Bryan Becker, Ph.D.
Bryan is originally from a farm in the middle of the plains of southeastern South Dakota and attended undergrad at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he discovered a love for physiology. After graduate school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, he came to UAB for a postdoc fellowship with Dr. David Pollock and then joined the Dept. of Medicine faculty in 2020. In his spare time, Bryan enjoys playing a selection from his large collection of board games with his family or running all over the streets and trails of the greater Birmingham area.
Caroline Grady
Caroline graduated in 2021 from UAB with a degree in public health and psychology! Caroline joined the Becker lab in 2022 as a GAIN scholar and was promoted to Researcher II in 2023. She spends her free time doing anything outside—climbing, hiking, biking, camping, or backpacking! She also spends her free time as a climbing coach at Birmingham Boulders. Ask her about her 3 cats and dog!
Shravya Kanchanapally
Shravya Kanchanapally is a senior majoring in Immunology. She joined Dr. Becker’s lab as an undergraduate research assistant in the spring of 2023. She is working on projects related to renal sensory nerve activity during high salt diets.
Soumya Khanna
Soumya Khanna joined the Becker lab in 2021 as part of the KURE program and continued to work with the lab throughout until she graduated from UAB in May 2023. Soumya received the prestigious UAB Outstanding Neuroscience Student Award in her senior year. She is currently a first-year medical student at UAB Heersink School of Medicine and remains active with the Becker lab in a limited capacity when she is able. Her hobbies include climbing, painting, and crocheting!
Jiaxi (Jessica) Shen
Jessica is from the northern part of China and graduated from UW-Madison with two degrees in neuroscience and educational studies. Jessica joined the Becker lab in 2024 as a Master’s student in the MBS theme and is working on the renal afferent nerve project. She likes to spend time in music and practicing piano or taking a walk near lakes because nature, like lakes, forests, and fresh air, can always make her feel better. She has a cat who is 4 years old now named is steak. A fun fact: She’s allergic to cats, but still has one.
