical Sciences 

3MT Talk: Nano-Targeting in Advancing "Heart Attack" Treatment

Abdullah Al Masud, Phd is a postdoc in the department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Kentucky (UK).  Dr. Masud also completed his phd in Chemistry from the UK. Prior moving to the USA in 2015, he earned his B.Pharm and M.Pharm degree from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Masud also has few years of working experience in pharmaceutical R&D. His current research is focused on lipid nanoparticle-based formulation development for therapeutics, gene therapy and vaccine development.

Ruiqing Lyu 

Postdoctoral Scholar | Agriculture, Food and Environment | KTRDC

3MT Talk: Fight against plant viruses

Dr. Ruiqing Lyu is a researcher specializing in plant-environment interactions. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chinese Academy of Science in 2019 and is currently a postdoctoral scholar at the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky. Dr. Lyu is at the forefront of research aiming to demystify the complex interplay between plants and their environment at the molecular level. Utilizing integrated omics tools, he focuses on identifying changes in specialized plant metabolites, gene expression, and plant morphology. One of his key contributions has been the identification and characterization of "hub" regulatory factors responsible for these changes. Currently, Dr. Lyu's research primarily concentrates on two critical areas: plant chemical defense mechanisms and the pathogenesis of plant viruses. By dissecting these facets, he hopes to offer groundbreaking insights that could revolutionize the fields of agriculture and environmental science. His ultimate goal is ambitious yet practical: to improve plant resistance against various stress factors, thereby boosting yield and the production of beneficial plant metabolites. Through his work, Dr. Ruiqing Lyu is not just answering fundamental biological questions but also addressing pressing issues of food security and sustainable agriculture.

Abhilash Prabhat

Postdoctoral Scholar | Medicine | Physiology 

3MT Talk: Restricted feeding prevents dim light at night blunting of the daily rhythms in blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature in mice

Abhilash Prabhat is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Kentucky, US. Abhilash did his undergraduate, master's, and Ph.D. in Zoology at the University of Delhi, Delhi. He completed his Ph.D. in 2021 under Prof. Vinod Kumar on the ‘Effects of light and food environment on the behavior and reproduction in zebra finches, Taeniopygia guttata’. Abhilash joined Prof. Brian Delisle’s lab as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Physiology in August 2022. Since then, he has worked on understanding the role of environmental factors such as food and light on the circadian rhythm of cardiac electrophysiology and body temperature. Abhilash has won the Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow- 1st Place “The Stewart Whitman Award” on behalf of the Gill Heart and Vascular Institute at the Cardiovascular Research Day, 2022 and also presented at the Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series at the University of Kentucky in May 2023.

Masud Rana

Postdoctoral Scholar | Arts and Sciences | Mathematics 

3MT Talk: Mathematics-based machine learning models for drug development

Masud earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from Texas Tech University in 2021. Subsequently, he joined the University of Kentucky as a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Mathematics. His research encompasses a wide range of areas in applied mathematics, with a primary focus on mathematical and computational biology, numerical analysis, data science, machine learning, and drug design. At present, he is actively involved in developing mathematics-based machine learning models to analyze biomolecular data, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the drug design and discovery process.

Namrata Anand

Postdoctoral Scholar | Pharmacy | Pharmacy Practice and Science

3MT Talk: Identification of target protein molecules in M1 macrophage-based vesicles responsible for M2 to M1 repolarization

Namrata Anand is a postdoctoral Scholar at the College of Pharmacy, UKY. She did her PhD at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, in India. Following her Ph.D. from India, she obtained an independent postdoctoral fellowship from the Department of Biotechnology, India for 3 years and after completing that, Namrata received the opportunity to work as a postdoctoral scholar at UKY. Namrata’s research work is focused on extremely small nanovesicles and their therapeutic effects against bone cancer. She is also working on the immunological aspects to find out the immune response generated in mice in response to the vesicle treatment. She had previous research experience in drug discovery especially nanoparticles and their therapeutic effect against in vitro and in vivo models of parasitic infectious diseases like malaria, toxoplasmosis, and leishmaniasis. 

Martha Sim

Postdoctoral Scholar | Medicine | Saha Cardiovascular Research Center

3MT Talk: Spatial Dynamics in Blood Clotting Regulation

Martha Sim received a B.S. in medicine and an M.D. at Sriwijaya University in Indonesia and then continued to work as a physician in Myria General Hospital’s emergency department and intensive care unit for more than three years. She was awarded a Fulbright grant to enroll in the master's program of Medical Sciences at the University of Kentucky, where she joined Dr. Erin Garcia’s lab in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics. She then continued to join the Ph.D. program in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky and graduated in April 2023. She is currently a postdoctoral scholar in the Gill and Heart Cardiovascular Medicine. She is working with Dr. Jeremy Wood in a basic research lab focusing on blood coagulation. Her main research interest is understanding the role of plasma anticoagulant system in regulating both the coagulation and inflammation systems in physiological wound healing processes and in various disease settings, including in viral infections such as HIV-1 and COVID-19, and in other forms of thrombo-inflammation, including thrombosis following trauma. 

Alec Tewsley-Booth

Postdoctoral Scholar | Arts and Sciences | Physics

3MT Talk: Implicit Neural Representations Using Physics-Informed Neural Networks

Alex is an experimental physicist who focuses on precision measurements, magnetometry, and fundamental symmetries. He works on modern computational techniques, such as machine learning and Bayesian inference, with applications to particle physics experiments, such as Muon g-2 at Fermilab and nEDM at Los Alamos. He graduated from his graduate work at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2019, and accepted a postdoc position at the University of Kentucky in 2021.

Zachary Root

Postdoctoral Scholar | Arts and Sciences | Biology

3MT Talk: Histological and Transcriptional Features of Programmed Genome Rearrangement in the Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus

Zachary Root (He/Him) is a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Kentucky in the Department of Biology. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology as well as Spanish from the University of Idaho in 2016, and earned a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2022. Upon graduating, he began his current tenure at the University of Kentucky with a T32 fellowship through the Markey Cancer Center. Zack is broadly interested in development, human medicine, evolution, and educational outreach, and his current work focuses on the molecular basis of programmed genome rearrangement in lamprey.

Shayan Mohammadmoradi

Postdoctoral Scholar | Medicine | Saha Cardiovascular Research Center

3MT Talk: Unlocking the Secrets of Platelets: A New Hope in Battling Deadly Aortic Conditions

Shayan embarked on his journey as a UK Wildcat in 2014, marking his first entry into the USA after completing his Dietetics studies in Iran. Upon concluding his Master’s in Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition at UK and spending time in research laboratories, he discovered a passion for cardiovascular research. This led him to join the Saha Cardiovascular Research Center in early 2018, where he pursued his Ph.D. under the guidance of Dr. Alan Daugherty. True to his Wildcat spirit, Shayan recently transitioned to Dr. Wally Whiteheart’s lab for his post-doctoral research, deepening his focus on cardiovascular disease with an added emphasis on blood studies.