We are excited to announce the arrival of our new graduate students for the upcoming academic year. This talented group brings diverse research interests and experiences. Each student is poised to contribute to our mission, and we look forward to their fresh perspectives and ideas. Join us in welcoming these promising individuals as they embark on their PhD journeys and get to know them a little more!
Ángel is a [former Dreamer], Latinx First-Generation, Low-Income (FGLI) student trained broadly in immunology and cancer working to advance the field of autoimmune diseases (ADs). As an undergraduate, Mr. Garza Reyna graduated with Distinction in Chemistry from Duke University in 2021; he minored in Biology and concentrated in Biochemistry. He is a QuestBridge Scholar and a Stanford Summer Research Program (SSRP) - Amgen Scholar in the Robinson Lab. He recently completed the Broad Biomedical Post-baccalaureate Scholars Program (BBPS) at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard / Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where he combined in silico approaches and in vivo techniques to advance the identification and development of novel cancer immunotherapies in the Griffin Lab. Now he is returning to Duke and continues to work with Dr. David S. Pisetsky to characterize the binding mechanisms of anti-DNA antibodies and further elucidate the role of Z-DNA in ADs.
Meaghan graduated from Boston College (2022) with a B.A. in Biology and Computer Science. While at Boston College, she worked in The Losick Lab where she studied the role of the extracellular matrix in creating polyploid cells with age using Drosophila. After graduation Meaghan joined The Mellinghoff Lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering as a Research Technician. In The Mellinghoff Lab, she used cerebral organoids to model pediatric high-grade gliomas. She hopes to bring all of her research interests and passions together and find a project that is the intersection of immunology, cancer biology, and genetics. Meaghan enjoys hikes with her dog, traveling with friends, and watching reality TV.
Emma is a first year PhD student in the Integrative Immunobiology program and is originally from North Andover Massachusetts. She went to MIT and graduated in 2024 with a degree in chemistry and biology. While at MIT, she worked in the Yaffe Lab studying the immunogenicity of tumor cells following treatment with chemotherapies, and was also a member of the varsity track and field team. Emma enjoys spending time with friends, trying new cafes and restaurants, and working out. She hopes to work on translational research and study how the immune system functions in the context of diseases.
Gabriella is from Westchester, NY and completed her undergraduate degree at New York University. There, she learned she was interested in Immunology and went on to pursue various experiences in academia and industry. Also, while in college, she was on the NYU Swim and Dive team and was a captain in her senior year. During her post-baccalaureate program (here at Duke!), she worked with Dr. Stacy Horner investigating novel proteins that promote the antiviral innate immune pathway. She is interested in translational immunology and hopes to work within a disease model to better understand how we may treat diseases.
In Gabriella’s free time, she loves to read, bake, and work out. She is very excited to be at Duke and to begin her PhD.