Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology

Why did you choose graduate school at IUPUI?

After my undergraduate degree I decided to apply for a master’s program at Ulster University in Northern Ireland which provided an opportunity to gain laboratory experience as a Research Scholar at Indiana University School of Medicine. As one of the largest medical schools in the US known for cutting-edge research, I was excited about the opportunity to study abroad and learn from the faculty here at Indiana University School of Medicine. After finishing my master’s degree, I decided to apply to the IUSM IBMG Biomedical Gateway program, as it provided an option to explore different areas of research through rotations during the first year.

What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?

Completing my qualifying exam and becoming a PhD candidate.

What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?

I love the downtown area of Indianapolis as there are so many restaurants, museums and events happening.

Please provide some details about your work/research as a graduate student and/or any activities you are involved in.

My current research focuses on understanding how microglia contribute to retinal ganglion cell degeneration using human pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia and retinal ganglion cells. Retinal ganglion cells are neurons which connect the eye to the brain allowing us to see. The neurodegeneration of these cells leads to blinding diseases such as glaucoma. The overall goal of my research is to identify new therapeutic targets that could be used to treat retinal degenerative diseases.