Immunobiology Graduate Training Program

Halil Ibrahim Aksoylar

Ankara, Turkey
Hoebe Lab
Working on the function of a recently discovered gene, Gimap5, in the development and peripheral homeostasis T lymphocytes. Why choose us? Strong faculty with high-impact publications. Broad research interests of the faculty including lymphocyte biology and immunopathogenesis. Best thing you’ve discovered here: Lots of parks and bike trails. Any surprises? The amount of collaboration between laboratories and research divisions.

Olivia Ballard

Canton, OH
Morrow Lab
Impressed with the support for new students from faculty, administration and other students. Best thing you’ve discovered here: The amount of cultural activities − theater, music and art. Also, the park system, libraries, zoo, Museum Center, aquarium and the number of free activities for children. Any surprises? How accessible the faculty are. Personal: Practiced as an attorney; law degree from University of Cincinnati.

Kyle Bednar

Dublin, OH
Ridgeway Lab
Working on biofilm formation in different bacterial strains. Also worked on b-cell wasting in the disease HLH. Why choose us? Liked the professors and everything the facilities and program had to offer. It was a good fit in the distance from home and affordability. Best thing you’ve discovered here: The Hofbrauhaus in Newport, KY, is amazing. Also, events such as the Labor Day fireworks and Oktoberfest.

Daniel Boespflug

Boise, ID
PTSP Student
Karp Lab
Working on immune counter-regulation in cystic fibrosis and toxoplasmosis. Best thing you’ve discovered here: Neighborhood feel of Northside, Little Miami Scenic Trail, Hofbrauhaus in Newport, KY. Any surprises? Faculty are extraordinarily available and willing to talk about specific questions and science in general. Personal: A daughter was born in 2010.

Stacey Burgess

Marietta, OH
Wills Karp Lab
Researching the role of the intestinal microbiota in the development of asthma.
Why did you choose the program?The faculty is friendly and knowledgeable and is always willing to discuss their research and help in the training process. What is the best thing you've discovered in Cincinnati?
The parks, they are quite beautiful and there are so many of them throughout the city. Krohns Conservatory is one of my favorites.

Rahul D'Mello

Brecksville, OH
Rothenberg Lab

Why did you choose the program? The Immunobiology graduate program offered very strong mentoring in a collaborative environment with the numerous resources of Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center as well as the University of Cincinnati. Has anything surprised you about the program? The professors are open and receptive to questions and, if they don't have the answers, they will point you in the right direction. What is the best thing you've discovered in Cincinnati? Fun and affordable local restaurants and breweries including my favorites - Terry's Turf Club and Christian Moerlein, fun night life in Mt. Adams and downtown.

Jordan Downey

Benton, AR
Karp Lab
Working on what makes an allergen an allergen. Why choose us? Did a summer of undergraduate research here and really liked the facilities. The immunobiology program also has a lot of research labs to choose from, with a wide range of research projects. Best thing you’ve discovered here: Dewey’s Pizza, Findlay Market, half-price wine night at Teller’s in Hyde Park Square.

Roger Fecher

Beavercreek, OH
PTSP Student
Deepe Lab
Looking at the T-cell response to histoplasma in the absence of regulatory T cells. Why choose us? World-class translational research. Students here tend to be down to earth and interesting. Best thing you’ve discovered here: Cincinnati is a relaxed city with a reasonable cost of living; students can live comfortably here. Great independent record store in Northside. Personal: An avid homebrewer and lover of microbrewery beers.

Maria Fields

Medellin, Colombia
Chougnet Lab
Studying the role of Regulatory T cells in HIV Pathogenesis. Has anything surprised you about the program? The program’s faculty are available anytime you need to talk to them and they are really helpful. Also the environment of the program is a really pleasant and everyone in the program helps each other. What is the best thing you've discovered in Cincinnati? Cincinnati is a great place for families.

Jill Fritz

Greensburg, PA
Weaver Lab
Working on the role of ERdj4 in early B-cell development.  Why choose us? The innovative research and collaborative working environment.  Best thing you’ve discovered here: The parks. And Terry’s Turf Club. Any surprises? The amount of technology and resources available to conduct experiments.

Dan Giles

Pittsburgh, PA
Janssen lab
My project is characterizing the effects of TGF-B has during inflammation in a mouse model. Why did you choose the program? I was impressed by the research resources available, and how well the faculty collaborates. Has anything surprised you about the program? I have been surprised by how the faculty and older students are so willing to help younger students in class or with research questions. What is the best thing you've discovered in Cincinnati? Terry's Turf Club, off Route 50, has the best burgers I've ever had.

