Celebrating PhD Students
We are proud to celebrate the 11 graduate students who successfully defended their theses in 2025 - the final step in earning their Ph.D. Continue reading to learn about these excellent students and hear some of their advice for the next generation.
Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics
Mazharul Karim
PI/Lab
Defense Date
May 8, 2025
Thesis Title
Intratumoral Fibrin as a Novel Immunomodulatory Factor in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
About My Thesis
My research primarily investigates the interplay between cancer immunology and stromal coagulation, wherein fibrin crosslinking contributes to the establishment of an immune barrier. Inhibiting this process has the potential to reprogram the tumor microenvironment (TME) from an immunosuppressive to an immunoresponsive state.
What's Next
Mazharul is currently working as a Research Associate at Merrimack College and interested in transitioning to an industry role, particularly as a Medical Science Liaison.
Something Fun to Share
I will deeply miss my lab, especially the invaluable guidance I received from Dr. Taslim Al-Hilal, who will remain my lifelong mentor. I am also grateful to the department, the faculty I have had the privilege to meet, and the wonderful students I have shared this journey with. Last but not least, I would like to thank Ruby Steele, my source of knowledge about Salt Lake City who patiently answered all my curiosities, and Hallie McCarthy for her unwavering support throughout my time at the University of Utah.
Advice to New PhD Students
Don’t stress too much—PhD life is tough, but if you stick with it and stay curious, it really pays off in the end.
Jiahui Li
PI/Lab
Defense Date
June 18, 2025
Thesis Title
Macromolecular Therapeutics for Cancer Treatment – Receptor Crosslinking, Targeted Delivery, and Combination Chemo-Immunotherapy Strategies
About My Thesis
I worked on the development of macromolecular therapeutics, including receptor-crosslinking systems, HPMA-copolymer–based antibody–drug conjugates, and a polymer-enabled chemo-immunotherapy platform to enhance selectivity, potency, and safety across hematologic and solid tumor models. Together, these modular designs remodel the tumor microenvironment and prolong survival in preclinical models.
What's Next
I’m still exploring my next step and keeping an open mind about opportunities.
Something Fun to Share
I’ll miss the incredible mentors, colleagues, and peers I’ve been fortunate to know and work with. I’m deeply grateful for the department’s support and for the many kind, helpful people who shaped this journey. Looking ahead, I’m excited to step into the real world and, hopefully, make a positive impact on the people and communities around me.
Advice to New PhD Students
In every progress report, write exactly what you did and how you want it presented in the final manuscript (it makes writing Methods much easier later). Name compounds the first time you make them, keep names consistent across all figures (dashes, capital letters), and remember—every figure and every report counts.
Pahweenvaj "Sake" Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket
PI/Lab
Defense Date
July 14, 2025
Thesis Title
Triple Helical Folding of Collagen Mimetics Containing Peptoid Residues
About My Thesis
This work enables the incorporation of diverse peptoid residues into collagen mimetics, offering a new platform strategy for developing collagen-like therapeutics and theranostic molecules targeting denatured collagens associated with disease and injury.
What's Next
I’m currently working as a Research Analyst at CMIC, Inc. in the Chicago suburbs. My work focuses on developing and implementing LC-MS/MS methods for analyzing small molecules, peptides, and oligos in biological samples from PK/TK studies (regulated/GLP studies). I started this job three weeks before I defended my dissertation. It wasn’t easy to manage both work and dissertation (plus moving to a new city), but it was quite an experience.
Something Fun to Share
The Midwest is so flat. I miss the mountains back in Utah, where I could hike whenever I wanted—or when I was stressed.
Advice to New PhD Students
"If the path to what you want seems too easy, then you’re on the wrong path." – Monkey D. Luffy, One Piece. Doing a PhD won’t be easy. You’ll face obstacles, failed experiments (maybe more than successful ones), and some rough experiences. Don’t give up. If everything seems to go well without a problem, you might be missing something. Talk to your labmates, friends, loved ones, or your PI when you need encouragement—they’re your support system. Also, apply for an internship or co-op in industry during year 4–5, even if you want to stay in academia. It will broaden your network, give you a new research perspective, and build work experience. Just make sure you have enough progress so your graduation isn’t delayed. And if you’re nearing graduation—start job searching early. Update your resume and LinkedIn so you don’t miss any opportunities.
Morgan Marsh
PI/Lab
Defense Date
July 15, 2025
Thesis Title
Engineering Split Protein Systems for Targeted Delivery and Diagnostics
About My Thesis
I worked heavily on two split protein systems to develop a targeted drug delivery system for HER2-positive cancers and a diagnostic for X-linked hypophosphatemia.
What's Next
Currently job searching for industry positions.
Something Fun to Share
I will miss all the great people I have met here.
Advice to New PhD Students
Remember to take breaks.
Lauren Naatz
PI/Lab
Defense Date
July 25, 2025
Thesis Title
Targeting PD-1 Positive Lymphocytes in Autoimmunity: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Development of Bispecific Killer Engagers
About My Thesis
My thesis details the conceptualization, design, production, and preclinical investigation of bispecific killer engagers and their use in treating autoimmune diseases.
What's Next
I am starting as a Content Writer for the Department of Molecular Medicine.
