Jacobs School Students Lauded for Academic Excellence

By Dirk Hoffman

The awardees were among students from disciplines across the university who were awarded — or nominated for — national, State University of New York (SUNY) and UB awards.

The April 30 event began with the Student Showcase, where undergraduate and graduate students presented mentored research, scholarship, creative and community projects at Alumni Arena on UB’s North Campus. 

Two students won American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship awards.

They are:

• Anagha Betadpur, a trainee in the doctoral program in microbiology and immunology
• Emily R. Hudson, MBA, a trainee in the doctoral program in physiology and biophysics

The AHA Predoctoral Fellowship aims to enhance the integrated research and clinical training of promising students who are matriculated in predoctoral or clinical health professional degree training programs and who intend careers as scientists, physician-scientists or other clinician-scientists, or related careers aimed at improving global cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and brain health.

Hudson earned the AHA fellowship through her research study titled “Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction and Myocardial Remodeling in HFpEF.”

She explains that coronary microvascular dysfunction is a condition in which the small blood vessels in the heart don’t widen properly when the heart needs more oxygen-rich blood — such as during physical activity.

“Normally, these vessels expand to supply extra blood to the heart muscle when it's working harder. However, in people with this condition, that response is impaired,” Hudson says.

Recent research has increasingly shown that some patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF, a subset of heart failure patients) also show signs of this small vessel dysfunction.

“The goal of my predoctoral fellowship is to better understand why these small vessels stop functioning properly and how this might contribute to the development and progression of heart failure,” Hudson says.

Hudson works in the lab of Brian R. Weil, PhD, assistant professor of physiology and biophysics, and says she was initially drawn to Weil’s lab because of its use of a translational large animal model.

With a background in pre-veterinary medicine and animal biosciences from her undergraduate studies, Hudson says it felt like a natural fit, allowing her to apply her existing knowledge in a new and exciting field.

“I also value the translational aspect of working with large animal models, as they more accurately replicate human health conditions compared to smaller models,” she says.

Hudson says Weil has consistently encouraged her to go beyond standard expectations and not let setbacks or obstacles deter her from trying again.

“His enthusiasm for our research projects is inspiring, and he has always supported me in taking ownership of my work,” she says. “He actively encourages me to explore areas of research that genuinely interest me, which has been instrumental in developing both my confidence and independence as a researcher.”

In addition to the AHA fellowship, Hudson was also honored with a UB Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Award and won first place in the UB Sigma Xi “Companions in Zealous Research” Award category.

Hudson says she received the awards for different aspects of her research.

The UB Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity Award is granted based on faculty nomination. Weil submitted a nomination letter on her behalf, which was then selected by a university committee.

She received the UB Sigma Xi – Companions in Zealous Research Award for the research poster she presented at the Student Showcase poster session.

“This project utilized our large animal model of heart failure, focusing specifically on how changes in the extracellular matrix of cardiac tissue in heart failure pigs contribute to overall tissue stiffness,” Hudson says.

Hudson was also recently awarded an Olga Lindberg Scholarship from the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Buffalo Branch, founded in 1890, and dedicated to promoting gender equity and economic security.

The Olga Lindberg Scholarship is awarded to meritorious college women of Western New York for graduate and professional study and recognizes “worthy and accomplished women whose academic records, recommendations, and personal goals demonstrate a strong commitment to using their skills and expertise to benefit the broader community.”

Hudson says her overarching career goal is to bridge the gap between scientific research and business, particularly in the life sciences or biotech industry.

“I aim to leverage both my technical knowledge and business expertise to lead initiatives that take groundbreaking scientific discoveries and transform them into products or therapies that make a tangible impact on patient care and health outcomes,” she says.

“I envision myself in a leadership role where I can drive innovation, guide the translation of research into real-world applications, and navigate the complex intersection of science, business and industry.”

Betadpur was awarded an AHA predoctoral fellowship for her research on the immune mechanisms behind vaccine protection.

Working in the lab of Elsa Bou Ghanem, PhD, associate professor of microbiology and immunology, Betadpur’s research study is titled “The Interaction of Neutrophils and Regulatory T Cells During Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Responses in Aged Hosts.”

She explains that as humans grow older, their immune response stops working well. This results in them becoming more susceptible to infections, especially those that affect the lungs such as Streptococcus pneumoniae that is the leading cause of community acquired pneumonia in older adults.

