In May 2016, Dionne Williams graduated from Wesley College with a bachelors degree in Biological Chemistry. In December 2018, Dionne graduated with her master’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. Under the guidance of Dr. Y. Hwan Kim, she studied therapeutic strategies against Parkinson’s Disease using in vitro and in vivo models. Currently, Dionne is now pursuing her PhD in neuroscience conducting research with Dr. Hakeem Lawal where she is studying the effects of pesticide exposure. Dionne’s future goal is to pursue a career in administration or research at a government agency.
Dashan Osborne, M.D.
PhD Student
Dashan Osborne is a third year PhD student whose research is focused on determining the effect of changes in VAChT function on cholinergic synaptic physiology
Megan Bone
PhD Candidate
In May 1999, Megan Bone graduated from Lehigh University with a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences and a minor in Religion. In January 2004, Megan graduated with her Master’s of Education from Temple University. Since that time she has served as a high school science teacher. In order to improve her teaching experience and expand her research knowledge base, she began to pursue her PhD in Dr. Dhillon's lab at Delaware State University (DSU) in 2018. Megan transitioned to Dr. Hakeem Lawal's lab in 2022 to continue her research and looks forward to finishing her work on neuronal laterality and epigenetics.
Yolanda Rush
Undergraduate Student
Yolanda Rush is an undergraduate student majoring in Forensic Biology. She is working alongside Ph.D. student Lindsey Ruggiero to develop a model to study genetic Parkinson’s Disease using alpha-synuclein overexpressing Drosophila flies and is also studying the effects of various pesticides concerning genetic Parkinson’s Disease. Yolanda's upcoming plans in the lab include conducting a model study on LRRK2 mutations that are associated with a late-onset autosomal dominant PD in humans.
Fatimah Abdul-Rahman
Undergraduate Student
Angeline-Claudia Atheby, M.S.
PhD Student
Angeline Claudia Atheby graduated from Universite Felix Houphouet Boigny in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire with a Bachelor and Master's degrees in Neuroscience. She worked as a laboratory technician at Institue Pasteur in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. She started the Neuroscience Ph.D program in the Fall of 2021 at Delaware State University. She joined the Lawal lab in the Spring of 2022. As a new member of the lab, Angeline is currently training in laboratory techniques including immunohistochemistry, western blot, cell culture, and immunifluorescence. Angeline is looking forward to conducting research under the supervision of Dr. Hakeem Lawal to progress the understanding of neurological disorders.
Katarzyna Rosikon, M.S.
PhD Student
Katarzyna Rosikon graduated with the master's degree in Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience from Delaware State University in 2021. Under the mentorship of Dr. Dhillon she studied the specific in vivo modulatory role of dat-1 dopamine transporter in regulation of vesicle fusion and dopamine release in C.elegans organism. Her research interest is in investigating the modulation patterns of dopamine neurotransmission and release using pHluorins as an indicator.
Rohina Nehmat, M.S.
PhD Student
Taylor Davis
Undergraduate Student
Taylor Davis is a Sophomore majoring in Biology. She is working with Ph.D. student Lindsey Ruggiero to develop a model to study genetic Parkinson’s Disease using alpha-synuclein overexpressing Drosophila flies. She is also studying the effects of various pesticides including Paraquat, in relation to genetic Parkinson’s Disease. Taylor’s future success plan includes going to medical school to become an OB/GYN.