Graduate students from underrepresented groups can participate in the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Doctoral Scholars Program through funding support from their academic units. The Doctoral Scholars Program provides multiple layers of support including, mentoring, career counseling, a scholars directory of current scholars and alum for networking opportunities and recruiting as well as job postings. Each year participating scholars, mentors and recruiting representatives from IU Indianapolis convene to learn and support one another at the largest gathering of underrepresented PhD scholars in the U.S. the Institute on Teaching and Mentoring. Academic units interested in supporting a SREB doctoral scholar should contact Tabitha Hardy for more information.
Meet Our Scholars
Abdullahi Abdi
Abdullahi Abdi is a third-year doctoral student at Indiana University School of Medicine in the department of microbiology and immunology. He received his MS in biology from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. Abdullahi is currently getting his training at Dr. Dent’s lab, focusing on the interplay between food allergy and the gut microbiome. He uses animal models and bioinformatics to answer questions about how a subset of regulatory T cells generate microbiota-reactive antibodies impacting individuals’ tolerance to food antigens. As an immigrant, Abdullahi is passionate about mentoring refugee/immigrant teens and providing career advice, helping them bridge the gap. He worked with one of the most prominent non-profit organizations that help resettle refugees in the Chicagoland area and now navigating Indianapolis to start volunteering here.
Rafael A. Alamilla
Rafael A. Alamilla is a 4th year Ph.D. Candidate in the IU School of Health and Human Sciences (SHHS) working under Dr. NiCole Keith. Rafael's primary interests and research focus revolve around the adoption and promotion of physical activity (PA) among racial minority communities using theory-driven, community-based participatory frameworks. To do this work, Rafael partners heavily with local community stakeholders and organizations to inform and develop his projects. Rafael also has secondary interests in understanding how policies influence PA among communities and strategies to enhance science communication with the general population. He is currently the SHHS representative for the IUI Graduate and Professional Student Government, a member-at-large of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Student Affairs Committee, and a steering committee member of the Central Indiana Top 10 Coalition. Rafael was the inaugural recipient of the Indiana Academy of Science INSPECT fellowship for IUI and is a current recipient of the ACSM Leadership Diversity and Training Program award. Outside of his work, Rafael is an avid powerlifter, roots on LA sports teams, and spends quality time with his wife and Labrador Retriever.
Ashley Bocanegra
Ashley is a second-year student in the Pain Lab and the Clinical Psychology program at IU Indianapolis. She earned her B.S. in Psychology from the University of North Texas. Her research interests center on examining racial differences among women experiencing gynecological pain from various conditions. Ashley seeks to understand how these differences influence their experiences and concerns regarding pain, as well as the barriers they encounter in obtaining adequate care and having their voices heard. She is particularly drawn to qualitative data, as it allows for a deeper understanding of their unique stories and perspectives. In her spare time she loves spoiling her dogs, Adam and Olive, who always manage to brighten her day. Additionally, she is a lover of all things art, including painting, drawing, knitting, and crocheting.
Soumilee Chaudhuri
Soumilee Chaudhuri is a PhD student in Medical Neuroscience at the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute. She works at the intersection of multi-omics and multi-modal imaging to characterize Alzheimer Disease (AD) therapeutics, in the laboratory of Dr. Andrew Saykin and Dr. Kwangsik Nho. She was recently awarded the 2022 Paul and Carole Stark Medical Neuroscience Fellowship. She aspires to combine her knowledge of neuroscience, computation, and bioinformatics to investigate the molecular mechanisms of AD and research/teach future academics in the field. On campus, Soumilee is an executive member of Underrepresented Professional & Graduate Student Organization (UPnGO) and Recreational Hiking at IU Indianapolis as well as an IUI Graduate Emissary for Diversity; she also volunteered at cultural events for DesiJags (Indian Student Association at IUPUI) and the Bengali Student Association at IUI. She is also involved with IUSM clubs promoting peer wellness & mental health, science communication and teaching amongst doctoral students. Outside of academia, Soumilee enjoys hiking & outdoor adventures and focuses towards building a safe outdoor environment for BIPOC mid/plus sized women.
