Learning & Development Quarterly
April - June 2026
About this Newsletter... The L&D Quarterly showcases the vibrant learning and development community at Sanford Burnham Prebys by highlighting major events and Institute-wide professional development for all employees, student and postdoc accomplishments, and programs that support the next generation of biomedical scientists
In this Issue
LEAP Capstone and Celebrations
A Season of Milestones:
GSBS Celebrates Its Graduate Students
New partnership gives trainees the tools and momentum to apply for funding
2nd Annual Torrey Pines Mesa Community Symposium
Two postdocs advance to Mesawide Postdoc Pitch Competition
Thesis Defenses
Recent Graduate Student & Postdoc Accomplishments
Graduate Student & Postdoc Counts
Upcoming Events & Workshops
LEAP Capstone and Celebrations
By: Lauren Mitchell, MS & Sara Sandoval, MS
Trainees in the LEAP (Lab Experience As a Pathway to PhD) Program presented their research at the Capstone Event on June 24 Through their capstone presentations, which included a 10-minute talk and poster session, each trainee showcased their academic and research journey over the past year, as well as the professional skills they developed throughout the program.
Yuk-Lap (Kevin) Yip, PhD, Professor and Director of the Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, opened the event by acknowledging the trainees’ diligence and innovative research, the support of their mentoring teams, and the generous funding from the Prebys Foundation that enabled the program’s inception in 2024
This year’s LEAP participants include:
Isabel Sakowicz Tharp Lab
FAK Protein Loss Rewires
Amino Acid Metabolism in HighGrade Serous Ovarian Cancer
Josue Navarrete Yip & Deshpande Labs
Optimized Pipeline Enables
Genome-wide Discovery of Candidate Microproteins in Hematopoiesis
Mahek Shah Spruck Lab
Novel Compounds Targeting Histone Modifying Enzymes
Induce Viral Mimicry in Breast Cancer
Sarina Safavi Dhar Lab
Mechanistic Understanding of MASLD-Associated Cardiac Dysfunction and its Reversibility
Yun Ma
Feng & Yip Labs
Inferring Disease-Associated Changes in Protein Complex
Assembly from Multimodal Data
Each trainee was introduced by one of their mentors, who spoke glowingly about their trainee’s unique contributions to the labs. Charles Spruck, PhD, announced that his lab was recently awarded two grants thanks to data generated by his LEAP trainee, Mahek Shah. Another highlight of the event was when Isabel Sakowicz concluded her professional development reflections by announcing that she’ll be continuing in the Tharp Lab this Fall as a student in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Sanford Burnham Prebys
Please visit the LEAP website to learn more about the program, mentors, and trainees
Pictured left to right: Kevin Yip, PhD, Josue Navarrete, Yun Ma, Sarina Safavi, and Isabel Sakowicz (Not pictured: Mahek Shah)
A Season of Milestones: GSBS Celebrates Its Graduate Students
By: Megan Elyamani
From appreciation events to commencement, spring was full of opportunities to recognize the achievements and contributions of our graduate students
Graduate Student Appreciation Week
In April, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) celebrated Graduate Student Appreciation Week with a series of events recognizing our students and their contributions to the Sanford Burnham Prebys community. Students kicked off the week with bagels and coffee, competed in two days of virtual trivia for prizes, and wrapped up the week with a celebratory lunch.
2026 Commencement Ceremony
GSBS held its annual Commencement Ceremony on May 29, 2026 The ceremony brought together graduates, faculty, family, and friends to recognize the accomplishments of the newest recipients of the Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences. The ceremony featured welcoming remarks from GSBS and Sanford Burnham Prebys leadership, a community address from GSBS alumna Dr. Michaela Romero, and a commencement address from Dr Cosimo Commisso, Deputy Director of the NCI-Designated Cancer Center The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the graduates, acknowledgement of degrees, and closing remarks.
The graduates recognized at the third annual Commencement ceremony, from left to right: Michaela Romero, PhD (Colas lab); Yu-Ling (Linda) Chang, PhD (Colas lab); Cedomir Stamenkovic, PhD (Sacco lab); Sviatlana Zaretski, PhD (Adams lab); Jiaqian (Emily) Wu, PhD (Cosford lab); Ximena DiazOlea, PhD (Ronai lab); and Adarsh Rajesh, PhD (Adams lab). Rema Iyer, PhD (Deshpande lab); Utkarsha Hemant Paithane, PhD (Bagchi lab); and Ruslan Nuryyev, PhD (Snyder lab), were unable to attend.
