Human Genetics Scholars

Amber M. Abram is a native Detroiter and master’s degree student in the Genetic Counseling and Public Health programs at the University of Michigan. Her research project investigates genetic counselors’ ability to provide comprehensive and equitable care to incarcerated patients. Amber hopes to use this work to improve health outcomes for incarcerated patient populations, who are statistically more likely to come from racially minoritized and medically underserved communities, and spark further conversations regarding incarcerated patient care. Prior to her graduate education, Amber earned her B.S in Biology with an Applied Genetics concentration and Leadership minor from the University of Detroit Mercy where she was presented with the Vivere ex Missione Award for her commitment to servant leadership within the Detroit community. Amber is a dedicated advocate and hopes to use her training and experiences to influence positive change for racially minoritized communities and academic trainees.

Born and raised in a large extended family in Indianapolis, Indiana, Dr. Kynon Jade Benjamin is proud to be the first doctor in his family. He earned his GED with his mother’s support before attending Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). At IUPUI, Dr. Benjamin began his scientific journey in a neuroscience research laboratory during his work study. His predoctoral studies focused on designing drug delivery and drug development assays, as well as developing bioinformatic pipelines for Angelman syndrome – a neurodevelopmental disorder. In his postdoctoral fellowship at the Lieber Institute for Brain Development and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, he developed computational pipelines for large-scale transcriptional (bulk and single-cell), genetic, and functional analyses in postmortem brain and brain organoids. Dr. Benjamin’s research career highlights the critical need for diversity and inclusive spaces. He actively mentors and advocates for underrepresented minorities.

Razaq Durodoye received his bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at Dallas and matriculated to Case’s MD/PhD program in 2019. He completed his pre-clerkship training in 2021 and is in his 4th year of the graduate phase in the Epidemiology and Biostatistics PhD program. His research working with Dr. Scott Williams focuses on understanding Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic conditions where he hopes to understand, address, and minimize health disparities, especially in minoritized populations.

Tania Fabo is an MD-PhD student at Stanford University, pursuing her PhD in Genetics. She received her undergraduate degree in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology from Harvard University in 2018, after which she pursued two separate master’s degrees at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar—first an MSc in Medical Anthropology, followed by an MSc by Research in Oncology. Her current PhD work explores diet-mediated gene-by-environment interactions in colorectal cancer, using a combination of high-throughput functional genomics tools and population-based studies. Tania’s ultimate goal is to become a professor who leads a lab exploring mechanistic biology and disease genetics and pathophysiology through a social and environmental lens. She is committed to advancing diversity and equity in science and medicine and wants to dedicate her career to helping minorities and those otherwise marginalized by society achieve their full potential.

Gabrielle Ferra is a PhD candidate in the Genome Sciences department at the University of Washington, working in the labs of Drs. Kelley Harris and Maitreya Dunham. She completed her undergraduate degree in Applied Mathematics-Biology from Brown University in 2020. At the University of Washington, she is conducting a deep mutational scan of the pharmacogene CYP2D6, which is responsible for the metabolism of approximately 25% of common drugs. Her research is driven by a keen interest in pharmacogenetics and precision medicine, aiming to improve healthcare outcomes for all. Outside of her research, Gabrielle is an avid CrossFit enthusiast and hiker, and she also enjoys playing the violin in her free time.

JP Flores is a PhD Candidate in Bioinformatics & Computational Biology at UNC Chapel Hill studying the role of 3D chromatin structure in response to environmental stress. He is the Founder and Host of the From where does it STEM? podcast where he interviews scientists from all over the world and asks how they got there. He was a Science Policy Intern in the NIH Office of Science Policy housed in the NIH Director’s Office in 2024 and is complementing his PhD at UNC by pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Innovation for the Public Good. Through this training, he hopes to innovate in both science and social justice efforts. He is an NSF GRFP Fellow and always down to be a resource for others, especially those from minoritized and marginalized backgrounds.

Renée Fonseca is a PhD candidate in the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Chicago, supported by a Ford Predoctoral Fellowship. Her research focuses on developing novel methods to improve polygenic score portability across populations to improve equity in disease risk prediction. Prior to attending UChicago, she was a Fulbright research grantee at the Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia, where she characterized disease burden in an Afro-Colombian population as part of a community-driven study. She holds a Master of Science in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology from the University of South Florida, an Artium Baccalaureus in Biology from Rollins College, and she is a certified Emergency Medical Technician. Long-term, she aims to build a research career leveraging genomics to advance health equity.

Esteban Vazquez-Hidalgo is a Postdoctoral Scholar at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine where he uses his multidisciplinary training in mathematical modeling, computational biology, genomics to study genetic variation impact on allele specific expression. Esteban earned his PhD in Computational Science from San Diego State University’s joint doctoral program with Claremont Graduate University. His dissertation had two aims: The first focused on developing mathematical and biophysical models to predict cardiac calcium concentrations. In his second aim, Esteban created a micro-scale biomechanical model that predicted how epithelial cells migrate by generating traction forces on their micro-environments. In addition to research, Esteban is an advocate for mentoring underrepresented students and developing strategies to support scientists of diverse backgrounds.

