Fan Feng: The power of discovery
Driven by a passion for regenerative medicine, this Ph.D. student at Mayo Clinic is exploring how stem cell therapies can be improved by understanding tissue oxygen and metabolite conditions.
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Student Spotlights
At Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, our students are at the forefront of groundbreaking research and discovery. These inspiring individuals come from diverse backgrounds and bring unique perspectives to the science community. Through their work, they are pushing the boundaries of medical knowledge and working tirelessly to improve patient care. In this section, we celebrate the journeys and accomplishments of our Ph.D. students, highlighting the passion, dedication, and innovation that drive them toward advancing the future of medicine.
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Lizz Cervantes: Driven to make a difference
This Ph.D. student at Mayo Clinic is researching biomarkers of inflammation to identify infants at high risk for neurodevelopmental disorders, driven by personal experiences with autism and the desire to improve early diagnosis and intervention.
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Isaac Prah: For the sake of humanity
Isaac Prah is working to make cancer treatments safer by exploring genetic factors that impact therapy outcomes. Focusing on the genetic factors that influence cancer therapy outcomes, he aims to reduce long-term health risks for breast cancer survivors.
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Aura Figueroa Gonzalez: Landing at my top choice
A Fulbright scholar and aspiring cancer biologist, this graduate student at Mayo Clinic is researching glioblastoma while developing leadership skills and finding joy in the local Latin dance community.
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Gabriella Fiorino: Motivated by curiosity
Curious about the brain and driven to find better treatments for neurological diseases, this first-generation Latina Ph.D. student is researching Parkinson's disease while inspiring future scientists through volunteer initiatives.
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Sidney Weaver: A lifelong pursuit
Sidney Weaver discovered her passion for research while studying Alzheimer’s biomarkers in college. Inspired by the life-saving impact of clinical trials, she is now researching glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer, to improve patient outcomes.
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Matt Acosta: If you have a passion
Driven by a passion for biomedical research, Matt Acosta is exploring how RNA viruses orchestrate infections and evade the immune system, with the goal of developing new treatments.
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Samantha Bouchal: A career in science and medicine
Samantha Bouchal’s journey combines a passion for both science and medicine, sparked by a childhood health scare. Now in Mayo’s M.D.-Ph.D. program, she is researching brain cancer with the goal of integrating patient care and cutting-edge research as a neurosurgeon.
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Maureen Pelissero: Addressing a growing curiosity
A former massage therapist turned biomedical engineering Ph.D. student at Mayo Clinic, this researcher is developing a diagnostic platform to detect antimicrobial resistance, aiming to address a global health crisis while promoting diversity in STEM.
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Nick Therrien: Exploring the unknown
Driven by a fascination with immunology, this Mayo Clinic Ph.D. student is exploring how naturally occurring viral components can influence cancer immunotherapy outcomes to improve clinical care.
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