Meet the ROMS Team

2025-2027 Cohort

Katie completed her bachelor’s degree in Neural Science at New York University in 2019. She then joined the University of Michigan Neuroscience Graduate Program to conduct her PhD research under Dr. Christian Burgess, which focused on the neural circuitry of motivated feeding behavior. Throughout graduate school, Katie was involved in several peer mentoring experiences and science communication initiatives, which led her to pursue a career path in research administration. As a ROMS fellow, Katie looks forward to gaining a diverse skillset across the variety of UMMS units and offices. Specifically, she hopes to get involved with initiatives helping promote layperson scientific literacy, and with strategic initiatives to improve use of biomedical data.

2025-2027 Cohort

Aníbal earned his BS in Integrative Biology at the University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras (UPR-RP). After his BS, he transitioned to Case Western Reserve University as an NIH-PREP scholar, where his passion for protein biochemistry grew and led him to Michigan’s Biological Chemistry Department where he received his PhD. His PhD research was fueled by starting this academic journey during the social isolation periods that COVID-19 caused. In Dr.Scott Pletcher’s Lab, Aníbal characterized behavioral and phenotypical changes that emerge from social isolation using Drosophila melanogaster . Throughout his PhD, Aníbal worked with the nonprofit Científico Latino Inc, to support the application preparation process of prospective STEM PhD candidates. He joined the ROMS fellowship to continue supporting the future of biomedical research by learning how UMMS Office of Research scales and impacts everyone from trainee’s to patients by empowering the collective and collaborative creativity of researchers across Michigan Medicine.

2024-2026 Cohort

Bahaar completed her bachelor’s degree in microbiology at Michigan State University. She then came to the University of Michigan, first as a researcher at Kellogg Eye Center working on understanding the genetic causes behind pediatric glaucoma, and then for her doctoral studies in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB). Her doctoral work in Dr. Györgyi Csankovszki’s lab centered on a DNA compacting protein complex, condensin, and how this complex functions in gene regulation on a chromosome-wide scale. During her graduate training, Bahaar served the MCDB community through her leadership and work on the graduate student council. She also collaborated with faculty to transform how introductory biology is taught. As a ROMS Fellow, Bahaar is excited to learn how an academic medical center of our scale operates and how she can use her experience to contribute to the success of our researchers.

2024-2026 Cohort

Llili earned her bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Havana and her doctoral degree in Physiology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Following her doctoral studies, she joined the University of Michigan for three years of postdoctoral training in Immunology under the mentorship of Dr. Nicholas Lukacs. Her research focused on exploring how the gut microbiome influences the development of allergic diseases by modulating innate immune responses. During her time at the University of Michigan, Llili also contributed to the postdoctoral community as the Postdoctoral Co-chair for the University of Michigan Postdoctoral Association, where she supported the organization's mission to advance career and professional development for postdoctoral scholars. Llili is joining the ROMS fellowship with a keen interest in exploring ways to extend her impact beyond the laboratory. She aims to gain insights into research administration by shadowing leadership and to deepen her understanding of clinical trial operations, and regulations.