Lab Alumni

Wesley Tucker, PhD, RD (2016 – 2019)

Dr. Wesley Tucker completed his postdoctoral fellowship in the APAI lab, July 2016 – June 2019. Dr. Tucker obtained a tenure-track position at a Texas university, where he will continue his research.

Garen Anderson, PhD – Postdoctoral Fellow (2022)

During his time in the APAI lab, Garen primarily focused on mechanisms contributing to exercise intolerance in pediatric patients recovering from thromboembolism.

Miles Bartlett, PhD (2019 – 2024)

Dr. Bartlett completed his postdoctoral fellowship in the APAI lab, July 2019 – Feb 2024. His research focused on examining skeletal muscle perfusion and oxygenation using near-infrared diffuse correlation spectroscopy, a novel optical imaging technique. Miles also led studies in muscle energetics using both 31P MRS and NIR-DCS.

T. Jake Samuel, PhD (2016 – 2020)

Jake graduated with a PhD (Integrative Physiology Track) in May 2020. His dissertation focused on the development and application of a novel, MRI compatible, diastolic stress test. Dr. Samuel is now completing a post-doctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center in Baltimore.

Ryan Rosenberry, PhD (2016 – 2020)

Ryan graduated with a PhD (Integrative Physiology Track) in December 2020. His dissertation focused on defining the determinants of skeletal muscle reperfusion following a brief period of ischemia. After graduating, Dr. Rosenberry continued his training as a postdoctoral research fellow.

Andrew Oneglia, PhD 

Andrew graduated with a PhD (Integrative Physiology Track) in Aug 2023. His dissertation focused on myocardial steatosis and its impact on left ventricular diastolic function. After graduating, Dr. Oneglia joined CD Leycom as a Clinical Application Specialist.

Sauyeh Zamani – PhD (2019 – 2024)

Sauyeh graduate with a PhD (Integrative and Applied Physiology Track) in August 2024. Her dissertation focused on the pathophysiologic consequences of epicardial fat, measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Dr. Zamani is now an Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) at Georgia College & State University in the Department of Health Sciences. 

Susie Chung, BA, MSc (2016 – 2018)

Susie received her Master’s degree from UTA in Spring 2018. Susie’s thesis focused on skeletal muscle oxidative capacity with aging.

Darian Trojacek, BA, MSc (2019 – 2020)

Darian received her Master’s degree from UTA in December 2020. During her time in the APAI lab, Darian’s research focused predominantly on myocardial steatosis and left ventricular function.

Madison Munson, BS (2017)

Madison, a UTA and Kinesiology alumna, spent a year in the APAI lab as a graduate research intern in 2017.

Houda Chamseddine, Research Scientist Assistant (2018-2019)

Houda served as the lab’s first staff Research Scientist Assistant, March 2018 – July 2019. In August 2019 she started a PhD program full-time.

Manall Jaffery, MSc (2019 – 2023)

Manall served as the lead Research Coordinator in the APAI lab between 2019 – 2023. While she played a pivotal role in many of the research projects in the lab during her tenure, she was instrumental to the successful execution of two large federally funded clinical trials. 

Alberto Palmero Canton, MSc – Research Scientist (2021 – 2023)

Alberto was born and raised in Southern Spain. He obtained a BSc in Exercise Science at the University of Granada. His passion for research led him to pursue a Master of Science in Kinesiology at Iowa State University. He joined the APAI lab in 2021 as a Research Scientist, contributing significantly over his tenure. 

Julissa Mireles – Research Scientist (2022-2023)

Julissa completed her undergraduate degree in biological chemistry at UT Arlington. She joined the APAI lab to broaden her background in cardiovascular physiology, was part of the inaugural SURPINT class, before joining the lab as a full-time research scientist. Julissa is now pursuing her medical degree. 

Erica Robuck – Research Assistant (2023)

Erica joined the APAI lab to expand her knowledge of cardiovascular physiology and gain human participant research experience. She is now training to be a Physician Assistant. 

Gabriel Hillebrand, BSc – Visiting MD Student (Summer 2023)

Gabriel received his BSc in Exercise Science from the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Texas at Arlington (with honors) in 2020. He joined the APAI lab during a summer research rotation while a medical student at Ponce Health Sciences University in Ponce, Puerto Rico. 

Kelly Dang (2022-2023)

Kelly volunteered in the lab as an undergraduate student pursuing her Bachelor’s in Biology at UT Arlington. She was a member of the 2023 SURPINT class, and continued working in the lab through the academic year on studies related to skeletal muscle oxygen delivery and utilization.