Rodney Claude
Rodney Claude is a fourth year PhD candidate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He works under the mentorship of Dr. Ji Zhang where his project focuses on understanding the role of General Control Nonderepressible 2 kinase (GCN2) in leukemogenesis and therapeutic response to L-asparaginase. Claude is open to new areas, but he is interested in cancer related studies and drug development/therapies. Besides his love for bench work, Rodney loves spreading awareness on underrepresented graduate students. Rodney served as president of Underrepresented Professional & Graduate Student Organization (UPnGO) where he got to interact with other underrepresented students via networking and social events. Mr. Claude was awarded the Adam W. Herbert Fellowship and IUSCCC Pilot Funding Award. He also was selected as a 2024 Scientist Mentoring & Diversity Program (SMDP). Outside of academia, Rodney enjoys exercising, reading books, cooking, traveling, watching movies/shows, and spending time with his loved ones.
Shaquitta Dent
Shaquitta Dent is a second-year PhD student in the IU School of Health and Human Sciences (SHHS) working under Dr. NiCole Keith and Dr. Jefferson Streepey. Shaquitta’s primary interest is in understanding postural balance control through tracking center of pressure movement during static and dynamic tasks in clinical populations. Shaquitta is a scholar in the 2020-2021 ACSM Leadership Diversity and Training Program (LDTP) and is sponsored by SHHS to participate in the Southern Regional Education Board Doctoral Scholars Program. Outside of her work, Shaquitta enjoys spending time with her loved ones and friends, binge watching Netflix series, and reading cheesy romance novels.
Tuyen Dinh
Tuyen Dinh is a graduate student in the Applied Social and Organizational Psychology program. Broadly, she is interested in examining issues related to diversity and discrimination in the workplace, aiming to contribute to research on creating more inclusive organizational policies and practices. Specifically, she is interested in the effects of power differentials in organizations, leadership development, and ways organizations can engage in effective allyship to support diverse populations. She obtained her master’s degree in Fall 2020 and is currently working towards becoming a PhD candidate.
Ana L. Esqueda
Ana L Esqueda is a PhD candidate in the Department of Education at Indiana University Indianapolis. Ana received her master’s in Sociology and Philosophy from IU Indianapolis and her master’s in Humanities from California State University, Northridge. Her research interests include understanding how neoliberalism affects minoritized groups, the impact of charter schools among minoritized children in urban cities, and critical policy analysis. She is passionate about improving education in Urban schools and changing federal, state, and local policies. A leader in her community, Ana’s passion and life mission focus on education, civil rights, and women’s issues. She strives daily to exemplify effective leadership and corporate governance to inspire her community, girls, and women.
Daniela Gonzalez Salcedo
Daniela Gonzalez Salcedo is a second-year graduate student in the Applied Social and Organizational Psychology Doctoral program at Indiana University Indianapolis. Daniela was born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia. When Daniela came to The United States to pursue higher education, she learned about some of the challenges that underrepresented students face in academia to succeed, inspiring her to develop an interest in ways to effectively promote diversity and inclusion in academic settings. Her current research interests focus on helping college students succeed by identifying potential mechanisms that might contribute to disparities in academic outcomes and lead to worse health, especially among underrepresented students.
Nina Johnson
Nina Johnson is a PhD student at the Indiana University School of Social Work. Nina holds a PhD minor in Public Health. Nina received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Coe College and her Master of Science of Social Work from Columbia University. Nina’s research interests include understanding the holistic health needs, self-care practices, and coping mechanisms of minoritized and multicultural undergraduate and graduate students. Nina is committed to understanding the needs and barriers of minoritized and multicultural students accessing holistic wellness resources through a multidimensional and social justice lens. Nina is interested in how campuses function as ecosystems for health empowerment, and promotion for the overall well-being for students.
