Board Members

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Hillary Wadsworth

Senior Chair
Department of Neurobiology

Hillary Wadsworth is a postdoctoral researcher in the Neurobiology Department at the University of Utah. She received her doctorate degree from Brigham Young University working with Dr. Jordan Yorgason. During her degree she investigated the cellular mechanisms of several drugs of abuse, including nicotine, ethanol, opioids and methamphetamine. Her thesis was on investigating the effects of methamphetamine on the neural immune system. She is now working in Dr. Ismail Ahmed's lab, where they are pioneering the development of novel chemical tools to investigate mechanisms of neuropeptides. She is currently continuing her research on the mechanisms of methamphetamine use disorder with a focus on using neuropeptides as a way to ameliorate withdrawal symptoms. She is excited to be a member of the UPDA and strives to help all postdocs across campus feel welcome and a part of the scientific community.

Lokesh Saravanan

Communication Chair
Department of Chemistry

Lokesh is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Utah, where he works with Prof. Scott Anderson. His research focuses on fundamental studies of electrochemical catalysis using atomically precise clusters for energy conversion, aiming to make clean energy more efficient, one atom at a time. Lokesh earned his PhD in Physics from National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan. His scientific interests lie at the intersection of materials science, chemistry and sustainable energy. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing racquet sports and exploring new places with friends. Lokesh joined the UPDA board to develop communication skills and to foster connections within the postdoctoral community at the U.

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Violet M. Kimble

Chair of Social Events
Department of Psychiatry

Violet M. Kimble, PhD, is a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah. Her research focuses on substance use disorders, resilience and recovery, women’s health, and the use of data-driven approaches to improve behavioral health outcomes. She earned her PhD in Neuroscience from Yale University.

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Luis Cedeño-Rosario

Postdoc Success Chair
Department of Biochemistry

Luis was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and completed a bachelor’s degree with honors in Industrial Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao. Prior to joining the University of Utah as a postdoctoral fellow, he completed his PhD training with Dr. Deborah N. Chadee at the University of Toledo in Ohio. There, he studied how the MAP3K protein Mixed Lineage Kinase 3 (MLK3) regulates ovarian cancer cell division and how it is regulated during this process. Now as a Burroughs Wellcome Fund postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Jared Rutter's lab, Luis is studying how the Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier (MPC) is regulated by the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and the significance of this regulation in cell metabolism and cell fate.

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Jacob Kisiolek

Treasurer
Department of Pathology

Jacob is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Utah. His work focuses on immune cell receptor kinetics upon antigen recognition. Prior to his work in Utah, Jacob earned his PhD in Exercise Physiology at the University of Northern Colorado. Outside of the lab, he enjoys fishing, gardening, and anything outdoors. Jacob joined the UPDA to get more involved in improving the postdoctoral experience at the University of Utah.

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Neil Vander Most

Associate Director of Postdoctoral Affairs
University of Utah Graduate School

Dr. Vander Most earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. He joined the University of Utah in 2018 as a Learning Specialist with the School of Medicine before transferring to the Graduate School. His research interests include Dutch & Belgian politics, as well as the dynamics of migrant integration into liberal democracies. Dr. Vander Most has over eight years of experience creating programming & policies for graduate and postdoctoral learners in various contexts.

Utah Postdoctoral Association

Office of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs