Research Ignited

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Meet Your Research Champions

Research Ignited connects you with elite mentors who possess a powerful combination of diverse qualities. They boast impressive academic backgrounds, extensive teaching experience, and a passion for igniting the minds of future innovators and leaders.

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Dr. Marissa Seamon

PhD Neuroscience

Expertise

Biomedical Research, Neurodegenerative Disease (Parkinson’s), Nutrition, Inflammation, Metabolic Conditions, Psychiatric Disorders, Psychology

Bio

I earned my Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Augusta University in December 2021, after receiving my B.A. in Psychology and Neuroscience at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA. My graduate school research included animal studies in obesity research and clinical Parkinson’s disease research, resulting in seven publications. Before graduate school, I worked as a Residential Counselor in a level IV Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility. Currently, I am a Recruiting Partner for Work In Biotech, LLC and co-own a scientific writing and editing company called A.I.M.E. Higher Scientific Communications LLC.

Dr. Mackenzie Hagan

PhD Cell Biology & Anatomy

Expertise

Biomedical Research, Bone Biology, Orthopedics, Microscopy, Imaging, Radiation Biology, R&D, Emergency Medicine

Bio

I earned my Ph.D. in Cellular Biology and Anatomy from Augusta University in May 2021, after completing my B.S. in Kinesiology at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Prior to enrolling in college, I was Nationally Certified as an Emergency Medical Technician. I have an extensive background in orthopedics, with 10 years of combined academic experience in bone biology, sports medicine, and emergency medicine with additional expertise in cancer biology. My research has resulted in nine publications in peer-reviewed journals. Currently, I am an Applications Scientist at KUBTEC Scientific and co-own a scientific writing and editing company called A.I.M.E. Higher Scientific Communications LLC.

Mackenzie Hagan

PhD Cell Biology & Anatomy

Expertise

Biomedical Research, Bone Biology, Orthopedics, Microscopy, Imaging, Radiation Biology, R&D, Emergency Medicine

Bio

I earned my Ph.D. in Cellular Biology and Anatomy from Augusta University in May 2021, after completing my B.S. in Kinesiology at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Prior to enrolling in college, I was Nationally Certified as an Emergency Medical Technician. I have an extensive background in orthopedics, with 10 years of combined academic experience in bone biology, sports medicine, and emergency medicine with additional expertise in cancer biology. My research has resulted in nine publications in peer-reviewed journals. Currently, I am an Applications Scientist at KUBTEC Scientific and co-own a scientific writing and editing company called A.I.M.E. Higher Scientific Communications LLC.

Dr. Bahae Samhan

PhD Management Information Systems

Expertise

Computer Science, Heath IT, Information Systems

Bio

I am an Associate Professor of Business Information Systems at Illinois State University, where I started in 2016, after earning my PhD in Management Information Systems from Washington State University. I have a Master’s degree in telecommunications and computer networking, a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, and certifications in software engineering and database administration. I am an active researcher with a focus on Health IT, with several publication on this and other topics, such as Augmented Reality (AR), cloud computing, the impact of excessive technology use on children, and organizational technology readiness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Ty Swansboro

PhD Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Expertise

People Science, Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, People Research, Marketing, Leadership, Team Development

Bio

I am a dedicated lifelong learner on a mission to help people achieve their goals! I currently work as an Adjunct Psychology Professor, consultant, and Professional Skydiver. I received my PhD in I/O Psychology in 2023 from Liberty University and also have an MBA concentrated in Marketing. My research contributions focused on the predictive nature of perceived organizational support and job embeddedness on turnover intention. My passion for education, lifelong learning, and teamwork stems from my time serving in the USAF as a special operations Combat Controller. 

Dr. Niki Guilz

PhD in Nutritional and Metabolic Biology

Expertise

Psychology, Heath Sciences, DEI, Data Analysis

Bio

Dr. Niki Guilz earned her PhD in Nutritional and Metabolic Biology from Columbia University in 2023 and is now a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Emily Mace’s lab. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Delaware and a Master’s in Biomaterial Science from New York University. With over five years of experience in teaching, mentorship, and research publication, Niki is dedicated to supporting young researchers. Her current work focuses on understanding human immunodeficiencies that impact natural killer cells, using techniques like gene expression analysis, microscopy, and flow cytometry. Niki aims to uncover potential immunotherapies for NK cell deficiencies and contribute to the broader field of immune system biology.

