Meet Our Students (2021-2022) 

	Ahmad Al Saneh ahmad-alsaneh@uiowa.edu I am Lebanese with a second home in Iowa. I obtained my BS in Biology and MSc in Molecular Biology from the Lebanese American University in Beirut, Lebanon where I focused on Cancer Therapeutics. Being a graduate student, I admire the energy and experiences you get from working with people from different walks of life. I like to spend my spare time working out, catching up on readings and connecting with loved ones.
	Ayushi ayushi-ayushi@uiowa.edu Degree(s) Obtained: Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, Bachelors in Pharmacy Hometown/Country: New Delhi, India Best part of being a graduate student is that we are getting paid for learning and becoming a part of a chain of knowledge. I am a music enthusiast. I enjoy singing and playing guitar.
	Nathaniel Barton nathaniel-barton@uiowa.edu Degree(s) Obtained: Brigham Young University, B.S. Genetics, Genomics,& Biotechnology; Secondary major in Bioinformatics. Minors in Computer Science and Molecular Biology. Hometown/Country: Fort Mohave, AZ I love the freedom to intellectually explore big ideas and work with other intelligent, like-minded individuals. Outside of the lab I enjoy cooking gourmet meals, making music on the piano and saxophone, and playing racquetball.
	Madhuri Bendale madhuri-bendale@uiowa.edu Hometown/country: Mumbai, India Degree(s) Obtained: University of Mumbai; Bachelor of Pharmacy; University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; MS in Pharmacology Favorite part about being a graduate student is learning something new everyday from classes, research papers and laboratory experiments..  Outside the lab, I enjoy baking, swimming, solving sudoku puzzles and watching cricket.
	Michelle Buckman michelle-buckman@uiowa.edu Degree(s) Obtained: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, BSc Biochemistry; University of Ghana, MPhil Molecular Cell Biology of Infectious Diseases Hometown/Country: Ghana Favorite part about being a graduate student is the opportunity to learn new things. Favorite hobbies/activities outside of research are sight-seeing and watching movies.
	Kyle Current kyle-current@uiowa.edu Degree (s) Obtained:  University of North Texas, BA Biochemistry, Biology minor Hometown/Country: Dallas, TX Favorite part about being a graduate student is networking and forming collaborations at Iowa that will help me succeed further in my career! Favorite hobbies, activities outside of research are photography, backpacking & traveling to new and exciting places!
	Xin Ding xin-ding@uiowa.edu Degree(s) Obtained: South-Central University for Nationalities (Bachelor and Master) Hometown/Country: China Favorite part about being a graduate student is to participate in the research project that I'm really interested in. Favorite hobbies/activities outside of research are to try different musical instruments and play theme songs of my favorite teleplay or movie.
	Weijie Du weijie-du@uiowa.edu Degree(s) Obtained: Nanjing agricultural university, BS Hometown/Country:  Jinan, China Favorite part about being a graduate student is flexibility.  Favorite hobbies/activities outside of research is painting.
	Travis Fischer travis-fischer@uiowa.edu Degree(s) Obtained: University of New Hampshire, B.S. in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology Hometown/Country: Candia, New Hampshire Favorite part about being a graduate student is being able to conduct research in a field that specifically interests me and the ability to learn new things- either in the classroom or the lab. Favorite hobbies/activities outside of research are archery, painting, going to sporting events, and trivia nights.
	Eric Huntemann eric-huntemann@uiowa.edu Degree(s) Obtained: Illinois College; BS Health Sciences Hometown/Country: Mackinaw, IL
	Hyojin Kim hyojin-kim@uiowa.edu  Undergraduate Institution(s), Degree(s) Obtained: Handong Global University, Bachelor of Science Hometown/Country: Busan/ South Korea My favorite part of being a graduate student is being able to study deeply into the field that I am interested in. Outside of research, I enjoy traveling.
	Yuxi Li yuxi-li@uiowa.edu Degree(s) Obtained: Nanjing Medical University, B.S. in Basic Medical Science; Case Western Reserve University, M.S. in Biochemistry Hometown/Country: China Being a graduate student, I look forward to exploring many unknowns with my efforts in the coming years during my graduate study.  And I believe this experience will truly help me to better prepare myself for further career.  Outside research, I love baking and reading all kinds of books, with my cat at home.