Alex Lipsey
Alex Lipsey is a second-year doctoral student at Indiana University Indianapolis (IUI) School of Social Work. He works as a research assistant for both Dr. Virgil Gregory and Dr. Saahoon Hong. For one professor Alex’s work focuses on predicting various outcomes for Black men, while the work for the other professor focuses on using artificial intelligence to predict the outcomes of minorities being successfully treated for a substance use disorder. He received his MSW and MPH from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. Alex’s interests are in improving the life outcomes for minority children raised by single-parents, which means having a deeper understanding about the variables that influence their trajectory. He currently helps mentor mainly minority men at the MLK Center in Indianapolis. He is a recipient of the IU President's Graduate Diversity Fellowship and is sponsored by IUI School of Social Work to participate in the Southern Regional Education Board Doctoral Scholars Program. His long-term goal is to conduct research and provide prevention and intervention programs tailored to better serve underrepresented populations. Outside of his work, Alex enjoys working out, playing on the IUI rugby team, and bowling.
Khadija Moctar
Khadija Moctar is a PhD candidate in the Department of Biology at Indiana University Indianapolis. She is pursuing her degree under the guidance of Dr. Christine Picard. Her thesis work will emphasize the role of humidity perception on oviposition in forensically relevant blow flies in hopes of understanding the impact on the estimation of a postmortem interval. In addition, Khadija served as an Executive Board member of the Underrepresented Professional and Graduate Student Organization (UPnGO) at IUI.
Rajanya Nandi
Rajanya Nandi is a second-year PhD student at the Indiana University School of Social Work. She is originally from India, where she completed her Master's in Social Work with a specialization in Social Entrepreneurship and Livelihood at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, India. Her journey led her to collaborate with an organization dedicated to supporting and advocating for women engaged in sex work in the red-light areas of Sonagachi in Kolkata, renowned as Asia's largest red-light district. Rajanya's research passion ignited as she delved into the lives of these marginalized women, navigating the complex spectrum of choice versus coercion, often operating in the shadows where their voices remained unheard. Her core belief is that everyone should have the autonomy to live on their own terms, whether they choose sex work, seek to exit the profession or remain within it. She also harbors a deep interest in the realm of human trafficking. Consequently, her research primarily revolves around understanding the healthcare needs of sex workers and survivors of human trafficking exploring how they manage their healthcare requirements. In her research assistantship with Dr. Md Hasan Reza, Rajanya focuses on developing a comprehensive thematic analysis of sexual abuse experienced by children surviving on the streets. She aims to shed light on the enduring cycle of poly-victimization that plagues these children.
Moraima Noda
Moraima Noda is a PhD student at Indiana School of Medicine in the department of Microbiology and Immunology. Moraima received her Bachelor’s in Biology from Northeastern Illinois University. She is currently conducting research in the laboratory of Dr. Matthias Clauss and her thesis focus is investigating the role of HIV proteins on cellular senescence in endothelial cells. She is the Co-chair of professional development of IU School of Medicine’s chapter of SACNAS (the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science). Her long-term goal is to conduct research and teach in academia, with a focus on mentoring and helping promote diversity in the STEM field.
Isheka Orr
Isheka Orr is a fourth-year student pursuing her Ph.D. in Applied Earth Sciences with a minor in Public Health at Indiana University Indianapolis. She works in Dr. Gabriel Filippelli's lab, where her research focuses on identifying and understanding the health risks associated with Combined Sewer Overflow events in urban waterways.
Isheka strongly believes in giving back to the community in whatever way possible and, as a result, volunteers as a mentor and/educator with various community programs such as School on Wheels (SOW)-Indy, Sea Scope Incorporated, and Passport to College (PTC). Isheka has also served on the Executive Board of the Underrepresented Professional and Graduate Student Organization (UPnGO) at IUI and currently serves as a Graduate Emissary for Student Diversity and the Secretary for the Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG).
