On May 17, 2024, a record 59 graduate students earned their doctoral degrees from Scripps Research’s Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences, marking the largest graduating class since the school’s founding in 1989. Students in the Class of 2024 represent the entire biomedical research spectrum of the 32 faculty members who served as their advisors and mentors, and in whose labs the students completed doctoral studies. From neuroscience, immunology and structural biology, to chemistry, chemical biology and computational biology, the graduates completed
Read what several of the newly minted PhD scientists took away from their experience in the program.
“I believe that the magic of Scripps Research lies in its buzzing, collaborative and social atmosphere. Every day that I walked down the hall, I would bump into someone that was excited to share their knowledge and teach me something new. This passionate and supportive community not only helped fuel my own success but also contributes to the groundbreaking collaborative science throughout the institute.”
Simona Kotesova | Advisor: Ryan Shenvi, PhD
“I’m looking forward to making science education and research more accessible to people of more diverse backgrounds and lifting up members of underrepresented communities in science to the best of my abilities.”
Payal Pratap | Advisor: Andrew Ward, PhD
“I was incredibly fortunate to participate in the joint Skaggs-Oxford program during my PhD studies, where I had the opportunity to conduct research in both the Wilson Lab at Scripps and the Higgins Lab at Oxford. Both of my PI mentors provided invaluable support and guidance throughout my journey. Working across two distinct institutes in separate countries was a uniquely enriching experience, making my PhD journey not only enjoyable but also tremendously fulfilling.”
Tossapol Pholcharee | Advisor: Ian Wilson, PhD
“My aspiration is to leverage my training in immunology at Scripps Research to create impactful solutions that enhance people’s lives. Initially, I will channel my expertise towards developing cutting-edge immunotherapies for pancreatic cancer during my tenure in the Botta Laboratory at the Moores Cancer Center as a postdoctoral scholar.”
Shawn Abeynaike | Advisor: Silke Paust, PhD
Looking back on my time in graduate school, I feel immense gratitude towards my advisors, Dr. Ardem Patapoutian and Dr. Li Ye, along with all the members of my committee. Their guidance, support and encouragement have been crucial in shaping my growth as a scientist. I am also fortunate to have been part of a collaborative and nurturing environment created by everyone in the Patapoutian lab, Ye lab and Dorris Neuroscience Center, making it an exceptional place with unforgettable memories.”
Yu Wang | Advisors: Ardem Patapoutian, PhD, and Li Ye, PhD
“I most appreciate my advisor’s innate curiosity and emphasis on using strong inference to answer scientific questions. Now, I’m curious about domains beyond science and aspire to apply the principles of scientific inquiry to solve complex problems our world faces today.”
Vincent van der Puyl Lovett | Advisor: Ryan Shenvi, PhD
“I am grateful for the amazing people I met throughout my graduate training. The environment at Scripps Research allowed me to confer with world-class scientists and kind-hearted people. I was not only able to obtain a doctorate degree, but also create a wonderful community of brilliant and thoughtful human beings.”
Jinny Leslie | Advisor: Kim Janda, PhD
“My graduate journey at Scripps Research was defined by transformative mentorships: Ali (Torkamani) inspired my pivot to data analysis, Raquel Dias honed my coding skills, Evan Muse blended cardiology with real-world fitness, and Nathan Wineinger enriched my grasp of regression analysis. With the invaluable support and guidance from Scripps Research Translational Institute and the Torkamani lab, I’m energized and ready to navigate the next wave of innovations and challenges in my data science career!”
Shang-Fu (Shaun) Chen | Advisor: Ali Torkamani, PhD
“The environment I was lucky to be in during my graduate studies was key to my development and growth as a scientist and individual. I am endlessly grateful for the friends, colleagues, mentors and my advisor for their support and encouragement during my time at Scripps Research.”
Hailee Perrett | Advisor: Andrew Ward, PhD
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