Darwin Chang
He/ Him
President
Rodriguez Lab
Cancer Biology
Darwin Chang is a third year student in the Rodriguez Lab, currently looking at the melanoma. He enjoys swimming and has pet ducks!
Alicia Bjornberg
She/ Her
Vice President
Marusyk Lab
Cancer Biology
Alicia is a third year Cancer Biology student in the Marusyk Lab focusing on understanding the evolutionary paths cancer cells take to become resistant to therapeutic agents, and exploring ways to prevent resistance. Originally from Maryland, Alicia enjoys long walks, creative eats, and performing with the USF Golden Bulls recreational dance team. On any given weekend, you can find Alicia playing board games, reading, and watching the beautiful sunsets Tampa has to offer.
Phebe Havor is a second year PhD student in the Integrated Mathematical Oncology department. In the #BradyNichollsLab, her research focuses on looking at how mathematical modeling of patient-reported outcomes can contribute to enhancing treatment strategies with the long term goal of improving the length and quality of patients’ lives.
Phebe is originally from Accra Ghana, where she completed her undergraduate and masters degrees in Mathematics and Scientific Computing and Industrial Modelling respectively at the KNUST. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, being adventurous, and checking out new eateries with friends.
Samira Naderinezhad is a second-year Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Ph.D. student at Frederick Locke's lab. Her research is all about diving deep into ways to supercharge CAR-T cells and make them work better in those tricky tumor microenvironments. Originally from Iran, her background is in Chemical Engineering and biology. Now, when she is not lost in the world of science, you'll catch her in the kitchen cooking, hiking, putting brush to canvas, learning new things, and participating in community services.
Jodie Wong is currently a second year Cancer Biology Ph.D. student in Dr. Liang Wang's lab investigating DNA methylation in prostate cancer. Born and raised in New York City, Jodie completed her Bachelor's and Master's degree in Boston before coming down to Tampa. When Jodie is not in the lab she enjoys traveling, trying new cuisines, hiking, crocheting, and reading.
Marian Smallin
She/ Her
First-Year Liason
Brohl Lab /
Pilon-Thomas Lab
Cancer Biology
Marian is a 2nd year Cancer Biology Ph.D Student currently working in both the labs of Dr. Andrew Brohl and Dr, Shari Pilon-Thomas, and is currently looking at the influence of human microRNAs in Cancer and the Immune Microenvironment. She has a bachelor's of science in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of South Florida, and a Master's from Johns Hopkin's University in Genomics and Personalized Medicine. Her hobbies include bowling, running, writing, and taking care of her (very demanding but overwhelmingly adorable) boston terrier.
Thomas Veith
He/ Him
Gen. Representative
Andor Lab
Integrated Mathematical Oncology
Thomas Veith is a fifth year PhD student in Noemi Andor's lab. His work combines evolutionary game theory and single-cell sequencing to understand how cell-cell interactions shape population structure in gastric cancers. Before joining Moffitt, Tommy completed his undergraduate degree in Applied Mathematics at USF. With his PhD work, he hopes to contribute to a better understanding of how divergent populations within a tumor compete and cooperate while exposed to variable environments, such as DNA damaging therapies.
Sarah Lulu
She/ Her
Gen. Representative
Hwu Lab
Morsani College of Medicine
MD/PhD Program
Sarah Lulu is a USF Health Morsani College of Medicine MD/PhD student in her second PhD year. Under the mentorship of Major Professor Dr. Patrick Hwu and Co-Major Professor Dr. Bradlee Heckmann, she designs Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cells to treat Glioblastoma. Outside of the lab she enjoys listening to audiobooks, experimenting in the kitchen, and dabbling on flute.
Sara Leahey
She/ Her
Gen. Representative
Hwu Lab
Cancer Immunology & Immunotherapy
Sara Leahey is a Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy PhD student in her second year. Sara is in Dr. Patrick Hwu’s lab and is working on developing CAR-T cell therapy for Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Although she misses Texas, Sara enjoys all the beauty and fun things that Tampa and Florida have to offer. Outside the lab, Sara is probably either attempting to roller-skate, trying to keep all her houseplants alive, or enjoying time with her dachshund, Archie.
Achintyan Gangadharan
He/Him
Gen. Representative
Ruffell Lab
Cancer Immunology & Immunotherapy
Achintyan is a second year Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy PhD student in the Ruffell Lab.
Ken Lilley
He/Him
Gen. Representative
Pilon-Thomas Lab
Cancer Immunology & Immunotherapy
Ken is a second-year student in the Pilon-Thomas lab focusing on the effects of chemoablation of HPV+ cancers and how it relates to Adoptive Cell Transfer. In his spare time he likes to run and workout (currently trying to achieve a Boston Marathon Qualifying time), cook delicious food for his family and try to keep up with everything else life throws at him. He and his wife also just welcomed their daughter Addison to the world and are trying to cherish every moment they are able to spend with her.