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Continuing Fellows
First-Year Fellows

April Ancheta

Adolescent Medicine
April Ancheta

Adolescent Medicine

Education:
2022, PhD Philosophy, Columbia University
2020, MS, Philosophy, Columbia University
2016, BS Nursing, Rutgers University

Thesis Title:
The Impacts of School Climate and Education Policy in Weight and Victimization Disparities Among Sexual Minority Adolescents

Thesis Research Advisor:
Tonda L. Hughes, PhD, RN FAAN

Postdoc Research Topic:
Understanding the Impacts of Social and School Based  Policies on Violence Victimization and Weight Related Disparities among Sexual and Gender Minority adolescents.

Penn Department:
Perleman School of Medicine
Adolescent Medicine, CHOP

Penn Mentor:
Nadia L. Dowshen, MD MSHP

Daria Atkinson

Physics & Astronomy
Daria Atkinson

Physics & Astronomy

Education:
2020, PhD University of Massachusetts, Amherst
2015 B.A.  Carleton College

PhD Title: 
Filaments, Fibers, and Foliations in Frustrated Soft Materials

PhD Thesis Advisor:  
Gregory M. Grason and Christian D. Santangelo

Postdoc Research Topic
Geometry, topology, and elasticity of soft materials with internal structure

UPENN Department:
Physics and Astronomy

Penn Faculty Mentor:
Randall Kamien

 

Ben Baker

Neuroscience
ben baker
Ben Baker

Neuroscience

Education:
2020, Ph.D.  University of Pennsylvania - Philosophy
2014, J.D. Yale University
2010, B.A. Brown University

PhD Title:
Cognition in Nature: Information, Explanation, and Embodiment

PhD Thesis Advisor: 
Gary Hatfield and Lisa Miracchi

Postdoc Research Topic:
Philosophy of Neuroscience, with a focus on the neural-bodily dynamics of movement

UPENN Department:
Neuroscience

Penn Faculty Mentor:
Konrad Kording

Tianna Barnes

Management
Tianna Barnes

Management

Education:
2020, Ph.D.  University of Minnesota - Business Administration
2015, B.A. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Psychology

PhD Title:  
When Moral Identity Lapses: Extending Prosocial Behaviors Through A Social Moral Identity

PhD Thesis Advisor:  
Dr. John Kammeyer-Mueller

Postdoc Research Topic
Identity, Diversity, Morality and Stigma

Penn Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrew Carton and Dr. Stephanie Creary

Penn Department: The Wharton School - Department of Management

Daniel Blake

Higher Education
Daniel Blake
Daniel Blake

Higher Education

Education:
2020, Ph.D.  Higher Education, University of Pennsylvania
2011, B.A. Government, Cornell University

PhD Title: 
Recruitment and Career Experiences of Diverse Faculty Couples at AAU Universities

PhD Thesis Advisor:
Dr. Marybeth Gasman

Postdoc Research Topic
Exploring academic couple career choices and departure from faculty pathways

UPENN Department:
Higher Education

Penn Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Matthew Hartley

                                                                                                                 

Aja Carter

Electrical and Systems Engineering
Aja Carter

Electrical and Systems Engineering

Education:
2020, Ph.D,  Paleobiology from Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania
2014, B.S., Biology from Drexel University

PhD Title:
The Effects of Vertebral Morphology and Composition on Stem-Tetrapod Intervertebral Joint Functional Behavior

PhD Thesis Advisor: 
Peter Dodson

Post doc Research Topic:
Effects of Complex Vertebral Morphology on Whole Physical Agent Behavior

UPENN Department:
Electrical and Systems Engineering

Penn Faculty Mentor: 
Daniel Koditschek

 

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Lorianna Colon

Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine and Neuroscience
Lorianna Colon

Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine and Neuroscience

Education:
2021, PhD, University of Albany, SUNY
2014, BA/MA, St. Francis College

PhD Title:
Sex Differences in Context Fear Neural Circuitry and Behavior Across Development

PhD Thesis Advisor: 
Andrew Poulos, PhjD

Post doc Research Topic:
Targeting Opiod-Linked Context Memory to Prevent Relapse to Drug-Taking