“Although there are vaccines against these bacteria, their ability to prevent pneumonia decreases with aging. My thesis project is focused on understanding why that occurs,” Betadpur says. “I am focused on understanding how neutrophils, which are the most abundant white blood cell in the circulation, affect vaccine protectiveness in young and older adults.”

She is going about this by studying these cells in preclinical models as well as in vaccinated human participants through an ongoing NIH-funded clinical trial in the lab.

“By understanding the immune mechanisms behind vaccine protection, we can design better and improved vaccines in the future,” Betadpur says.

She says her passion for host-pathogen interactions was what drew her to Bou Ghanem’s lab.

“When I rotated in Elsa’s lab in 2023, I enjoyed working with her. Her passion and enthusiasm, combined with the very welcoming and friendly lab environment, drew me to choose her lab,” Betadpur says. “She is very kind, helpful, and promotes a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative environment and focuses on the overall development of her students toward not only academic success, but also developing life skills to become a good scientist.”

Betadpur says Bou Ghanem “is a fantastic mentor and helps me to think critically about various scientific topics, openly discusses my project ideas, and gives me full freedom to work on them.”

She is grateful for Bou Ghanem nominating her to present her research at the Student Showcase, and the exposure she gained from it.

“UB President Satish Tripathi stopped by my poster and keenly listened as I explained my work, and asked me questions, which was one of the highlights of my PhD journey.”

Nicholas Pratt, an undergraduate student majoring in bioinformatics and computational biology, was a recipient of a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship.

This scholarship is awarded to sophomores and juniors who have outstanding potential and intend to pursue advanced degrees in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Program is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide.

The program was established in 1946 by the U.S. Congress to “enable the government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.”

*The decision process for this award is ongoing. Award statuses (nominee, finalist, alternate, recipient) are not yet final.

Saleha Mir
Neuroscience (alumna)
Award Status: Nominee

Samuel Roberts
Neuroscience
Award Status: Finalist

Jaden Troiano
Biochemistry
Award Status: Finalist

Constance Yap
Biomedical Sciences; Social Sciences Interdisciplinary - Health and Human Services
Award Status: Finalist

Nicholas Pratt, an undergraduate student majoring in bioinformatics and computational biology, was a recipient of a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.

The program offers grants for students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies or credit-bearing, career-oriented internships abroad.

Such international exchange is intended to better prepare U.S. students to assume significant roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world.

Three students won a GEM Fellowship award.

They are:

• Sofia Alexander (microbiology and immunology)
• Sefunmi Babatunde (anatomy and pathology; computational cell biology)
• Jose Martinez (neuroscience)

This fellowship enables highly qualified students from underrepresented communities to pursue graduate education in engineering and science at universities within the National GEM Consortium.

Undergraduate students Maymuna Akter, Joan Liu, Hewad Shaheed, Akshay Tiwari and Constance Yap were named winners of a 2025 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.

The highest honor bestowed upon an undergraduate student within SUNY, it recognizes students for their integration of academic excellence with other aspects of their lives that may include academics; leadership; campus involvement; community service; diversity, equity, inclusion and justice; or the arts.

Akter, of Buffalo, New York, graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical sciences and a minor in nutrition.

A University Honors College Scholar, she is a first-generation Bangladeshi American immigrant and the first in her family to attend college. She has excelled academically while managing part-time jobs and actively contributing to her campus community, including founding the UNICEF Unite Club, serving as a teaching assistant, and conducting research in multiple labs.

Akter also participated in the CSTEP Summer Research Internship and was selected to present at the statewide CSTEP conference. A certified EMT, she is committed to breaking barriers through education.

Hailing from Queens, New York, Liu graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry as a Presidential Scholar from the Honors College.

For more than three years, she’s led research on novel drugs and tumor suppressor genes in pancreatic cancer at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

As president of the Hong Kong Student Association, Liu grew membership by 900%, launching initiatives like their first Chinese New Year Banquet. This inspired her to become International Council coordinator for the UB Student Association, where she directed International Fiesta, the largest cultural event in Western New York, drawing more than 1,700 attendees.

With extensive clinical experience, Liu is passionate about health care innovation and cultural empowerment.

Shaheed, of Rochester, New York, graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical sciences. A University Honors College Scholar and Phi Beta Kappa inductee, he has served as a teaching assistant, medical assistant, STEM tutor and volunteer for asylum seekers and refugees.