	Guiru Ma guiru-ma@uiowa.edu Favorite part about being a graduate student is meeting intelligent people.  Favorite hobbies/activities outside of research include traveling, road trips.
	Tate Neff tate-neff@uiowa.edu Degree(s) Obtained: BS in Biochemistry, University of Iowa Geneseo, Illinois, USA My favorite aspect of being a grad student is being a part of a passionate, supportive community of students and mentors. My favorite hobby outside of research is racing in triathlons.
	Uchechi Okoroafor uchechi-okoroafor@uiowa.edu Degree(s) Obtained: University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Pharmacy.  Maynooth University; MS, Immunology and Global Health Hometown/Country: Nigeria Favorite hobbies/activities outside of research include baking and volunteering.
	Alexis Ramos  alexis-ramos@uiowa.edu Degree(s) Obtained: University of Kansas, BS in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Hometown/Country: Topeka, Kansas I love doing research, discovering new things,  and hope to create a better future for others.  I like to shop, watch true crime documentaries, and take care of my plants.
	Juan Rodriguez Centeno juan-rodriguez@uiowa.edu  Degree(s) Obtained: University of Puerto Rico - Bayamon, B.S. Biology Hometown/Country: San Juan, Puerto Rico Favorite part about being a graduate student is being part of the Biomedical Science scientific community that is working on elucidating and solving multiple problems that directly affect the health of our society.  My favorite activities outside of research are biking, hiking, and watching sports.
	Shreyashree Sarkar shreyashree-sarkar@uiowa.edu Degree(s) Obtained: University of Calcutta,  B.Sc. (H) Microbiology; Jadavpur University, M.Sc. Biotechnology (Gold Medalist) Hometown/Country:  Kolkata, India Favorite part about being a graduate student is that I can choose what to learn and embark on a new adventure everyday right on my lab bench. Outside of research, I enjoy dance, music, and story books. I also love to extend my passion for research into the kitchen.
	Alexa Sheehan alexa-sheehan@uiowa.edu Degree(s) Obtained: Tulane University, B.S. Cell and Molecular Biology Hometown/Country: Wausau, WI Favorite part about being a graduate student is applying what I learn in the classroom to practical experiments in the lab and seeing how they can directly impact patients in the future. Favorite hobbies/activities outside of research include soccer, reading, watching sports, spending time with friends.
	Sahebgowda Sidramagowda Patil sahebgowda-sidramagowdapatil@uiowa.edu  Degree(s) Obtained: University of South Florida, Tampa, MS (Cell and Molecular Biology); Sir M Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, Bangalore, India, BE (Biotechnology)  Hometown/Country: Bengaluru, India
	Souradip Sinha  souradip-sinha@uiowa.edu  Degree(s) Obtained: B.Sc.(Hons.) - Scottish Church College; M.Sc. - Jadavpur University  Hometown/Country: Calcutta, West Bengal, India  Favorite part about being a graduate student - the more we know, the more we realize how little we can possibly know in one life! The best part about being a graduate student is appreciating how beautiful and sophisticated life is. Currently, I will complete my PhD training, and hopefully join a lab working in cancer signaling.  Outside of research I am a history and political science enthusiast. I love learning about different cultures, their social dynamics, and the impact of colonialism on today's world.  A proud Bengali from the City of Joy, I love my language, food, music and literature. Wisdom imbibed from Netaji Subhas Bose, Tagore, Satyajit Ray, Scottish Church College, and my Father shapes my worldview! PS: People in Iowa City are awesome!
	Israel Wipf israel-wipf@uiowa.edu Undergraduate Institution(s), Degree(s) Obtained: Vanderbilt, Bachelor of Biological Science; University of Northern Colorado, Master of Biological Science  Hometown/Country: Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  My favorite part of being a graduate student is the opportunity to explore questions no one has the answer to. Outside of research, I enjoy reading and writing fiction, lifting weights and biking, listening to music and playing the drums, visiting breweries, going to the cinema, and watching the Office on repeat.
	Jianyu Yu jianyu-yu@uiowa.edu Degree(s) Obtained: Southern Medical University, Bachelor Hometown/Country: China Favorite part about being a graduate student is doing research. Favorite hobbies/activities outside of research include playing guitar.