Kwabena Aboagye

Postbaccalaureate Fellow

Kwabena studies lymphatic anomalies for Dr. Sheppard’s clinical research program. His focus includes participant recruitment and screening as well as extraction and analysis of clinical data. Kwabena is a recent graduate of Howard University with a B.S. in biology and a minor in chemistry. Prior to arriving at NIH, Kwabena worked as a pharmacy technician and a patient care associate at The Ohio State University. Kwabena is eager to continue his path toward becoming an M.D./Ph.D. In his free time, he loves playing basketball and soccer and weightlifting.

Rachel Amedume

Howard University Honors Biology Undergraduate Thesis Student

Rachel started in the Sheppard lab as an undergraduate research fellow and completed her senior thesis in the Howard University in the Honors Biology Program with a minor in Chemistry, before continuing as a post-baccalaureate fellow in the lab. Rachel is attending medical school at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. She is passionate about continuing her research interest in the future as a physician scientist. In her free time, you can find her cooking, taking photos on her camera, or exploring new places and cultures.

Jill Dayneka

Research Special Volunteer

While with the Sheppard lab, Jill studied novel treatments and supportive care for vascular anomalies. She started with Dr. Sheppard as a part of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Comprehensive Vascular Anomalies Program in 2021, studying vascular anomalies. She also has studied treatment practices for kaposiform hemangioendothelioma, kaposiform lymphangiomatosis, and other complex vascular anomalies. She is in her final year of an M.D./M.P.H. at Tulane School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA; after graduation, she will start a residency in internal medicine. Her current research goal is to expand understanding of fertility challenges for individuals with vascular anomalies, both due to and independent of treatments received, in efforts to improve counseling prior to treatment initiation. She spends her free time hiking with her husband and dog, trying a new recipe, or reading a good book.

Georgia Krikorian

Postbaccalaureate Fellow

As a fellow with the Office of Intramural Training and Education Postbac Enrichment Program, Georgia focused on examining lymphatic vasculature development and underlying mechanisms of lymphatic anomalies, particularly using organoid modeling and the bench-to-bedside model. Before joining NICHD, she studied at Smith College in Northampton, MA, where she received her B.A. in biochemistry in May 2022. She discovered her passion for research during her undergraduate career in the laboratory of Michael Barresi, where she studied the regulation of radial glia development during neurogenesis in zebrafish. She is motivated to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. program and a career as a physician-scientist, where she hopes to utilize the tools of basic research to innovate new treatment modalities for complex conditions.  

Scott Paulissen, Ph.D.

Researcher and Lab Manager (2022-2024)

Scott’s work focused on the molecular and cellular mechanisms causing KRAS-related central conducting lymphatic anomaly. He also studied the causes and progression of capillary malformations with undergrowth using the zebrafish equivalent of the mammalian forelimb, the pectoral fin. Scott is a developmental biologist who completed his postdoctoral fellowship in Brant Weinstein’s lab at NICHD, focused on the development and pathways responsible for the forelimb vasculature in zebrafish. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology at Nevada State College and his Ph.D. in molecular biology at the University of Massachusetts – Boston, where he worked in the lab of Linda S. Huang. He has wide-ranging interests including, but far from limited to, history, movies, an eclectic range of music, sports, and playtime with his daughter.

Kamyab Pirouz

Summer Intern (2022)

Kamyab examined genetic causes of central conducting lymphatic anomaly (CCLA). He is a third-year honors student studying biology at Northeastern University in Boston. His career goal is to become a physician and travel the world helping patients in underserved and underprivileged communities. Kamyab was born in Iran, moved to Ottawa, Canada, at the age of 2, and then moved to Bethesda, MD, at the age of 5. He loved the childhood he had here, and grew up with an immense passion for soccer, a sport he still plays competitively to this day. He also enjoys outdoor activities, trying random things he has not done before, and spending time with friends and family. He will be graduating from Northeastern in December 2023 and plans to begin medical school the following year.

Ben Sempowski

Postbaccalaureate Fellow

Ben currently studies complex lymphatic anomalies using a translational model to understand the mechanisms of these anomalies, which inform more effective treatments. He recently graduated from Davidson College with a B.S. in biology and a minor in neuroscience. While at Davidson, he worked in the research lab of Dr. Barbara Lom, studying the development of the central nervous system in zebrafish. Ben is excited to take the next step in his journey toward an M.D./Ph.D. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, baking bread, or exploring the DMV.

Elizabeth Sherwin

Summer Intern 2024

While working at the Unit on Vascular Anomalies, Elizabeth conducted research on the availability and usefulness of resources for management of lymphatic anomalies. Additionally, she presented at an NICHD PI meeting. She is studying international studies with a focus in global health at American University (class of 2026).

Dhyanam Shukla

Postbaccalaureate Fellow (2022-2023)

Dhyanam worked to understand the complexities of CCLA in zebrafish models. He graduated from Rutgers University in 2021 with a B.A. in cellular biology and neuroscience and a minor in psychology. His interest in research began as an undergraduate when he studied congenital muscular dystrophy at the Child Health Institute; ever since, he has been passionate about learning developmental biology, neurobiology, and zebrafish research. In his free time, he loves to cook, bake, look after many plants, and explore DC. Dhyanam will be attending graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania.

Kristina Woodis

Postbaccalaureate Fellow (2022-2023)

Krissy focused on examining lymphatic anomalies in zebrafish. She graduated from Elon University with a B.S. in biology with a concentration in foundational medical science and a minor in psychology, where she studied the involvement of the gut-brain axis in epilepsy in zebrafish. She is passionate about studying neurobiological disorders in the zebrafish model and is eager to apply this knowledge clinically. Her career goal is to become a physician-scientist. In her free time, Krissy loves to practice yoga, read, cook, and enjoy time outside with friends. She will be attending medical school at The George Washington University.

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