He has acted as vice president of the Muslim Students Association, founder and president of the Organization of Afghan and Persian Students and an Islamic Relief executive board member.

Shaheed’s publications with the MD Anderson Cancer Center focus on ethnic and racial disparities in cancer care, alongside research experiences investigating diagnostic tests for Sjogren’s syndrome and children’s healthy eating behaviors.

A native of Tonawanda, New York, Tiwari graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical sciences. A Pride of New York and Honors Scholar, Tiwari is a Phi Beta Kappa inductee, vice president of UB’s Association of Pre-Medical Students, and co-founder and former vice president of UB’s Hindu Students Council.

Simultaneously involved in two labs, his research spans behavioral medicine to pharmacology, contributing to studies on maternal smoking cessation and neural regeneration in multiple sclerosis.

He served as a teaching assistant for multiple introductory-level biology courses and, as a science ambassador taught scientific concepts to underrepresented and underfunded high school students in downtown Buffalo.

Yap, of Clarence, New York, graduates with a Bachelor of Arts degree in health & human services: child & family studies and Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical sciences.

She is a Presidential Scholar in the Honors College. She performs inorganic chemistry research with Janet Morrow, PhD, synthesizing and analyzing potential alternative MRI contrast agents, and is an evolutionary biology teaching assistant and Honors College ambassador.

Yap is the Vision Possible Buffalo co-director and founded Music Inspires New Dreams, benefitting children in the Seneca-Babcock community. She also volunteers at Oishei Children’s Hospital and at adaptive skating at Spirited Athletes Bold at Heart.

Five students received the SUNY Graduate Research Empowering and Accelerating Talent (GREAT) Award.

They are:

• Mary Rose D’Angelo, a trainee in the doctoral program in microbiology and immunology
  
• David Hunter Goich, a trainee in the doctoral program in microbiology and immunology
• Zahid Manzar, a trainee in the MD-PhD Program
• Brian George Morreale, a trainee in the doctoral program in cancer sciences at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Stevie Taddei Jr., a trainee in the doctoral program in microbiology and immunology

The SUNY GREAT awards recognize students who were selected as recipients or honorable mentions for federal awards sponsored by agencies including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and U.S. Department of Energy, among others.

Students receive $5,000 in flexible funding for research expenses, professional development, and stipend supplements. 

Other awards were:

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

• Alexandra Benedetto, a trainee in the doctoral program in microbiology and immunology (nominee)
  
• Ashley McDougall, a trainee in the doctoral program in biochemistry (honorable mention)

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans

• David Moises Cazares Dorantes medical student (nominee)

UB Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity Awards (Graduate Division)

• Elif Irmak Bektas, a trainee in the doctoral program in cancer sciences at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

UB Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity Awards (Undergraduate Division)

• Lydia Clark, neuroscience
• Emily Eichner, neuroscience
• Kymani Judah Getfield, nuclear medicine technology
• Ayesha Jannat, biomedical sciences
• Nicholas Pratt, bioinformatics and computational biology

At UB’s Pillars of Leadership Awards ceremony on April 30, two Jacobs School undergraduates were also recognized.

The Pillars of Leadership Awards are designed to recognize individuals and organizations who have demonstrated a commitment to leadership, service, mentorship, and the UB and Buffalo communities.

Both Jacobs School honorees were recognized in the Leadership and Development category.

Zahid Manzar, an MD-PhD candidate in biomedical engineering, was honored with an Exemplary Mentorship Award (Graduate Student).

Manzar has “demonstrated outstanding mentorship by training and inspiring undergraduate researchers in the Alevriadou Vascular Mechanobiology Laboratory,” according to the selection committee.

“Through his collaborative teaching style, encouragement of independent research, and guidance toward professional development, Zahid has empowered students to pursue advanced degrees and research careers. His dedication to fostering growth, curiosity, and confidence among his mentees exemplifies the highest standards of mentorship at UB.”

Anna Marie Szombathy, a third-year medical student, was honored with an Innovative Student Leadership Award because she has “demonstrated visionary leadership by designing and launching the innovative ‘Becoming Medical Educators’ elective to strengthen medical student and patient education skills,” the selection committee said.

“Her commitment to curriculum development, health equity, and peer mentorship is helping to shape future physician-educators at UB. Anna’s creativity, persistence, and collaborative spirit have made a lasting impact on medical education and student leadership.”