Student Research Opportunities

Basic Science Departments

• Cellular Biology and Pharmacology

  Topics researched by the department of cellular biology and pharmacology include but are not limited to:

  • Development of Medical Education Models and Implementation
  • Discovery of Arsenic Detoxification Genes and Biochemical and Structural Analysis of their Gene Products
  • Development of Commercial Arsenic Biosensors and Methods for Arsenic Bioremediation

  Name	Contact Information
  Gagani Athauda, M.D. Research Interest(s): Models of Medical Education/Pathways in Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics	gathauda@fiu.edu 305-348-1474
  Jenny Fortun, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Medical Education/Studies in Neuroscience	jfortun@fiu.edu
  Saby Moulik, Ph.D. Research Interest: Medical Education	smoulik@fiu.edu
  Venkadesh Nadar, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Studies in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, In-silico/computational docking/Drug Development	vsarkara@fiu.edu 305-348-1477
  Barbra Roller, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Developing Models of Medical Education	rollerb@fiu.edu
  Barry P. Rosen, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Environmental Toxicology/Arsenic Biotransformation and Bioremediation/Gene Discovery to Structural Biochemistry	brosen@fiu.edu 305-348-0657
  Kunie Yoshinaga-Sakurai, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Arsenic Metabolism/Toxicology/Gene Regulation	ksakurai@fiu.edu 305-348-1479
  Masafumi Yoshinaga, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Environmental Toxicology and Microbiology/Arsenic Detoxification and Arsenic-based Antibiotics and Herbicides	myoshina@fiu.edu 305-348-1489

• Human Molecular Genetics

  Current topics researched by the department of human molecular genetics include but are not limited to:

  • Pathogenesis and Novel Treatments Associated with Fibrosis
  • Molecular Genetics of Cancer, Metabolic Disorders, Male Infertility and Cardiovascular Disease
  • Novel Genomic Approaches and Antibiotics of the Microbiome

  Name	Contact Information
  Alexander Agoulnik, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Pathogenesis and Drug discovery Associated with Fibrosis and Cancer	aagoulni@fiu.edu 305-348-1483
  Irina Agoulnik, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Pathogenesis of Breast, Ovarian, and Prostate Cancer	iagoulni@fiu.edu 305-348-1475
  Zuanel Diaz, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Development of Cancer Biomarkers/Manage the Biospecimen Repository Facility at BH-MCI	zuaneld@baptisthealth.net 305-491-8930
  Kalai Mathee, MPH, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Molecular Pathogenesis of Microbiome /Antimicrobial Resistance	matheek@fiu.edu 305-348-0628
  Joe Leigh Simpson, M.D. Research Interest(s): Molecular Genetics of Reproductive Disorders/Prenatal Genetics and Birth Defects	simpsonj@fiu.edu 305-348-0616
  Tracey Weiler, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Strategies of Scientific Education/Population Genetics/Consumer Genetics	tweiler@fiu.edu 305-348-4993

• Immunology and Nanomedicine

  Current topics researched by the department of immunology and nano-medicine include but are not limited to:

  • Immunopathogenesis of lung disease
  • Developing nanocarrier drug delivery systems
  • Mechanism of immunopathogenesis and neuropathogenesis of HIV-1 infection and substance abuse

  Name	Contact Information
  Nazira El-Hage, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Mechanisms of Inflammation & Autophagy in HIV, Zika Virus & Neurodegeneration/Development of Nano-therapeutics in Addiction & Substance abuse	nelhage@fiu.edu 305-348-4346
  Nagesh Kolishetti, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Development of Nanomedicine in HIV and Cancer	nkolishe@fiu.edu 305-348-4857
  Madhavan Nair, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Immunological Mechanisms of Substance Abuse, HIV Infection/Development of Nano-technologies	nairm@fiu.edu 305-348-1493
  Andrea Raymond, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Substance Abuse and HIV Neuropathogenesis	adraymon@fiu.edu 305-348-1490
  Myosotys Rodriguez Martinez, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Mechanisms of Autophagy in HIV-Neurodegenerative Disease	myrodrig@fiu.edu 305-348-4524
  Madepalli K. Lakshmana, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)	mlakshmana@fiu.edu 305-348-7656
  Arti Vashist, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Development of Novel Nanomedicine/Drug Delivery and Imaging Systems	avashist@fiu.edu 305-348-7438
  Hoshang Unwalla, Ph.D. Research Interest(s): Pathogenesis of Lung Cancer and HIV-related Diseases on the Lung	hunwalla@fiu.edu 305-348-3442

Clinical Departments

Contact the chair or vice-chair directly of the departments below for more information on their research opportunities.

