Interested in learning more about the Biomedical Scientist Training Program's incoming class? Scroll to meet our students!
Name: Rana Abdelgawad
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Where would you say you are from? Alexandria, Egypt
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? Pharos University in Alexanderia
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? Pharmacy
If you completed a master's or professional degree, which degree did you complete and from what university? Pharmacology and Toxicology Masters from Wright State University
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? Online searching!
Why did you chose the BSTP program? Because of the numerous branched programs and the extensive list of well respected faculty members.
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? A well balanced, enjoyable experience throughout the 5 years and accomplishments in scientific study!
Name: Isioma Akwanamnye
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Where would you say you are from? Lagos, Nigeria
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? Chadron State College
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? BS in Biology (Human Biology)
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? I heard about CWRU's BSTP program at a virtual Biomedical graduate school fair. I signed up to attend and spoke to CWRU graduate school admission representative and students who were excited to answer my questions about not just about the Case Western program, but also about life in graduate school generally.
Why did you chose the BSTP program? I choose the BSTP program because it gave me a wide range of opportunities to explore various research areas before deciding what I route I would want to specialize in.
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? I am looking forward to getting to know members of my cohort, learning and growing as a scientist. Just enjoying the up and downs of doing great science with my mentors and colleagues!
Name: Vaani Nanavaty
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Where would you say you are from? New Providence, New Jersey, USA
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? Rutgers University
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? BA in biological sciences
If you completed a master's or professional degree, which degree did you complete and from what university? MS in Medical Physiology from CWRU
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? I learned about the BSTP program while I was a graduate student in the physiology department. I worked with PhD students in the program while I was taking research credits.
Why did you chose the BSTP program? I hope to work alongside leading scientists in CWRU and its connecting institutions.
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? I am looking forward to meeting my classmates and working with them!
Name: Noel Moore
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Where would you say you are from? Lock Haven, PA, United States
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? Penn State Behrend
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? Biology
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? I heard about CWRU’s Biomedical Science Training Program through a Biomedical Graduate School fair.
Why did you chose the BSTP program? As an umbrella program, BSTP offered the opportunity to explore areas of research I had not been previously exposed to, before choosing a specific focus.
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? I am looking forward to trying new areas of research and meeting new people!
Name: Kyle Roberts
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Where would you say you are from? North Royalton, Ohio
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? Case Western Reserve University
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? BS in Biology
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? I first heard of the BSTP program through my undergraduate academic advisor.
Why did you chose the BSTP program? Familiarity with the area, campus, and the research being done at this school
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? Developing new connections between students and faculty in different departments!
Name: Akash Mody
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Where would you say you are from? Fremont, CA, USA
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? BS Biology, Chemistry (Dual)
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? On the website and through coworkers.
Why did you chose the BSTP program? The high praise second-year and third-year students had for the BSTP program and CWRU in general! Also, the program has great connections with Cleveland Clinic and UH.
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? Establishing a great mentorship with my PI and working on a project that interests me.
Name: Kelsey Lewis
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Where would you say you are from? Michigan
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? Saginaw Valley State University
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? BS in Biology
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? NIH Virtual Graduate and Professional School Symposium
Why did you chose the BSTP program? I really like the rotation system which will allow me to experience multiple labs so I can decide which is the best fit for me. I also appreciate the rigorous curriculum and the teaching certificate opportunity.
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? Research! Working alongside scientists and other graduate students to answer critical biomedical questions. I am so excited to expand my techniques and become an accomplished scientist!
Name: Lane Pierson
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Where would you say you are from? Ponchatoula, Louisiana, United States
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? Tulane University
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? BS in Cell and Molecular Biology
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? From a Post doc in my lab!
Why did you chose the BSTP program? I was very interested in the Molecular Virology program at CWRU.
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? Working full time in a lab!
Name: Vidusha Kothwela
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Where would you say you are from? Sri Lanka
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? Microbiology
If you completed a master's or professional degree, which degree did you complete and from what university? M.Sc in Immunology and Infectious Disease from Washington State University
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? From the program website!
Why did you chose the BSTP program? The diverse research opportunities interested me!
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? Exploring the various research rotations.
Name: Emily Novak
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Where would you say you are from? Wakeman, Ohio, United States
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? University of Mount Union
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? BS in Biochemistry/Chemistry
If you completed a master's or professional degree, which degree did you complete and from what university? MS in Biochemistry at CWRU
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? From my experience as a CWRU Masters student.
Why did you chose the BSTP program? Lots of research opportunities, close to home, caring faculty!
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? Starting my own research!
