BUSM Welcomes New MD/PhD Class

The eight stellar students that began the MD/PhD program in August of 2011 come from diverse backgrounds and distinct life paths, leading them towards the pursuit of a career as a Physician-Scientist.  The following are brief biographies of our new class:

I grew up near San Francisco, CA and I attended UCLA for undergrad where I majored in neuroscience. During my time there I did research in Dr. Daniel Kaufman’s lab on vaccine induced neuroprotection on a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. After graduating, I spent a year working as a research technician for the for the Radu/Czernin lab at UCLA breeding mice and characterizing the effects of knocking out nucleoside salvage pathways in mice. Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing sports, mainly basketball. – Terry Hsieh

I grew up in Torrance, CA and went to College at University of California San Diego.  I majored in Biochemistry with emphasis on cellular biology.   While an undergraduate I worked in Dr. Saier’s lab working on bacterial genetics.  I was given the project to engineer a bacterial genome used for symbiotic relationships with humans by acting as a biological birth control.  My favorite activities include going out and meeting new people, acting/filming  and playing video games.  - Omar Mohtar

I am a Canadian, who was born in Hyderabad, Pakistan, but when it came time to choose a university to attend, Mississippi State University, the alma mater of everyone in my immediate family, was an easy choice.  My passion for research started with a summer internship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center conducting research on the biosynthesis of proteins associated with the serotonin system in alcohol-dependent subjects.  Subsequently, at MSU, I was involved in a number of research projects in various fields, and after graduating with my bachelors in biochemistry, I worked as a researcher for two years at MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine in the field of equine medicine researching the proteomics of Summer Pasture Recurrent Airway Obstruction among other projects.  Outside the lab, I like volunteering, traveling, and baking. – Nisma Mujahid

I graduated from Dartmouth College in 2008, majoring in Economics and Japanese Language and Literature. I finished a post-baccalaureate program at the University of Pennsylvania and pursued research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine during my time in Philly. Most of my research experiences have focused on examining DNA vectors as a vaccine platform that can elicit prophylactic and therapeutic immune responses against numerous infectious diseases, including HIV, HPV, influenza, dengue fever, and yellow fever. Moving forward, I hope to continue exploring my interests in immunology, viral oncology, and infectious diseases. Outside of school and work, I enjoy lying on the grass with a good book and (time-permitting) traveling.  – Thomas Shin

Born in Hong Kong, I grew up in Newton, MA and attended Boston University, where I studied Biology and Architecture. During undergrad, I worked in Dr. Christopher Walsh’s lab at Children’s Hospital and Dr. Eric Wong’s lab at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Through the collaborative efforts of these two labs, we studied the dynamic role of cerebrospinal fluid in neuro-cortical development, while also drawing comparisons between CNS stem cells and cells-of-origin in our disease model, glioblastoma multiforme. When not thinking about science, I love photography, cooking, and visiting art museums. – Melody Lun

I was born in Boston, MA and grew up just north of the city in Melrose, MA. I recently graduated from Connecticut College in New London, CT in May 2011. I majored in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology at Conn. I conducted my undergraduate honors thesis research in the laboratory of Dr. Stephen Loomis. The main objective of this research was to determine the molecules that are involved in the cryotolerance mechanism used by Orchestia grillus, a small marsh arthropod, to survive the cold winter climate. I am currently interested in pursuing research in molecular biology with a focus on cell signaling and the role it plays in the onset of diseases such as cancer. When I’m not exploring the wonders of biomedical science, I’m an engaged and passionate Boston sports fan. I also enjoy good food, good music, and spending time with family and friends. I’m extremely excited and grateful to be back in the city I love most. – Nicholas Woolf

I was born in India, but I grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas and Newton, Massachusetts. Before entering the MD/PhD program, I was a student in the seven year medical program at Boston University, majoring in Medical Sciences and minoring in Anthropology. During undergrad, I did research in the lab of Dr. Joseph Loscalzo at Brigham and Women’s Hosptial, studying the relationship between oxidative stress and atherosclerosis as well as Dr. Gregory Viglianti’s lab at Boston University, studying retinoic acid-mediated repression of HIV transcription. I hope to further explore treatment and prevention of infectious diseases during my PhD work. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, writing short stories, traveling, and watching Boston sports teams pile on the championships. – Anjali Jacob

I grew up in Dover, MA and attended Vassar College, where I majored in Cognitive Science. After graduating in 2009, I moved to Philadelphia and worked in the University of Pennsylvania’s Neuropsychiatry Section. While there, I used functional MRI in conjunction with behavioral testing and clinical assessments to study the motivation and reward deficits in people with schizophrenia. I am fascinated by social function and dysfunction in psychiatric illness and hope to further my own understanding of these complex behaviors through my years at BU and throughout my career. – Jake Kantrowitz