We are currently interviewing for 2 identical Post-Doctoral positions. See university links to apply:
The Department of Biology (www.baylor.edu/biology) Postdoctoral Fellow supports the mission of Baylor University by providing postdoctoral research in the Simmons lab focused on studying different molecular mechanisms involved in noise-induced hearing loss. A Ph.D. is required. Applicants will be expected to apply for extramural funding at the end of one year.
If you have a background in neurobiology, otolaryngology, or molecular biology please send an email including your C.V. and a brief statement that details your interest in our lab to Dwayne_Simmons@baylor.edu and/or Simmonslaboratory@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you, and if there is a good fit between your skills and what we are currently seeking we will contact you to schedule a phone or video conversation.
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Janith Hewa Halpage
Doctoral Graduate Student
Biography
“Janith was born and raised in Sri Lanka but got the opportunity to do his higher studies in the United States. Janith obtained his B.S. in Biotechnology from Arkansas State University. While there, he worked in a plant biology lab using CRISPR/Cas9 mediated genome editing to find novel genes involved in resistance to plant pathogens, specifically Phytophthora sojae in soybean. After graduating, for two years Janith worked in the field of Cardiology as a Research Associate at two different research institutions. For one year, Janith worked at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center researching the effect of tamoxifen diet in mice to induce gene-specific knockouts and measure cardiac function. The year after, Janith worked at Texas A&M Health Science Center researching the role of Mettl-14 in cardiac hypertrophy. Janith always had an interest in how apoptotic signaling pathways affect organ function. Currently, Janith is a second-year Biology Ph.D. student at Baylor University working in the Simmons Lab. He is able to pursue his interests in apoptotic signaling in combination with cell senescence of the inner ear, linking it to age-related hearing loss. In his free time, Janith likes to go to the gym, watch tv-shows, play games and read comics.
Tari Sese
Doctoral Graduate Student
Biography
Originally from Nigeria, Tari has a BSc. degree in Biochemistry from Kwame Nkrumah University in Ghana. She fell in love with medicine as a kid and had dreams of becoming the female Ben Carson but life had other plans for her. She developed an interest in research after a month-long internship at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Ghana.
Currently, Tari is a Doctoral student in the Simmons Lab in Baylor University’s Biology Department. Her research is focused on the immunology of the inner ear and how it can be leveraged in the development of therapeutics to treat hearing loss. After finishing her Ph.D., she hopes to pursue a career in the Biopharmaceutical industry, and believes the lessons and tools acquired from graduate school will teach her to “never give up” and always shoot for the stars.
Fun facts about Tari:
She is a major homebody who would gladly spend her entire day in her room if she had unlimited access to good food. In her free time, Tari loves reading romantic thriller novels, and has now read over 300. When not busy with work or reading, she loves to binge watch a TV show or two!
Kiah Sleiman
Doctoral Graduate Student
Tucson, AZ
Biography
Kiah obtained her B.S. in Biochemistry and B.A. in French from the University of Arizona with a minor in Mathematics. While there, she worked in an auto-immunology lab studying the relationship between the gut microbiome and autoimmune arthritis. Having worked as a lifeguard at a therapeutic center for many years, Kiah wants to apply her love of research and exploratory questioning to finding ways to improve the quality of life for the people living with disabilities that she worked with every day. After entering the CMHD program at Baylor, she joined the Simmons lab in the hopes of furthering that goal, while studying the mechanisms of immunity in the inner ear and its relation to hearing loss. In her free time, Kiah likes to bake, craft and play games with her friends and is always looking for new puzzles to work on.
Aubrey Hornak
Lab Manager/Research Associate Belleville, IL
Biography
Aubrey is a long-time colleague of Dr. Simmons and has probably clocked more hours in his laboratory than anyone. She joined the Simmons Lab in 1999 as an undergraduate in biology at Washington University in St. Louis, where she received both her BA in Biology and BFA in Painting. She took a minor detour then made her way out to Los Angeles with Dr. Simmons to manage his lab at UCLA… and, apparently, to find a husband. After yet another detour – this time into the interior fabric design world – and becoming a mom, she has reprieved her role as the Simmons Lab Manager at Baylor.
