Contact Information: azaj-ahmed@uiowa.edu

Dr. Azaj Ahmed is from Islampur, West Bengal, India. He studied Biochemistry at Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India, earning his Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD degrees. Following his PhD, Dr. Azaj pursued his first postdoctoral training at China Medical University, Taiwan, and later at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi, India. Eventually, in 2021, he became part of Dr. Dayal's lab at the University of Iowa. In this position, his research focuses on hematology, particularly studying thrombosis as a disease model. He investigates platelet bioenergetics and signaling mechanisms associated with thrombosis in in vivo mouse models and clinical settings. His attention is on risk factors like aging, viral infections, overweight/obesity, and prediabetes, which are known to increase susceptibility to thrombotic complications. He lives in Iowa City. He likes spending time with his friends.

Contact Information: gokul-patil@uiowa.edu

Dr. Patil has received his PhD from Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India with profound focus on hemostasis and the development of nano-formulations for therapeutic applications. Currently, his research at the Dayal lab centered around the clinical aspects of thrombosis in various disease conditions. Beyond his academic pursuits he finds joy in the art of dance, the thrill of playing cricket, and the world of cinema.

Contact Information: izola-ramalho@uiowa.edu

Dr. Izola Ramalho earned her PhD in Health Science at the University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. She recently joined Dr. Dayal’s group and is pursuing a project to further her understanding of the mechanistic pathways of vascular cognitive impairment while using various transgenic strains of mice. Izola and her husband, Jordan, live in Cedar Rapids. Izola enjoys gardening, outdoor activities, weightlifting, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Contact information: meena-palanikumar@uiowa.edu

Dr. Meena Kumari obtained her PhD in Biological Sciences from CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru, India. Her main research interest lies in comprehending alterations in the gut microbiome and its metabolites across various disease states. She investigates how interventions such as probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics can mitigate metabolic disorders. She joined Dr. Dayal’s team in March 2024, focusing on unraveling changes in gut microbiome composition during aging and exploring gender influences. At present, she resides in Iowa City with her husband, Gowtham. She enjoys spending time with herself & family, cooking, and sketching.

Contact Information: pooja-yadav@uiowa.edu

Dr. Yadav hails from Gurgaon, Haryana, India. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Zoology from the University of Delhi, New Delhi, and Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, India, respectively. She then pursued her Ph.D. in Animal Sciences at the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India, where her research focused on  the hemostasis and thrombosis, with a particular focus on platelets and platelet-derived microvesicles. In October 2024, she joined Dr. Dayal’s team at the University of Iowa, where her current research investigates thrombotic risk and the underlying mechanisms associated with prediabetes and aging. Beyond her scientific pursuits, she enjoys spending time conversing with her family and friends, and finds relaxation in listening to music and watching movies.

Contact Information: abhishek-panigrahi@uiowa.edu

Dr. Panigrahi is from Brahmapur, Odisha, India. He completed his master’s degree and Ph.D. at the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India. His doctoral research, supported by the Department of Science and Technology and the Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India, focused on investigating the interactions of nanomaterials with thrombotic components using experimental and computational approaches. His work also involved the development of electrochemical-based biosensors for the detection and analysis of thrombotic biomarkers and risk factors. He subsequently joined the Dayal Lab at the University of Iowa to pursue his research interests in the clinical aspects of thrombosis and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. His current research focuses on understanding the mechanism of bioenergetics and signaling in platelets in both in vivo and clinical settings. Beyond his research, Dr. Panigrahi enjoys hiking, exploring scenic places and learning new languages.

Contact Information: shreyashree-sarkar@uiowa.edu

Shreyashree earned her M.S in Biotechnology (Gold Medalist) from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India. She worked as a Research Associate focusing on the development of biosimilars for cancer and other diseases at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories P. Ltd., Hyderabad, India before starting her graduate school at The University of Iowa. Currently, her research at the Dayal lab is centered upon elucidating the mechanisms of colorectal cancer associated thrombosis. Outside of the lab she enjoys creating art and reading books.

Contact information: melissa-jensen@uiowa.edu

Melissa Jensen obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA. She has worked in agricultural, environmental, and biomedical research in both Iowa and North Carolina. In 2006, she began working in the labs of Dr. Steven Lentz and Dr. Sanjana Dayal. Her expertise is in murine thrombosis models. Melissa and her husband Ben have three daughters, Alena, Nora, and Edith, and they reside in Cedar Rapids, IA. She enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time outdoors.

Contact information: akash-pradeep@uiowa.edu

Akash Pradeep is currently a fourth-year student in the Honors Program here at the University of Iowa majoring in Neuroscience on the premed track. In addition to working in the Dayal Lab, Akash is involved in working at the hospital, ISA and Iowa Agni A Cappella

Contact information: atiksh-hood@uiowa.edu

Atiksh Hood is from Waukee, Iowa, and is a second-year student at the University of Iowa studying Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Human Physiology on the pre-medical track. As a member of Dr. Dayal’s lab, his research focuses on the protective effects of caloric restriction on the aging mouse brain. Outside of the lab, he is involved in the Indian Student Alliance, volunteers at the hospital, and enjoys staying active by playing sports, including swimming, tennis, and basketball.