Priya Patel, Undergraduate Researcher
Priya is a biology major and has a strong interest in understanding the underlying mechanisms of ocular diseases. In the lab, Priya is working on developing a zebrafish chronic RPE injury model using MTZ ablation rounds. Conducting research has allowed Priya to appreciate the complexity of the eye and increased her interest in eye diseases. She is excited to learn more about ocular regenerative medicine and hopes to attend medical school in the future, eventually pursuing a career in ophthalmology. Outside of the lab, Priya enjoys doing yoga, playing spikeball, and traveling, especially to national parks!
Chelsea Smith, PhD Student (co-mentored with Dr. Jeff Gross)
Chelsea is a first-year PhD student in the Cell & Molecular Biology graduate program.
Donghwa Suh, PhD Candidate (co-mentored with Dr. Jeff Gross)
Donghwa is a fourth-year PhD student in Cell & Molecular Biology who is passionate about exploring the unknown and engaging in interdisciplinary science. She aims to have a positive impact on others through her research journey. After working as an associate researcher at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in NYC, she moved to Austin to join a graduate program. She completed her MS in Biochemistry and her BS in Food Science & Biotechnology of Animal Resources in South Korea. Her research journey began in 2017 as an undergraduate researcher and intern at a national lab (KIST). She studied cell cycle regulation following electromagnetic fields and participated in the development of multiplexed on-chip RT-qPCR.
Upon joining the PhD program, she has shifted her focus towards more fundamental scientific questions, drawing on her previous experiences and techniques. She is fascinated by a study on zebrafish, which possess a robust regeneration capacity, and she is focusing on the regeneration of Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) in zebrafish. Her research aims to provide essential insights into understanding RPE and to develop an ablation model that accurately reflects various injuries.
Outside the lab, Donghwa relishes the sunshine and breeze. Her leisure activities include going for jogs, hitting the ski slopes, and engaging in games with balls of different dimensions. Most importantly, she cherishes the moments spent meditating with a steaming cup of coffee in hand.
Angela Tong, Undergraduate Researcher
Angela is a third-year undergraduate majoring in Public Health on the Pre-Dental track. Her research interests include disease modeling, epigenetic mechanisms, and regenerative medicine. She is particularly drawn to studying retinal pigment epithelium regeneration as a potential treatment for age-related macular degeneration and hopes to apply similar regenerative approaches to dental tissues, such as gum and periodontal regeneration, in her future career as a dentist. Outside the lab, Angela enjoys playing badminton, traveling to different countries, and exploring new coffee shops around Austin and Dallas.
Jade & Rufus, Editorial and Emotional Support
Jade and Rufus are the most senior but least productive members of the team. They enjoy naps, treats, and making guest appearances in Zoom meetings.
Previous Team Members
Rebecca Gonzalez (Research Scientist Associate)
Sayuri Jayawardena (Undergraduate Researcher) now: PhD student at Rice University