Meet the Team

I completed my PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Connecticut, where I evaluated a novel antifolate that reproduces many of the biochemical and cellular effects of methotrexate in immune-relevant cell models, while evading cellular methotrexate resistance. As a Scientist at Montai, I contributed to cellular model development in the Early Discovery Biology Team. 

As a Postdoc at the Popovics Lab, I am excited about contributing to the characterization of pro-inflammatory signaling and translational anti-inflammatory biomarker identification  in benign prostatic hyperplasia. 

I graduated from the University of Mary Washington in 2018 with a B.S. in Biology. I worked as a preschool teacher and volunteered as an EMT until I decided that I wanted to be back in an academic lab setting. I spent 4 years at Children’s National Hospital working on sickle cell disease and viral specific T-cell research and that time in clinical research helped me decide to pursue my PhD. I am very excited to start work in the Popovics Lab, learning new techniques and expanding my knowledge, and I hope to eventually become an expert in the field of benign urological research focusing on BPH. My interests outside of science include baking, crafting, building furniture, and spending time at the pool and beach.

I graduated from Jefferson College of Health Sciences with a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, where I engaged in research exploring the anti-cancer potential of American mistletoe extracts against various breast cancer cell lines. This experience sparked my interest in scientific research, leading me to pursue a Master’s degree in Biomedical Research at Eastern Virginia Medical School. My research focused on studying and characterizing a novel RNA modification, glycosylated RNA, in prostate cancer. Currently, I am a Ph.D. student in the Popovics lab, eager to expand my skills and techniques while contributing to the characterization of BPH. My goal is to improve our understanding of this disease, ultimately enhancing outcomes for those affected. 

I graduated from Duke University’s class of 2023 and went joined EVMS’s Medical Student Class of 2027 the following year! During my time at Duke, I spent time researching the effect that heavy metal pollutants have on developing Zebrafish in regards to both behavior and kidney development. Environmental health and science is an especially interesting topic to me alongside Urology and Nephrology. I have been loving my time in Dr. Popovics lab and working at the cross section between hospitals and wet labs, transferring research from bench to bedside! Whether it’s Immunohistochemistry or undergoing tissue collection, there’s never a dull moment in lab.