Naina Gour

New Delhi, India
Wills-Karp Lab
Working on C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) on DCs facilitating recognition of HDM and leading to induction of airway inflammation. Why choose us? Good faculty and opportunities for publication. Best thing you’ve discovered here? Fun place to live; lots of recreation.

Isaac Harley

Oklahoma City
Karp Lab
Researching the role the innate immune system in the development of diet-induced obesity and its downstream sequelae. What is the best thing you've discovered in Cincinnati? Karaoke at Northside Tavern

Michael Horwath

Dayton OH
Deepe Lab
Studing zinc as a second messenger in Dendritic Cell Activation. Why did you choose the program? Experienced, helpful faculty, collaborative atmosphere, and the opportunity to do basic science research with emphasis on clinical relevance. Has anything surprised you about the program? The degree of collaboration with researchers outside of Immunobiology, including other programs at Children's and other UC faculty. What is the best thing you've discovered in Cincinnati? Being a homeowner as a Grad student! Cincinnati has a variety of quality food and drink, including Findlay Market, 3 great coffee shops by school, and really good Indian restaurants.

Wenting Huang

Shanghai, China
Ridgeway Lab
Studying the genetics of autoimmune liver diseases. Any surprises? The foundation course in immunology is harder than expected because of little previous study of the field. But with increased knowledge, seminar presentations are much more understandable. Personal: Enjoying that Cincinnati has such a big Chinese community.

Jared Klarquist

Portland, OR
Hogan Lab
We are investigating the role of myeloid cells and their expression of NFKB RelAlp65 in LPS-induced peritonitis and inflammatory bowel disease and associated eosinophilia.
Why did you choose the program?

• Strong student publication record
• Collaborative atmosphere
• Fantastic facility and cores
• High powered, driven, & funded faculty.

Best thing you've discovered in Cincinnati? The Taste of Belgium waffles and Coffee Emporium.

Kun-Po Li

Taiwan
Hildeman lab
I’m working on a project that clarifying the Bcl-2 proteins' roles in T cell development. Why did you choose the program? I chose the program because of the excellent faculties, plenty of resource from Cincinnati Children’s and UC, broad diversities of research fields, and good cooperation between basic and clinical research. What is the best thing you've discovered in Cincinnati? Friendly people, lots of museums and natural parks.

Yuan Li

Shanxi Province, China
Zimmermann Lab
I’m working on understanding the role of Siglec 8 and IL-S on apoptosis and necroptosis of human eosinophils. Why did you choose the program? I was impressed by the diverse disciplines offered by this program. Also, there is a small gap between clinical medicine and basic research at Cincinnati Children’s. Therefore the knowledge we learn here is more applicable and practical. The highly accomplished professors here don't make you feel small, but stand behind you to be supportive, walk beside you as your partner and guide you to be one of them. What is the best thing you've discovered in Cincinnati? Kenwood Mall and Outlet for shopping; Double dragon and Sichuan Restaurant for Chinese food; Newport on the Levee for entertainment.

Sema Kurtulus

Turkey
Hildeman Lab
Working on the homeostatic regulation of effector and memory CD8+ T cells by Bcl-2 family members. Why choose us? In-depth coverage of fundamental immunology and faculty with diverse research interests. Best thing you’ve discovered here: Nice neighborhoods, musical and theatrical activities, many festivals. Any surprises? Many opportunities to improve presentation and writing skills. An interactive environment allows feedback from faculty.

Jennifer Leddon

Coffee Springs, AL
PTSP Student
Cripe Lab
Studying the role of dendritic cells in oncolytic viral therapy. Why choose us? Excellent faculty, great students. Best thing you’ve discovered here: Graeter’s ice cream.

Ke Liu

Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
Harley Lab
Why choose us? The reputation of the medical center. Faculty members are doing great research. Best thing you’ve discovered here: The people are really kind and willing to help. The climate is the same as home. Any surprises? Good surprises: advisers, professors and directors listen patiently and always offer help.

Cortez McBerry

Cincinnati, Ohio
Aliberti Lab
I’m studying the role of Programmed -Death 1 (PD-1) in resistance to T. gondii infection. Why did you choose the program? I chose the program because of the quality of faculty in the program, the number of resources available to do cutting edge research, and because there were several labs performing research I was interested in. Has anything surprised you about the program? The tremendous sense of collaboration between the faculty.