2026 Annual Graduate Student Retreat
The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) held its Annual Graduate Student Retreat from May 6-8, bringing students and faculty together for three days of scientific presentations, professional development, and community building. The retreat showcased student research through oral presentations, flash talks, and poster sessions. It also featured a professional development workshop on interview strategies for academic and industry careers, a faculty speaker session highlighting diverse career journeys, a Q&A session with the GSBS Deans, and a student bonding activity The keynote address was given by GSBS alumnus Miguel Reina-Campos, PhD (pictured below), who is currently an Assistant Professor at The La Jolla Institute for Immunology.
GSBS alumnus, Jordan Friedlein, PhD, speaking to the graduate students during their professional development workshop.
New partnership gives trainees the tools and momentum to apply for funding
By: Nisha Cavanaugh, PhD
The Office of Learning and Development (OLAD) has long equipped researchers with the tools to navigate NIH fellowship and early career award applications – from understanding funding mechanisms to crafting the Specific Aims page and Research Plan and navigating the submission and review processes.
This year, in collaboration with the Research Development Office (RDO) and select faculty, OLAD launched an intensive Proposal Writing Workshop, a cohort-based experience designed to go beyond information and into action. Eight selected graduate students and postdocs drafted a Research Plan and a Training Plan, received critical faculty feedback at every stage, and engaged in a mock study section discussion of two selected proposals
The result ove from ideas to submissio
Mock Study Section discussion with Professor and Center Director Michael Karin, PhD and Professor Evan Snyder, MD, PhD.
100% of survey respondents said the workshop increased their confidence in writing and that are likely to submit a fellowship or early career award application. Comments included:
I personally found the faculty review for each section to be very helpful! Getting direct feedback on my grant from people who do this every day is invaluable. I also felt like the guided "sections" kept me on track and helped me complete the document.
The small group setting made it easy to get feedback and learn. Faculty feedback was constructive and really advanced my knowledge about the review process
OLAD and RDO plan to offer the Proposal Writing Workshop annually. The 2027 cohort will be announced this fall. Stay tuned for your chance to write, get expert feedback, and submit a stronger proposal.
2nd Annual Torrey Pines Me
By: Lauren M
In May, the Torrey Pines Mesa scientific community came together for the 2nd Annual Queer Scientists and Allies Symposium (Q’s & A’s on the Mesa), a multi-institute event dedicated to celebrating research excellence, fostering connection, and strengthening a welcoming environment for all scientists. Sanford Burnham Prebys spearheaded the inauguration and continuation of this symposium, charged with Dr. Brenner’s strategic objective of leading the Mesa in cultivating an environment that nurtures the success of individuals from all backgrounds.
The afternoon began with lunch, community group tabling, and a poster session that showcased the innovative work of research trainees at all levels, including several of our postdocs, students i th G d t S h l f Bi di l
These informal networking opportunities encouraged meaningful conversation, new collaborations, and provided attendees with a chance to connect across institutions and scientific disciplines.
Adam Hall, PhD (postdoc in the Zhang Lab) presenting his poster
The program continued in the Hazen Auditorium at Scripps Research with a keynote talk from Brian Aguado, PhD, from the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. The symposium also featured flash talks from a graduate student and postdoctoral researcher, offering attendees a glimpse into emerging research and the next generation of scientific leaders After a competitive abstract submission and review process, GSBS student, Ke (Skye) Xu was selected to give a flash talk on her work in the lab of Sanjeev Ranade, PhD.
Postdocs Bastien Cimarosti, PhD and Kokila Shankar, PhD, tabling as representatives of the SBP-Science Network.
More than a research symposium, Q’s & A’s on the Mesa demonstrated how scientific excellence is strengthened when individuals from all backgrounds feel welcomed, valued, and empowered to contribute. We look forward to continuing this tradition and building an even stronger community in the years ahead.