UPENN Department:
CHOP- Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine and Neuroscience

Penn Faculty Mentor: 
Amelia Eisch, PhD

Angela Crumdy

Higher Education
Angela Crumdy

Higher Education

Education:
2022, PhD The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY)
2012, BA, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor

Thesis Title:
Teaching Revolution: Women Primary School Teachers, Race, and Social Reproduction in Cuba

Thesis Research Advisor:
Dana-Ain Davis, PhD

Postdoc Research Topic:
Race and Education in Afro-Latin America; Social reproduction in the lives of Black women teachers

Penn Department:
Higher Education, Graduate School for Education

Penn Mentor:
Amalia Dache, PhD

Alfonso Floyd

Adolescent Medicine
Alfonso Floyd

Adolescent Medicine

Education:

Ph.D. – Virginia Commonwealth University (Clinical Psychology – Child Clinical), 2022

M.S. – DePaul University (General Psychology), 2016

B.A. – The Ohio State University (Psychology), 2006

 

PhD Dissertation Title:

Using Individual Determinants to Predict Behavioral Health Service Utilization in Pediatric Integrated Primary Care

 

PhD Thesis Advisor:
Heather Jones, Ph.D.

 

Postdoc Research Topic:

A Novel Approach to Investigating Risk and Resilience Pathways for Racial/Ethnic Minoritized Youth with T1D

Penn Department:

Department and School

CHOP – Adolescent Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes (Diabetes Center for Children)

Penn Faculty Mentor:

Victoria Miller, Ph.D.Division of Adolescent Medicine (CHOP)

 

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Tiffany Huang

Sociology
Tiffany Huang

Sociology

Education:
2021, PhD, Sociology
Columbia University

2014, MPH, Health Management and Policy,
University of Michigan School of Public Health

2010, BS, Public Health and French
University of California at Berkeley

Thesis Title:
Private College Consultants, Race, Class, and Inequality in College Admissions

Thesis Research Advisor:
Jennifer Lee PhD

Postdoc Research Topic:
Race, status, authenticity, and stereotyping in college admissions

Penn Department:
Department of Sociology, School of Arts and Sciences

Penn Mentor:
Wendy Roth Ph.D

Paulina Inara Rodis

Sociology
Paulina Inara Rodis

Sociology

Education:
2021, Ph.D Sociology, Pennsylvania State University
2017, MA, Sociology and Demography, Pennsylvania State University
2014, BA, Sociology and Studio Art, Boston College

Thesis Title:
Online Flight or Offline Flight? Black and Asian Women's Perceptions of and Responses to Cyber Aggression

Thesis Research Advisor:
Diane Felmlee Ph.D

Postdoc Research Topic:
Instilled, Perceived, and Repeated: Critical Racial and Intersectional Narratives Among and Referencing Women of Color, Inequality,
Social Networks and Digital Media

Penn Department:
Annenberg School of Communications

Penn Mentor:
Sarah Jackson Ph.D

Frederico Kiffer

Anesthesia and Critical Care
Frederico Kiffer

Anesthesia and Critical Care

Education:
2019, Ph.D., University of Arkansas for Medical Studies
2010, BS, Lyon College

PhD Dissertation Title:
The Effects of Charged Particle Radiation on Memory and Hippocampal Morphology

PhD Thesis Advisor:
Antino Allen, PhD

Postdoc Research Topic:
The Effects of Charged Particle  radiation on Cognitive and Social behavior in Space and in the Clinic

Penn Department:
Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, CHOP

Penn Faculty Mentor:
Amelia Eisch, PhD

Elisha Lim

Social media, Identity politics, & Algorithmic literacy
Elisha Lim

Social media, Identity politics, & Algorithmic literacy

Education:
2023, Ph.D., Media, Technology, and Culture. The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
2016, M.F.A., Criticism and Curatorial Practice, Ontario College of Art & Design University, Toronto, ON, Canada
2003, M.A., English Literature. The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
2001, B.A. Hons, English Literature and Sociology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Thesis Title:
Piety: Why Meta’s Business Model Drives Intolerance

Thesis Research Advisor:
Prof. T.L. Cowan

Postdoc Research Topic:
The past decade has seen an increase in cases of ethnic fraud, polarizing populism, and corporate solidarity statements critiqued for capitalizing on social issues. While many critics blame these social phenomena on opportunistic individuals and businesses, I study the role played by social media platforms: their business models, advertising datasets and ranking algorithms. My research builds on The Black Radical Tradition and anti-colonial critique to investigate the following questions: 1) How do targeting tools shape behavior? 2) What are the motivations that compel modern shifts in identity politics? 3) Why have “morals” become so important to business? and 4) How can the framework of “piety” offer new theories and solutions for negative social media dynamics?

