2025 T35 Recipients 

Meet Our 2025 Cohort!

The BDHSC would like to congratulate the 2025 T35 Recipients. Read on to learn more about the cohort and their research interests:

Kacie Li (she/her)

Kacie Li (she/her)

Northeastern University

Mentor: Dr. Neset Hikmet

I received my Masters of Science in Data Science from Northeastern University. I have previously conducted research related to science, technology, and health, using data science, data analytics, and machine learning. I have further interests in machine learning and deep learning, using these tools to advance technology and healthcare.

Lensa Erenna (she/her)

Lensa Erenna (she/her)

Ball State University

Mentor: TBA

I am a Master of Science in Data Science student at Ball State University. My nursing experience, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, inspired my transition into clinical research. My academic interests include AI-driven predictive analytics for infectious disease prevention, genetic research, and developing ethical, human-centered AI solutions in healthcare. Through the T35 big data health scholar program, I aim to enhance my research skills and contribute to innovations in healthcare and public health policies.

Lexi DeFord (She/her)

Lexi DeFord (She/her)

University of Arizona

Mentor: Dr. Qian Wang

I am a PhD student in the Biosystems Engineering department at the University of Arizona. Currently I am working on detecting microplastics in water usng various machine learning algorithms; I hope to expand this work to include microplastic detection in environmental and human microbiomes. My undergraduate degrees were in Mechanical Engineering and Biology at the University of Utah, and I am broadly interested in the intersection of engineering and biological systems.

Preethi Ravikumar (she/her)

Preethi Ravikumar (she/her)

University of West Florida

Mentor: Dr. Swann Adams

I am a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in Data Science at the University of West Florida. I have always been passionate about data science and its applications, particularly in using statistical approaches to address healthcare challenges. My interests include machine learning and AI to drive data-driven solutions that improve public health outcomes.

Ram Aryal (He/him)

Ram Aryal (He/him)

University of South Dakota

Mentor: Dr. John Brooks

I am a PhD student in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of South Dakota. My research focuses on using systems biology to better understand cardiovascular repair and regeneration, with a focus on the role of stem cells. I hold a BS in Professional Biology from the University of North Alabama and an MS in Human Biology from the University of Saint Joseph in Connecticut. Through my doctoral work, I aim to support advances in regenerative medicine by studying how stem cells can help repair the cardiovascular system. As part of the T35 Big Data Health Scholar Program, I plan to strengthen my research skills, begin developing a model, and explore how cardiovascular risk factors might influence treatment decisions in orthopedic surgery. I am particularly interested in investigating why patients with similar orthopedic conditions sometimes receive different treatments in clinical practice.

Sarah Spotten (She/her)

Sarah Spotten (She/her)

Colorado State University

Mentor: Dr. Hui Chen

I am a first-year graduate student in the Professional Science Master’s Degree program in Biological Data Analytics at Colorado State University. My career background is in molecular genetics laboratory work with applications in wildlife, conservation, and ecology. As a developing computational biologist, I am interested in harnessing Big Data ethically and effectively to improve outcomes in both human health and the environment, which I believe are deeply interconnected. An avid birder in my free time, I also hope to one day conduct independent ornithological research using large datasets generated by participatory science projects such as eBird.

Songia Wynn (she/her)

Songia Wynn (she/her)

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Mentor: TBA

Songia (Saun-jee) is a master’s student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, majoring in Health Informatics and Analytics with a concentration in health outcomes. She has a strong interest in clinical informatics and is particularly passionate about studying infectious diseases and pandemic data. She aims to leverage data science and healthcare technology to enhance patient care and health outcomes. She aspires to pursue a career as a clinical informaticist, ultimately working toward the role of Chief Medical Officer.

She chose this field because of its potential to transform healthcare by improving efficiency, accelerating medical advancements, and integrating technology to enhance patient outcomes. Through the combination of data-driven insights and medical expertise, she is committed to improving healthcare delivery and helping patients lead healthier, happier lives.

Zachary Smith (he/him)

Zachary Smith (he/him)

Ball State University

Mentor: Dr. Jiajia Zhang

I am graduating this May with a M.S. in Statistics from Ball State University (BSU), and I will start a PhD program in Statistics this fall at the University of Cincinnati. I have both teaching and research experience, and would like to continue improving both as I pursue a career in academia. My master’s thesis involved modeling and simulating ordinal time series data from a physiological study at BSU, and I am interested in applying my expertise in statistics to solve public health problems.