UC President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards
August 6, 2024 – Postdoctoral researchers Christopher William Anderson and Lamar Samanta Thomas have been selected as 2024-2025 Chancellor’s and President’s Postdoctoral Fellows from the University of California’s Presidents’ Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (PPFP). Debbie Ledezma was awarded in 2023-2024 and will continue her fellowship this year. The fellowship will help support their research at the various centers here at IEM and foster the eligibility of a hiring incentive for their research, teaching, and service that will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity at the University of California. Congratulations to these selected researchers on their well-deserved recognition! Read below to find out more about their projects and IEM centers. For more information about the PPFP, visit here.
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Ph.D. in Experimental Pathology, Yale University Department: Shu Chien - Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering Mentor: Andrew McCulloch, Distinguished Professor of Bioengineering and Medicine, Institute of Engineering in Medicine Director Cardiac Biomedical Science and Engineering Center (CBSEC) and Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Center (BMTEC) member Anderson is based in the Cardiac Mechanics Research Group here at UC San Diego. The group’s research focuses on the mechanics and electrical dynamics of the normal and diseased heart from molecular to organ scales. Anderson’s work delves into the role of cardiac-resident macrophages in decompensatory remodeling after non-ischemic injury. |
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Ph.D. in Microbiology, The State University of New York at Binghamton University Department: Pediatrics and Pharmacy Mentor: Victor Nizet, Professor of Pediatrics; Co-Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Engineering Advances (IDEAs) The Nizet Lab at UC San Diego focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis and the innate immune system, focusing especially on invasive and antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Thomas’ research topic hones in on uncovering the ability of a current Strep throat vaccine, Vax-A1, to provide cross-protection for vaginal Strep colonization. |
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Ph.D. in Immunology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences Department: Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Dept. of Chemical and Nano Engineering Mentor: Nicole Steinmetz, Professor of Nanoengineering, Co-Director Center for Engineering in Cancer (CEC) The Steinmetz Lab focuses on pushing new frontiers in human and plant health through designing, developing, and testing materials and biologics derived from plant viruses. They utilize a novel approach of redesigning and repurposing naturally occurring nanoparticles derived from plant viruses. One of their most notable designs is the use of a cowpea mosaic virus to create a cancer vaccine. |
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