Steve (Ssang-Taek) Lim, Ph. D, Principal Investigator

Dr. Lim received his bachelor’s and master’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from Seoul National University, South Korea, and Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2003. He completed his postdoctoral training at the Scripps Research Institute’s Department of Immunology and the University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center where he became an Assistant Project Scientist before joining the University of South Alabama’s faculty as Assistant Professor in 2012 and earning promotion as Associate Professor in 2019. Then, he started his new position to the Department of Pathology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2022.

James Murphy, Ph.D (Aug 2018-present), Postdoctoral fellow

James received his bachelor’s and master’s in mathematics from Spring Hill College and the University of South Alabama, respectively. In 2018, James graduated with a Ph.D. in basic medical science from the University of South Alabama. He has been a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Lim’s lab since 2018 and followed the lab when it moved to the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2022.

While not in the lab, James enjoys watching sports and hanging out with friends.

Mai Nguyen, Ph.D (Sep 2023-present), Postdoctoral fellow

Mai completed her Bachelor in Pharmacy at Vietnam Military Medical University in 2019. Then, she continuously studied in Biochemistry and Cell Biology at Dongguk University, School of Medicine and received her Ph.D in 2023. Recently, Mai joins our lab as a postdoc fellow.

Ly Nguyen, Ph.D (Sep 2023-present), Postdoctoral fellow

Ly finished her Bachelor’s degree from University of Science, Hanoi, Vietnam in 2017. Then she completed her master in 2019 and doctoral programs in Physiology at Dongguk University, Korea in 2022. Ly joined Lim lab as a postdoctoral fellow in September, 2023.

Dilani Patel, B.S. (March 2024-present), Researcher II

Dilani received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from UAB in 2017. After graduating, she worked as a research assistant in the Department of Entomology at University of Georgia and as a Researcher II in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Pathology at UAB. Dilani has joined Dr. Lim’s lab as a Researcher II in March 2024.

Luke Griffin, B.S. (August 2022-present), Researcher II

Luke received his bachelor’s degree in Biology from UAB in 2021. After graduating he worked as an EMT before deciding to join Dr. Lim’s lab.

In his free time Luke enjoys yelling at NFL games with his friends, reading, and cooking.

Duyen Tran, B.S./M.S. (March 2023-Present), Researcher II

Duyen received her bachelor’s degree in Biology at University of Science, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam in 2019. Then she has completed her master’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2021. She joined Dr. Lim’s lab to strengthen her training experience. She plans to pursue a Ph.D program.

UAB Lab Alumni

Undergraduate Students

Whitney Sharer, UAB (May 2021-December 2022)

Meghana Vadranam, UAB (Sep 2022-January 2023)

Sa’Nya Fleming, Jackson State, PRESTP Scholar (June 2023-August 2023)

Constance Wade, Mississippi State, PRESTP Scholar (June 2023-August 2023)

Esther Lee, UPenn (July 2023-September 2023)

University of South Alabama Lab Alumni

Graduate Students

Sebastian M. Spencer (Ph.D. BMS Graduate Program, 2012-Aug 2013)

Current position-Assistant Professor of Natural Sciences in Pensacola Christian College

Aliyu M Aliyu (MS Graduate Program, 2014-Jul 2015)

Current position-High School Teacher

Yelitza Rodriguez (Ph.D. BMS Graduate Program, 2016-2022)

Postdoctoral fellows

Hyunho Yoon, Ph.D (Feb 2014- Dec 2015)

Current position-Assistant Professor in Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

Hyeonsoo Park, DVM/Ph.D (Dec 2015-Jul 2019)

Current position-Independent Veterinarian

Su-Jeong Kim, Ph.D (Feb 2017-Jan 2018)

Current position-Postdoctoral Fellow in Johns Hopkins University

Kyuho Jeong, Ph.D (Mar 2018-Feb 2022)

Current position-Assistant Professor in Dongguk University in Korea

Researchers

Jacquelyn Howell, MS (Research Technician, May 2012-May 2013)

Current position-Instructor at Department of Biology in University of South Alabama

Loreen Bynum, MS (Research Technician, Dec 2012-Jun 2013)

Current position-Fisheries Observer, Hawaii

Joshua DeHart, BS (Research Technician, Jul 2013-Jul 2014)

Current position-Medical Student, University of South Alabama

Aritra Bhadra, MS (Research Technician, Jun 2017-Jul 2018)

Current position-Ph.D Graduate Student at Department of Physiology in University of South Alabama

Jun-Sub Kim, Ph.D (Visiting Scientist, Jul 2018-Jul 2019)

Current position-Associate Professor at Department of Biotechnology in Korea Transportation National University

Medical Students

Thomas Holcombe (Summer 2012)

Blake Tennant (Summer 2013, 2014)

Alex Koichi (Summer 2015, 2016)

Vishal Schoff (Summer 2018)

Yousef Omar (Summer 2019)

Clarisse Solis (Summer 2021)