• Anesthesiology

  Name	Contact
  S. Howard Wittels, M.D. Chair, Department of Anesthesiology; and Professor	s.wittels@fiu.edu 305-348-7977
  Hector Davila, M.D. Vice-Chair, Department of Anesthesiology; and Assistant Professor	hedavila@fiu.edu 305-348-0570

• Dermatology

  Name	Contact
  Mercedes Florez-White, M.D. Associate Professor; Vice-Chair of Research, Department of Dermatology	mflorezw@fiu.edu 305-348-3627
  Martin Zaiac, M.D. Chair, Department of Dermatology; and Professor	mzaiac@fiu.edu 305-532-4478, Ext. 227
  Carlos A Ricotti, M.D.	cricotti@gmail.com

• Emergency Medicine and Critical Care

  Name	Contact
  Robert Levine, M.D. Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine and Critical Care; Associate Dean of Graduate Medical Education; and Professor	rlevine@fiu.edu 305-348-1662
  Darren Roy Kaufman, M.D. Vice-Chair of Education, Clerkship Director for Emergency Medicine & Critical Care; and Assistant Professor	darkaufm@fiu.edu 305-302-8027

• Humanities, Health and Society

  Name	Contact
  David R. Brown, M.D. Associate Professor	drbrown@fiu.edu 305-348-1476
  Sarah Stumbar, M.D. Assistant Dean for Clinical Education and Assistant Professor	sstumbar@fiu.edu 305-348-7973
  Nana Aisha Garba, M.D., Ph.D., MPH Assistant Professor Research Interest(s): Studies of Social Determinants of Health	ngarba@fiu.edu 305-348-7922

• Interventional Radiology

  Name	Contact
  Barry T. Katzen, M.D. Chair, Department of Interventional Radiology and Professor	BarryK@baptisthealth.net 305-348-9280
  Adam R. Geronemus, M.D. Vice-Chair of Education and Assistant Professor	vageronem@fiu.edu 305-348-9280
  Constantino S. Pena, M.D. Vice-Chair of Research and Assistant Professor	csapena@fiu.edu 305-348-9280
  James Benenati, M.D. Professor	jbenenat@fiu.edu 305-348-9280

• Obstetrics and Gynecology

  Name	Contact
  Manuel Penalver, M.D. Chair	mapenalv@fiu.edu 305-663-7001
  Rebeca Caridad Martinez, M.D. Chief of OB/GYN	martinre@fiu.edu 305-348-2362

• Ophthalmology

  Name	Contact
  Pedro F. Lopez, M.D. Chair, Department of Ophthalmology; and Professor	pflopez@fiu.edu or miamiretina@bellsouth.net 305-815-3789 or 305-598-2020

• Orthopedics

  Name	Contact
  John Uribe, M.D. Chair, Department of Orthopedics; and Professor	jwuribe@fiu.edu 305-348-7977
  Elizabeth Ann Ouellette, M.D. Vice-Chair of Research, Department of Orthopedics; and Professor Hand/Wrist Specialist	ElizabethO@baptisthealth.net

• Pathology

  Name	Contact
  Robert Poppiti, M.D. Chair, Department of Pathology; and Professor	poppiti@fiu.edu 305-674-2277
  John Alexis, MB, ChB Vice-Chair of Anatomical Pathology; and Associate Professor	john.alexis@fiu.edu 305-674-2277
  Lydia Hernandez Howard, M.D. Vice-Chair of Clinical Pathology; and Assistant Professor	lydia.hernandezhoward@fiu.edu 305-674-2277

• Pediatrics

  Name	Contact
  Jefry Biehler, M.D., MPH Chair, Department of Pediatrics; Clerkship Director for Pediatrics and Academic Advisor; Associate Professor	jbiehle@fiu.edu 786-624-2890
  Balagangadhar Totapally, M.D., MBBS, DCH, MRCP, FAAP, FCCP, FCCM Vice-Chair, Department of Pediatrics; and Professor	btotapal@fiu.edu 305-662-2639

