SELECTED HONORS AND AWARDS

Lustgarten Foundation-AACR Pancreatic Cancer Career Development Award, 2022

Thomas H. and Mayme P. Scott Fellowship in Cancer Research, 2021

NIH-NCI K22 Career Transition Award, 2020

Harold C. and Mary L. Dailey Endowment Fellowship, 2020

AACR Scholar-in-Training Award, 2018

Graduate Student (since 2021/09)

Luis received his B.S. in biotechnology and genetics and minor in biochemistry from New Mexico State University. As an undergraduate he did research in developmental biology studying tau protein and played tennis for his university. After graduating, he worked as an assistant research scientist at New York University Langone Medical Center, where he worked on the development of human CAR Macrophages using HIV based lentiviral vectors.

In Hou lab, Luis will develop macrophage therapy to prevent KRAS targeted therapy reisistance in deadly pancreatic cancer.

Research Associate (since 2021/11)

Dr. Deng earned his Ph.D. degree at South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2010. He is an expert in microbial engineering, and has established a solid research background in multiple biological disciplines including microbiology, genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry during his postdoc training. He has 5 first-author publications in the past 5 years and he is the co-inventor of 4 patents and the co-author of over 30 papers.

In Hou lab, Dr. Deng will help with lab management and dissect the role of genetic alternations in regulating KRAS targeted therapy resistance.

Undergraduate Student (since 2022/01)

Riya is an undergraduate student in the Seven-Year Medical Program with The College of New Jersey and New Jersey Medical School. She grew up on Long Island and her interests include journaling, traveling, dancing, and painting. She has always been a passionate student, especially in science and has conducted independent science research in the past on environmental engineering and fluorescence chemistry.

In Hou lab, Riya will expand her interests in the biomedical field, learn important research skills, and become a proficient scientist on the path of medicine.

Rotation Student (since 2022/04)

Kristy received her B.S. in Immunology and Infectious Disease from Pennsylvania State University in 2019. During her undergraduate, she worked in a plant pathology and an avian biology lab. After graduating, she worked as a postbaccalaureate in an imaging lab in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases where she used confocal microscopy to look at lymph node dynamics after infection or vaccination.

In Hou lab, Kristy will explore myeloid cell therapy for pancreatic cancer.

Summer Student (since 2022/07)

Roma is a high school student from Biotechnology High School. She grew up in Marlboro, New Jersey and likes to travel, dance, and spend time with her family. She has had a passion for science and medicine from an early age, and has gained lab experience through various courses offered at her stem-oriented school.

In Hou lab, Roma will expand upon her interest in biomedical sciences.