GBS Spotlight
GBS Spotlight highlights the achievements, awards, and research of our students, faculty, and alumni. Share your spotlight story to potentially be featured on GBS and Graduate School websites and social media.
Spotlight Stories

Sajina GC Named as 2021 Carmichael Scholar
Sajina Gc, fourth year PhD candidate in the Cancer Biology theme, has been selected at this year's 2021-2022 Carmichael Scholar.
Sajina is mentored by Dr. Anita Hjelmeland. "At the Hjelmeland laboratory, I study the role of glycosylation in the maintenance, growth, and tumorigenicity of Glioblastoma, which remains one of the deadliest malignancies. In the future, I aspire to continue my research as an independent investigator to better understand the underlying mechanisms of cancer and develop targeted novel therapeutics to combat cancer. In my free time, I indulge in my love for reading fiction, cooking, and traveling."
The Carmichael fund provides stipend support for graduate students in biomedical sciences at UAB in accordance with the Carmichael will. Carmichael Scholars are selected based on academic achievement.
Sajina is mentored by Dr. Anita Hjelmeland. "At the Hjelmeland laboratory, I study the role of glycosylation in the maintenance, growth, and tumorigenicity of Glioblastoma, which remains one of the deadliest malignancies. In the future, I aspire to continue my research as an independent investigator to better understand the underlying mechanisms of cancer and develop targeted novel therapeutics to combat cancer. In my free time, I indulge in my love for reading fiction, cooking, and traveling."
The Carmichael fund provides stipend support for graduate students in biomedical sciences at UAB in accordance with the Carmichael will. Carmichael Scholars are selected based on academic achievement.

2021 Samuel B. Barker Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies - Leland Fleming
Leland Fleming, PhD in Graduate Biomedical Science, Neuroscience, Heersink School of Medicine – Summer 2021
Plans after graduation: Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (still in interview process).
Biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: “The accomplishment that I'm most grateful for is the F99/K00 D-SPAN award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). However, that award, and anything else I've been fortunate enough to achieve, partially belongs to all the professors, mentors, peers, lab mates, and family members that have supported me along the way. I'm so thankful to have had so many people propelling me forward throughout my graduate educational experiences.”
“The Barker Award,” named for UAB’s first graduate dean, Dr. Samuel Booth Barker, is given each spring to graduate students who represent the highest level of student achievement in a UAB graduate program. All recipients are expected to receive their degrees within the calendar year.
Plans after graduation: Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (still in interview process).
Biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: “The accomplishment that I'm most grateful for is the F99/K00 D-SPAN award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). However, that award, and anything else I've been fortunate enough to achieve, partially belongs to all the professors, mentors, peers, lab mates, and family members that have supported me along the way. I'm so thankful to have had so many people propelling me forward throughout my graduate educational experiences.”
“The Barker Award,” named for UAB’s first graduate dean, Dr. Samuel Booth Barker, is given each spring to graduate students who represent the highest level of student achievement in a UAB graduate program. All recipients are expected to receive their degrees within the calendar year.

2021 Samuel B. Barker Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies - Rylie Hightower
Riley Hightower, BSN, RN, PhD in Graduate Biomedical Science, Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics – Spring 2021
Plans after graduation: “Directly following graduation, I will be taking a short leave of absence from academia to work as a nurse at the UAB COVID vaccine clinics to help accelerate vaccine distribution in our communities. In the fall, I will join the UAB Precision Medicine Institute as a postdoctoral fellow under the leadership of Dr. Matt Might investigating neurological signs and symptoms in patients with undiagnosed diseases.”
Biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: “Being awarded the NINDS F99/K00 predoc to postdoc career development grant has been one of the accomplishments that I have been most proud of as a graduate student. To see years of work culminated into a single grant proposal that will become the foundation for the rest of my academic career is something that I worked exceptionally hard for. I am proud and grateful to be a part of this amazing community that will help foster my academic growth.”
“The Barker Award,” named for UAB’s first graduate dean, Dr. Samuel Booth Barker, is given each spring to graduate students who represent the highest level of student achievement in a UAB graduate program. All recipients are expected to receive their degrees within the calendar year.
Plans after graduation: “Directly following graduation, I will be taking a short leave of absence from academia to work as a nurse at the UAB COVID vaccine clinics to help accelerate vaccine distribution in our communities. In the fall, I will join the UAB Precision Medicine Institute as a postdoctoral fellow under the leadership of Dr. Matt Might investigating neurological signs and symptoms in patients with undiagnosed diseases.”
Biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: “Being awarded the NINDS F99/K00 predoc to postdoc career development grant has been one of the accomplishments that I have been most proud of as a graduate student. To see years of work culminated into a single grant proposal that will become the foundation for the rest of my academic career is something that I worked exceptionally hard for. I am proud and grateful to be a part of this amazing community that will help foster my academic growth.”
“The Barker Award,” named for UAB’s first graduate dean, Dr. Samuel Booth Barker, is given each spring to graduate students who represent the highest level of student achievement in a UAB graduate program. All recipients are expected to receive their degrees within the calendar year.

Peabody Lever Earns Top Oral Presentation at AABIP
Congratulations to MSTP/P3 student Jacelyn Peabody Lever, whose abstract for the American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (AABIP) Annual Conference was selected for a podium presentation, and she was awarded Top Oral Presentation!

