

Kirstyn Denney
Mentor: Almira Vazdarjanova, PhD
LAB: CB 3503
Undergraduate: University of South Carolina - Aiken
Graduation: 2028
Research Interests: Elucidating susceptibility factors contributing to the development of PTSD.
Awards
* Armand M. Karow Scholarship Award 2025-2026
* Award for Excellence in Research in Pharmacology (Graduate Research Day) 2026.
* 2nd place in the AU Innovate competition with the HIM (Hormonal Interstitial Monitor) device, 2026.
* 1st Place 3 MT Presentation 2024
* Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Research (Graduate Research Day) 2024
* 1st Place Poster Presentation (DNRM retreat) 2023
* Honorable Mention Awardee (AGE 2023 Early Career Scholar's Program) 2023

Melvin Hilson
Mentor: Sangeetha Sukumari-Ramesh, PhD
LAB: CB 3515
Undergraduate: B.S. Psychology from Augusta University
Graduation: Spring 2029
Research Interests: Treatment of secondary injury following Intracerebral Hemorrhage; with a major focus
on the attenuation of chronic neuroinflammation.

Bhavishya Mundluru
Mentor: Raghavan Raju, PhD
LAB: CB 2614
Undergraduate:
B.S. - Jawaharlal Technological University Anantapur (JNTUA)
M.S. - National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata (NIPER,KOLKATA)
Graduation: Anticipated 2028
Research Interests: Senescence, oxidative stress signaling
Awards:
* Jerry J. Buccafusco Travel Award, 2025-2026
* Raymond P. Alquist Travel Award, 2024

Kazi Saif
Mentor: Sangeetha Sukumari-Ramesh, PhD
LAB: CB 3515
Undergraduate: B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Graduation: Anticipated May 2029
Research Interests: Mitochondrial dysfunction in intracerebral hemorrhage and neuroinflammation.
Awards:
* Raymond P. Ahlquist Travel Award, 2025-2026