Penn Department:
School of Social Policy and Practice

Penn Mentor:
Desmond Upton Patton, PhD, MSW

Antoine Lovell

Social Policy
Antoine Lovell

Social Policy

Education: 

Ph.D. Social Policy,  Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service

MSW, New York University, Silver School of Social Work

MPA, Long Island University, School of Business, Public Administration & Information Sciences

B.A., Hunter College, City University of New York

PhD Dissertation Title: How Emerging Adults with Multiple Generations in Public Housing Perceive Their Future: Implications for Social Policy and Social Services

PhD Thesis Advisor: Dr. Gregory Acevedo

Penn Department: School of Social Policy & Practice

Penn Faculty Mentor: Dennis P. Culhane, Ph.D.

School of Social Policy & Practice

Christa Mahlobo

Psychology
Christa Mahlobo

Psychology

Education:

2022: Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University

2019: M.S. in Recreation Parks and Tourism Management, The Pennsylvania State University

2013: B.S. Kinesiology, Human Movement Science, Louisiana State University

 

PhD Dissertation Title: 

Examining Adolescent Precursors to Early Adult Flourishing in Black Americans: On the Role of Ethnic-Racial Socialization and Identity 

 

PhD Thesis Advisor: 

Robert Roeser, Ph.D.

Bennet Pierce Professor of Caring and Compassion and Professor of Human Development and Family Studies

 

Postdoc Research Topic:

Humanities and Human Flourishing

Penn Department:

Positive Psychology Center in the School of Arts and Sciences

Penn Faculty Mentor:

James Pawelski, Ph.D.

Professor of Practice, Director of Education

Master of Applied Positive Psychology Program

 

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Alison McCarthy

Engineering
Alison McCarthy

Engineering

Education:

2022: Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, Stony Brook University

2017: B.S. Mechanical Engineering, The College of New Jersey

 

PhD Dissertation Title:

Mesoscale Electrode Design and Architecture for Next Generation Energy Storage Devices

 

PhD Thesis Advisor:Esther Takeuchi, Ph.D., Amy Marschilok, Ph.D., Kenneth Takeuchi, Ph.D.

 

Postdoc Research Topic: 

Investigation of Electrodeposited Lithium Metal Mechanics in Battery Systems

Penn Department:

Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Penn Faculty Mentor:

James Pikul, Ph.D.

Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, School of Engineering and Applied Science

Joanna Medina

Genetics
Joanna Medina

Genetics

Education:

2021, Ph.D. Behavioral Neuroscience, University at Albany

2014, B.S. Integrative Neuroscience, Binghamton University

 

PhD Dissertation Title:

Behavioral, Endocrine, and Neural Responses to Stress in Postpartum and Nulliparous Rats: Potential Mechanisms of Postpartum Stress Resilience

 

PhD Thesis Advisor:Joanna L. Workman, Ph.D.

 

Postdoc Research Topic:

Epigenetic mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders

Penn Department:

Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine

Penn Faculty Mentor:

Zhaolan (Joe) Zhou, Ph.D.

Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine

Arnold Olali

Mitochondrial and Epigenomic Medicine
Arnold Olali

Mitochondrial and Epigenomic Medicine

Education:
2022, Ph.D,  Integrated Biomedical Science, Rush University, Medical Center, Chicago Illinois
2015, BS, Conservation Biology, St. Lawrence University, Canton NY

PhD Title
The Effects of HIV-Inflammatory Mediators and Combined Antiretrovial Therapy (cART) on Osteoblast Function, Bone Mass, and Bone Quality:
Potential Role of the Wnt/ β -Cantenin Signaling Pathway

PhD Thesis Advisor: 
Ryan D. Ross, PhD and Lena Al-Harthi, PhD

Postdoc Research Topic:
Exploring the effects of mitochondrial genetic variation on tumor antigen rejection and SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity in mice

UPENN Department:
CHOP - Center for mitochondrial and Epigenomic Medicine

Penn Faculty Mentor: 
Douglas C. Wallace, PhD

Onome Osokpo

Nursing
Onome Oskopo
Onome Osokpo

Nursing

Education:
2021, PhD, Nursing Science
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia,  PA

2016, MSN, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia,  PA

2012, BSN, Nursing (accelerated)
Stony Brook University, School of Nursing, Stony Brook, NY

2003, MSc. Analytical Chemistry
University of Ibadan, School of Science, Oyo, Nigeria

1999, BSc Chemistry Education
Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo. Nigeria

Thesis Title:
Socio-cultural factors influencing self-care among African immigrants living with chronic illness

Thesis Research Advisor:
Barbara Riegel, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAHA

Postdoc Research Topic:
Social Determinants of Health, Self-Care of Chronic Illness, Community-engaged intervention, Factors influencing outcomes in the MIRROR-TCM clinical trial.

Penn Department:
School of Nursing

Penn Mentor:
Mary D. Naylor, PhD, RN, FAAN

Jose Pelliccia

Cell and Developmental Biology
Jose Pelliccia

Cell and Developmental Biology

Education:
2019 PhD Molecular Biology
Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey

2008 BS Biology
Millersville University

PhD Dissertation Title:
The Role of the Vg1 Zebrafish Ortholog Gdf3 Nodal-Dependent Mesendoderm Formation and Left-Right Patterning

PhD Thesis Advisor:
Rebecca Burdine PhD

UPENN Department:
Cell and Developmental Biology

Penn Faculty Mentor:
Mary Mullins, PhD

Daphne Penn

Sociology
Daphne Penn

Sociology

Education:
2020, Ph.D,  education (Culture, Institutions and Society), Harvard University
2017, Ed.M., Harvard Graduate School of Education
2013, M.S. Sociology, Purdue University
2008, B.S., Human and Organizational Development, Vanderbilt University

PhD Title:
The American Dream Deferred: Education and Immigrant Incorporation in the Nuevo South

PhD Thesis Advisor: 
Robert G. Gonzales, Ph.D

Post doc Research Topic:
Race, Ethnicity, Immigration, Sociology of Education, Stratification, Ethnography

UPENN Department:
Sociology
Populations Studies Center

Penn Faculty Mentor: 
Emilio A. Parrado Ph.D

Vinitha Rangarajan

Bioengineering
Vinitha Rangarajan

Bioengineering

Education:
2020, PhD, Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience) University of California, Berkeley
2010,  BS, Biology, University of California San Diego

Thesis Title:
Intracranial Electrophysiological Correlates of Visual Perception in the Human Brain

Thesis Research Advisor:
Robert T. Knight MD

Postdoc Research Topic:
Network Models of human Brain Development

Penn Department:
Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Penn Mentor:
Danielle S. Bassett

Liana Eustacia Reyes

Political Science
Liana Eustacia Reyes

Political Science

Education:2022, PhD, Political Science, Rice University2015, MA, Politics, New York University

2013, MA, Global Affairs, Florida International University

2011, JD, College of Law, Florida International University

Thesis Title:Law and Conflict

Thesis Research Advisor:T. Clifton Morgan, PhD

Postdoc Research Topic:Law and Conflict

Penn Department:Department of Political Science

Penn Mentor:Guy Grossman, PhD

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Daniel Sanchez

Mechanical Engineering and Applied Science
Daniel Sanchez

Mechanical Engineering and Applied Science

Education:
2021, PhD, Materials Science and Engineering,
Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin

2015, BSc, Mechanical Engineering
Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin

PhD Dissertation Title:
The Mechanics and Chemistry if 2D Materials Bubbles

PhD Thesis Advisor:
Nanshu Lu, PhD

Postdoc Research Topic:
Spontaneously formed 2D material pleats

Penn Department:
Mechanical Engineering and Applied Science, School of Engineering and Applied Science