GBS 2019 Award Winners
Congratulations to the following award winners, who were announced at the GBS Symposium on Friday, August 16th:
Recognizes a student or faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional service/commitment to GBS and its mission.
• Melissa Bentley
• Jennifer Pollock
Recognizes a GBS student who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in mentorship and/or teaching.
• Kavitha Abiraman
• Ashley Connelly
Recognizes a course director or lecturer who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in teaching.
• Jamil Saad
Provides up to $400 to GBS students for conference travel expenses.
• Laurence Black
• Maxwell Ducharme
• Sarah Dulson
• Justin Gibson
• Rylie Hightower
• Kellie Regal McDonald
• Eliana Toren
• Jennifer Valcin
• 1st Place: Dominik Herrmann
• 2nd Place: Nicholas Boyle
• 3rd Place (tie): Katherine Ankenbauer & Jason Floyd
• 1st Place: Rachel Underwood
• 2nd Place: James Kizziah
• 3rd Place: Ashleigh Riegler
• 1st Place: Grace Salzer
• 2nd Place: Melissa Bentley
• 3rd Place: Shelly Nason
GBS Service Award
Recognizes a student or faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional service/commitment to GBS and its mission.
• Melissa Bentley
• Jennifer Pollock
GBS Student Mentorship/Teaching Award
Recognizes a GBS student who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in mentorship and/or teaching.
• Kavitha Abiraman
• Ashley Connelly
GBS Teaching Award
Recognizes a course director or lecturer who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in teaching.
• Jamil Saad
GBS Travel Award
Provides up to $400 to GBS students for conference travel expenses.
• Laurence Black
• Maxwell Ducharme
• Sarah Dulson
• Justin Gibson
• Rylie Hightower
• Kellie Regal McDonald
• Eliana Toren
• Jennifer Valcin
Symposium First-Year Rotation Poster Presentation
• 1st Place: Dominik Herrmann
• 2nd Place: Nicholas Boyle
• 3rd Place (tie): Katherine Ankenbauer & Jason Floyd
Symposium Poster Presentation
• 1st Place: Rachel Underwood
• 2nd Place: James Kizziah
• 3rd Place: Ashleigh Riegler
Symposium Oral Presentation
• 1st Place: Grace Salzer
• 2nd Place: Melissa Bentley
• 3rd Place: Shelly Nason

Brinkley Awarded NIH/NCI F30 Fellowship
Congratulations to MSTP/PBMM student Garrett Brinkley for being award an NIH/NCI F30 Fellowship for his grant, "Role of Oncometabolite L-2 Hydroxyglutarate in Reprogramming Renal Cell Carcinoma Metabolism.”

Schneider Honored with President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
GBS Associate Dean David Schneider has selected for the 2019 UAB President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, which honors faculty who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in teaching. His commitment to student learning is a driving force behind his leadership for our program. Read more.

Chadha Earns Carmichael Scholarship
Neuroscience student Radhika Chadha was chosen as the 2019-20 recipient of the Carmichael Scholarship, which provides stipend support to GBS students who have been nominated by their theme directors for scholastic and research excellence. Congratulations Radhika!
GBS 2021 Award Winners
Congratulations to the following award winners, who were announced at the GBS Symposium on Friday, August 13th, 2021.
Recognizes a student or faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional service/commitment to GBS and its mission.
• Amber Jones (Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology)
• Sajina GC (Cancer Biology)
Recognizes a GBS student who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in mentorship and/or teaching.
• Jonathan Roth (Neuroscience)
GBS Teaching Award
Recognizes a course director or lecturer who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in teaching.
• Dr. Subhashini Bolisetty
• 1st Place: Dominik Herrmann (Microbiology)
• 2nd Place: Seth Bollenbecker (Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology)
• 3rd Place: Josh Baty (Microbiology)
GBS Service Award
Recognizes a student or faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional service/commitment to GBS and its mission.
• Amber Jones (Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology)
• Sajina GC (Cancer Biology)
GBS Student Mentorship/Teaching Award
Recognizes a GBS student who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in mentorship and/or teaching.
• Jonathan Roth (Neuroscience)
GBS Teaching Award
Recognizes a course director or lecturer who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in teaching.
• Dr. Subhashini Bolisetty
Symposium Oral Presentation
• 1st Place: Dominik Herrmann (Microbiology)
• 2nd Place: Seth Bollenbecker (Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology)
• 3rd Place: Josh Baty (Microbiology)
Read More Spotlight Stories
GBS Awards
Service Award
Recognizes a GBS student or faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional service/commitment to GBS and its mission.
GBS faculty, students, and staff may submit a nomination by July 1, 2019. The winner will be selected by GBS staff and announced at the GBS Symposium. Past recipients:
- Tarun Mamidi (2020, Student)
- Melissa Bentley (2019, Student)
- Jennifer Pollock (2019, Faculty)
- Radhika Chadha (2018, Student)
- Sara Cooper (2017, Faculty)
- Gwen King (2017, Faculty)
- Sarah Dulson (2017, Student)
- Madeline Scott (2017, Student)
Teaching Award
Recognizes a GBS course director or lecturer who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in teaching.
Any GBS student may submit a nomination by July 1, 2019. The winner will be selected by GBSO and announced at the GBS Symposium. Past recipients:
- Malay Basu (2020)
- Zdenek Hel (2020)
- Jamil Saad (2019)
- David Schneider (2018)
Student Mentorship/ Teaching Award
Recognizes a GBS student who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in mentorship and/or teaching.
Anyone may submit a nomination by July 1, 2019. The winner will be selected by GBS staff and announced at the GBS Symposium. Past recipients:
- Yuliya Voskobiynyk (2020)
- Kavitha Abiraman (2019)
- Ashley Connelly (2019)
- Saman Najmi (2018)
- Sade Williams (2018)