Ke (Skye) Xu (graduate student in the Ranade Lab) giving her flash talk
Two postdocs advance to Mesa-wide Postdoc Pitch Competition
By: Nisha Cavanaugh, PhD
The Sanford Burnham Prebys Science Network and the Office of Learning and Development hosted a Community Outreach Symposium on June 11 to spark excitement about biomedical research, while providing trainees with an opportunity to communicate their science to the public in short 3-minute talks and one static slide
Drs. Kokila Shankar (Sheffler lab) and Jessica Proulx (Adams lab) won the Institute-wide Postdoc Pitch Competition Both will represent Sanford Burnham Prebys in the 2nd Annual Mesa-wide Postdoc Pitch Competition this fall, competing against postdocs from Scripps Research, Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the University of California San Diego.
Dr Shankar (top) and Dr Proulx (bottom) pictured with the event’s keynote speaker, Dr Sanjeev Ranade
Congratulations to graduate students Alisha Kirkland (Spruck lab) and Sophie Hao (Dong lab) for competing in the Science Communication Challenge and each receiving a People’s Choice Award!
The event showcased our Institute’s commitment to cutting-edge biomedical research and to developing our trainees’ scientific communication skills. Read more about the event here
Congratulations to Dr. Yu-Ling (Linda) Chan
Dr. Yu-Ling Linda Chang successful defended her thesis on April 24, 20
Dr Chang conducted her thesis research “Mechanisms of Cell Identi Maintenance in Cell Fate Reprogramming and Aging,” under the mentorship of Assistant Profess Dr Alexandre Colas
Congratulations to Dr. Hanxiao Zhang!
Dr. Hanxiao Zhang successfully defended her thesis on June 15, 2026.
Dr Zhang conducted her thesis research “Mechanistic Studies of Human 20S Proteasome Assembly and Development of a Recombinant Pf20S Drug Discovery Platform,” under the mentorship of Assistant Professor, Dr. Jianhua Zhao.
Recent Graduate Student & Postdoc Accomplishments
Carolina Cano Macip, a graduate student under the co-mentorship of Xiao Tian, PhD and Kevin Tharp, PhD was awarded the California Breast Cancer Research Program (CBCRP) Predoctoral Fellowship. This fellowship will support Carolina’s research project, “Epigenetic Reprogramming of the Aging Breast as a Strategy to Prevent Breast Cancer” over the
In June, Caitlin Lange, a graduate student in the Kumsta lab, gave a poster pitch at the AGE Conference in Provo, Utah on "Cell autonomous and nonautonomous roles of autophagy in proteostasis and aging,” where she won Best Poster Pitch.
Recent Graduate Student & Postdoc Accomplishments
Kokila Shankar, PhD, a postdoc in the Sheffler lab, gave a talk at the Gordon Research Conference: Neurobiology of Addiction 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. She also presented a poster and was one of four postdocs to win an award at the conference.
Meenakshi Sudhakaran, PhD, a postdoc in the Kersten lab, was awarded the California Breast Cancer Research Program (CBCRP) Postdoctoral Fellowship, which will support her research over the next two years on her research project, "T cell–macrophage chemokine circuit dampens anti-tumor immunity in breast cancer".
In June, Cheng-Ju Kuo, PhD, a Staff Scientist and former postdoc in the Kumsta lab, presented a poster at the Joint Meeting between C. elegans Metabolism, Aging, Pathogenesis, Stress and Small RNAs & C elegans Development Cell Biology & Gene Expression in Madison, Wisconsin where he won the Best Poster Presentation.
Upcoming Workshops & Events
Learning & Development Team
Diane Klotz, PhD Chief Learning Officer Accreditation Liaison Officer
Annalisa Cracchiolo, MBA Lead, Learning & Academic Support
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS)
Angelica Rocha, PhD Director, Graduate School Administration & Institutional Research
Sara Sandoval, MS Recruitment, Admissions, and PhD Pathways Programs Manager
Nicole Villa, MA Program Coordinator, OLAD Office of Learning and Development (OLAD)
Nisha Cavanaugh, PhD Associate Director, Career Development & Postdoctoral Programs
Workforce Engagement & Belonging (WEB)
Lauren Mitchell, MS Director, WEB
Megan Elyamani Academic Programs Specialist & Registrar
Alessandra Sacco, PhD Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
OfficeofLearningandDevelopment
Linda Bradley, PhD Faculty Advisor, Postdoctoral Training Leadership Support
