CTS Teams and Alumni

CTS Team program

CTS Participants

Learn more about the CTS Team program through the experiences and achievements of past and present participants.

Research Day

Testimonials

Caretia Washington

“The CTS program has taught me how to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team and collaborate toward a shared goal. It has inspired me to develop the skills needed to improve the efficiency and impact of clinical research. Working with my team science partner, Chayil, has further motivated me in my health research. I am forever grateful to the program for shaping my growth as a collaborative clinical and translational scientist.”

Caretia Washington

Robert Eisinger

“It has opened opportunities and collaborations that I otherwise would not have pursued. The team-based approach is novel and enriching and by far the highlight of this program”

Robert Eisinger

Jack Figg

“The CTS program’s team-based approach broadened my understanding of adoptive immunotherapy by placing it in a translational context. Collaborating with medical physics experts allowed us to build upon my preclinical investigations and tailor our work toward real-world clinical applications in neuro-oncology.”

Jack Figg

Current CTS Team Trainees

2025-2027 Trainees

3D cell culture with magnetic-scaffolds to investigate host-pathogen
interactions via extracellular vesicle (EV) route

Team

Brian Molina Diaz; Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy
Alexander Schultz; Microbiology and Cell Science, CALS

Mentors

Mei He, PhD
Mariola Ferraro, PhD

Brian Molina Diaz
Headshot of Alexander Schultz

Investigating the Sex- and Age-Dependent Effects of Prenatal Methamphetamine Exposure on Dopamine Signaling Using Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry

Team

Kayleigh Linder; Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy
Emily Miller; Neuroscience, Medicine

Mentors

Leslie Sombers, PhD
Habibeh Khoshbouei, PhD

Kayleigh Linder
headshot of emily miller

2024-2026 Trainees

SHINE-VH Barrier Technology: Design and Application of a Novel Vaginal Mucosal Barrier Against Bacterial Vaginosis.

Team

Amanda Ojeda; Microbiology and Cell Science, CALS
Ariana Tamura; Chemistry, CLAS

Mentors

Luiz Fernando Wurdig Roesch, PhD
Brent Sumerlin, PhD


Leveraging HER Data for Predicting Necrotizing Enterocolitis in NICU.

Team

Keliy Fordham; Nursing Sciences, Nursing
Yao (Grace) Hou; Industrial and Systems Engineering; HWCOE

Mentors

Leslie Parker, PhD
Xiang Zhong, PhD



All CTS Participants

Name (Last,first) Appointment degree program
Phelan, Dane 2014-2016 Medical Sciences – Genetics (PhD)
Walejko, Jacquelyn 2014-2016 Medical Sciences – Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Medicine, PhD)
Bray, Julie 2015-2017 Medical Sciences, Cancer Biology, Medicine (PhD)
Burke, Sarah 2015-2017 Neuroscience Medicine, Medical Sciences (PhD)
Lin, Andrea 2015-2017 Immunology, Medicine, Medical Sciences (PhD)
Molina, Rene 2015-2017 Electrical and Computer Engineering, Engineering (PhD)
Nosacka, Rachel 2015-2017 Cancer Biology, Medicine, Medical Sciences (PhD)
Varillas, Jose 2015-2017 Biomedical Engineering, Engineering (PhD)
Koutzoumis, Dimitri 2016-2018 Physiology and Pharmacology, Medicine, Medical Sciences (PhD)
Lomelino, Carrie 2016-2018 Biochemistry, Medicine, Medical Sciences (PhD)