Scholars

Meet our current and past Texas A&M School of Medicine Academy of Physician Scientists/Burroughs Wellcome Fund Scholar Awardees. After completing their third year of medical school, these distinguished Scholars complete one year dedicated to a mentored research project combined with graduate school curriculum on Foundations of Clinical and Translational Research. They then continue as a Scholar when they return to complete their medical school curriculum to graduate with an MD/MS or an MD/MEng.

2023-2025

TAREK DAWAMNE

MD/MEng Candidate, Class of 2025

Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine

BS, Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University '20

Career Specialty Goals: Cost reduction and increased access to local and global medical care

Research Project: Defining Current Understanding of Numerous Medical Challenges Using Epidemiology and Utilizing Machine Learning and Big Data Analysis to Assist in Overcoming Current Obstacles

ELIAS PERLI

MD/MS Candidate, Class of 2025

Texas A&M University School of Medicine

BS, Biology, University of St. Thomas ‘18 Minor, Philosophy

Career Specialty Goals: Emergency Medicine

Research Project: Exploring the Mechanisms by Which Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Neurodegeneration Cause Oxidative Injuries by Incorporating an In-vivo Model Using Novel Therapies Employing Hemorrhage-specific Nanoparticles

2022-2024

	ANDREW ALEXANDER MD/MS Candidate, Class of 2024 Texas A&M University School of Medicine BS, Biochemistry and Mathematics, Southern Methodist University ‘16 BA, Psychology, Southern Methodist University ‘16 Career Specialty Goals: Psychiatry Research Project: Overcoming the Challenges of Big Data Analysis in the Biomedical Sciences
	AHAD AZIMUDDIN MD/MS Candidate, Class of 2024 Texas A&M University School of Medicine MBA, Texas A&M University Mays Business School '19 BS, Biomedical Sciences and Liberal Studies, University of Houston ‘18 Career Specialty Goals: General Surgery, Surgical Device Consulting Research Project: Low Cost Tethered Capsule Endoscope with High-Resolution Digital Chromoscopy for Barrett’s Screening
	LOKESHWAR BHENDERU MD/MS Candidate, Class of 2024 Texas A&M University School of Medicine BS, Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas ‘19 Career Specialty Goals: Neurosurgery Research Project: Investigating Electrokinetic Convection Enhanced Drug Delivery Systems Using Glioblastoma Animal Models and Neural Organoid Systems
	CAILIN O’CONNELL MD/MEng Candidate, Class of 2024 Texas A&M Engineering Medicine BS, Nuclear Engineering, Texas A&M University '19 Career Specialty Goals: Radiology & Women's Imaging Research Project: Multiplexed Ovarian Cancer Nanosensors for Specific and Early Disease Detection
	PETER D. PARK MD/MS Candidate, Class of 2024 Texas A&M University School of Medicine MS, Physiology and Biophysics, Georgetown University, ‘19 BS, Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Notre Dame ‘18 Career Specialty Goals: General Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Research Project: Biomimetic Nanoparticles as a Theranostic Tool for Traumatic Brain Injury
	SANJANA RANGANATHAN MD/MEng Candidate, Class of 2024 Texas A&M Engineering Medicine MBE, Bioengineering in Global Medical Innovation, Rice University ‘18 BS, Bioengineering, Rice University '17 Career Specialty Goals: Urology Research Project: Engineering Tools for Bladder Brachytherapy and Process Optimization
	CAREN STUEBE MD/MS Candidate, Class of 2024 Texas A&M University School of Medicine MSc, Georgetown University ‘19 BA, Neuroscience, Boston University ‘17 Career Specialty Goals: Neurosurgery Research Project: Decoding NIK Regulation of Macrophage-Astrocyte Interactions, Metabolism and Immunomodulation in GBM

2021-2023

NOAH GIESE, MD, MEng

Internal Medicine Resident, Houston Methodist Hospital, 2023-Present

MD/MEng Candidate, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Class of 2023

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Scholar 2021-2023

BS, Chemistry, University of Texas ‘17

Career Specialty Goals: Medical Hematology and Oncology

Research Project: Synergistic Effects of Amide Coupled L-NMMA and Amlodipine with Docetaxel in Triple Negative Breast Cancer

COLE NIPPER, MD, MEng

Urology Resident, UTMB Health, 2023-Present

MD/MEng Candidate, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Class of 2023

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Scholar 2021-2023

BS, Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University '18

2020-2022

LAMEES IBRAHIM EL NIHUM, MD, MEng

General Surgery Resident, Baylor College of Medicine, 2022-Present

MD/MEng, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, 2022

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Scholar 2020-2022

BS, Chemical & Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University ‘15

Career Specialty Goals: Congenital Heart Surgery

Research Project: Novel endovascular approaches to occlusion of high-flow vascular targets in congenital heart disease

YAJAIRA SOFIA JIMENEZ, MD, MS

Internal Medicine Resident, Duke University School of Medicine, 2022-Present

MD/MS, Texas A& M University School of Medicine, 2022

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Scholar 2020-2022

BS, Biology, St. Mary's University, '17

Career Specialty Goals: Internal Medicine

Research Project: Harnessing the potential of dendritic cells-derived exosomes as tools for immunotherapy in ovarian cancer

EMILY NEWSTROM, MD, MS

Otolaryngology Resident, Baylor College of Medicine, 2022-Present

MD/MS, Texas A& M University School of Medicine, 2022

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Scholar 2020-2022

BA, Human Biology, Stanford University, ‘15

Career Specialty Goals: Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

Research Project: Antisense knockdown of the IL-9 super enhancer: A potential immunotherapeutic approach to treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis and other IL-9-mediated diseases