2024 Scholars

2024 VERTICES

Haley Galvis

Haley Galvis was born in Orlando, Florida. She graduated from the University of Central Florida Burnett Honors College with a Dual Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology with a music minor. As an undergraduate, Haley was involved in researching the effects of alternative therapies, such as art therapy and music therapy, which inspired her to investigate the neurobiological mechanisms behind them. Her research interests lie in the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and neuroinflammation, intending to develop novel therapeutic applications. Outside of the lab, Haley enjoys trying new restaurants, attending concerts, and playing her saxophone.

Thyandra Martinez

Thyandra Martinez, originally from Rhode Island, is a first-generation college graduate from the University of Hartford, where she earned a B.S. in Biochemistry in 2023. Her current research interests include structural biology and chemical biology. In the future, Thyandra plans to complete a Ph.D. in a biomedical-related discipline to fulfill her goals of pursuing a career in patent law and managing a research laboratory. During her free time, she enjoys weightlifting and thrift shopping.

Taverlyn Shepard

Taverlyn received her B.S. in Biology from Prairie View A&M University. Taverlyn served as Miss Prairie View A&M University 2022-2023. In 2023, she was an AMGEN Scholar at Yale University investigating the role of macrophage-derived inflammation in aged female mice. Currently, she is a fellow in the Vanderbilt Experimental Research Training Inclusion Community Engagement Skills (VERTICES) Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program. In the Dean Lab, she is investigating how protein in diet influences metabolic dysfunction in mice, especially glucagon secretion and amino acid transporter expression that promotes alpha cell proliferation.

Elise Turner

Elise Turner, a Charlotte, NC native, is an NIH PREP Scholar at Vanderbilt University through the VERTICES program. She earned her B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Howard University, where she cultivated a passion for microbiology and mentoring. At Howard, Elise served as a peer mentor and Public Relations Chair for the university’s American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Student Chapter, fostering community and scientific engagement among her peers.

Elise’s research journey began in Howard’s Graduate School Microbiology Department, where she investigated the mechanisms regulating Staphyloxanthin production, a key virulence factor in Staphylococcus aureus. Her work contributed to understanding how bacterial adaptations influence infection severity and therapeutic strategies.

Currently, Elise’s research focuses on Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), the leading cause of recurrent urinary tract infections. At Vanderbilt, she studies how UPEC exploits cellular processes and manipulates host signaling, with a particular emphasis on its colonization of the vaginal niche. Her work seeks to uncover bacterial regulatory mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic targets to mitigate infection and antibiotic resistance.

Elise is passionate about advancing health equity through translational research and empowering others through science communication and mentorship. She aspires to pursue a Ph.D. in microbiology, where she plans to further explore host-pathogen interactions and microbial adaptations in complex environments. Elise’s long-term goal is to contribute to the development of innovative therapeutic strategies and advocate for the importance of microbiological research in addressing global health challenges.

When she’s not in the lab, Elise enjoys engaging in outreach activities, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her family and friends. She is excited to continue building her career as a scientist, teacher, and advocate for the next generation of researchers.

Madison Yarbrough

Madison Yarbrough is from the small town of Poyen, Arkansas. As a first-generation college student, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Central Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Cognitive Neuroscience.

She started her biomedical research journey in high school as a member of the Vanderbilt Aspirnaut program, where she studied the structure and assembly mechanisms of Collagen IV protein in Drosophila, resulting in her first co-first-author publication in the Journal of Biochemistry. During her undergraduate career, Madison focused her research on computational psychology as she designed and carried out an independent honors thesis project studying the disparities in higher education of first-generation college students and students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. She was passionate about using the findings from this research in her leadership positions. Madison’s advocation efforts were successful and provided resources for underrepresented students. Her current post-baccalaureate work in Dr. Vivian Gama’s laboratory focuses on studying the non-canonical role of MCL-1 (a mitochondrial BCL-2 family protein) in mitochondrial morphology, long-chain fatty acid oxidation, and cell identity in human neural progenitor cells.

In the future, she plans to pursue a PhD that will allow her to further her studies in neurodevelopment. She hopes to one day start her own laboratory while also doing work in science policy. Outside of the lab, Madison enjoys Muay Thai kickboxing, hiking, and reading fantasy books.

Kaylee Yeager

Kaylee Yeager was born and raise in Cressona, Pennsylvania. She graduated magna cum laude from Moravian University with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, with a concentration on cellular neurobiology. At Vanderbilt, Kaylee has been studying visual system development in mice and hopes to continue studying systems neuroscience throughout her graduate career. Kaylee plans to pursue a PhD in neuroscience and build a career in academia as a principal investigator. Outside of the lab, Kaylee enjoys reading, watching sci-fi, working out, and photography.