Something Fun to Share
I am so thankful to my labmates (Yujia, Tianxiao, and Dr. Shuyun Dong) and my mentor, Dr. Mingnan Chen, for all their help and support over the past several years.
Advice to New PhD Students
Don’t compare your PhD journey to anyone else’s—in the department, lab, or outside. Everyone’s path through grad school is dramatically different for many reasons, and there’s no single "right" way to do it. Focus on what you want to get out of your PhD, make a plan, communicate with your PI, and it will all come together in the end.
Yujia Zhai
PI/Lab
Defense Date
October 14, 2025
Thesis Title
Depleting Programmed Cell Death 1 (PD-1) Positive Cells in Autoimmunity: Safety Validation and Stage-Specific Activity of a Depleting Anti-PD-1 Antibody in Type 1 Diabetes
About My Thesis
My research focuses on developing selective therapies that eliminate autoreactive immune cells without compromising overall immune protection. I established the long-term safety of PD-1 cell depletion and developed the first depleting anti-PD-1 antibody, revealing that immune context—particularly macrophage activation and disease stage—determines whether the treatment is protective or harmful in type 1 diabetes.
What's Next
I will continue postdoctoral research.
Something Fun to Share
I will miss the beautiful Utah mountains and the warmth of the Molecular Pharmaceutics community that supported me through every challenge. Completing my PhD has been a meaningful and rewarding journey, and I’m deeply grateful for everyone who has been part of it.
Advice to New PhD Students
Research can feel slow at times, but every small step really does count. Be kind to yourself, reach out when you need help, and trust that steady effort will get you there in the end.
Tanya Chhibber
PI/Lab
Defense Date
October 27, 2025
Thesis Title
Transdermal delivery of miR211-5p and barasertib-HQPA for melanoma chemoprevention
About My Thesis
My PhD project focused on developing transdermal delivery systems for delivering a small RNA or a small molecule as chemopreventive therapies against melanoma.
What's Next
I will be joining the Utah Clinical Pharmacology Fellowship Program (UCPFP) at The University of Utah, which is centered in the Division of Clinical Pharmacology (DCP) within the Department of Pediatrics in the School of Medicine, as a Postdoctoral Research Associate.
Something Fun to Share
I will miss my incredible mentors and everyone in the Ghandehari and Judson-Torres lab. I will miss the Ghandehari lab's annual hikes and international potlucks, the Judson-Torres lab's annual boxing (during the lab retreat) and holiday party, as well as the Molecular Pharmaceutics summer barbecue and holiday party. I made some incredible friends in the department.
Advice to New PhD Students
Most days will challenge you — don’t give up on those days. Take it one day at a time, one experiment at a time, and if needed, take some time off. Even when it feels impossible, believe me, things do get better. I spent much of my PhD being hyper-focused and eventually experienced burnout, which taught me that taking breaks is just as important as doing your experiments. More than anything, take care of yourself.
Department of Medicinal Chemistry
Aarthi Venugopalan
PI/Lab
Schmidt Lab
Defense Date
March 18, 2025
Thesis Title
Animal-encoded nonribosomal pathway to bursatellin analogs
About Aarthi Venugopalan
Aarthi joined the Biosciences PhD Program in 2017. She has a Master’s degree in Biotechnology from the Indian Institute of Technology –Chennai and a Bachelor’s degree in Biopharmaceutical Technology from Anna University, both located in India. Her research interests include biosynthetic enzyme discovery, synthetic biology, and protein engineering. Her doctoral research involved the discovery and characterization of enzymes from understudied sources such as marine invertebrates and their uncultivable symbionts with a focus on nonribosomal peptide synthetases.
Garrison Nickel
PI/Lab
Defense Date
July 9, 2025
Thesis Title
Regulation and Roles of Histone Lysine Lactylation
About Garrison Nickel
Garrison joined the Medicinal Chemistry department in May 2021 under the supervision of Dr. Katharine Diehl. During his time in the department, Garrison studied mechanisms by which cellular metabolism can influence gene expression, particularly via epigenetic mechanisms such as histone lysine lactylation.
What's Next
Garrison recently accepted a postdoctoral position in the lab of Dr. Connie Krawczyk at Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Department of Pharmacotherapy
Priyanka Ghule
PI/Lab
Dr. Carl Asche, Advisor / Lab
Thesis Title
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Legislation in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Using Insulin
Khanh Duong
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PI/Lab
Dr. Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk / Nui's Lab
Defense Date
September 3, 2025
Thesis Title
Evaluating the Impact of COVID-19 Mobile Vaccine Clinics in Utah on Health and Economic Outcomes
About My Thesis
My thesis studies the health, economic, and equity impacts of a specific public health strategy: the mobile vaccine clinic program during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Utah.
What's Next
I am currently working as a Lecturer at the Department of Economic, Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Health Sciences, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Something Fun to Share
The people in Utah - both at the university and in my neighborhood - were incredibly kind and welcoming. I really appreciated the peaceful lifestyle here (and I loved hiking!).
Advice to New PhD Students
The PhD is not only to gain a degree, but also to gain the mindset and resilience needed to face the unknown. Embrace the uncertainty and remember that “the obstacle is the way.” Enjoy the journey!