Pursuing potential new treatments for illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and cancer have become top research priorities for the School of Pharmacy’s Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate students. The cohort is working diligently alongside faculty mentors on several research projects in our state-of-the-art laboratories.

Year 1 Graduate Students

Prashant Adhikari

I am a first-year graduate student at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. I have completed my Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Institute of Medicine (IOM), Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

My undergraduate research focused on Prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and multidrug resistance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. I also served as a hospital pharmacist in my country for two years.

I will be specializing in Pharmacology at the School of Pharmacy, and I am highly motivated to excel in this field, as I believe SIUE is the perfect place to achieve my academic and research goals.

Gita Khadka

I am a first-year graduate student in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, Tribhuvan University, Nepal, graduating with an Academic Excellence Award.

My undergraduate thesis focused on exploring plant extracts for pharmacological activities. After graduation, I served for two years as a Pharmacy Officer at the National Trauma Center in Nepal; an experience that reinforced my interest in pharmacology.

At SIUE, my research centers on LAT1 transport activity and its modulation for cancer treatment, under the guidance of Professor Dr. Joseph Schober. I aim to utilize this opportunity to explore novel therapeutic strategies for cancer and to deepen my understanding of molecular oncology. 

Santosh Dhungana

I am a first-year graduate student at the SIUE School of Pharmacy, pursuing a Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a concentration in Medicinal Chemistry.

I completed my undergraduate studies at Pokhara University in Nepal, where my interest in pharmaceutical research and drug discovery began. My thesis focused on “Phytochemical Screening and Evaluation of Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Ganoderma lucidum,” laying the groundwork for my current research interests in sigma receptors.

I believe that passion, consistency, and the courage to embrace change are key to achieving long-term goals. The journey toward success is rarely linear, but each challenge presents an opportunity for growth. Being at SIUE marks a significant milestone in my academic journey, bringing me closer to my goal of making a meaningful contribution to medicinal chemistry and drug development. 

Oluwasogo Isaac Adedokun

I am a first-year graduate student in the Medicinal Chemistry track of the Pharmaceutical Sciences program. I completed my Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. My undergraduate research focused on the occlusive binding models of some selected FDA-approved antisickling drugs.

I have worked as a pharmacist in pharmaceutical production, hospital, and distribution settings. My research interests lie in the design, synthesis, and development of novel therapeutic compounds for challenging diseases.

Year 2 Masters Students

Chibuike-Okafor

I am a first-year graduate student in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences with a concentration in Medicinal Chemistry. I completed by bachelor's degree in pharmacy from the University of Jos, Nigeria. My undergraduate thesis was on the synthesis, characterization, and computational bioactivity prediction of dihydroartemisinin esters. Before enrolling at SIUE, I worked as a part-time research assistant at the Department of Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry, University of Jos while providing clinical services as a pharmacist in the hospital and community.   I am excited about this opportunity to learn, grow and explore drug discovery under the mentorship of the well-versed faculty.

Deborah Ojo

I am a first-year graduate student in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. I earned my bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from Lagos State University, Nigeria.

My undergraduate thesis focused on utilizing machine learning-driven screens and molecular modeling techniques to predict and characterize potential de novo compounds that inhibit purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) in Plasmodium falciparum contributing to the identification of new lead compounds for antimalarial drug development.

Building on this experience, I aim to investigate protein abnormalities underlying human diseases, elucidating molecular mechanisms, drug mechanisms of action, and their resulting pharmacological effects to inform therapeutic strategies. I am excited to leverage the department's resources, mentorship, and opportunities to drive my research forward and contribute meaningfully to the field.

Sumon Roy

I am a first-year graduate student at SIUE School of Pharmacy. I am passionate about medicinal chemistry research. I am working on a project on synthesizing novel anticancer drugs to target the eIF4E complex in cancer signaling. I love to study advanced organic chemistry, molecular pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics.

I got my inspiration to do medicinal chemistry research during my undergrad at the University of Dhaka. At my previous university, I used to do the synthesis of novel benzimidazole derivatives. After all, I am highly motivated to do my career in the drug discovery field.

I believe SIUE School of Pharmacy is the best place to fulfill my dream. 

Jony Timalsina

I am a first-year MS student in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, with a deep interest in Medicinal Chemistry and Cancer Cell Biology. I completed my Bachelor's in Pharmacy from Kathmandu University, Nepal.

I believe that with continuous hard work, dedication, and a never-give-up attitude, we can break through any barriers and achieve the goals we set for ourselves.

PhD Student

Ariel Magee

I am a 2nd year graduate student in the Pharmacology & Neuroscience Co-Op PhD program. I earned my bachelor’s degree from Greenville University in chemistry and biology in 2021.

My passion from personal experiences and for helping others has led me to pursue a degree in pharmacology. I am interested in drug discovery and development. 

Olivia Slater

I am a PhD candidate in Pharmacology and Neuroscience Co-Op PhD program with a focus in Medicinal Chemistry. 

I earned my Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from SIUE School of Pharmacy in 2020, and continuing to work under the direction of Dr. Kontoyianna.

Amrita Talukder Mohini

I am a first-year graduate student at the SIUE School of Pharmacy. I received my Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Brac University, Bangladesh in 2019. Born & raised in Dhaka, my interest is in learning about cell biology, organic chemistry, & pharmacology.

At Brac University, I was awarded a merit-based scholarship and the Vice Chancellor’s Award for my academic accomplishments. I also have work experience of 3 years in the pharmaceutical sector of Bangladesh. Currently, I am pursuing my research work on cancer, specializing in the pharmacology track offered by SIUE School of Pharmacy.

Emmanuel Onah

I am a first-year PhD candidate in the Multidisciplinary Biomedical and Biological Sciences (MBBS) Co-Op program, with a concentration in medicinal chemistry. I completed my undergraduate training in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), where my undergraduate research focused on identifying small-molecule drugs with multi-target activity against proteins implicated in psoriasis using computational techniques.

My current research interests lie at the intersection of computational chemistry, machine learning, and medicinal chemistry. My focus is on designing novel small molecule drugs targeting neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, as well as developing computational tools to advance drug discovery effort.