Recent Graduates
Jacob Edmondson, Ph.D.
Graduation Date: May 6, 2025 (supported by SPaT Institution Match)
Dissertation Title: •Enhancing the cancer immunotherapy response through mechanisms of epigenetic control and endoplasmic reticulum stress
Current Position: •3rd Year Medical Student, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Edmondson’s publications
Lucy Fry, Ph.D.
Graduation Date: April 10, 2025 (supported by NIGMS)
Dissertation Title: •Host factors in cutaneous leishmaniasis: Mechanisms of inflammatory response, lymphatic remodeling, and protective immunity
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Anschutz School of Medicine, University of Colorado
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Fry’s publications
Luke Childress, Ph.D.
Graduation Date: April 22, 2025 (supported by NIGMS)
Dissertation Title: •Contributions of cellular senescence to inferior articular cartilage healing by endogenous mesenchymal progenitor cells
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Trinity College (Dublin Ireland)
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Childress’ publications
Ravi Sun, Ph.D.
Graduation Date: May 1, 2024 (supported by SPaT Institution Match)
Dissertation Title: Genetic and Epigenetic Dysregulation Drive Growth of Cystic Lymphatic Malformation by Activating Pro-Proliferative Signaling Cascades
Current Position: 4th Year Medical Student, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Sun’s publications
Lance Benson, Ph.D.
Graduation Date: June 22, 2023 (supported by NIGMS)
Dissertation Title: CD8+ T Cells Mediate the Immuno-Pathogenesis of Salt-Sensitive Hypertension
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Benson’s publications
Kalee Holloway, Ph.D.
Graduation Date: June 22, 2023 (supported by NIGMS)
Dissertation Title: Ethanol Effects on the Brain in Animal Models of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Alcohol Use Disorder
Current Position: Medical Science Liaison, Life Molecular Imaging
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Holloway’s publications
Joel Vazquez, Ph.D.
Graduation Date: May 20, 2022 (supported by NIGMS)
Dissertation Title: Biomarkers of drug-induced liver injury: discovery, evaluation and mechanistic insights
Current Position: Research Scientist-Toxicologist, University of Houston
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Vazquez’s publications
Francesca Lobianco-Farrar, M.D., Ph.D.
Graduation Date: May 2, 2022 (supported by NIGMS)
Dissertation Title: Targeting redox metabolism for liver cancer treatment
Current Position: Resident, Internventional Radiology, University of Illinois-Chicago
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Lobianco’s publications
Mary “Allie” Davis Schlieff, Ph.D.
Graduation Date: July 12, 2021 (supported by NIGMS)
Dissertation Title: Diphenylamine NSAIDs are bioactivated into hepatotoxic quinone-species metabolites
Current Position: Senior Chemist, Nestle Purina North America
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Scheliff’s publications
Caitlin Caperton, M.D., Ph.D.
Graduation Date: May 17, 2021 (supported by SPaT Institution Match)
Dissertation Title: The dichotomous role of immune cells in thyroid cancer pathogenesis
Current Position: Resident, Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Caperton’s publications
Julia Tobacyk, Ph.D.
Graduation Date: May 17, 2021 (supported by NIGMS)
Dissertation Title: Developing a novel assay for measuring OMA1 activity and investigating the role of OMA1 in renal cold storage
Current Position: Assistant Professor, South College (Knoxville, TN)
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Tobacyk’s publications
Brian Koss, Ph.D.
Graduation Date: November 18, 2020 (supported by SPaT Institution Match)
Dissertation Title: Epigenetic control of Cdkn2a.Arf protects tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from exhaustion
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UAMS
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Koss’ publications
Brittney Garner, Ph.D.
Graduation Date: November 13, 2020 (supported by NIGMS)
Dissertation Title: Unrecognized participation of the lymphatic system in medication side effects and development of salt-sensitive hypertension
Current Position: Regulatory Specialist/Cook Medical
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Garner’s publications.
Stephen Shrum, Ph.D.
Graduation Date: August 11, 2020 (supported by NIGMS)
Dissertation Title: The mitochondrial BK channel as a novel therapeutic target during renal cold storage and transplantation: Its role as a mitochondrial-protective factor
Current Position: Vice President of Operations, Tocol Pharmaceuticals, LLC
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Shrums’s publications.
Laura Ewing, Ph.D.
Graduation Date: July 20, 2020 (supported by NIGMS)
Dissertation Title: Determinants of radiation-induced gastrointestinal toxicity
Current Position: Toxicology and Regulatory Scientist, FDA
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Ewing’s publications.
Ryan MacLeod, M.D., Ph.D.
