NPHR - Key Persons
Caitlin Pegg currently pursues her PhD in the Driskill Graduate Program as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow. In the laboratory of Prof. Gregory A. Smith, she studies neuroinvasive properties of herpesviruses relating to efficient viral propagation and host dissemination. Caitlin graduated from the University of Tulsa with a B.S. in biology. There she carried out research that contributed to the identification of phylogenetic similarities in diverse algal species and was the co-inventor of a nanofibrous material useful in wound healing. Outside the lab, Caitlin has many passions including antiquing, power walking, meme-ing, napping, French bulldogs, and loving life.
Derek Tam is a student in the MD/MPH program at Northwestern. His academic interests include mental health, neuroscience, and psychology. His "non-boring" interests include drumming, photography, and tennis. He is probably a bit too interested in coffee and believes perfection in life can only be attained when arriving at a movie theater just as the previews are ending.
Job Titles:
- Student in the Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience
Grace Bellinger is a PhD student in the Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience (NUIN) graduate program. She obtained her B.S. in kinesiology from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and also has a Master's in motor control and behavior from UW-Madison. She enjoys singing, engaging the community, and playing trivia
Isabelle Kang is a second-year MD student at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and is currently performing research on Parkinson's disease. She obtained her B.A. in Neuroscience and Global Health at Northwestern University. Outside of blogging, she enjoys reading, swimming, and cooking
Jackie Patterson is a Neuroscience PhD student investigating movement rehabilitation in stroke patients with a keen passion for translational research, conveying insights from the lab to the clinic. She earned her B.S. in Biology from Penn State University and is a professional at eating snacks.
Kate Klein is an MPH student interested in infectious disease prevention and international public health. She also has a Master's in Anthropology and is the Assistant Director of Northwestern's Program of African Studies. She spent this past summer researching prevention of mother to child HIV transmission in Ethiopia. She loves urban hiking in Chicago, Wes Anderson movies, and Trivial Pursuit.
Makda Zewde is an M.S. student in the Biostatistics program at Northwestern University. For the past two years, she has been working as a technician in the Nakamura Lab at the University of Chicago, where she became interested in personalized medicine and the role of big data analytics in improving public health. Outside the lab, she enjoys museums, watching live music and discovering new coffee shops around the city.
Margaret Walker is a dual MD/MPH student at Northwestern University and is interested in interpreting complex medical information for the general public. She obtained her BS in computer science and molecular biology from MIT and developed an interest in blogging. Beyond science, she enjoys reading (anything and everything), exploring Chicago, and biking along Lake Michigan.
Mo McNulty is a third year PhD student in the Driskill Graduate Program at Northwestern University, where she works in John Crispino's lab studying the genetic underpinnings of leukemia. She received her B.S. in Molecular Genetics from The Ohio State University. Mo loves writing and reading about anything science-related, wouldn't be caught dead not watching Buckeye football on game days, and plays trombone in the psychedelic street band Environmental Encroachment.