Aside from immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy, Aubrey is addicted to sewing. She and her husband Robert have a spectacular collection of homemade pajama bottoms that they cycle through on a regular basis. She also loves Sci-Fi, woodworking, roller skating, British telly, baking and cooking… though if you invite her to dinner, you should know that cilantro and olives make her gag. Lastly, she has legitimately slipped on 3 banana peels in her life and will be happy to provide photographic proof of said peels.
Peter Bakht (2024)
Undergraduate Researcher
Biography
Freda Uchebenu (2024)
Undergraduate Student
Lagos, Nigeria
Biography
Freda is a Senior Biology major with a concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology on the Pre-Medical track and minors in Biochemistry and Corporate Communications. She is interested in pursuing a career in medicine and hopes to attend medical school after her undergraduate career. She joined the Simmons lab through the Baylor Transdisciplinary Research Undergraduate Experience (BTRUE) Summer Fellows Program during the Summer in order to deepen her understanding of the immune response to noise induced hearing loss. Outside lab, Freda enjoys reading, taking walks and watching movies.
Jorge Gomez (2025)
Undergraduate Researcher
Laredo, TX
Biography
Jorge is a sophomore Biology Major pursuing a Minor in Biochemistry as well as a certificate in Spanish for Health Professions. He aspires to attend medical school and become a physician. Jorge also has backgrounds in medical assistance and dental assistance which catapulted his love for science but particularly medicine. Jorge started working in the lab in early 2023 to assist in DNA extraction, run polymerase chain reactions, and run gel electrophoresis. His hobbies include spending time with friends, learning science, and reading comic books.
Daniel Melgar (2025)
Undergraduate Researcher
League, TX
Biography
Daniel is a sophomore Biology major with Spanish and Business Administration minors. He hopes to attend medical school in the future, and to start his journey into the medical field, he joined the team late in the summer to begin working with research concerning the inner ear and hearing loss. Additionally in the summer, he volunteered at a hospital (Memorial Hermann South East) emergency department front desk checking patients in and taking their vitals. In his free time, he likes to stay active by going on walks in Cameron Park and going sightseeing around central Texas with his friends.
Kimberli Taylor (2025)
Research Technician/Undergraduate Researcher
Biography
Kimberli is a sophomore University Scholars major with concentrations in gerontology, biology, and sociology. She became involved in the Simmons lab due to its focus on age-related hearing loss and is interested in researching its correlation with geriatric cognitive decline. Outside of lab, Kimberli is also a nurse aide and Internal Vice President of the Consortium for the Awareness of Rare Disorders (CARDS) at Baylor. Kimberli aspires to attend medical school and is interested in pursuing a geriatric specialty. In her free time, Kimberli loves to spend time with her family (including her 4 cats) as well as read psychological thriller novels.
Pravallika Padyala (2026)
Undergraduate Researcher
Chicago, IL
Biography
Pravallika is a freshman Business Fellow on the pre-medical track with a minor in Biochemistry. She is interested in pursuing a career in medicine, particularly becoming a Cardiothoracic surgeon. With a prior research background in neurodegeneration and experience at Argonne National Laboratory, she became a part of the Simmons Lab to develop a deeper understanding of molecular biology and contribute to scientific research within medicine. In addition to the lab, she is a certified pharmacy technician and volunteers at Texas Health Hospital. Pravi spends her free time playing tennis, hanging out with friends, and traveling.
Evan Paltjon
Summer Intern/Student
Waco, TX
Biography
Adrian Reptak (2026)
Undergraduate Student
Chicago, IL
Biography
Adrian is a sophomore Science Research Fellow concentrated in Biology. He hopes to pursue an MD/PhD program in the future. Adrian joined Simmons Lab because he wanted to gain hands-on research experience and be able to apply knowledge he learned in the classroom . Outside of the lab, he works as a night shift EMT. Adrian enjoys spending his free time going cliff diving and hanging out with friends.
