Introducing the First GMS Cohort of American Cancer Society Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellows

This year, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine welcomed its first cohort of four scholars to its new American Cancer Society Center for Diversity in Cancer Research Training (ACS-DICR) Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellows Program.

The two-year Post-Baccalaureate Fellows Program aims to enhance diversity in the cancer research workforce by increasing the number of individuals from underrepresented groups in biomedical science.

Throughout the program, students will conduct biomedical research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. This mentored research will produce a defined project, alongside individual professional development, support services, travel to scientific meetings, networking opportunities and more.

Faculty mentors in the fellowship program work in several departments within GMS and the wider Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. Rachel Flynn, PhD, associate professor of pharmacology, physiology & biophysics, directs the program.

“The ACS-DICR program is an incredibly unique two-year training opportunity that integrates our strengths in cancer research, academic education, mentoring, and professional development to create a positive environment that promotes the success of underrepresented groups in biomedical science and medicine,” Flynn said. “Our long-term goal is to create a research workforce that more accurately reflects the very patients we serve within the BMC Cancer Center.”

GMS is pleased to welcome four outstanding scholars to this year’s ACS-DICR program: Reema Elrefaie, Joyce Liang, Theresa Rosato and Mackenzie Urbano. Meet each fellow below!


Reema Elrefaie

Hometown: North Attleborough, MA
Faculty Mentor: Elliot Hagedorn, PhD

Could you please tell me a bit about your educational background up to this point?

I did my undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Science. I initially started college as a pre-med/biology major. I didn’t know much about research as a path at the time, until my junior year when I took a developmental biology course with Dr. Catherine McCusker, who had mentioned her undergraduate students and research during lectures. I joined the McCusker Lab shortly after in Jan. 2022, where we studied regenerative medicine in the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum).

Before joining the McCusker Lab, I also spent three weeks at the Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Jan. 2022 learning basic lab techniques and data analysis while working on different ‘mini projects’ each week. In summer 2022, I spent three months at Tufts during the summer (BDBS Tufts Summer Program) working in Dr. Iris Jaffe’s lab, where we studied peripheral vascular disease.

What motivated you to apply to this program specifically?

Although I knew I would want to continue my education after I completed my bachelor’s degree, I didn’t know what exactly I loved and wanted to do. With my minimal research experience, I applied to a few research technician jobs in the Boston area and post-baccalaureate programs that would be beneficial for my decision making and future applications. I didn’t hear about the Boston University ACS-DICR fellowship until I spoke to my advisor at UMass Boston. It was a great opportunity that had a personal meaning to me, and I am grateful to be able to spend my next two years at the Hagedorn Lab here at Boston University.

What will your research entail over the next two years?

I will be a post-bacc fellow in the Hagedorn Lab for the next two years. In the Hagedorn Lab, the research focuses on how blood stem cells, or hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), make their way through the body and make their way into specific tissues and tumors.

When a cancer patient undergoes chemotherapy or treatment, they become immunocompromised. Chemotherapy kills both good cells and bad cells, which in this case, would be the stem cells and the cancer cells, respectively. One method to replenish the cancer patient’s immune system is to receive a bone marrow transplant from a donor (a healthy person without cancer or a blood/immune disorder). To replenish the cancer patient’s stem cells and immune system, it could take six months to a year.

One of the goals of the Hagedorn Lab is to make this process more efficient as well. With zebrafish as a model, the lab is studying how cells move through tissues and eventually reach the bone marrow.

What are you most looking forward to between now and two years from now, when the program ends?

I am looking forward to learning how to work with zebrafish with the help of my mentors and to attend seminars where I can expand my understanding about the field of cancer research and what still needs to be done.

I chose research in cancer biology because of my dad’s struggle with stage 4 gastric cancer. I am passionate about making meaningful contributions to cancer research to improve treatments and quality of life for all cancer patients and immunocompromised individuals.


Joyce Liang

Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Faculty Mentor: Marc Lenburg, PhD and Jennifer Beane, PhD

Could you please tell me a bit about your educational background up to this point?

I recently completed my undergraduate degree at Boston University, studying biology with a specialization in cell biology, molecular biology, and genetics. I have always taken a keen interest in the cancer biology field, which was kick started by my first lab experience in undergrad.