Amber Rogers
Amber Rogers is a PhD candidate in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, currently working with Dr. Salvatore Condello. Amber received her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Towson University in Towson, Maryland. Her interest in reproductive health and well-being led her to researching the influence of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins on the advanced stages of ovarian cancer. The long-term goal of her project is to identify potential targets to improve response to current therapies and ultimately prevent recurrence of disease. Outside of the lab she enjoys reading, volunteering with local community organizations and playing volleyball or netball.
Eduardo Salgado
Eduardo Salgado, M.S. is a 4th year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at IU Indianapolis. He currently works under the mentorship of Dr. Michelle Salyers and Dr. Matthew Aalsma. His research interests include understanding how to best engage diverse youth, particularly Hispanic/Latine youth, with psychotherapy services. He is also interested in understanding how certain cultural factors, such as ethnic identity and acculturation, impact relevant mental health and substance use outcomes for these youth.
Tayler Smith
Tayler Brierre Smith is a third year PhD candidate in the Medical and Molecular genetics (MMGE) program at Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM). After receiving her bachelor's degree from UC Davis and starting her career in clinical diagnostics, Tayler joined Dr. Todd Skaar's lab where she studies pharmacogenomics. Her research focuses on how genetic variations contribute to variable drug responses in oncology, organ transplant, and other disease states, aiming to advance precision medicine. Driven by a commitment to optimizing health outcomes, Tayler is passionate about identifying genetic predispositions to drug toxicity and translating these insights into clinical practice. To better aid in her ability to implement her findings in clinical care, she is pursuing a graduate certificate in clinical informatics at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at Indianapolis. Beyond research, Tayler enjoys serving her community through service and leadership. Currently, she is an active participant in the MMGE department as co-student representative and a member of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Committee. Additionally, she represents the IUSM Graduate Division in the IU Indianapolis Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG). Through these roles and her involvement in community organizations, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Tayler is dedicated to making a positive impact in her academic and local communities.
Jared Thomas
Jared Thomas, a PhD candidate in the Department of Biology at IU Indianapolis, working with Randall Roper, Ph.D., a biology professor who specializes in Down syndrome research at the School of Science at IUI. The lab focuses research on bone density abnormalities that cause individuals with Down syndrome (DS) to have an increased risk of developing osteoporosis or bone fractures. Our research focuses on sexual dimorphism in skeletal abnormalities in DS, and identifying disrupted molecular and cellular mechanisms that contribute to bone deficiencies seen in DS. Long-term goal is to elucidate prospective molecular targets that can lead to therapeutic treatments to improve skeletal phenotypes seen in individuals with DS.
Camara Wallace
Camara is a second-year doctor student in the IU Indianapolis. Urban Education program. She has received two English degrees, one awarded by UW-Green Bay and one awarded by Butler University. Her interests include literacy, specifically technological literacy and alternate approaches to literacy. She is generally interested in community engagement and serving community needs as they appear. She has worked and still works with Dr. Crystal Morton at Girls Stem Institute, promoting literacy in STEM for Black girls who are interested and curious. One of her passions is meeting students where they are at, and when Camara gets a chance to teach college courses, she often reworks the syllabus to bring in different technologies that students can use in future careers as well as technologies that help them develop as people.
Jennifer Yanum
Jennifer is a third-year doctoral student in the Department of Biology at IU Indianapolis. She works with Dr. Guoli Dai whose lab investigates the mechanisms governing liver regeneration. Her research focuses on the role prolactin receptor plays in transducing mitogenic signaling during liver regeneration and lipid metabolism in mice. The long-term goal of her research work is to yield insights into the role of prolactin receptor in the liver as well as the development of new therapeutic targets for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). She also serves as a teaching assistant for the Biology department and an instructor for first-year seminar. Jennifer is passionate about helping immigrant and underrepresented students, which inspired her to serve on the Underrepresented Professional and Graduate Student Organization (UPnGO) Executive Board here at IUI.