Dr. Khadijah Shanazz

PhD Pharmacology

Expertise

Biomedical Research, Deep brain stimulation, neuromodulation, acetylcholine, 2-photon microscopy, behavioral science, inflammation, biological psychology, psychiatric disorders, Data analysis 

Bio

I earned my PhD in Pharmacology from Augusta University in December 2022, after completing my B.S. in psychology at Augusta University. My graduate school research was focused on sex differences, inflammation, and memory in a rodent model of PTSD resulting in 5 peer-reviewed publications. My current post doctoral work utilizes deep brain stimulation of the basal forebrain to make brains smarter and reverse some aspects of cognitive decline. We use chronic cranial windows to image cholinergic activity at the cortex while stimulating to determine the effects of different stimulation parameters to optimize cholinergic responses. This work has resulted in 1 peer reviewed publication to date.

Dr. Heather Morton

PhD Industrial Organizational Psychology

Expertise

Psychology, Heath Sciences, DEI, Data Analysis

Bio

I earned my M.A. and Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational (IO) Psychology from Liberty University, graduating in November 2023. Beforehand, I obtained my B.A. in Health Sciences from Sienna Heights University. My graduate school research focused on the lived experiences of organizational justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace for individuals with a history of criminal behavior. I currently work as an adjunct psychology professor and conduct research at Colorado Technical University. In addition to my career in academia, I am a consultant who uses evidence-based practices to help organizations make data-driven decisions.

Dr. Robert McManus

PhD Cognitive Psychology

Expertise

Cognitive Psychology, Behavioral Science, data analysis, social media, attitudes towards climate change, tech/industry research

Bio

I received my PhD in Cognitive Psychology from North Dakota State University, where I studied how physical actions influence our perception of the environment around us. Specifically, I examined how using tools triggers perceptual changes as we mentally prepare to interact with nearby objects. Since completing my PhD, I have worked as a research consultant with an engineering firm, assisting with the writing and editing of literature reviews. These reviews covered various topics of interest for clients in the tech industry, including climate change, social media, and terrorism. I have several publications in high-impact, peer reviewed journals and extensive experience with the research, writing, and publication process. 

Omar Farid

PhD Chemical Engineering

Expertise

Chemical Engineering, Data Analysis

Bio

I am a Chemical Engineer with a diverse academic and professional background. I hold a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T), complemented by BSc and MSc degrees from Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad-Iraq. Previously, I served as a faculty member at Technical College-Baghdad and later worked as a Teaching Assistant at Missouri S&T. My experience includes conducting experiments, analyzing data, and mentoring students. Currently, I serve as a Catalyst Technical Specialist at Cummins Inc., where I contribute to research and development initiatives.

Dr. Rahul Biswas

PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Expertise

Machine Learning and AI, Statistical Modeling and Causal Inference, Computational Neuroscience, Biomedical Signal Processing (EEG, fMRI, Neuropixels, and others), Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Psychometrics, High-Dimensional Data Analysis, Python Programming, Statistical Software (R, MATLAB)

Bio

I earned my Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Washington in 2024 and a Master of Science in Statistics from the same institution in 2023, following a B.Stat. and M.Stat. from the Indian Statistical Institute. My work spans computational neuroscience, causal inference, machine learning, high-dimensional statistics, and public health, with 15 publications in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and preprints. I have contributed to brain network modeling, identifying neurological disease biomarkers, and advancing Alzheimer’s studies. I gained valuable experience through research internships at Columbia University and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where I worked on innovative data science projects. Currently, as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, I focus on applying state-of-the-art machine learning and AI to further discoveries in neuroscience and public health.