Jonathan McNally

Gaithersburg, MD 
Bezerra Lab
Why choose us? The faculty are very open, friendly and well-funded. The faculty here seemed to care the most. Heard back from every professor contacted. Even the ones who were not taking grad students took the time to talk. Best thing you’ve discovered here: The quality and value of the restaurants.

Rachael Mintz-Cole

Ida, MI
PTSP Student
Hershey Lab
Studying mold-induced asthma. Why choose us? The great people. Any surprises? Faculty are always willing to meet with students. Best thing you’ve discovered here: Cheap Reds tickets, student-priced Playhouse in the Park tickets, the Cincinnati symphony and pops orchestras, the Flying Pig Marathon, Loveland Bike Trail, Indian food. Personal: Scuba dives and training for triathlons.

Joni Prasad

Cincinnati, OH
FLEX Student
Degen Lab
Studying the interactions between the hemostatic system and the immune system, focusing on a model of S. aureus-induced peritonitis. Why choose us? The emphasis faculty put on teaching and training students to prepare for careers in science.

Harini Raghu

Chennai, India
Flick Lab
Working to find the mechanism linking hemostatic factors such as thrombin (FII) and its targets to arthritis pathogenesis. Why choose us? Extremely strong research faculty who will provide the right foundation to pursue a career as an independent immunology researcher. Best thing you’ve discovered here: Jungle Jim’s and Cincinnati Nature Center.

Jana Raynor

Dahlonega, GA
Hildeman Lab
My project is focused on looking at the mechanism(s) of Bim regulation in regulatory T cells. Why did you choose the program? I was first interested in the program because of the diversity of research being conducted at Children's and the excellent reputation of the hospital. When visiting, I was impressed by the collaborative environment and open door policy of the faculty. Additionally, the program's association with Children's and UC is advantageous because it expands the amount of resources and researchers to collaborate with.

Hesham Shehata

Lusaka, Zambia
Chougnet Lab
Why did you choose the program?
Doing research is indeed not a glamorous profession or hobby, but it is a passion - it is the love for what one does that drives one's ability to nurture the dreams, imagination and desire to know the unknown. I believe that the Immunobiology graduate program is the right place for me to fulfill my research endeavors.

The nature and structure of the Immunobiology Graduate program including the close relationship between students and faculty provides students with an excellent opportunity not only to excel academically, but to broaden their intellectual horizons as scientists. I believe that this quality marks our program's unique professionalism in education. From the time I joined the program, I believe I have developed a stronger desire for knowing the unknown which I consider to be crucial in the research field. I recommend the Immunobiology graduate program to other students without hesitation.

Sara Stoffers

Terre Haute, Indiana
Why did you choose the program? I initially began exploring graduate school options in Cincinnati because I wanted to be closer to my family. I decided on the Immunobiology Graduate Program because of the great diversity of research and resources. What is the best thing you've discovered in Cincinnati? The diversity of the various neighborhoods, the excellent locally owned businesses and restaurants, and the classic German architecture and brew.

Yi-Ting Tsai

Taiwan
Rothernberg Lab
I’m working on epigenetic effect on Eosinophilial esophagitis. Why did you choose the program? I chose the program because of their famous allergy and asthma research related to my interests. What is the best thing you've discovered in Cincinnati? There is anice art museum and symphony performance.

Sam Vaughn

Oroville, CA
Griffin Lab
We are working on characterizing a mouse model of myositis, specifically we are investigating the role of the UPR and associated responses, such as autophagy, in the pathology of this inflammatory muscle disease. Why did you choose the program? I am in the MO/PhO program here at UC and I thought that Immunobiology would give me a good solid foundation for both my future in science and in medicine.

Akash Verma

Chennai, India
Deepe Lab
Our lab studies the immune response to the fungal pathogen, Histoplasma capsulatum. My project involves understanding the deregulated immune response in CCR-2 deficient mice following He infection. Why did you choose the program? I chose this program because it is specifically focused in Immunology and also because of the reputation and wonderful research facilities at Cincinnati Children’s.
"I love the Immunobiology program"
What is the best thing you've discovered in Cincinnati? The cost of living is very low. I manage to save a lot of money, even on my student stipend.

Mark Webb

Salt Lake City, UT
FLEX Student
Wills-Karp Lab
Studying the pathogenesis of house dust mite-induced asthma. Why choose us? Subject, faculty and funding were superior to other programs.