LSU Health Shreveport School of Graduate Studies

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LSU Health Shreveport School of Graduate Studies

School of Graduate Studies at LSU Health Shreveport The official page for LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, School of Graduate Studies information.

08/15/2025

Today we celebrate Dr. Jason E. Comer, from the LSU Health Shreveport - Department of Microbiology and Immunology, who was invested yesterday as Dr. Richard J. Courtney Endowed Professor of Virology. Dr. Comer serves as BSL3 Director at our institution, and his research is focused in High Containment Pathogens. This honor acknowledges a lifetime of achievements in the field of virology and his key role educating the new generations of scientists.
Congratulations Dr. Comer! 🎉

08/07/2025

🎉Congratulations to our August Graduate Student of the Month, Timothy Amusan!
Timothy is a PhD student in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, conducting his research in Dr. Hongyan Guo’s Lab. Timothy comes from Gbongan, Nigeria; and earned his bachelor’s degree in microbiology at the Obafemi Awolowo University in 2016.
Timothy’s dissertation is titled “Elucidating the mechanism and function of ZBP1 signaling during HSV-1 infection.”
His research focuses on understanding the function and fate of ZBP1, an important player in necroptosis, during HSV-1 (Herpes Simplex Virus 1) infection and how this can improve the clinical outcomes of the disease.
Timothy shared that he chose our graduate school because he wanted to work in a collaborative institution, with excellent research, and that felt like a family; and he found that here, at LSU Health Shreveport.
👏🏽Please join us in celebrating Timothy

06/06/2025

Graduate Research Day – May 30, 2025
On May 30th, graduate students from different departments came together to present their research during Graduate Research Day, featuring a poster session and a series of engaging talks. The event provided a valuable platform for students to showcase their work, share ideas, and connect with peers and faculty across disciplines. It was a wonderful celebration of the depth and diversity of research within our community.
One of the highlights of the day was the keynote address by Dr. Aimee Vozenilek, who shared insights from her own multifaceted career journey—spanning academia, industry, and work with the FDA. Dr. Vozenilek emphasized that finding the right career path isn’t always a straight line. She encouraged students to embrace the diverse experiences that come with different roles, highlighting how each position contributes to skill-building and professional growth in unique ways.
A heartfelt thank you to the Graduate Student Council, faculty, and staff whose hard work and support made this event possible.
Here are some photos and highlights from the day!

06/05/2025

🎉 Big congratulations to Analilia Cardenas Garza, graduate student in Molecular & Cellular Physiology, for receiving the Florence P. Haseltine Award for Outstanding Poster Presentation at the OSSD Conference (Organization for the Study of S*x Differences) in Albuquerque, NM! 🏆

Her award-winning research — “Breaking Her Heart: How Stress and Glucocorticoid Receptors Exacerbate Cardiac Injury in Women” — explores the impact of mental stress on heart health in premenopausal women, with a focus on myocardial infarction. 💔🧬

👏 We’re also excited to give a sneak peek at our amazing alum, Ashton Jorgensen (Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neurosciences), who also received an award at the same conference! 🎓🏅

👏👏 Huge congratulations to both Analilia and Ashton — your work is making a difference! Keep pushing boundaries and breaking ground in s*x differences research! 💪🔬❤️

05/29/2025

🎓 Student of the Month Spotlight! 🌟
Meet our amazing graduate student of the month, Samira Mahmoudi! 💫
We asked Samira to share a few nerdy fun facts about herself and her research 🧪—and she did not disappoint!
🧫 Her favorite lab techniques? Cell culturing and running Western blots!
These essential assays have become her go-to favorites, and she's proudly become a bit of a lab nerd about them! 😄🔬
Keep up the awesome work, Samira! 👏💙

05/19/2025

🎉 Congratulations to our May Graduate Student of the Month, Samira Mahmoudi!
Samira is a PhD student in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, conducting her research in Dr. Shile Huang’s Lab. Originally from Tehran, Iran, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology-Biotechnology and a Master’s in Microbial Biotechnology.
Her dissertation is titled “Insights into Rapamycin-Mediated Inhibition of mSin1 Phosphorylation.” Her research focuses on understanding how mTOR regulates mSin1 phosphorylation independently of its two canonical complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2.
Samira shared that she chose graduate school because research is something she truly enjoys — it allows her to follow her passion while continuing to grow both professionally and personally.
👏 Please join us in celebrating Samira

05/10/2025

The LSU Health Shreveport Schools of Medicine, Allied Health, and Graduate Studies 2025 graduation ceremony.**PROGRAM Begins around 15 minutes**

04/15/2025

Last week was Graduate Student Appreciation Week! Huge thanks to all the departments and individuals who helped organize such a fun and thoughtful celebration. Your graduate students truly appreciated the delicious treats, engaging activities, and awesome prizes!

04/11/2025

🎉 Congratulations to Kevin Brown Jr., Graduate Student of the Month! 🎉

Kevin is a graduate student in the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, working in Dr. Krista Rodgers's lab. He earned his bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Centenary College of Louisiana in 2023.

Reflecting on his journey so far, Kevin shared:
"Throughout my graduate studies, I’ve deepened my understanding of the brain and the human body. Our seminar series has exposed me to a wide range of research and career paths, broadening my perspective and inspiring new and exciting goals in science. My greatest accomplishment has been nurturing and expanding my passion for the field."

Outside the lab, Kevin enjoys fishing, painting, and cooking.

Keep up the amazing work, Kevin! 👏

03/31/2025

✨ Graduate Student of the Month Spotlight: Nilu ✨

When she’s not making strides in the lab, Nilu loves to explore new places and capture the beauty of the world through photography. Fun fact: She was part of Up With People (UWP), a nonprofit that unites young people from around the world to travel and give back through community service.

03/27/2025

🎓✨ Student of the Month Spotlight: Nilu! ✨🎓

Meet Nilu, our outstanding Graduate Student of the Month! We asked her what inspired her to pursue graduate school:

🗣️ "I have always been fascinated by how the human body works and have loved learning about it since I was a child. But my decision to go to grad school didn’t happen until the end of college when I was interning as a student researcher at LSU Health. That experience gave me a firsthand look at what it’s like to be a researcher. It wasn’t something I had planned, but looking back, I’m so glad I chose to pursue a Ph.D."

For students thinking about graduate school, Nilu offers this advice:

💡 “The first year can be tough, but it gets better—so stick with it! And for those considering grad school, I’d recommend carefully evaluating their goals and expectations to ensure it’s the right path for them.”

Congratulations, Nilu! Keep up the great work! 🎉👏

03/25/2025

Congratulations to our March Student of the Month, Nilu Dhungel!
Nilu is a doctoral candidate in Dr. Ana Maria Dragoi’s Lab in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology. Her dissertation focuses on the tumor microenvironment (TME), where she has discovered that in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), direct contact with fibroblasts activates YAP1, leading to a hybrid cell state that resists chemotherapy. She also found that blocking YAP1 restores treatment sensitivity, highlighting the role of fibroblast interactions in cancer progression and drug resistance. Her research has led to a publication in this field.
Outside the lab, Nilu enjoys photography, traveling, and visiting museums. She considers her greatest accomplishment in graduate school to be her personal and professional growth, as the challenges of her graduate school journey have taught her resilience and perseverance.

Address

1501 Kings Highway
Shreveport, LA
71103

Telephone

(318) 675-7674

Website

https://www.lsuhs.edu/our-schools/school-of-graduate-studies

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