Catherine Brown

(Class of 2018, Major: Biochemistry)

• • West lab: Spring 2017 - Present

  • "I am from northern Wisconsin who enjoys reading, biking, swimming, downhill skiing, and being with my family, and my dogs. My career goal is to become an Optometrist, and to help people with one of their most important senses."

  • Summer 2018 Plans: Ophthalmology clinic technician in Naples, FL

Blaise Carson

(Class of 2018, Double Major: Biochemistry and Music)

• • West lab: Spring 2017, Spring 2018 - Present

  • "I am from Tampa, Florida and am currently the organist/director of music at a small parish near Ave Maria, Fl. My aspiration is to become a doctor of optometry while continuing as an organist and musician."

Christine Castillo

(Class of 2020, Major: Biochemistry)

• West lab: Spring 2018 - Present

• "I am from Los Angeles, California and I am studying Biochemistry at Ave Maria University. After I graduate, I am interested in pursuing a career as a Physician Assistant."

Tucker Fischer

(Class of 2019, Major: Biochemistry)

• West lab: Fall 2017 - Present

• "I am originally from the great state of Texas. In my free time I enjoy reading, camping, and playing tennis. My goal is to become a physician-scientist studying Autism Spectrum Disorder, its causes and treatment methods."

Kathleen Kelly

(Class of 2019, Triple Major: Classics, Physics, and Biochemistry)

• • West lab: Fall 2017 - Present

  • "I am a junior at Ave Maria University, studying physics and classics as well as biochemistry. In the future, I hope either to attend graduate school or to study medicine."

Bernadette Hartney

(Class of 2019, Major: Biochemistry, Minor: Biology)

• West lab: Spring 2018 - Present

• "I was born and raised in Augusta, Georgia home of the Masters, and live about three miles away from it, but sadly have never been inside it myself. I love Ave Maria University and the diversity it offers its students. I plan on pursuing Medical School or an MD/PhD in biomedical sciences."

Megan Kube

(Class of 2018, Major: Biochemistry)

• West lab: Spring 2017 to Present

• "I'm aspiring to be a physician-scientist with a PhD in neuroscience. I hope to study changes in brain metabolism that cause or result from Alzheimer's disease, and how these pathways might be therapeutically targeted."

• Summer research experience:

  • Marian University of Osteopathic Medicine, Neuroscience, 2015, Kristen Metzler-Wilson, PT, PhD

  • Eli Lilly, Experimental Biology - Diabetes/Syndrome X, 2016, James Perfield, PhD

  • Indiana University School of Medicine, Psychiatry, 2017, Brady Atwood, PhD

Rachel Litong

(Class of 2018, Major: Biochemistry, Minor: Theology)

• • West lab: Spring 2017 - Present

  • "I am from the beautiful, diverse city of Houston, Texas and in addition to medical science, I dearly love my family, my two dogs and food! Following graduation, I will be applying to medical school in pursuance of my aspiration to become a pediatric physician.

  • Summer experience:

    • Texas Children’s Pediatrics Cinco Ranch, Mentor: Niranjan S. Puranik, MD., 2017

Jeffrey Simpson

(Class of 2018, Major: Biochemistry)

• West lab: Spring 2018 - Present

• "I am from Manchester, New Hampshire. I am in my senior at Ave and I plan on attending Medical school after a year of working in a hospital environment."

• Research experience:

  • Barbosa Lab, Ave Maria University, 3 semesters

  • Student Observer and Assistant, Hygeia Hospital network, Athens, Greece. Mentors: Dr. Spiros Lazarou, M.D. Dr. Gregorias Tsiotos, M.D.

  • Summer Intern Researcher, Bedford Massachusetts Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Edith Nourse Rodgers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA. Mentors: Dr. Peter J Morin, M.D., PhD. Alan Mandell, M.D.

Kathrine Armstrong

(Class of 2021, South University, Nursing)

• • West lab: Spring 2017; Currently transferred to South University

  • "I am originally from West Palm Beach, FL. However, I recently moved to California to be with my husband and pursue my dream of becoming a mom. I am currently a nursing student at South University, and I hope to help individuals while balancing my personal life."

  • Research/Medical experience:

    • Student Observer - 2015, Bethesda West Hospital,West Palm Beach, FL, Supervisor: Dr. Francis Rodriguez

    • Medical Fellowship - 2016, Atlantis Project, Ourense, Galicia, Spain, Supervisor: Dra. Sarah

Nora Gillen

(Class of 2019, Major: Biochemistry)

• • West lab: Fall 2017; Currently studying abroad in Ireland

  • "I am a junior biochemistry major and literature minor from Naples, Florida. I have been a member of Ave’s research lab since my second semester Freshman year. I hope to attend medical school."

  • Medical Experience: Volunteer at Camp Make a Dream (August 2016)

Fiona Miller

(Class of 2020, Major: Biochemistry)

• • West lab: Spring 2017; currently in Vranish lab

  • "I am a sophomore pursuing a degree in biochemistry with the intention of going into biomedical engineering and working on prosthetics. I've had the opportunity to work in the research since the second semester of freshman year and look forward to participating in an REU this summer. Currently, I work as the chemistry department student lab tech."

Jennifer Rivera

(Class of 2018, Major: Biochemistry)

• West lab: Spring 2017; currently in Barbosa lab

• "I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry. After graduation, I will be applying to medical school to become an internal or family practice physician. I love both the scientific and interpersonal aspects of medicine and hope to one day apply my acquired knowledge and skills in helping others."

• Summer experience: "I worked at an NCH emergency room in Naples and am now a medical assistant at a multi-specialty clinic in Ave Maria."

Lucy Schlink

(Class of 2017, B.A. Biochemistry and Physics Ave Maria University)

• West lab: Spring 2017

• "I'm eternally grateful for my time spent at Ave Maria University, and forever indebted to the Chemistry/Physics Department for fostering my dreams of pursuing an MD/PhD with focus in Medical Physics/Medical Engineering."

• Current position: Clinical Research Assistant I, FNNDSC, Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School (July 2017-present) - determining NIRS potential to assess and predict outcomes of neonates with perinatal brain injury and neonates with intraventricular hemorrhage/hydrocephalus, P. Ellen Grant, MD.

• Previous summer experiences

  • SEAP, DoD ONR NUWC Newport (2013), Code 81: Insensitive Munitions.

  • FNNDSC Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School (2015 & 2016) - NIRS imaging modality, P. Ellen Grant, MD.