Ian Stahl (2026)
Undergraduate Student
San Antonio, TX
Biography
Ian is a sophomore Business Fellows and Biology major in the Honors program. After college, he plans to attend medical school and eventually become a dermatologist. Ian is a certified medical assistant and has worked in Allergy and Hepatology clinics. While working, Ian noticed the detrimental impact age-related hearing loss had on clinical outcomes and joined the Simmons Laboratory to better understand this affliction and research methods to treat it. In his free time, he enjoys reading, lifting weights, hiking, and playing ping pong.
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Kait Murtha (2023)
Ph.D. Graduate
Kaitlin is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Biology Department. She obtained a B.S. in Biology from Wagner College in Staten Island. Although Wagner was a small, liberal-arts school, she fell in love with molecular and cellular biology after taking a class in psychopharmacology during her freshman year. Due to the lack of research labs at Wagner, she spent her summers interning at a biopharmaceutical company called Regeneron. It was there where she decided to pursue a career in research. She enjoys the thrill that comes with finding answers to questions by doing benchwork and is happiest when working with a team. Throughout her research in the Simmons lab, she aims to understand the roles of calcium-binding proteins in outer hair cells (OHCs) of the inner ear. She enjoys spending time with her two dogs: Tex and Bamm Bamm and loves to bake in her spare time.
Sinchana Basoor (2023)
Undergraduate Researcher
Tyler, TX
Sinchana is a sophomore cell and molecular biology major in the honors program. She is interested in pursuing a career in medicine, particularly a surgical specialty. Sinchana believes that hearing provides a unique depth of connection to the world, particularly through the human capacity to communicate and interact. She hopes to contribute to attempts to understand the mechanisms behind hearing and explore the possibility of ameliorating hearing loss. Sinchana spends her free time drawing, reading historical fiction novels, and attempting to roller skate.
Jack Charles (2022)
Undergraduate Researcher Nashville, TN
Jack is junior at Baylor University studying Neuroscience on a pre-med track with hopes of attending medical school to continue his interest in science and medicine. In joining the Simmons lab, he looked for exposure to the problem-solving side of medicine and contributing to the world of scientific knowledge. In doing so, he found an appreciation outside of his major for molecular biology and currently enjoys dissections of the inner ear, immunocytochemistry, and western blots to discover the role oncomodulin in regulating hearing loss. In his free time, he volunteers as an EMT, golfs, and hangs out with his friends.
JinHee Kim (2021)
Undergraduate Researcher
My name is Jin Hee Kim and I am an international student from South Korea. I grew up as a missionary kid in Central Asia and I am graduating from Baylor as a University Scholar with concentrations in Biology and Public Health. I am working with cell culture in Simmons lab, and I am studying the effects of Antimycin and Thapsigargin on cell signaling in mammalian cells. I am looking forward to studying Global Health in Yale School of Public Health in August. As a follower of Jesus, I hope to use the tools of public health for spreading the good news of the gospel.
Preston Simpson (2020)
Undergraduate Researcher
Allen, Texas
Preston Simpson is from Allen, Texas and is studying biology at Baylor University. Preston got involved in research because he wanted to learn more about science beyond what was being taught in the classroom. In his free time, Preston enjoys reading and spending time with his family.
Taronish Madeka (2018)
Undergraduate Researcher
Plano, Texas
Taronish is in the middle of his senior year pursuing a B.S. in Biology on a pre-health track. He became involved in scientific research to obtain new skills and explore various career directions. More importantly, he is thrilled to be playing a small part in contributing knowledge to the world, which could potentially improve the quality of life for people in the future. He says “conducting research in the Simmons lab has been a privilege”, and he is hoping that his experiences will boost his pursuit of a medical degree.
