Program Leaders

Vicky Chen is an NSF GRFP Fellow in the Genetics PhD program. Previously, she was a UC LEADS scholar and obtained her B.S. in Biochemistry from UC San Diego, where she researched various aspects of post-transcriptional control across several labs. In the Daniels lab, Vicky is currently engineering components of cell signaling to discover new CAR T cell states. As a first-generation, low-income student, she is passionate about mentoring others to help them achieve beyond their perceived limits. Outside of the lab, Vicky enjoys exploring new nature, attending live music events of all genres, and sampling her way through every bakery and coffee shop in the Bay Area.

Aidan Tousley is a third year MD-PhD candidate in Stanford’s Genetics Program. Born and raised in California, he studied Biology at Cabrillo Community College before transferring to UCSC, where he earned a BS in Biochemistry. After graduating, he worked as a research associate in the Majzner Lab at Stanford University, where he engineered logic-gated CAR T cells for combating solid tumors. Since entering Stanford’s MD-PhD program, he has joined the Roth Lab, where he utilizes combinatorial perturbation screening methods in primary immune cells to engineer therapeutically useful synthetic cell states. Aidan is passionate about teaching and mentorship for upcoming scientists in the STEM field. In his free time, Aidan enjoys running, video games, board games, and drawing.

Chibuike is an MD/PhD candidate in the Medical Scientist Training Program at the School of Medicine and Department of Bioengineering at the School of Engineering. He is originally from Wilson, North Carolina, and he holds an A.B. in Biomedical Engineering from Harvard University, where he conducted materials science research in the Harvard Microrobotics Lab. His work in the Bao Group at Stanford focuses on developing wearable bioelectronics for continuous health monitoring and therapeutics. Chibuike is deeply invested in mentoring future scientists from all backgrounds. In his free time, he enjoys singing in the Stanford Chamber Chorale, studying classical piano in Laura Dahl’s studio in the Music department, freelance writing, and spending time outdoors. 

Nabor is a 2nd year PhD candidate in the Biology department working in Dr. Jessica Feldman’s lab. He graduated with a Bachelors in Arts in Biology from Lawrence University. After graduating in 2019, he wanted to explore his career options and joined Dr. Daniel Colón-Ramos’ lab at Yale as a research associate. His project focused on understanding the precise neuronal wiring during embryogenesis using Caenorhabditis elegans, a model organism. This research experience sparked his interest in developmental biology and the use of in vivo imaging techniques to explore the unknown. Currently, his thesis tries to uncover molecules that lead to a unique microtubule reorganization during development. Nabor tries to foster a welcoming environment and is passionate about diversifying STEM. He works with different organizations to recruit and promote STEM to high school/undergraduate students of underrepresented backgrounds. Outside of the lab, you can find Nabor playing soccer, taking nature walks and watching superhero movies/TV shows.

Jewel is a Stanford Propel postdoctoral fellow in the Anesthesia department working in Dr. Laura Simons’s Biobehavioral Pediatric Pain Lab. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology with a Psychology minor from the University of Virginia in 2019. After graduation, she spent a year at the University of Georgia (UGA) as a postbaccalaureate scholar studying the neuropharmacology of drugs of abuse. At UGA, she found her passion for substance use research and decided to pursue her PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMB), which she obtained in 2024. Under the mentorship of Dr. Luana Colloca, her doctoral thesis focused on the use of placebo effects as a non-pharmacological treatment for adults with chronic pain. As a postdoctoral fellow, her research has pivoted from the adult to pediatric chronic pain world as she works to develop pain biomarkers and individually tailored pain interventions for youth. Ultimately, she hopes to improve the lives of children with chronic pain and their families. She is passionate about mentoring students and helping to increase the recruitment and retainment of the next generation of physicians and scientists. When she isn’t in the lab, you can find her trying a new sushi spot, going for a hike, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Tumi is a 2nd-year MD student at Stanford, where she is studying the role of mitochondria in glioblastoma and Parkinson’s disease in the Wang lab. She holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Edinburgh, after which her passion for advocacy led her to get an MPH in Health Policy at UNC Chapel Hill. Outside of school and research, Tumi leads a mentorship program for low-income, underrepresented premeds, where she hopes to improve the representation of minority students in medicine. In her free time, she enjoys going to concerts, traveling, and dancing 

Zaria Contejean is from Detroit, Michigan and received her bachelor’s degree in Genetics at Michigan State University. She is currently a 2nd year PhD candidate in the Barnes Lab, where she harnesses structural biology, and protein biochemistry tools to address questions regarding Flavivirus replication, and antibody therapies for coronaviruses. Zaria is a recipient of the Ford Fellowship and an instructor at the Stanford Online High School for the Genetics course. She is passionate about mentoring and teaching and enjoys working with students. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, reading, and running.

