Students
M-MARC Trainees - Class of 2024
Christina James
Christina James is a Junior majoring in Psychology. She is from Chantilly, Virginia, where she graduated high school with honors in 2020. Christina is the recipient of the ODU crown scholarship and a current Summa Cum Laude. In her free-time, Christina enjoys painting, cooking, and working out. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Clinical Psychology. Her mentor is Dr. Cathy Lau-Barraco
James Owens
James Owens is a junior majoring in Computer Science and Game Studies. He is from Beckley, West Virginia. His current research interests include eye tracking and cognitive research. He participated in the Virginia Commonwealth University Pauley Heart Center's undergraduate research fellowship during the summer of 2022. In his free time, James enjoys running, skiing, and playing the piano. He plans on earning his Ph.D. in computational neuroscience. His research mentor is Prof. Sampath Jayarathna
Ashley Person
Ashley Person is a junior majoring in Biomedical Sciences. She is from Sasebo, Japan, and graduated from Oak Harbor High School in Washington State, receiving high honors and the President's Award for Educational Excellence. Ashley took part in the Cardiovascular research opportunity over the summer of 2022 at Virginia Commonwealth University. She enjoys playing tennis, art, and baking. She plans to earn her Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Sciences to improve the understanding of, if not cure, various autoimmune diseases.
Joy Brewer
Joy Brewer is a first-generation student in her junior year studying Biomedical Sciences with a Chinese Studies minor. She has lived all over the U.S., but has been in Virginia for the past 7 years. Joy enjoys taking care of plants, cooking, and making art. Her research interests include genetic and/or chronic conditions, virology, and vaccine synthesis. She plans to earn her Ph.D. and work as a medical researcher, both domestically and abroad.
M-MARC Trainees - Class of 2023
Stephonda Lewis
Stephonda Lewis is a junior majoring in Biomedical Science. She is from Yorktown, Virginia, and graduated from York High in 2019, where she received an IB Diploma. She is a NAACP ACT-SO awardee, Lambda Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Scholarship Awardee, Harry & Judy Wason Scholarship Awardee, Virginia Space Grant Consortium: STEM BRIDGE Awardee, and a Dean's Perfect Scholar since her freshman year at ODU. She enjoys playing volleyball and volunteering. Stephonda's goal is to earn a M.D./Ph.D. degree where she can research and treat various types of cancers. Her mentor is Prof. Kyle Lambert.
Novia Mann
Novia Mann is a junior majoring in Chemistry. She is from Spanish Town, Jamaica, and has been living in the U.S.A. for four years. Novia's current research and interests focus on the degradation of microplastics. She enjoys gardening and plans to earn her Ph.D. degree in Environmental Chemistry. Her mentor is Prof. Alvin Holder.
Catharine Cipriano
Catharine Cipriano is a junior majoring in Biology. She is from Windsor, Connecticut, and moved to Virginia six years ago. Catharine got her associate of science degree with honors from Tidewater Community College, and took part in the Chemistry research opportunity for undergraduates over the summer of 2021. She hopes to study jellyfish and other biofluorescent deep-sea organisms, as well as their potential medical applications, and plans to earn her Ph.D. degree in marine biology. Her M-MARC research mentor is Prof. David Gauthier.
Aislin West
Aislin West is a junior majoring in electrical engineering. She is from Stafford, Virginia. Aislin's research and interests focus on regenerative medicine and gene therapy. She is the recipient of the Clark-Nexsen Engineering Scholarship and the ODU Presidential Scholarship. Some of her favorite things include reading, weightlifting, and enjoying nature! She plans to earn her Ph.D. degree in biomedical engineering. Her current M-MARC mentor is Dr. Claudia Muratori, at the Frank Reidy Research Center.
M-MARC Trainees - Class of 2022
Lauren Butler
Lauren Butler graduated with a Psychology major with a minor in Human Services. She hails from Richmond, Virginia. Butler enjoyed participating in research concerning Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Minority Stress. In her free time, she enjoys activities like bike riding and hikes or simple things like binge-watching crime shows on Netflix. Her mentor was Prof. Kristin Heron.
Lindsay Days
Lindsay Days is from Suffolk, Virginia. Lindsay's research has focused on developing transition metal-based drugs to treat breast cancer. She was the recipient of a Perry Honors College Undergraduate Research Grant and the Broderick Scholarship, which allowed her to present her research and learn from other scientists at multiple American Chemical Society conferences, and fund a study-abroad trip to Jamaica to study bioinorganic chemistry. Her mentor was Prof. Alvin Holder.
Daja Goodrich
Daja Goodrich is a senior majoring in Chemistry. She is from Newport News, Virginia, and graduated from the Achievable Dream High Schools as Valedictorian. Daja's goal is to become a forensic chemist and work in a lab to assist in the apprehension of culprits with the assistance of technology. Daja enjoys knitting and donating her creations to the community. She plans to earn a Ph.D. degree in forensic science. Her M-MARC research mentor was Prof. Craig Bayse.
Chloe Smith
Chloe Smith is from Glen Allen, Virginia. She graduated majoring in Biological Sciences. She was the recipient of an ABRCMS travel award in 2019, and won a prize for best poster at that conference as well. Chloe enjoys reading and painting. Her M-MARC research mentor was Prof. Alvin Holder. Chloe started her Ph.D. at Cornell University in Fall 2022.
M-MARC Trainees - Class of 2021
Isis Cowan
Isis Cowan is currently a research specialist, at the Changing Brain Lab​, University of Pennsylvania. Her advisor is Dr. Allyson Mackey. She hopes to gain neuropsychology experience before applying to Ph.D. program in the near future.
Noah Jennings
Noah Jennings is currently a Ph.D. student in Computer Science at Old Dominion University. His M-MARC advisors were Dr. Desh Ranjan and and Dr. Shubham Jain, at Stony Brook University.
Jordan Ortman
Jordan Ortman is a Post-Baccalaureate student at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He has been accepted at the University of Central Florida PhD program in Psychology. His M-MARC advisor was Dr. Abby Braitman.
Jade Smith
Jade Smith is attending Virginia Commonwealth University for a Ph.D. degree in integrative life sciences. Jade is studying HIV drug interactions with different opioids. She loves it!. She was awarded a prestigiuous five-year Doctoral Scholar Fellowship from the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) in summer 2022. Her M-MARC advisor was Dr. Lisa Shollenberger.
M-MARC Trainees - Class of 2020
Jasmine Clark
Jasmine Clark is currently a graduate student at Brown University, pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology. Her M-MARC advisor was Dr. Alvin Holder.
Kenacia Goings
Kenacia Goings graduated with a M.A. degree in Forensic & Legal Psychology from Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia in May 2022. Her M-MARC advisor was Dr. Cathy Lau Barraco. Kenacia is currently applying to several graduate schools to begin her Ph.D. degree in fall 2023.
Zuri Jules-Culver
Zuri Jules-Culver is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Memphis in the Department of Chemistry. Her M-MARC advisor was Dr. Piotr Kraj. Zuri is hoping to transfer to Virginia Commonwealth University for fall 2023.
Michelle Tapia
Michelle Tapia graduated with a M.S. degree in Computer Science at Old Dominion University. Her advisor was Dr. Jing He. She plans to enroll in a Ph.D. program at Old Dominion University in the near future.