Yang Yang (2023)
Ph.D. Graduate
Anhui, China
He obtained his Master’s degree in Genetics and Development. He was trying to rescue aberrant embryos using different techniques including genetic modification. After joining the Cellular/Molecular/Health/ Disease program at Baylor, he is now trying to rescue mice from hearing loss. He hopes that graduate research will help to improve his problem-solving skills and help him to complete more challenges. He loves all kinds of music. He has played the violin for nearly 10 years. Sometimes he also plays guitar if there is no one around.
Andy Le (2022)
Undergraduate Researcher
Fort Worth, TX
Andy is a Junior Biochemistry major in the honors program and pre-medical track. Andy joined Simmons Lab the summer after his freshman year because he wanted to practically apply what he learned in the classroom. Andy has benefited from the mentorship of older lab members and learning the intricacies of bench research. In his free time Andy enjoys playing intramural sports with Phi Chi, making pour over coffee, and watching movies by Christopher Nolan.
Forrest Jones (2021)
Undergraduate Researcher
Donna, TX
Forrest is a senior studying Biology and Religion on the Pre-Med track. He has been a member of the Simmons lab since 2018, and most his work focuses on quantifying gene expression through mRNA and protein analyses. Learning about the intricacies of the human body fascinates Forrest, so learning and discovering more about the inner ear has been a very enjoyable experience for him! In his spare time, Forrest enjoys wade fishing, exercising, playing the guitar, and spending time with friends and family. After graduation, Forrest plans to attend medical school and return to South Texas as a family physician.
Savannah Brakefield (2020)
Undergraduate Researcher
Houston, TX
Savannah is studying cell and molecular biology at Baylor University. She enjoys the privilege it is to study and learn alongside astute colleagues and leading mentors. Her aim in the lab is to understand the changes in ovi cochlear connections that relate to aging using immunohistochemistry and fluorescent microscopy. She hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in the near future and continue a career in research. In her free time, she enjoys camping, spending time with friends and family, and playing guitar.
Banahene Glover (2021)
Undergraduate Researcher
Andrew Cox, MS
Lab Manager/Research Associate
Batesville, AR
Andrew is a Baylor (M.S.) and University of Arkansas (B.S.) alumni. He loves helping to solve problems through research. His wet lab skills span: biological molecule (DNA, RNA, proteins) isolation and analysis, surgical removal and microdissection of rodent cochlea, perfusions, immunochemistry, mammalian cell culture, genetic engineering, mass spectrometry, and confocal fluorescent microscopy. In his free time he enjoys jiu jitsu, running and exercising, and going on outdoor excursions with his family.
Update: Pursuing Ph.D. at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Kyra Courtney (2023)
Undergraduate Researcher
Friendswood, TX
Kyra is a junior biology major with a concentration in cell and molecular biology. She joined the Simmons laboratory to expand her understanding of research beyond the classroom, and practically contribute to scientific research within medicine. Kyra aspires to attend graduate school to obtain her PhD in biology, and ultimately research neurodegeneration. In addition to lab, she works as medical assistant for UTMB and volunteers with her service sorority “CHIS.” In her free time she enjoys playing trumpet, drinking boba, dancing, and spending time with friends.
Namitha Palnati (2022)
Undergraduate Researcher
Glendale, AZ
I am studying biology on the pre-med track at Baylor University. I got involved in research to further my exploration in the sciences as my curiosity and love for learning expands beyond the classroom. After graduation, I hope to attend medical school. I aspire to become a physician as a I believe medicine combines the best of both worlds— blending my passion for service and love for sciences in a beautiful way to heal people. At the moment, I am interested in neurology. I love traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Hannah Gage (2020)
Research Technician/ Undergraduate Researcher
Fountain Hills, AZ
Hannah is a junior Biology major and French minor from Fountain Hills, Arizona. As a lab assistant, she performs much of the genotyping for different mouse colonies and loves contributing to the exciting research being done. After graduation, she plans to pursue an M.S. in Genetic Counseling. When not in lab or in class, Hannah is a member of Alpha Chi Omega and loves hiking, spending time with friends, and listening to music.