Kimberlyn A. Ellis is a Ph.D. student in the Training Program in Human Genetics at the Vanderbilt Genetics Institute. Her doctoral research investigates sex-by-ancestry interactions of asthma and environmental modifiers in African admixed populations. With this work, Kimberlyn hopes to dismantle health disparities and improve health outcomes for underrepresented populations.  Prior to being a Ph.D. student, Kimberlyn received her Bachelor of Science in biology from Spelman College in 2019 and completed the NIH Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program at Brown University in 2020. In 2022, she completed the Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellowship with the National Academies of Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering and the Advocacy Certificate for Human Genetics and Genomics Trainees (ACGT) with the American Society of Human Genetics.  In her free time, Kimberlyn enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her puppy and kitten.

Oscar Florez-Vargas is a research fellow at the Laboratory of Translational Genomics (LTG) in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. He completed his undergraduate degrees in Microbiology and Medical Laboratory Sciences from the Industrial University of Santander in 2004 and his M.Sc. in Biochemistry from the National University of Colombia in 2008. In 2016, he earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Manchester, UK. Before joining LTG, Dr. Florez-Vargas conducted extensive research on genetic associations with infectious diseases and toxicological exposures in Colombia. At LTG, he focuses on investigating multiple genomic regions associated with an increased risk of several cancers through genome-wide association studies. Through computational analysis, he explores genotype-phenotype relationships to assess the specific contributions of genomic regions, genes, and genetic variants to cancer phenotypes, under the mentorship of Dr. Prokunina-Olsson.

Jeff Jaureguy is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California San Diego, researching the functional impact of genetic variants in the non-coding region of the genome. His work at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies focuses on developing a Variant Aware neural network to understand rare variants’ effects on chromatin accessibility. A recipient of the prestigious Sloan scholarship, Jeff is grateful for the opportunities to grow as a research scientist. With a passion for academia, he aspires to become a professor specializing in machine learning algorithms for human genetic variation and gene regulation. Deeply committed to promoting diversity in STEM fields and creating equal opportunities, Jeff aims to make a significant impact in bioinformatics and systems biology through his research and dedication to equity in STEM.

Ronnie Li is a PhD candidate in the Neuroscience graduate program at Emory University. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Brown University in 2015. Currently, Ronnie works with Dr. Zhaohui “Steve” Qin in the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, where he uses machine learning approaches to study expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) that are associated with gene expression across multiple somatic and brain tissues. Ronnie is passionate about advocating for individuals with disabilities in STEM, and he has given multiple lectures on his own journey to raise awareness and inspire others to pursue a career in STEM.

Jasmine Mack, MPH, MS, is a PhD candidate training between the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the University of Cambridge Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the NIH-Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program. Jasmine earned a Masters in Biostatistics from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, a Masters in Public Health in Maternal and Child Health from Boston University School of Public Health, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology, Psychology, and Linguistics from Emory University. Jasmine’s research concerns multi-omics analysis of pregnancy complications and exploring efficient statistical methods for studying multi-ethnic and admixed populations. She is interested in studying how genetics and the environment influences cardiometabolic disorders of pregnancy, in addition to how maternal and fetal genetic effects affect pathogenesis. As a part of her commitment to service, Jasmine advocates for representation of historically excluded people as researchers as well as participants in research studies.

Dr. Bruce Nmezi is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Human Genetics, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 2019. His research involves the study of the nucleoskeletal protein known as lamin B1, the overexpression of which leads to a fatal demyelinating disorder known as autosomal dominant leukodystrophy. He currently utilizes cutting-edge molecular biology, CRISPR, and bioinformatics techniques to uncover novel genomic silencer elements that confer tissue-specific regulation of lamin B1. Along with his main research focus, Dr. Nmezi volunteers at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and judges at the annual Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair at the Carnegie Science Center. He advocates for mentoring students from underrepresented minority groups and promoting their interest in STEM fields.

Alexis is an avid Ph.D. student at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. She earned her B.S. degree in Animal Science from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and M.S. degree from Tennessee State University where her research focus was in poultry science. Currently, her dissertation project investigates genetic pleiotropy across hypertension and women’s gynecologic diseases, with aims to elucidate disparities in risk and outcomes. Alexis possesses a diverse teaching background and has a strong passion for teaching, mentorship, and research. She was awarded the “Excellence in Leadership” award from Meharry for her contributions on the Graduate Student Association’s executive board. After securing her Ph.D., Alexis desires to be a professor, to continue to engage in research and teaching.