Lauren is a MD/PhD student at Stanford studying myelin dynamics in learning and disease in the Zuchero lab. She holds a B.S. in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University, and has conducted basic and translational research on ALS nucleocytoplasmic transport defects, cardiac regeneration, and targeted imaging and drug delivery in the cardiac conduction system. Outside of her research, Lauren has been deeply involved in teaching and mentorship, and hopes to dedicate her time to expanding access to physician and physician-scientist training. In her free time, she loves to walk her cat, eat amazing food in the Bay Area, hike (slowly), and play tennis!

Youlim is a current PhD candidate in Microbiology and Immunology working in Dr. Manuel Amieva’s lab. She graduated from Duke University with a B.S. in Biology, a minor in Chemistry, and a Certificate in the Arts of the Moving Image. Her research is focused on understanding the role Helicobacter pylori plays in gastric pathogenesis and whether disease progression affects the microbe. Outside of research, Youlim loves getting involved in organizations and communities at Stanford such as the Stanford Biosciences Student Association, the Graduate Life Office, and XTRM Kpop Dance. She is always down to try new foods, binge-watch television shows, and play with everyone’s pets.

Dr. McKay Mullen is a postdoctoral scholar in the cardiovascular institute at Stanford School of Medicine. He attended Morehouse College, Atlanta, and obtained a B.S. in Psychology in 2008. He then joined Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta and obtained a master’s degree in biomedical research in 2015 and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science in 2021, studying the effect of chemotherapy on triple-negative breast cancer. As a postdoctoral fellow, his research has focused on evaluating racial disparities as they relate to cardio-oncology. Specifically, he plans to study the impact of chemotherapy on the cardiovascular system and evaluate whether racial disparities influence healthcare outcomes. This is his third year with the postbac program, and his primary goal outside of his research is helping students obtain either a Ph.D., MD, or MD, Ph.D. His hobbies include drawing, cooking, and playing soccer.

Lily received her PhD in the Microbiology and Immunology program from Stanford, co-advised by Jan Carette and Wah Chiu. In the lab, she studies host-pathogen interactions by characterizing viral proteins and host factors using cryo-EM. She is originally from St. Louis, Missouri and went to college at WashU, where she studied biomedical engineering and computational biology. In her free time, she likes playing music, rock climbing, and petting dogs.

Aaron is an MD/PhD student at Stanford University originally from Littleton, Colorado. He is an Ethiopian-American and graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology before completing an MPhil in History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine at the University of Cambridge as a Harvard–Cambridge Scholar. Prior to medical school, he conducted HIV and microbiome research at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard. In his free time, Aaron enjoys running, mixology, exploring coffee shops, and spending time his cat, Tota.  

Jeremy grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with roots in Haiti. His research focuses on harnessing the potential of stem cells to develop treatments for neurological disorders, work he hopes to continue one day as a physician. As a program leader, he is passionate about supporting the next generation of students navigating their own paths into medicine. Outside the lab, Jeremy finds joy in practicing Spanish, exploring the Bay Area mountains, crocheting, and traveling

Alicia is a first year MD/PhD student from Los Angeles, CA. She is second-gen Mexican-American, and the first in her family to attend college. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry from Mount St. Mary’s University LA. After graduating in 2022, she spend 2 years at Johns Hopkins conducting HIV research in Dr. Dionna Williams’ and Dr. Joel Blankson’s labs. In her free time, Alicia enjoys cooking with friends, working out, and going dancing.

Naseem was born in San Diego, California, but spent middle and high school in Michigan and Colorado. His parents are immigrants from Lebanon, where most of his family lives. Naseem’s primary research interest is in neuroscience, where he wants to combine a career in basic science and medicine to create better health outcomes for patients with psychiatric disorders.

I graduated from UCLA in June 2025 with a B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics and a B.A. in Asian Humanities. I’m part of Cohort 4 and hoping to pursue an MD/PhD. Currently, I work in Dr. Kyle Daniels’ lab engineering programmable cellular immunotherapies for cancer treatment. In my free time, I love playing guitar, finding new hiking trails, and exploring new areas via coffee shops and bakeries! 

Jeremy grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with roots in Haiti. His research focuses on harnessing the potential of stem cells to develop treatments for neurological disorders, work he hopes to continue one day as a physician. As a program leader, he is passionate about supporting the next generation of students navigating their own paths into medicine. Outside the lab, Jeremy finds joy in practicing Spanish, exploring the Bay Area mountains, crocheting, and traveling

Joaquin was born in San Juan and raised in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, and graduated from the University of Puerto Rico–Mayagüez with a B.S. in Industrial Microbiology and a minor in International Relations. In the Kyle Daniels Lab at Stanford, he uses synthetic biology to engineer modular receptors and signaling circuits that program immune cells to fight cancer. He hopes to pursue translational research by one day running his own lab and clinic to care for patients from bench to bedside. As a program leader, Joaquin is passionate about building peer mentorship that supports students on their path to graduate and medical school. Outside the lab, he enjoys the beach, movies, and writing.

