Spotlights
Students, Faculty & Alumni
GMS PhD Spotlight: Chelsea Webber
Chelsea Webber is a degree candidate in the GMS PhD Program in Biomolecular Pharmacology. Her dissertation research in the lab of Professor of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics Benjamin Wolozin, MD, PhD, focused on ways to decrease the overactivation of immune response in neurodegenerative diseases. Chelsea defended her dissertation in March 2024 and will graduate in May 2024. Read more about Chelsea below! What did you complete your dissertation research on and how did you settle on... More
GMS Master’s Spotlight: Elena Redmond (BMFS ’24)
Elena Redmond is a May 2024 degree candidate in the Biomedical Forensic Sciences (BMFS) master’s program. Her thesis research used a high-pressure mass spectrometer to create a library for detecting organic gunshot residue. Aside from her studies, Elena has spent almost two years working as an intern with the GMS Marketing & Communications team, where she took ownership over updating the web calendar, helping with Spotlight articles and assembling the bi-weekly GMS Press newsletter. Congratulations, Elena! We'll... More
GMS PhD Spotlight: Katie Babcock
Katie Babcock, PhD, is a January 2024 graduate of the PhD program in Anatomy & Neurobiology. Her dissertation research under Professor of Neurology & Pathology Ann McKee at the BU Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center focused on changes in astrocytes in the brains of deceased former American football players. Katharine defended her dissertation in November 2023. Read more about Katie below! What did you complete your dissertation research on and how did you settle on that... More
Introducing Our 2024 Commencement Speakers!
We’re about five weeks away from Spring 2024 Commencement, where the Graduate Medical Sciences community will come together to celebrate this year’s graduating students. With the date fast approaching, we’d like to take a moment to highlight the four students selected to speak at this year’s GMS Commencement exercises. Three students were chosen to speak at the Master’s Ceremony, and one student was chosen to represent GMS at the MD & PhD Ceremony. All speakers were nominated... More
GMS PhD Spotlight: Gian Sepulveda
Gian Sepulveda is a PhD candidate in the Graduate Program in Genetics & Genomics (GPGG). His research in the lab of Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Cell Biology Alla Grishok focuses on the interaction between the sole H3K79 methyltransferase, DOT1L, and the proto-oncogene c-MYC. He is also a Community Catalyst Center mentor in the gPLUS and gGLOBAL affinity groups. Gian defended his dissertation in March 2024 and will graduate in May 2024. Read more about... More
GMS PhD Spotlight: Táchira Pichardo
Táchira Pichardo is a PhD candidate in the Graduate Program in Molecular & Translational Medicine (MTM). Her research in the lab of Assistant Professor of Medicine Sarah Mazzilli, PhD, studies the progression of premalignancy in lung squamous cell carcinoma. Táchira defended her dissertation in March 2024 and will graduate in May 2024. Read more about Táchira below! What did you complete your dissertation research on and how did you settle on that topic? My dissertation research focused... More
Four GMS Faculty Named Recipients of Edward Avedisian Professorships
Four Graduate Medical Sciences faculty have been named recipients of Edward Avedisian Professorships, funded from the $100 million gift made in 2022 by the late Edward Avedisian (CFA'59,'61, Hon.'22) and his wife Pamela (Hon.'23). The four GMS faculty members are: Rachel Fearns, chair of virology, immunology, and microbiology. Dr. Fearns was named the Ernest Barsamian, MD, Professor. Hee-Young Park, professor and chair of medical sciences and education, professor of dermatology, and associate dean for faculty affairs. Dr. Park... More
GMS PhD Spotlight: Todd Dowrey (MTM)
Todd Dowrey is a PhD candidate in the Molecular and Translational Medicine Department who matriculated into the Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS) in 2020. His current research in the lab of Associate Professor of Medicine George Murphy, PhD, studies healthy aging and longevity. As part of his work, Todd collaborates with aging-focused researchers on campus like Professor of Medicine Tom Perls, MD, MPH, FACP, the founding director of the New England Centenarian Study. Todd’s work... More
GMS Faculty Spotlight: Aaron W. Young, PhD
Aaron W. Young, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics at the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. He is also the assistant director of the Graduate Medical Sciences Masters in Oral Health Sciences program. Dr. Young has played a significant role in curriculum design and course directorship across several programs within the medical school. A first-generation undergraduate, graduate, and PhD student, Dr. Young also enjoys mentoring students with... More
GMS Student Spotlight: Maxine Slattery (BMFS ’24)
Maxine Slattery is a second-year student in the Graduate Medical Sciences (GMS) Biomedical Forensic Sciences master’s program with an eye for forensic biology, crime scene investigation and advocacy. Slattery was born in San Diego and spent her childhood summers between Boston and Cape Cod, where her parents grew up and met. Her older siblings moved to Boston and New York when she was a teenager. For Slattery, who already felt rooted on the East Coast, following suit... More