Team

Andie Litz

Burnet School of Biomedical Sciences- B.S. Track

January 2026- Present

Hobby:

Research Interests: 

Artemis Zi

College of Health Professions and Sciences- Health Science B.S track

April 2025 – Present

Hobby: I enjoy playing sports (volleyball), baking desserts, spending time with family and travelling.

Research Interests: My research aims to investigate sex-based differences in cardiac fibrosis and how these variations may influence cardiovascular disease outcomes.

Jaycee Do

Burnet School of Biomedical Sciences- B.S. Track

January 2025- Present

Hobby:

Research Interests: My undergraduate research focuses on understanding how oxidative stress contributes to heart injury and cardiovascular disease. Oxidative stress occurs when the production of harmful reactive oxygen species exceeds the body’s antioxidant defenses, leading to cellular damage, inflammation, and impaired cardiac function. Using cell culture and mouse models, I investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying oxidative stress in the heart and evaluate pharmacological compounds as potential cardioprotective therapies. Through biochemical, molecular, and physiological analyses, this research aims to identify promising drug candidates that can reduce oxidative damage, preserve cardiac function, and improve outcomes in cardiovascular disease.

Siena Palleti

Burnet School of Biomedical Sciences- B.S. Track

August 2025- Present

Hobby: Playing video games, studying.

Research Interests: My research interests include studying cardiac inflammation and the structural changes that occur in heart tissue during disease. Using histological and molecular biology techniques, I investigate how inflammatory responses contribute to cardiac injury, fibrosis, and remodeling. This work involves analyzing tissue samples to identify changes in cellular organization, immune cell infiltration, and extracellular matrix deposition. 

Tahel Peretz

Burnet School of Biomedical Sciences- B.S. Track

August 2025- Present

Hobby: Playing video games, studying.

Research Interests: I am interested in microbiome research, which explores the diverse communities of microorganisms that live in the human body and their impact on health and disease. My research experience focuses on understanding how changes in the gut microbiome influence inflammation, metabolism, and tissue remodeling.

Emily Freer

U.C.F College of Medicine Student

November 2024- Present

Hobby:I enjoy hiking, cooking, various arts & crafts, and overanalyzing shows/movies in my free time.

Research Interests: My research focuses on understanding and mitigating cardiovascular disease risk in people living with HIV, with an emphasis on aging-related vulnerabilities and molecular interventions that target disease pathways.

Emily Hung

U.C.F College of Medicine Student

November 2024- Present

Hobby: In my free time, I enjoy cooking, hiking, gaming, playing the violin, and watching Hell’s Kitchen.

Research Interests: My research aims to find microbiome-targeted strategies to prevent aging-related cardiovascular disease.

Melody Hershman

U.C.F College of Medicine Student

November 2024- Present

Hobby: I enjoy hiking, camping, reading, playing volleyball, and most recently started jiu jitsu 

Research Interests: My research investigates the impacts of HIV on cardiovascular diseases.

Gbenga Ogundipe

Biomedical Science PhD student

January 2024- Present

Hobby:

Research Interests: My doctoral research focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms that drive metabolic diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and their cardiovascular complications. Using mouse models, I investigate how metabolic dysfunction alters cellular signaling, tissue remodeling, and disease progression. To identify novel diagnostic biomarkers, I employ a variety of omics approaches, including metabolomics to characterize alterations in metabolic pathways and signaling molecules. By integrating these multi-omics datasets with histological, physiological, and biochemical analyses, my research aims to discover sensitive biomarkers for early disease detection and to uncover molecular pathways that may serve as targets for future therapeutic interventions.