Kelsey Chaykowski (2019)
Manhattan Beach, CA
Kelsey is a Junior Biology major from Manhattan Beach, CA. In her free time, she loves to travel, play tennis, and spend time with friends and family. Currently, she is studying to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry and become a part of the drug research and discovery process. Getting to be involved in undergraduate research has been an enriching experience as she puts it “research has expanded my learning beyond the knowledge gained in the classroom. So far, I have loved gaining a deeper understanding for science and getting the opportunity to apply these new skills in an exciting field of research.”
Update: Pursuing Ph.D. at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Jemima McCluskey
Research Associate/Lab Technician
Canton, MI
Jemima studied biology and biochemistry at Baylor University. She got involved in research because she wanted to explore other options besides medical school, and found that she enjoys working in a laboratory setting. She really likes the general research process: coming up with a research question or hypothesis, designing an experiment, and getting an answer (usually in the form of more questions). She also like learning and developing new skills. A personal interest of hers is reading, and she tries to read at least one book a week.
Update: Jemima began pursuing her M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering in August of 2018 at UT San Antonio where she works on using DNA tracers for aquifer characterization.
Clement Aniekwena (2023)
Undergraduate Researcher
San Antonio, TX
Clement is a senior premed Biochemistry major with a minor in biology in the honors program. With prior research background in blast trauma, He became a part of the Simmons Lab to develop an in-depth understanding of both the mechanics and molecular physiology of hearing. Clement intends on attending medical school shortly after obtaining his bachelor’s and become involved with neurosurgical practice. Clement enjoys spending his free time practicing fitness, writing, and binge-watching various film genres.
Ritu Chanagiri (2023)
Undergraduate Researcher
Cupertino, CA
Ritu is a sophomore Biology major and Business minor on the pre-health track from Cupertino, California. Ritu got involved in the lab in hopes of learning new techniques and having the opportunity of contributing to the fascinating hearing research being done. In her free time, she loves to spend time with family and friends as well as design jewelry.
Will Smith (2023)
Undergraduate Researcher Baton Rouge, LA
Pierce Thompson (2022)
Undergraduate Researcher Kansas City, KS
Pierce Thompson is from Kansas City, Kansas, studying biology with a concentration in cell and molecular biology at Baylor University. Pierce initially got involved in research because of his interest in learning aspects of biology that were beyond the scope of a classroom. Pierce enjoys spending time with friends and playing ping pong in his free time.
Leslie Climer, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Leslie received her Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in Laie, Hawaii. Afterward, she tried her hand at research in a few different topics. She studied childhood leukemia at Dartmouth Medical School in NH and alcoholism at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in CO. While studying osteoporosis at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in AR, Leslie decided that she would need to obtain a Ph.D. in order to fulfill her dream of taking over the world. Leslie successfully defended her dissertation from UAMS on the topic of Golgi-related protein trafficking and is now a Postdoctoral Fellow at Baylor University in the Simmons Lab — saving the world one ear at a time.
Matthew Tateossian (2020)
Undergraduate Researcher
Houston, Texas
Matthew is a Baylor University Scholar, and wants to become an otolaryngologist and spend his days restoring people’s hearing. “I think hearing is a fascinating and even indispensable part of life – but I didn’t want to have to wait until medical school or even residency to learn about the mechanisms and biology of the ear, so I joined the Simmons lab. The idea that our discoveries might one day translate into a world where more people can enjoy music or hear the voices of their loved ones greatly excites me!” He loves listening to classical music, playing the violin, and composing music! Also, if you ask him about it, he’ll tell you why he has three citizenships….
Briana Walker (2018)
Undergraduate Researcher
Pflugerville, TX
Brianna enjoys being new to this (research) and learning something each day. “Applying what I learned in class during lab is valuable to my growth as a student and eventually a professional.” Specifically she has worked on PCR experiments dealing with the application and purification process and also designing primers for PCR. Her work also involves understanding the underlying mechanisms of the outer hair cells and its proteins. She is currently performing immunocytochemistry experiments on fixed cochlear tissue and analyzing some outer hair cell proteins via fluorescent confocal microscopy.