Current T32 Fellows
genetics
Russell Mellen
Russell joined the Vision Science T32 in October 2018. Mentored by Dr. Shannon Boye, Russell studies gene therapy for the retinal disorder Cone-Rod Dystrophy 6 (CORD6)

Biochemistry & Molecular biology
Victoria Makal
Victoria joined the Vision Science T32 in May 2019. Mentored by Dr. Shannon Boye, Victoria seeks to develop the biophysical characterization of novel AAV2-based library mutants for use as second-generation gene therapy vectors

genetics
William Ruddick
William joined the Vision Science T32 in January 2020. Mentored by Dr. Astra Dinculescu, William studies gene therapy for Usher’s syndrome Type 3A

Former T32 Fellows
chemical engineering
Russell Macoon
Dr. Macoon graduated in May 2020 under the mentorship of Dr. W. Clay Smith. He is now a Coordinator of Clinical Trials at Shands Teaching Hospital in Gainesville, FL.

genetics
Casey Keuthan
Dr. Keuthan graduated in December 2019 under the mentorship of Dr. John Ash. She is a Postdoctoral Associate at Johns Hopkins’ Center for Stem Cells & Ocular Regenerative Medicine.

genetics
Kaitlyn Calabro
Dr. Calabro graduated in December 2019 under the mentorship of Dr. Shannon Boye. She is a Postdoctoral Associate in the department of Pediatrics- Cellular & Molecular Therapy at the University of Florida.

genetics
Kevin McCullough
Dr. McCullough graduated in May 2019 under the mentorship of Dr. Shannon Boye. He is a Postdoctoral Associate in Molecular & Genetic Engineering at Duke University.

genetics
Marcus Hooper
Dr. Hooper graduated in May 2018 under the mentorship of Dr. Ash. He is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Biological Structure at the University of Washington.

genetics
Rachel Stupay
Dr. Stupay graduated in December 2017 under the mentorship of Drs Astra Dinculescu & William Hauswirth. She is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Cleveland Clinic.

genetics
Brian Rossmiller
Dr. Rossmiller graduated in August 2015 under the mentorship of Dr. Alfred Lewin. He is a Postdoctoral Associate at the Tokyo Medical Center, where he designs, produces & tests CRISPR/Cas9 mediated gene correction

genetics
Miranda Scalabrino
Dr. Scalabrino graduated in May 2016 under the mentorship of Dr. Shannon Boye. She is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Neurobiology Department at Duke University.

Physiology & Pharmacology
James Dominguez
Dr. Dominguez graduated in December 2015 under the mentorship of Dr. Maria Grant. After his Postdoctoral training at Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis, he remained on staff as a Research Analyst.

Immunology & Microbiology
Ryan Chastain-Gross
Dr. Chastain-Gross graduated in May 2015 under the mentorship of Dr. Ann Progulske-Fox. He completed his Postdoctoral training at the University of Florida before becoming a freelance medical editor.

Molecular Cell Biology
Renee Ryals
Dr. Ryals graduated in August 2014 under the mentorship of Dr. Hauswirth. After completing her Postdoctoral training in the Department of Ophthalmology at Oregon Health & Science University, she joined their staff as a Research Assistant Professor.

Genetics
Soo Seo
Dr. Seo graduated in August 2011 under the mentorship of Dr. Alfred Lewin. She completed her Postdoctoral training at the University of Florida in the Infectious Diseases & Immunology department. Now, Dr. Seo is a Medical Scientist in the Obstetrics & Gynecology Department at the University of Florida.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniel Gibson
Dr. Gibson graduated in August 2011 under the mentorship of Drs Susan Frost & Gregory Schultz. After completing his Postdoctoral training at the University of Florida’s Wound Research Center, he joined the Obstetrics & Gynecology Department as a Research Assistant Professor.

Physiology & Pharmacology
Jennifer Kielczewski
Dr. Kielczewski graduated in May 2010 under the mentorship of Dr. Maria Grant. She completed her Postdoctoral training in Immunology & Immunoregulation at the NIH, then stayed on in the Biological Imaging Core Facility of the National Eye Institute as a Biological Scientist.

Genetics
Lee Ferguson
Dr. Ferguson completed his MD-PhD training in May 2010, under the mentorship of Drs William Hauswirth & Alfred Lewin. After his residency at the John A. Moran Eye Center, he became a practicing Ophthalmologist.

Neuroscience
Wilda Orisme
Dr. Orisme graduated in December 2008, under the mentorship of Dr. W. Clay Smith. She completed her Postdoctoral training at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and afterward stayed on as a Research Scientist in Pathology.

Genetics
John Alexander
Dr. Alexander graduated in May 2007 under the mentorship of Dr. William Hauswirth. He completed his Postdoctoral training in Vision Science at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and is now an Assistant Professor of Human Genetics at Emory University.

Neuroscience
Shannon Boye
Dr. Boye graduated in May 2006 under the mentorship of Dr. Sue Semple-Rowland. She completed her Postdoctoral training in the Ophthalmology Department at the University of Florida, and was recently promoted to Associate Professor in the Molecular Therapy Division of the Department of Pediatrics. She is also a mentor on this T32, and has mentored, to date, 5 of its fellows.

Physiology & Pharmacology
Nilanjana Caballerro
Dr. Caballero graduated in May 2005 under the mentorship of Dr. Maria Grant. She continued on as Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Florida, and is now a Professor & Department Chair for the Sciences for Health Programs at Santa Fe College.
