Rafael Contreras-Galindo, P.I
Rafael completed his ph.D in Biomedical Sciences in Ponce School of Health Sciences in Puerto Rico. . Rafael’s first research focused on investigating the expression and replication of Human Endogenous Retroviruses. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the lab of David Markovitz at the University of Michigan where the focus was endogenous retroviruses and cancer biology. He discovered thousands of endogenous retroviral sequences in the centromeres and start using them as markers to study centromere biology. Rafael is originally from Bogota, Colombia, and has a research interest in investigating the repetitive regions in the human genome. Besides his native Spanish, Rafael studied German, and enjoys fishing, hiking, cooking, and traveling
Azait Imtiaz, Master in Genetics Student
Azait is an international student from Pakistan with a background in both BS and BA from James Madison University in Virginia. Currently, I’m pursuing a Master’s in multidisciplinary biomedical science at UAB and studying Pre-Speech Pathology through Northwestern University online. I serve as a dedicated assistant in a genetics laboratory. My passion lies in unraveling the mysteries of DNA and genetics, where I apply my keen eye for detail and commitment to scientific inquiry. I actively contribute to groundbreaking research projects aimed at understanding genetic mechanisms and their broader implications. Beyond academics, I find joy in playing and watching cricket—a sport I’m deeply passionate about. Additionally, I enjoy staying updated on the latest advancements in medical research, particularly in the field of Artificial Intelligence (IA).
Hudson O’Neill, Undergraduate Student Genetics
Hudson is an undergraduate student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, studying Genetics and Genomic Sciences and minoring in philosophy. I am currently on the pre-med track and a member of the Early Medical Student Acceptance Program. My desire to grow in my scientific skills and explore the molecular mechanisms that govern the laws of life led me to join this lab as a volunteer assistant. Outside of school, I love playing pickleball for the UAB club team, hiking, swing dancing, and spending time with my family.
Aditya Subramanian, Ph.D. student Aditya did his master’s in medical biotechnology at the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, and worked on the elucidation of chromatin remodeler Isw2 in yeast meiosis. His hobbies include singing, listening to music, and reading. He also enjoys spending time with family members.
Former Lab Members
Preston McCourt (right) and Dr. Souren Paul (left)