Penn Faculty Mentor:
Robert Carpick, PhD

Nicole Sansone

Social Policy and Practice
Nicole Sansone

Social Policy and Practice

Education:
PhD:  Goldsmiths, University of London
MA:   Goldsmiths, University of London
B.A.   Colgate University (double major in English Literature, Art and Art History)

PhD Title: 
Sites of Sky: A Visual Cultures Analysis of Landscape Aesthetics in an Age of Virtual Ecologie

PhD Thesis Advisor: Matthew Fuller; Josephine Berry (second supervisor)

Postdoc Research Topic:
Systems and aesthetics of digital and algorithmic immigration governance

UPENN Department:
School of Social Policy and Practice

Penn Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Ezekiel Dixon-Roman

Nicklas Sapp

Biochemistry and Biophysics
Nicklas Sapp

Biochemistry and Biophysics

Education:

2022: Ph.D., Meharry Medical College

2013: B.S., Norfolk State University

PhD Dissertation Title:

Nucleosome Structure Characteristic of Open Chromatin Enhances HIV-1 Integration

PhD Thesis Advisor:Chandravanu Dash, Ph.D.

Postdoc Research Topic:

Exploring the Epigenetic Regulation of Centromere Maintenance and Structure

Penn Department:

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics in the Perelman School of Medicine

Penn Faculty Mentor:

Ben Black, Ph.D.

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine

Michelle G. Thompson

School of Social Policy & Practice
Michelle G. Thompson

School of Social Policy & Practice

Education:
2019 PhD Social Welfare
Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work; Florida International University

2006 MS Psychology
College of Arts, Sciences and Education;School of Integrated Science and Humanities
Florida International University

2002 BA Psychology
College of Arts, Sciences and Education;School of Integrated Science and Humanities
Florida International University

PhD Dissertation Title:
The impact of microaggressions and minority stress on the psychological  well-being of emerging adult
sexual minorities of color

PhD Thesis Advisor:
Eric F. Wagner, PhD

Penn Department:
School of Social Policy & Practice

Penn Faculty Mentor:
Amy Hillier,PhD

 

 

Christine Vazquez

Microbiology
Christine Vazquez

Microbiology

Education:
Ph.D.  Duke University
MS Johns Hopkins University
B.S.  Johns Hopkins University

PhD Title: 
Mechanisms of Innate Immune Regulation by the Hepatitis C Virus protease, NS3-NS4A

PhD Thesis Advisor: 
Dr. Stacy Horner

Postdoc Research Topic:
Host-virus innate interactions of emerging viral pathogens

UPENN Department:
Department of Microbiology

Penn Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Kellie Jurado

Arthur Wang

Communication
Arthur Wang

Communication

Education:
2022, PhD, Yale
2012, MSt, University of Oxford
2011, BA Princeton University

PhD Dissertation Title:
Minor Theories of Everything: On Popular Science and Contemporary Fiction

PhD Thesis Advisor:
Amy Hungerford, PhD, John Durham Peters, PhD, Sunny Xiang, PhD

Postdoc Research Topic:
Contemporary Literature, Media and Feminist Science and Technology Studies

Penn Department:
Annenberg School of Communication

Penn Faculty Mentor:
Sarah Banet-Weiser, PhD

RESEARCH HUB

Thank you to all who joined us for our virtual seminar, and to our panelists Sue Anne Bell of @UMichNursing,… t.co/hXlYDbxj6h

PhD student @SashaCMejia, with @DrVanessaVolpe, published a new article: t.co/M2SWCmq2uq

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Ursina R. Teitelbaum, MD, spoke with @TODAYshow about the increasing rates of #ColonCancer in young people and the… t.co/NMQeWTriAa

Welcoming our #AspiringLeaders and presidential mentors in our kick off session! #MPC2023

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We’re on now with @PennLDI hearing from a great panel about how climate change impacts health outcomes and exacerba… t.co/F64n2a24LA

Gabriella Tegen, CEO & Co-Founder @smartrr_app is making a splash in the digital subscription economy. Smart move,… t.co/FVAfpus5Pi

NOW LIVE! Tune in to hear experts discuss how we can better prepare for the #health impacts of climate change.… t.co/ITeDP35otY

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