Lab members
Charli Worth
Walnut, California
Biography:
Charli is a doctoral student with a BA in Biochemistry from the University of San Diego. She worked at the Microarray Core and Next Generation Sequencing Core at The Scripps Research Institute optimizing library creation protocols and manufacturing and testing glycan microarrays. Charli’s research interests focus on EMT and metastasis.
Kayla Haberman
Waco, Texas
Biography:
Kayla is a doctoral student with a BS in Biology & Psychology from Ouachita Baptist University and an MS in Cell & Molecular Biology from the University of Arkansas. Her master’s work focused on targeting transport mechanisms for a novel anti-fungal peptide in Candida glabrata utilizing CRISPR. Kayla’s research interests focus on epigenetic regulation and EMT.
Tolulope Ojo
Ekiti, Nigeria
Biography:
Lydia Allabaugh (’26)
Climax, Michigan
Biography:
Lydia Allabaugh is a class of 2026 Science Research Fellow concentrating in Biochemistry. Following graduation, Lydia plans to pursue an MD/PhD in Immunology. She enjoys watching football, traveling and competing with the Triathlon Club team, and volunteering with foster kids. She also loves gardening and cooking and some of her favorite restaurants in Waco are Slow Rise, Mamaka, and Baris.
Hannah Lilley (’26)
Roswell, New Mexico
Biography:
Hannah is a cell and molecular biology major with minors in biochemistry and business administration. She is on the pre-med track and hopes to pursue a career as a physician and medical researcher. She is currently working on the KDM6A project.
Vamika Gautam (’26)
Dallas, Texas
Biography:
Vamika is a senior biology major with a concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology and a minor in Biochemistry on the pre-med track. She is passionate about examining how epigenetic changes in gene expression contribute to cancer progression. Outside of the lab, she enjoys traveling, trying new recipes, reading, playing with her dog, and exploring local coffee shops.
Rachel Thornton (’27)
Nashville, Tennessee
Biography:
Rachel is a Junior Science Research Fellow majoring in Biology with a second major in Neuroscience. She is on the pre-med track and plans to pursue an MD, with a particular interest in neurology and neurosurgery. Outside the lab, Rachel enjoys traveling, watching movies, spending time with friends and family, and giving back through volunteer work.
Joe Conkleton (’27)
Tyler, Texas
Biography:
Joe Conkleton is a sophomore biochemistry major on the pre-med track with aspirations of pursuing an MD/PhD. He is deeply interested in exploring the molecular mechanisms and epigenetic factors that drive cancer metastasis and the development of invasive phenotypes. Outside of academics, Joe enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, singing, cooking, and traveling.
Mayukhi Katragadda (’28)
San Ramon, California
Biography:
Mayukhi is a sophomore cell and molecular biology major with minors in business administration and biochemistry. She is also on the pre-med track and hopes to pursue an MD or MD/PhD. She is interested in exploring cancer cell metastasis and contributing to this field of research. In her free time, she likes to dance, listen to music, and spend time with family and friends.
Jack Malone (’28)
Columbia, Missouri
Biography:
Kshetra Polavarapu (’28)
Dallas, Texas
Biography:
Former Graduate Students
Haleigh Parker, Ph.D.
Ph.D., Baylor University – 2025
Current: Research Scientist, LuminoDx
Aadil Sheikh, Ph.D.
Ph.D., Baylor University – 2023
Current: Medical Student, Texas Tech School of Medicine
Kelsey Johnson, Ph.D.
Ph.D., Baylor University – 2021
Current: Toxicologist, Johnson & Johnson
Keighley Reisenauer, Ph.D.
Ph.D., Baylor University – 2021
Current: Associate Research Director, Private Health Management
Shuxuan Song
M.S., Baylor University – 2021
Current: Graduate Student, University of Maryland
Dustin Jaoude
M.A., Baylor University – 2018
Current: Medical Student, Texas College of Osteopathic Medcine
Former Postdoctoral Research Fellows
Santhalakshmi Ranganathan, Ph.D.
2019-2024
Current: Postdoctoral Fellow, Baylor University
Provas Das, Ph.D.
2019-2022
Current: Postdoctoral Fellow, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
Wezley Griffin, Ph.D.
2017-2019
Current: Postdoctoral fellow at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Former Undergraduate Students
Maya Cappellino
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2025
Current: PhD student, MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Adhwaitha Nambiar
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2025
Current: Research Technician, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Emily York
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2025
Current: M.S. student in Diagnostic Genetics and Genomics, MD Anderson
Alison Whitley
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2025
Current:
Juli Watkins
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2025
Current:
Jacob Bailey
BSC, Biochemistry , Baylor University – 2024
Current: Medical Student at UT San Antonio
Jenna Tobin
BSC, Health Science Studies, Baylor University – 2024
Current: Graduate student, University of Michigan
Michelle Pujol
BSC, Health Science Studies, Baylor University – 2024
Current: Occupational therapy student, University of Texas Medical Branch
Alagu Subramanian
UNSC, Biology, Medical Humanities, & Business Administration, Baylor University – 2023
Current: Churchill Scholar, University of Cambridge
Samantha Davis
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2023
Current: Medical Student
Arvind Muruganantham
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2023
Current: Churchill Scholar, University of Cambridge
Alysia Martinez
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2023
Current: Graduate Student, University of Oxford
Saawan Patel
BBA, Business Fellow, Baylor University – 2022
Current: Medical Student, Perelman School of Medicine
Sheridan Mikhail
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2022
Current: Graduate Student, University of Michigan
Joelle Kim
BSC, Science Research Fellow, Baylor University – 2021
Current: Fulbright Scholar, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Giovanny Gonzalez
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2020
Current: Student, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Alec Ingros
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2020
Rebecca Modisette
BSC, Anthropology, Baylor University – 2019
Current: Medical Student, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clayton Smith
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2019
Current: Scientist, US Department of Defense
Samantha Peña
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2019
Current: Graduate Student, Ohio State University
Emily Lin
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2019
Current: Ensign, US Navy
Beatriz Castillo-Rodriguez
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2018
Current: Medical Student, Baylor College of Medicine
Taylor Nesbit
BA, Medical Humanities, Baylor University – 2018
Current: Medical Student, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Collin Campion
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2018
Current: Application Specialist, The Binding Site
Tim Phillips
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2018
Current: Medical Student, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Tom Niu
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2017
Current: Investment Banking Analyst, Mizuho
Daniel Goyco
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2017
Current: Medical Student, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
Hunter Graham
BSC, Biology, Baylor University – 2016
Current: Physician, Texas A&M College of Medicine