Graduate Student Spotlight

Logan Kavanaugh, M.Sci, was featured in an Emory News special report 2036: The Future Starts Here discussing her passion for microbiology and how an academic scholarship has allowed her to continue studying antibiotic resistance. Logan is a 4^th year PhD student in the Conn Lab, Biochemistry, and the Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Program (MMG) program of the Emory University Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (GDBBS).

Congratulations to Michael Cato in the Ortlund Lab, Biochemistry, on earning the John B. Lyon Memorial Scholarship Award. Michael is a PhD student in the Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology (BCDB) program in the Emory University GDBBS. The John B. Lyon Memorial Scholarship Award is one of several distinguished named awards from Emory's Laney Graduate School. 

Congratulations to Dr. Kamyra Edokpolor, PhD, of the Bassell Lab, Cell Biology, who successfully defended her thesis in the Emory University GDBBS Neuroscience (NS) program on September 21, 2022. Her thesis research presentation was titled: “Altered behavioral responses show GABA sensitivity in Muscleblind-like 2 deficient mice: Implications for CNS symptoms in myotonic dystrophy.” This research was recently published in eNeuro with Kamyra as first author.  

Kamyra has been advised over the past few years by mentor Dr. Gary Bassell, and thesis committee members: Drs. Anita Corbett, Peter Wenner, Shannon Gourley and Paul Garcia (Columbia University). Kamyra’s research has been supported by a fellowship from the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation. Kamyra's next career steps are taking her to the MBA program at Emory Goizueta Business School.  ]

Photo left to right: Kamyra Edokpolor and Gary Bassell, PhD

Juan Rodriguez, a PhD student in the Katz Lab, Cell Biology, won the Kharen Fulton Diversity Graduate Award for 2021. Juan is in the Emory University GDBBS Genetics and Molecular Biology (GMB) program.

The award, which was established in 2016, is named for Kharen Fulton, the longtime Director of Recruitment, Diversity, and Admissions at James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies. It is presented annually to a graduate student who demonstrates an unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion in her/his/their academic community. 

Juan’s commitment to diversity and inclusion runs deep. He has created a path to college for middle school students in San Juan, Puerto Rico; prepared students in an English as a Second Language course in his community for the math and science portions of the GED; and helped many graduate students find a home at Emory.

Photo left to right: David Katz, Juan Rodriguez, and Kimberly Jacob Arriola

Gaby Delima, PhD student in the Lowen Lab, Microbiology and Immunology, won 1^st Place in the LGS 3 Minute Thesis competition for her presentation, "Flu Viruses: Better Together by Gabrielle Delima," focusing on virus-virus interactions playing out during cellular coinfection. Gabrielle is a student in the Emory University GDBBS Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (MMG) program.

Kenny (Wukun) Ouyang​, Master's student in the Mo Lab, Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, received a 2^nd prize poster award at 2022 UGA-Winship Cancer Research Summit. He presented the Mo Lab’s research on understanding and targeting “undruggable” tumor suppressor gene SMAD4. Kenny is a student in the Emory University Cancer Biology 4+1 Master's Program of the Laney Graduate School.