Name: Atikur Rahman
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Where would you say you are from? Dhaka, Bangladesh
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? Jashore University of Science and Technology
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? BSc in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? I read about it on the internet!
Why did you chose the BSTP program? Renowned and outstanding faculty members!
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? Acquiring knowledge of molecular biology technology!
Name: Tianyi Yang
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Where would you say you are from? Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? Case Western Reserve University
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? BS in Biology and BA in Computer Science
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? I was a student at Case for undergrad!
Why did you chose the BSTP program? I am very interested in research and biomedical study.
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? Learning more about the forefront biomedical knowledge and conducting my own research!
Name: Szu-An Lin
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Where would you say you are from? Taipei, Taiwan
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? National Taiwan University
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? BS in Chemistry
If you completed a master's or professional degree, which degree did you complete and from what university? M.S. in pharmacology, National Taiwan University
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? From my parents!
Why did you chose the BSTP program? I was very interested in the BSTP program and the various rotations available.
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? The research I will be conducting in the lab!
Name: Kyle McGill Percy
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Where would you say you are from? Tampa, Florida, United States
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? University of South Florida
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? BS in Biomedical Science
If you completed a master's or professional degree, which degree did you complete and from what university? MS in Medical Sciences, Aging & Neuroscience from the University of South Florida
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? From coworkers!
Why did you chose the BSTP program? The program aligned with my values and future direction.
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? The experience of being a PhD student!
Name: Anelise Hutson
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Where would you say you are from? St. Louis, MO
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? University of Alabama
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? BS in Chemistry
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? I worked as a tech in a lab at CWRU the past year. I realized I enjoyed it, and the students I met were extremely helpful in providing advice during the application season.
Why did you chose the BSTP program? CWRU had greater opportunities, resources, and funding than other options. I also liked the umbrella program, so I could go into a department based on rotation experience rather than be limited to a few labs in one dept.
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? I'm looking forward to choosing a lab and getting to work on my own project.
Name: Marnie Williams
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Where would you say you are from? Florida
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? University of Central Florida
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? Chemistry: biochemistry track
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? I heard about the program from a professor at my university!
Why did you chose the BSTP program? There are many PI's who work with the IPSC!
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? Research, research, and more research!
Name: Lauren Proctor
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Where would you say you are from? Williamston, Michigan, United States
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? Grand Valley State University
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? BS Cell and Molecular Biology
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? An online search!
Why did you chose the BSTP program? The location, stipend, 11 PhD tracks, and my visit experience.
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? Meeting people with the same interests and goals as me!
Name: Bailey Klein
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
Where would you say you are from? Erie, PA, USA
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? Penn State University
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? Biomedical Engineering
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? I knew about Case because I went to high school about an hour and a half from here. I found this specific program online when looking at the many programs Case offered.
Why did you chose the BSTP program? I chose this program because I felt it had a lot or research that aligned with my interests.
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? I am most looking forward to meeting new people and making new connections to last a lifetime.
Name: Alyssia Broncano
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Where would you say you are from? Columbus, OH, USA
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? Case Western Reserve University
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? BS in Biology
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? I learned about it as I was participating in a summer research program (CanSUR) here at CWRU in 2021. After hearing about the BSTP from Dr. Dubyak, I looked into it more as I was researching different CWRU graduate programs.
Why did you chose the BSTP program? I was intrigued by how the program offers multiple lab rotations so students can explore different areas of research before committing to a lab. I also loved how invested the faculty were in seeing students succeed, which had a large influence in my decision. I also love the atmosphere and location of CWRU, which made me want to continue my education here.
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? I'm looking forward to meeting other aspiring scientists in my class as well as other graduate students. I'm also very excited to see what I will learn from my lab rotations and learn skills to make me a better researcher.
Name: Maria Habean
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Where would you say you are from? North Ridgeville, Ohio, USA
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? Cleveland State University
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? BS in Biology, BS in Chemistry
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? I heard about this program through a mentor I had in undergrad.
Why did you chose the BSTP program? I chose the BSTP program because of the collaborative nature of the program.
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? I look forward to what this program can teach me in the realm of biomedical research!
Name: Bhavatharini Udhayakumar
Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
Where would you say you are from? Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Where did you receive your Bachelor's degree? Government College of Technology, India
What was your Bachelor's degree major(s)? B.Tech in Industrial Biotechnology
If you completed a master's or professional degree, which degree did you complete and from what university? MS Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas
How did you hear about CWRU's BSTP program? Previous research experience!
Why did you chose the BSTP program? I really liked the curriculum and research diversity!
What are you looking forward to the most in the BSTP program? Research, classes, and meeting new people!