I earned my undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Istanbul University and completed my Master’s studies at Koç University. I then joined Dr. Trudy Oliver’s lab at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, where I developed a strong interest in tumor heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment. As a National Cancer Institute (NCI) F99 Fellow, I pursued my PhD in Oncological Sciences at the University of Utah School of Medicine. To further explore tumor immunology, I continued my research as an NCI K00 Postdoctoral Fellow in the labs of Dr. Brian Brown and Dr. Miriam Merad at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. In late 2024, I joined the Heersink School of Medicine and the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center to establish my independent research group.

Read more in my UAB Scholar's Page.

Two Truths and a Lie:

• I have three cats.

• My name is engraved in a Mars rover.

• I enjoy writing poems and stories.

I am originally from India and received my Master’s in Multidisciplinary Biomedical Science from the UAB. I am currently a Researcher in the Mollaoglu Lab, where I focus on using Perturb-map to study how genetic alterations in ovarian cancer impact the spatial organization of the tumor microenvironment.

Two Truths and a Lie:

• I touched an alligator.

• I jumped into a moving bus.

• I have never lost at Wordle.

I am from Ghana and have a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). After graduation, I served as a teaching and research assistant at the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, KNUST. I am an alumnus of the Afrisnet Summer Research Internship that took place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Peifer’s lab, during which I employed an RNAi screen to uncover Rap1 regulators that promote cell migration. Currently, as a graduate student at UAB, I am interested in understanding tumor immunology and how that can be leveraged into therapeutic advancements. I love to cook and try other continental dishes.

Two Truths and a Lie:

• I enjoy listening to music.

• I am the only female among my siblings.

• Soccer is my favorite sport.

I earned my undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences from Colorado State University and my master’s degree in immunology from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. I completed my master’s research in the lab of Jordan Jacobelli, investigating a T cell engineering platform designed to enhance CAR-T cell penetration of solid tumors. This experience fostered a strong interest in CAR-T cell therapy and tumor immunology. As a PhD student at UAB, my research is focused on understanding the role of the tumor immune microenvironment on CAR-T cells. Outside of the lab, I am an avid equestrian. I have the cutest thoroughbred named Husker and love creating new gluten and dairy-free recipes.

Two Truths and a Lie:

• I have been riding horses since I was five. 

• I have never broken a bone.

• I have a huge, sweet tooth; gluten-free double-stuffed Oreos are my weakness.

I am a college student at UAB (class of 2028) from Atlanta, Georgia. I am passionate about medicine and research, particularly studying the connections between immunology and cancer biology. I am also involved in the Science and Technology Honors Program. Outside of academics, I like trying diverse cuisines, playing the piano, and competing in racquet sports.

Two Truths and a Lie:

• I went skydiving over the Swiss Alps and lost my shoe mid-jump.

• I have been glacier hiking in Iceland.

• I visited the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris before the 2019 fire.

I was born in Germany and grew up in a small military town in Alabama, an experience that stimulated my curiosity about science and the world around me. I am currently a senior undergraduate at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, majoring in Immunology. My studies have sparked a strong interest in applying an immunological background to a variety of microbial research topics, ranging from host–pathogen interactions to the dynamics of the immune system. In the Mollaoglu Lab, I aim to explore how specific gene alterations influence tumor heterogeneity and engage with the tumor microenvironment. I am excited to combine my immunology training with cancer research to better understand the interplay between genetics and the immune system. My goal is to contribute to discoveries that could guide innovative therapeutic strategies and deepen our understanding of complex biological systems.