During my undergrad, I participated in a variety of different opportunities to develop my research skill sets as well as research mind, including many of BU Charles River Campus’ opportunities such as Biology Research for Credit, Honors Biology Research for Credit, and the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program.

What motivated you to apply to this program specifically?

I applied for the ACS Post-Bacc Fellowship to learn more about cancer. During my undergrad, I was inspired by many of my biology professors in the field of cancer and the many avenues that it has, whether that’s in computational biology, immunology, etc. The ACS Post-Bacc program not only offered me the opportunity to learn more about cancer in an academic institution under NIH-funded principal investigators, but also allowed me the opportunity to join a lab to further develop my skills as a scientist.

What will your research entail over the next two years?

Currently, I am part of the Lenburg and Beane Lab at the Computational Biology department, studying lung cancer.

What are you most looking forward to between now and two years from now, when the program ends?

I am looking forward to further developing my skills as a computational biologist and scientist, meeting new people at different institutions across the United States, as well as learning more about cancer.


Theresa Rosato

Hometown: Milford, CT
Faculty Mentor: Deborah Lang, PhD

Could you please tell me a bit about your educational background up to this point?

Before coming to BU, I studied at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. I have a BS in biomedical engineering with a concentration in biomaterials and a minor in biology. While there, I had the opportunity to assist with a number of different research projects, including the development of a wearable medical device for my senior thesis.

What motivated you to apply to this program specifically?

I’m very passionate about research, and I wanted to diversify my skillset before applying to graduate school. I hope to continue my education by enrolling in a PhD program at the conclusion of this program, and I know my experiences at BU will help me to achieve this goal. I already feel very supported by the people here!

What will your research entail over the next two years?

I am working in Dr. Deborah Lang’s lab, studying the function of the PAX3 gene and its role in melanoma.

What are you most looking forward to between now and two years from now, when the program ends?

I am most excited to get to know all the amazing people that are involved with this program! I look forward to learning from our mentors and growing alongside my peers.


Mackenzie Urbano

Hometown: Guam
Faculty Mentor: Hui Feng, MD, PhD

Could you please tell me a bit about your educational background up to this point?

I graduated from the University of Guam in 2022, and I have two bachelor’s degrees:  biology and chemistry. After that, I moved to Portland. I wanted to take a gap year to become acclimated to living alone in the states, and I decided that I wanted to work. So, I found a job in food microbiology. I was a lab technician for about two years, and then I applied to ACS-DICR. The opportunity came about when I was ready to pursue my actual career goals, which was to get a PhD in pharmacology. I applied to the ACS-DICR program as a way to gain more experience in research and become a stronger PhD applicant, and now I’m here!

What motivated you to apply to this program specifically?

I care a lot about diversity in research. Coming from Guam, the representation of pacific islanders in the field of scientific research is limited. Thus, this was one of the sources of motivation for me to pursue a career in research . I think what I liked about ACS-DICR was that it involved a lot of aspects that I felt that I needed to become a strong applicant in the PhD application process. So, it has the research part, and I’ll be spending two years solely doing research. But it also has career development opportunities, and it has opportunities for mentoring and networking. Seeing that the program allowed me all these opportunities as well as the space to grow as a researcher is what motivated me to apply for the program.

What will your research entail over the next two years?

I’m still learning everything about the lab I joined, but I’m currently in Dr. Hui Feng’s lab here in the pharmacology department. That’s lining up with where I want to be, which is a PhD in pharmacology. I’m currently working with a graduate student on their project. The project is looking at targeting the p97-UFD1 complex and disrupting their interaction as an approach for cancer drug development. I’m excited to hop on it and contribute to that and see where it takes me.

What are you most looking forward to between now and two years from now, when the program ends?

I think, going into this, I was most excited about growing as a researcher. Especially coming from Guam, I think that my research opportunities were limited. I feel like this is the time for me to really grow and expand my skills as a researcher and my knowledge as well. I love being in the lab. I love doing lab work. So, I’m really excited to do more of that, and learn from that and grow. I also feel like networking is another thing I’m excited about.  I feel like that’ll be important in terms of building relationships and establishing them so that it can open the door to more opportunities in the future.