Graduation Date: August 15, 2019 (supported by SPaT Institution Match)
Dissertation Title: Novel use of CRISPR technology to investigate bone biology
Current Position: Clinical Fellow, Yale School of Medicine
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. MacLeod’s publications.
Charles Hay, Ph.D.
Graduation Date: August 14, 2019 (supported by NIGMS)
Dissertation Title: The development and characterization of anti-methamphetamine antibody-based gene therapies to treat methamphetamine abuse
Current Position: Antibody Specialist, Ellie, LLC/Scientific Consultant, Global Cancer Technology
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Hay’s publications.
Samantha McClenahan, Ph.D.
Graduation Date: June 19, 2019 (supported by NIGMS)
Dissertation Title: Development and testing of a vaccine for 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (α-PVP)
Current Position: Program Manager, Digital Medical Society
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. McClenahan’s publications.
Bill Hyatt, M.D., M.D., Ph.D.
Graduation Date: May 28, 2019 (supported by SPaT institution match)
Dissertation Title: Acute and persistent impulsive effects of the synthetic cathinone 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV)
Current Position: Psychiatrist, Aspire Health
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Hyatt’s publications.
Daniel Meeker, M.D., Ph.D.
Graduation Date: February 15, 2018 (supported by SPaT institution match)
Dissertation Title: Development of a targeted nanotherapeutic approach to the treatment of biofilm-associated Staphylococcus aureus infection
Current Position: Resident, Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Iowa
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Meeker’s publications.
Alex W. Alund, Ph.D.
Graduation Date: June 10, 2016 (supported by NIGMS)
Dissertation Title: The role of reactive oxygen species in alcohol-induced osteopenia and the regulation of bone turnover
Current Position: Postdoctoral fellow, Pfizer (Connecticut)
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Alund’s publications.
Clark R. Sims, Ph.D.
Graduation Date: November 4, 2016 (supported by NIGMS)
Dissertation Title: Preclinical studies of targeted therapy in an infant model of sepsis-induced cardiorenal syndrome
Current Position: Assistant Staff Scientist, Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Sims’ publications.
Emily R Holthoff, M.D., Ph.D.
Graduation Date: May 2, 2016 (supported by SPaT institution match)
Dissertation Title: Identifying Pathologic and Molecular Features that Predict Adverse Clinical Outcomes in Vulvar Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Current Position: Resident Physician, Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Recent Publications: Click for a full list of Dr. Holthoff’s publications.
Predoctoral Fellowships Awarded to Trainees
- Katherine Deck – NIH/NHLBI F31HL175932 “Kidney-resident memory CD8+ T cells promote hypertension and memorize salt-sensitivity” (2024-2026)
- Ravi Sun – NIH/NHBLI 1F30HL165803-01A1 “Altered miRNA expression drives proliferation of lymphatic malformation by activating pro-growth signaling cascade” (2023-2027)
- Katie Deck – American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship 24PRE1198737 “Kidney-resident memory CD8+ T cells promote hypertension and memorize salt-sensitivity” (2024-2026)
- Lance Benson – American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship 24PRE1198737 “Kidney-resident memory CD8+ T cells promote hypertension and memorize salt-sensitivity” (2023-2025)
- Brian Koss – NRSA NIH F31 CA232464 “Epigenetic regulation of metabolic stress pathways in melanoma infiltrating lymphocytes” (2019-2022)
- Laura Ewing – PhRMA Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship “Role of methionine-gut microbiome interaction in radiation-induced gastrointestinal toxicity” (2019-2020)
- Samantha McClenahan – NRSA NIH F31 DA046121 “Development of an enantiomeric specific vaccine for 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) abuse” (2018-2021)
- Julia Tobacyk – PhRMA Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship “The therapeutic role of OMA1 in cold storage induced nephrotoxicity” (2018-2020)
- Stephen Shrum – American Heart Association Predoctoral 16PRE30830010 “Role of mitoBK channels in rat renal cold preservation” (2016-2018)
- Lascelles Lyn-Cook, Jr. – Southern Regional Education Board Doctoral Scholars (2016-2017)
- Clark Sims – NRSA NIH F31 DK104533 “Targeting renal perfusion and mitochondrial oxidants in a model of infant sepsis” (2015-2016)
- Clark Sims – American Heart Association Predoctoral 15PRE20450050 “Renal microcirculatory failure in a rat pup model of pediatric sepsis” (2014)
- Daniel Meeker – NRSA NIH F31 (recommended for funding, 2017)
Time to degree for SPaT trainees (Ph.D. only)
4.5 years