OMRF Summer Scholar Information Session

Dr. Cheyney is a native Oklahoman who completed her PhD at The University of Oklahoma HSC and now works to inspire the next generation of scientists through training and outreach at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

Joel Solís is a Human Resources member with experience in talent acquisition, program coordination, and consular diplomacy. At the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, he supports recruitment efforts, assists science-oriented internship programs, and helps build inclusive communities through outreach and events. His consular background includes coordinating diplomatic events and managing consular relationships in Northern California and Oklahoma, where he supported various global communities. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian, Joel is committed to supporting programs and connections that promote collaboration across diverse backgrounds.

Dr. Lewis obtained her B.S. in Biology from Spelman College, her M.S. degree in Physiology from Wayne State School of Medicine, and her Ph.D. in Pathology from OU Health Science Center. Dr. Lewis's research focuses on autoimmune disorders that disproportionately affect women and people of color (lupus and Sjogren's Disease). Additionally, she works as an adjunct professor in Department of Biology at Langston University, where she teaches and facilitates student research opportunities for underrepresented groups with the OKC-VA and OMRF.

Dr. Kirkland is an Assistant Professor at OMRF. His lab investigates epigenetic mechanisms of disease, development, and aging. Dr. Kirkland is a SACNAS member and finds mentorship among the most rewarding things about being a group leader.

I conducted three and a half years of research in the Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Lab with Dr. Axtell through the Langston Scholars Program. The research on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) dives into the aspect of cigarette smokers worsening disease prognosis and other areas that can be affected. My area of research focused on a natural compound, piperine, which reduced inflammation caused by the presence of cigarette smoke and also highlighted the activity of extracellular vesicles in MS patients.

Lauren Vongthavaravat is a current sophomore at the University of Oklahoma studying Biology on the pre-medical track. She was apart of the 2024 cohort for the Fleming Scholar Program, and was mentored by Dr. Donczew in the Cell Cycle and Cancer Biology Department.

Eric Wang, a freshman at Duke University, is pursuing studies in biology and computer science. He previously worked under the mentorship of Dr. Benjamin Miller in the Aging & Metabolism Research Program.