SCI Predoctoral Infuse Award Program
The Stem Cell Institute created the Predoctoral Infuse Award Program in May 2021. Thirteen awards were granted on a competitive basis to PhD students in any graduate program who are working in SCI faculty labs. The main goal of the award program is to build a community of graduate students who are interested in stem cell biology and the potential of stem cells for future regenerative therapeutics. The program is intended to infuse new creative insight and intellectual energy into doctoral research projects while also providing advanced professional training.
Meet our Trainees
Kelsie Becklin (2021-2022)
Program: Comparative and Molecular Biosciences (CMB)
Advisor: Branden Moriarity, PhD and Beau Webber, PhD
Project: Bottom-up pediatric sarcoma modeling using iPSC and precision genetic engineering strategies
Undergraduate major/institution: Biology, University of Minnesota
Marcus Flowers (2021-2023)
Program: Biomedical Engineering
Advisor: Chun Wang, PhD
Project: Spatiotemporal control of drug delivery for the purpose of controlling in-situ cardiac differentiation within a 3D-bioprinted prototypic heart.
Undergraduate major/institution: Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Sophie Givens (2021-2023)
Program: Biomedical Engineering
Advisor: Brenda Ogle, PhD
Project: Understanding the epicardial - myocardial interface in a human cardiac tissue model
Undergraduate major/institution: Bioengineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Richard Gonigam (2021)
Program: Integrative Biology & Physiology
Advisor: Jop van Berlo, MD, PhD
Project: Investigating Immune Mechanisms Regulating Cardiac Remodeling
Undergraduate major/institution: B.S. Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Liz Hitch (2021-2022)
Program: Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology & Genetics
Advisor: Linda McLoon, PhD
Project: Defining the role of Pitx2 in the sparing of EOM in muscular dystrophy
Undergraduate major/institution: Molecular Biology at California State University, Fullerton
Anne Huntemer-Silveira (2021-2023)
Program: Neuroscience PhD
Advisor: Ann M. Parr, PhD
Project: Stem cell transplantation and the development of functional relays in the dorsal horn following spinal cord injury
Undergraduate major/institution: Behavioral Neuroscience,Western Washington University.
Huzefa Husain (2021-2023)
Program: Biomedical Engineering
Advisors: Ferenc Toth, DVM, PhD and Brenda Ogle, PhD
Project: Using iPSC-derived chondrocytes for articular cartilage engineering
Undergraduate major/institution: Biomedical Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Jennifer Mikkila (2021-2023)
Program: Integrative Biology & Physiology
Advisor: Jop van Berlo, MD, PhD
Project: Single nucleus sequencing to define gene expression patterns in mouse cardiomyocytes and non-cardiomyocytes during normal development and maturation
Undergraduate major/institution: Biological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (also Master's degree in Stem Cell Biology, University of Minnesota)
Pranati Mondkar (2021-2023)
Program: Chemical Engineering
Advisor: Samira Azarin, PhD
Project: Block Copolymer-Mediated Stabilization of the Damaged Blood-Brain Barrier
Undergraduate major/institution: Chemical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Chris Sipe (2021-2022)
Program: Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology & Genetics
Advisor: Branden Moriarity, PhD
Project: Digital correction (base editing) of Fanconi anemia patient mutations for autologous gene therapy
Undergraduate major/institution: Cellular & Molecular Biology, University of Minnesota Duluth (also Master's degree in Stem Cell Biology, University of Minnesota)
Leo Sutter (2021-2023)
Program: Biomedical Engineering
Advisor: Wei Shen
Project: Modeling Muscular Dystrophies Using hPSCs and Engineered Biomaterials
Undergraduate major/institution: Physics, Rochester Institute of Technology (also Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute)
Austin Winker (2021-2023)
Program: Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology & Genetics
Advisor: Linda McLoon, PhD
Project: Neurotrophic factors for treatment of childhood onset strabismus
Undergraduate major/institution: Genetics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Alicia Wong (2021-2023)
Program: Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics PhD
Advisor: Emilyn Alejandro, PhD
Project: Role of O-GlcNAc Post-Translational Modification on Protein Pdx1 in Pancreatic β-Cells
Undergraduate major/institution: BS in Biochemistry, University of Minnesota Twin Cities.