Students

Alana Canty

Alana Canty is a junior majoring in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Biomedical Engineering. Alana is from Chesapeake, Virginia, where she graduated high school in 2022. Alana is the recipient of Virginia Space Grant Consortium STEM Bridge Scholarship and Ronald L. Horne Old Dominion University Black Alumni Chapter “BAC” Scholarship. In her free time, Alana enjoys arts & crafts, cooking, and travelling. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Engineering.

Drayanna Foxrun

Drayanna Foxrun is a junior majoring in Biomedical Sciences. Drayanna is from Norfolk, Virginia, where she graduated high school in 2022. Drayanna is the recipient of the ODU Presidential Scholarship and has been on the Dean's List for both the Spring and Fall semesters of 2022 and 2023. In her free time, Drayanna enjoys knitting, playing games, and spending time with friends and family. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. degree in immunological research on autoimmune diseases. Her mentor is Dr. Harold Riethman.

Matthew Maisonave

Matthew Maisonave is a junior majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Biology. Matthew is from Chesapeake, VA, where he graduated high school in 2022. Matthew is the recipient of ODU’s Monarch Scholarship and has been recognized as a Dean’s Perfect Scholar three consecutive times. In his free time, Matthew enjoys going out with friends, watching football, and working on programming projects. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. degree in either Bioinformatics or Computer Science. His mentors are Dr. Lisa Wallace and Dr. Jian Wu.

Larry Teasley

Larry Teasley is a junior majoring in Computer Science. Larry is from Norfolk, Virginia, where he graduated high school in 2022. Larry is the recipient of the E.L. Hamm scholarship, the United Way of South Hampton Roads African American Leadership Society STEM scholarship, the ODU Crown Scholarship, and the Access College Foundation scholarship. In his free time, Larry enjoys watching football and Formula One races and attending Motorsports events. He plans to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science. His mentor is Dr. Lesley Greene.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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 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.