Spotlights
Students, Faculty & Alumni
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
GMS Staff Spotlight: Patty Jones
Patty Jones is the Program Administrator for the Graduate Medical Sciences masters programs in Biomedical Forensic Sciences, Forensic Anthropology, Bioimaging, and Healthcare Emergency Management in the Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology. Patty joined GMS in 1999 and will celebrate her 25th work anniversary in December 2024. We interviewed Patty about her time at Boston University, her favorite parts of her job, advice she would give to students and more. Read more about Patty below! Tell me... More
PhD Student Spotlight: Kara Vasilew
In her four years in Graduate Medical Sciences, Kara Vasilew has used both her scientific acumen to perform novel research and her voice to advocate for wide-reaching change across the Medical Campus and beyond. Vasilew entered Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine in 2020 under the PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS). Vasilew was born in California to parents from Scotland. When it came time to attend college in 2014, Vasilew took the jump and... More
GMS Alumna Chadene Tremaglio, PhD, Talks Careers in Science, Teaching, and Balancing with Parenthood
Boston University Broadening Experience in Scientific Training (BU’s BEST) hosted GMS alumna Chadene Tremaglio, PhD, for a lunchtime Alumni Career Talk with Graduate Medical Sciences students. The event, hosted on Tuesday, Dec. 5, in L-403, filled the classroom with 36 registrants for Tremaglio’s visit. Tremaglio’s presentation, titled “My Adventures in Balancing a Career in Science and Motherhood,” discussed her assistant professor position at USJ, her career path from her own undergraduate years until now, and advice... More
GMS Faculty Spotlight: Andrew Henderson, PhD
Andrew Henderson, PhD, has spent the last 16 years at the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, during which time he has both performed groundbreaking research and been a part of developing two innovative PhD-training pathway programs in Graduate Medical Sciences (GMS). Henderson is professor of medicine/infectious diseases and virology, immunology & microbiology . He also serves as the assistant dean of research for Graduate Medical Sciences. Henderson completed his PhD training at the University of California, More