Austin Scholp

PhD candidate Biomedical Engineering

Expertise

Biomechanics, Cell Culture, Tissue Engineering, Publication

Bio

I received my BS and MS degrees in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2016 and 2018, respectively. I am currently a third-year PhD student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Iowa. My research focuses on the development of in vitro models of tissue fibrosis. While earning my Master’s degree, I explored various aspects of voice research, including the development of aerodynamic assessment devices and ex vivo laryngeal modeling. Thus far, I am an author on 2 book chapters and 28 articles in various scientific journals.

Austin Scholp

PhD candidate Biomedical Engineering

Expertise

Biomechanics, Cell Culture, Tissue Engineering, Publication

Bio

I received my BS and MS degrees in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2016 and 2018, respectively. I am currently a third-year PhD student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Iowa. My research focuses on the development of in vitro models of tissue fibrosis. While earning my Master’s degree, I explored various aspects of voice research, including the development of aerodynamic assessment devices and ex vivo laryngeal modeling. Thus far, I am an author on 2 book chapters and 28 articles in various scientific journals.

Dr. Olga Tereshina

PhD History

Expertise

Social Science, History, Data Analysis, Research Planning

Bio

I am a creative Social Sciences researcher with a PhD and 8 years of experience in academic writing and proofreading. I worked as an Associate Professor, was the leader of academic programs, and a mentor. I edit and proofread theses, write reports, and conduct data analysis. I conduct both qualitative and quantitative research projects. I can help you with research problems, plans, methodology, hypotheses, the object of research, tools, a literature review, data analysis, and final reporting. I have several publications and extensive experience with APA formatting.

Dr. Callie Zaborenko

PhD Sociology and Gerontology

Expertise

Sociology, Data Analysis, Research Methods, Social Detriments

Bio

I recently received my PhD in Sociology and Gerontology from Purdue University. During my graduate program, I had the chance to teach two courses, Intro to Sociology and Intro to Statistics in Sociology. My areas of interest are the lifecourse effects of adverse childhood experiences and quantitative methodology. I have publications in peer-reviewed journals, including The Gerontologist, Law & Society, and PLOS One. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to mentor young scholars.

Callie Zaborenko

PhD Sociology and Gerontology

Expertise

Sociology, Data Analysis, Research Methods, Social Detriments

Bio

I recently received my PhD in Sociology and Gerontology from Purdue University. During my graduate program, I had the chance to teach two courses, Intro to Sociology and Intro to Statistics in Sociology. My areas of interest are the lifecourse effects of adverse childhood experiences and quantitative methodology. I have publications in peer-reviewed journals, including The Gerontologist, Law & Society, and PLOS One. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to mentor young scholars.

Dr. Makeda Austin

PhD Psychology

Expertise

Health Psychology, Stress, Resilience, Mental Health and Well-Being, Health Equity, Social Determinants of Health, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Outcomes 

Bio

I earned my PhD in Psychology from Northwestern University in September 2022, after receiving my B.S. in Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University. My doctoral research focused on improving health equity by examining the impacts of chronic stress on an individual’s biological health, psychological health, and well-being. I am a co-author of over 10 peer-reviewed articles, 5 of which I am the first-author including an award winning critical review paper published in the Journal of Human Biology. I have worked with young people for the past 10 years in many capacities and am grateful for opportunities to continue supporting the next generation of scholars! 

Dr. Kelsey Carlson

PhD Neuro-Cognitive Psychology

Expertise

Neuro-Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Research Methodology, Human-Technology Interaction,  Transformative Technology

Bio

I am an experimental psychologist with over 15 years of experience in neuro-cognitive psychology, human-technology interaction, and applied research. I earned my Ph.D. and M.S. in Neuro-Cognitive Psychology from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and my B.S. in Psychology from the University of Iowa. During my undergraduate and graduate studies, I utilized electroencephalography (EEG), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and behavioral measures to investigate the neurobiological underpinnings of consciousness. As part of my doctoral research, I spent a year at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore, where I explored how assistive robots and digital tools can enhance social engagement in vulnerable populations, including children with autism and nursing home residents. Since earning my Ph.D. in 2017, I have worked as an independent consultant, providing academic research services to students and organizational research services to corporations. My work with organizations focuses on key areas such as diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), organizational culture, organizational climate, and employee engagement.