Kameron joined Stanford Medicine as a Cohort 4 HEE Postbac Scholar and Life Science Research Professional in Dr. Agnieszka Czechowicz’s lab. As part of a military family, he grew up across several locations including Mississippi, Germany, North Carolina, Maryland, Florida, Hawaii, Arizona, South Korea, and many more. Kameron earned his B.S. in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (Neurobiology emphasis, Biochemistry minor), an MBA in Healthcare Administration, and an M.S. in Marketing from the University of Arizona. He went on to receive an M.S. in Medical Sciences (Medical Physiology and Pharmacology concentration) from the University of Florida. Prior to Stanford, Kameron worked as a Research Technician and Lab Manager in Dr. Deepta Bhattacharya’s laboratory at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. There, he led sample processing and immune profiling for longitudinal mRNA vaccine studies in vulnerable populations, contributing to publications in Nature Immunology and Nature Medicine, while also executing large-scale CRISPR-Cas9 screens and bispecific antibody engineering. In the Czechowicz lab, Kameron focuses on identifying novel hematopoietic stem cell surface proteins to develop improved antibody-based conditioning regimens. He ultimately aims to pursue a dual MD/JD degree to bridge clinical care, biomedical innovation, and healthcare policy. In his free time, Kameron enjoys traveling, spending time with friends, playing sports, eating good food, watching TV and movies, and solving puzzles. He is also deeply passionate about mentorship and community service and is always eager to connect with others!

Kennedi was born in Georgia, raised in Colorado, and earned degrees in Genetics and Sociology from the University of Georgia. As a member of cohort 4, her current research in the Rutaganira Lab investigates animal multicellular development. Kennedi is an aspiring physician who wants to address disparate health outcomes in disadvantaged populations. She is also a lifelong musician who composes, sings, and plays violin, piano, and guitar. In her free time, she enjoys baking desserts for unsuspecting friends, being outside, trying new food, and a good yap (or any combination of these).

Edward C. and Amy H. Sewall Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology and Professor, by courtesy, of Molecular and Cellular Physiology. Dr. Ricci is the previous Director of the Neuroscience Graduate program as well as the co-founder and current faculty director of the ADVANCE summer institute, an onboarding program for graduate students within the biosciences who come from underserved communities. He presently serves as director of Research in the Department of Otolaryngology as well as the Associate Dean of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs.

Victoria is a current PhD candidate in the biology department on the ecology and evolution track. She is a NSF GRFP Fellow and CMB Grant trainee who graduated from Duke University with a B.S. in Environmental science and certificate in Science & Society. Co-advised by Drs Molly Schumer and Dmitri Petrov, her research interests span across population genomics and the application of population theory to aid in species preservation. Often the questions Victoria seeks to answer land at the intersection of patterns of genetic diversity and their effects on species’ extinction risk.  Outside of the lab, Victoria enjoys traveling and hopes to see the Northern Lights this year!

Helen is a first-year medical student from Northern Virginia. She holds a B.A. in Public Policy Analysis and Biology from Pomona College and first joined Stanford Medicine as a HEE Postbac Scholar. During her gap years as a postbac researcher, Helen was involved in community-based participatory research (CBPR) projects examining interventions like peer navigation and food is medicine programs. In her free time, she likes catching up on reality shows, going to concerts and trying different food spots! 

James is the Director of the Postbac Research Program. He received his PhD from Stanford School of Medicine, Immunology Program, where he studied the role of the immune response in acute rejection after solid-organ transplantation. He loves all things immunology and science related. Additionally, he is passionate about student wellness and addressing inequities that negatively impact minoritized students in academia. In his personal time, he enjoys medium distance trail races, watching and playing basketball, anime (or generally binging a good tv series), wine-and-paint nights, board games and video games, learning new musical instruments, and basking in the sun. He loves the performing arts and has spent 4 years as a dance choreographer and 3 years performing with Stanford Taiko (a Japanese-style drumming group). His favorite social activity with friends is to go on culturally themed food tours and eat amazing food all day.

Brenda received her PhD in Biophysics from Stanford, where she developed drug delivery techniques and studied the impacts of localized anesthetics on the brain. Her work has inspired her to pursue medical school to bring research from the bench to the lab, so she is currently pursuing her MD at Stanford. As a first-generation, low-income student from Merced, CA, she is an avid advocate for mentorship programs and demystifying STEM pathways. In her free time, she enjoys finding new food places, weightlifting, cooking, and live music. Catch her in some k-pop dance covers.