Justina P. Tavana is a PhD candidate in the Biology graduate program at Brigham Young University (BYU). Originally from Samoa, she received a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University-Hawaii in Biology. Currently, Justina works with Dr. Keoni Kauwe at BYU, where her research focuses on identifying genetic risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations. Justina’s work aims to identify genetic mechanisms that drive the pathology and etiology of AD among these underrepresented communities. She also strives to ultimately improve diagnosis and treatment efforts for this devastating disease. Justina is actively involved in community outreach and mentoring programs. Her passion lies in advocating for health equity and in inspiring and nurturing the next generation of scientists.

Kimberly Diaz Perez is a PhD candidate in the Genetics & Molecular Biology graduate program at Emory University. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Georgia State University. Currently, Kimberly works with Dr. Elizabeth Leslie at Emory University, where her research focuses on exploring the role of rare genetic variants associated with orofacial clefts using whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing. As a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Gilliam fellow, she is an active advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM, primarily focusing on increasing awareness about accessibility for individuals with disabilities in academia.

Paige Haffener is a PhD Candidate in the Leffler Lab at the University of Utah. Originally from Oklahoma, she received a Bachelor of Science from Oklahoma City University in cell and molecular biology. In graduate school, Paige has transitioned into the field of population genomics. Her thesis work uses population genetic and genomic techniques to study the effects of admixture and selection on malaria susceptibility in human and non-human primate populations. In addition to research, she has taken a strong interest in science outreach programs that focus on building the interest and awareness of STEM careers for students from underrepresented groups in K-12 schools.

Gabrielle Hampton obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Belmont University, a Master of Science from Lipscomb University, and she is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree from Vanderbilt University. Gabrielle’s current research interests include understanding chronic health disparities in individuals of African descent. Under the mentorship of Dr. Todd Edwards, her thesis work uses computational and statistical genetic approaches to identify and use shared genetic architecture to increase the utility of risk prediction models in diverse populations.

Eric Sosa is a Salvadoran-American from South Central Los Angeles. His mother moved to California to flee the political corruption of post-civil war El Salvador. At an early age Eric began working to financially assist his mother, whose health issues hindered her. He attended public schools where funding was low, and courses were overcrowded. Despite these odds, Eric graduated and was admitted to UCLA. Eric majored in Human Biology & Society, where he focused on the intertwining of disease and social determinants. Eric graduated in 2017 with highest departmental honors. In 2018, Eric matriculated at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. He has begun his PhD training in Dr. John Greally’s lab; studying the role of non-coding variants in GABAergic neuron differentiation as a model for autism. Eric’s diverse learning experiences, at home and in the Bronx, has reinforced his commitment to research, and helping the underserved.

Lizeth Tamayo is a Ph.D. candidate in genetic epidemiology at the University of Chicago. She completed her undergraduate studies at Augustana College in Biochemistry and French and her Master of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. Her current research broadly focuses on the interplay between genetic and environmental factors and their impact on complex disease risk in low-resource and understudied populations. More specifically, she developed a dissertation project that bridges multiple aspects of methodological training related to genome-wide association studies, gene-environment interactions, and the implementation of a public health intervention of returning genetic results. She has also worked to understand specific molecular characteristics of breast cancer in Peruvian women with high Indigenous Ancestry. Outside of the lab, Lizeth enjoys reading, spending time with her family and friends, and rating French fries throughout the city.

Dr. Adelaide Tovar is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan where she uses multidisciplinary expertise in quantitative genetics, bioinformatics, and functional genomics to study the effects of genetic variation on transcriptional regulation and diabetes risk. In 2021, she earned her PhD in Genetics & Molecular Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For her graduate research, she employed genetic and genomic approaches in a large, genetically diverse mouse population to discover gene-environment interactions with air pollution. Dr. Tovar is currently leading an effort to characterize regulatory activity across all known type 2 diabetes-associated variants as part of the Accelerating Medicines Partnership for Common Metabolic Diseases consortium and is a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Postdoctoral Diversity Enrichment Program Fellow (2022-2025).

Travis Tu’ifua is a PhD candidate in the department of human genetics at the University of Utah. His thesis work is in functionally characterizing genetic modifiers of a rare congenital disorder of deglycosylation called NGLY1 deficiency. He has a passion for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) work and serves in his PhD program’s EDI Task Force and his department’s EDI committee. Travis received his bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Utah. He is the father of three young girls and is married to the love of his life.

Matanel Yheskel graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Biochemistry. He then was a technician at UT Southwestern Medical Center in the laboratory of Dr. Vishal Patel where he studied the role of microRNAs in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease. He is currently pursuing his MD/PhD at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is performing his thesis research laboratory of Dr. Julie Secombe where he is studying how intellectual disability associated missense variants in histone demethylase KDM5C affect its function using Drosophila melanogaster as a model.