• Psychiatry and Behavioral Health

  Name	Contact
  Rodolfo Bonnin, Ph.D. Associate Professor; Director of Assessment and Evaluation Research Interest(s): Research methodology and data analysis	rbonnin@fiu.edu 305-348-0660
  Eduardo Camps-Romero, M.D. Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Director of Behavioral Health, Department of Humanities, Health & Society Research Interest(s): Neurology, depression, mood disorders, ADHD, and bipolar disorder	ecampsro@fiu.edu 305-348-7674
  Luis Carcache, M.D. Assistant Professor and Assistant Clerkship Director Research Interest(s): Child and adolescent psychiatry, and developmental disorders	lcarcach@fiu.edu 305-348-4147
  Nathaly Shoua-Desmarais, Psy.D., BCB Associate Professor; Director of Student Well-being and Mental Health Services Research Interest(s): Counseling services, and biofeedback	ndesmara@fiu.edu 305-348-8822 or 305-348-1460
  Javier Escobar, M.D., MSc Professor Research Interest(s): Clinical phenomenology, epidemiology, and treatment of psychiatric syndromes, particularly those presenting primarily with somatic symptoms	jaescoba@fiu.edu 305-348-4147
  Leonard Gralnik, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor; Chief of Education; Clerkship Director; Senior Medical Director Research Interest(s): Child and adolescent psychiatry, suicide prevention, and curriculum	gralnikl@fiu.edu 305-348-4841
  Jorge Herrera-Pino, M.D., Ph.D. Professor Research Interest(s): Neuropsychological evaluations and cognitive rehabilitation of conditions such as memory disorders, attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, developmental disorders, and traumatic brain injury.	jorherre@fiu.edu 305-445-3222
  Patricia Junquera, M.D., FAPA Associate Professor, Vice-chair of Clinical Services, and Director of Multidisciplinary Education Research Interest(s): Expertise in anxiety, mood disorders, substance use disorders, psychiatric emergencies, and geriatric psychiatry	pjunquer@fiu.edu 305-348-9139
  Melanis Rivera-Rodriguez, PsyD Assistant Professor Research Interest(s): Expertise in anxiety, depression, mood disorders, eating disorders, and personality disorders	melriver@fiu.edu 305-348-1460
  Eugenio Rothe, M.D. Professor; Assistant Clerkship Director Research Interest(s): General and Adult Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Forensic (Medical-Legal) Psychiatry, Adult Psychoanalysis	erothe@fiu.edu 305-348-9198
  Heidi von Harscher, M, Ph.D. Director of Medical Student Support Services; HWCOM Student Ombudsman; Associate Professor; Assistant Dean of Women in Medicine and Science Research Interest(s): Pharmacopsychology, severe mental illness, and neurofeedback.	vonharsch@fiu.edu 305-348-1461

• Radiology

  Name	Contact
  Ricardo Cury, M.D. Chair Research Interest(s): Non-invasive Cardiac Imaging, Coronary CT Angiography, Cardiac MRI, Population Health and preventive cardiology, Structure Reporting and CAD-RADS	rcury@baptisthealth.net 305-348-0570

• Radiation Oncology

  Name	Contact
  Minesh Mehta, M.D. Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology	mineshm@baptisthealth.net 786-527-8029
  Alonso Navar Gutierrez, Ph.D. Vice-Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology	anavargu@fiu.edu 786-596-2000
  Michael Chuong, M.D. Vice-Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology	mchuong@fiu.edu 786-596-2000

• Surgery

  Name	Contact
  Michael Zinner, M.D. Chair and Professor, Department of Surgery	mzinner@fiu.edu or michaelzi@baptisthealth.net 786-527-8010
  Geoffrey D. Young, M.D., Ph.D., FACS Vice-Chair; and Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery	gyoung@fiu.edu 786-596-2000
  Seth R. Thaller, M.D., DMD, FACS Chief and Professor, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Miami	sthaller@med.miami.edu

• Urology

  Name	Contact
  Alan Nieder, M.D. Chair, Department of Urology; and Associate Professor	anieder@fiu.edu 305-348-0570
  Akshay Bhandari, MBBS Administrative Vice-Chair, Department of Urology; and Assistant Professor	akbhanda@fiu.edu 305-674-2499