Whiddon COM welcomes new cohort of Ph.D. students

The new class of graduate students attend orientation at the Whiddon College of Medicine.

The Whiddon College of Medicine welcomed 13 new students to the Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program. The incoming class represents a diverse group of talented individuals from all over the country and the globe, bringing with them a wide range of experiences and a shared passion for scientific discovery.

“We wish them the best of luck as they embark on this challenging and rewarding chapter of their academic careers,” said Alani Rodgers, M.Ed., assistant director of the Office of Research, Education and Training. “We are confident that they will thrive and become the next generation of leaders in medical research.”

Makala Cox, of Riverside, Iowa, earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical science with a biotech concentration from the University of South Alabama. She became interested in the BMS program after one of her undergraduate professors recommended that she attend an informational session.

“The staff and faculty were so hospitable and emphasized the program's collaborative nature, which really stood out to me,” Cox said. “Additionally, the program equips graduate students with strong research skills through peer mentorship and hands-on experience, which is really important to me. On top of everything, I was impressed by the quality of research that was coming out of the program.” 

During last week’s orientation, Cox had the opportunity to meet with all of the BMS program track leaders. She describes her experience thus far as “phenomenal,” as she immediately felt welcomed into the program. 

At this stage in her academic journey, Cox is interested in genetics research. “I have some past experience with characterizing novel DNA structures across species, and I really enjoyed that,” she said. “Looking forward, I think I would like to get a job working in bioinformatics because I think visualizing data is a powerful way to disseminate knowledge.”

Originally from Barranquilla, Colombia, Sergio Guerrero earned his bachelor’s degree in cell and molecular biology from Jacksonville State University. With an interest in cancer tumorigenesis, he would like to understand better the underlying mechanisms of how these cells develop resistance against therapy. 

“My experience at South so far has been amazing,” Guerrero said. “I love Mobile’s coast scene and how many entertaining things there are to do. Everybody in the BMS program and its surroundings have been helpful and easy to approach, which is something that I highly appreciate.”

Elisa Pizzocaro, a native of Pavia, Italy, received her undergraduate degree in biology from Southern Utah University. She is interested in studying the mechanism of disease progression, along with possible treatments, either in neuroscience or cancer biology. 

She was drawn to the Whiddon College of Medicine to pursue her Ph.D., she said, because of the program’s strong sense of community, teamwork and innovative research. 

“Everyone is welcoming, accessible, and ready to offer a hand when needed,” Pizzocaro said. “The professors are outstanding. It is clear from the way they teach that they are passionate about what they do, and how committed they are to guiding us in becoming great researchers.”

Faculty from the basic medical sciences speak to new students in the graduate program.