2020 Team Updates

SHARC welcomes the following new team members in 2020: 


SEUNGJUN AHN

PHD STUDENT

In Fall 2020, Seungjun joined the SHARC Team as a PhD student. Prior to joining SHARC, he worked as a biostatistician in New York for approximately three years.

He guided investigators in formulating their research hypotheses and provide statistical support for their projects. His work entailed handling multiple projects simultaneously, and involved interactions with attending physicians, fellows and residents in training, and nurses and research coordinators.

GET TO KNOW SEUNGJUN BETTER!

  1. What do you like to do in your free time?
    Traveling and playing sports with a ball (soccer, tennis, and etc.) except basketball.
  2. Do you have a favorite pet?
    My favorite pet is a dog.
  3. What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
    I used to play swimming and water polo at a competitive level.
  4. Who inspires you?
    My previous boss inspired me a lot. His passion and dedication to research influenced my decision to seek further education beyond my Master’s degree in Biostatistics. 
  5. If you won the lottery, what would you do with it?
    I will become a landlord first, then donate the rest.
  6. What’s the best advice you were given?
    “You are the boss of your life.”

MAILYS ANGIBAUD

DATA ASSISTANT

In Fall 2020, Mailys joined the SHARC Team as a Data Assistant. Before working at SHARC, she volunteered in various research labs at UF. She also worked at Exactech last summer as an administrative assistant.

GET TO KNOW MAILYS BETTER!

  1. What do you like to do in your free time?
    In my free time, I like to volunteer as an active listener on 7 Cups, an online counseling program. 
  2. Do you have a favorite pet?
    My favorite pet is a cat.
  3. What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
     One thing most people don’t know about me is that I can speak French fluently.
  4. Who inspires you?
    The person who has inspired me the most is my mother. She always has a smile on her face, no matter what, and gives more than she receives. I try to live like her as much as possible.
  5. If you won the lottery, what would you do with it?
    If I won the lottery, I would donate the money to a foundation like Loveland, which tries to provide therapy to women of color.
  6. What’s the best advice you were given?
    The best advice I was ever given is to seek the good in life.

MARK BRITTON

PHD STUDENT

In Fall 2019, Mark joined the SHARC Team as a PhD Student. Before working at SHARC, he worked in an attention and vision lab at Texas A&M University for two years. He still misses Tex-Mex food.

GET TO KNOW MARK BETTER!

  1. What do you like to do in your free time?
    I write science fiction, I hike and kayak, and I love live theater and music: in my first year of grad school I volunteered as security at a punk festival. 
  2. Do you have a favorite pet?
    My parents got me a leopard gecko when I was 8. The average lifespan of a leopard gecko in captivity is 5-7 years. The maximum lifespan is roughly 20 years. Gecko’s 17 years old and still trucking.
  3. What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
     I can make a mean vegan chocolate cake.
  4. Who inspires you?
    All the people I’ve known in my academic career have inspired me in different ways.
  5. If you won the lottery, what would you do with it?
    I want to say I’d give most of it to charity. My “won the lottery” fantasies are pretty small: taking time off to go backpacking, seeing some shows on Broadway, and finally building that gaming computer.
  6. What’s the best advice you were given?
    “Never give up. Never surrender.” – Galaxy Quest

CARLY CRUMP

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

In Fall 2020, Carly joined the SHARC Team as a Research Assistant with the MAPLE study. 

Prior to joining SHARC, she worked as a research assistant for Dr. Krishna Vaddiparti at the University of Florida working on PTSD and medical marijuana.

During Summer 2020, she interned for the Consortium for Medical Marijuana Clinical Outcomes Research. Previously, she also worked with dengue virus in mosquitoes for a few years.

GET TO KNOW CARLY BETTER!

  1. What do you like to do in your free time?
    I like to craft/build things, play tennis and read!
  2. Do you have a favorite pet?
    I have two puppies, Nala and Harley. Nala loves to “hold hands” for hours on end and Harley enjoys trying to hold 3 tennis balls at once. 
  3. What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
    I presented my previous research at the 2015 Nobel Prize Ceremonies in Stockholm, Sweden!
  4. Who inspires you?
    I am inspired by seeing people following their passions! Every time I see someone’s inner spark light up when they work on something they love, it inspires me to keep pushing forward. 
  5. If you won the lottery, what would you do with it?
    If I won the lottery, I would set up scholarship funds with most, then travel with the rest! 
  6. What’s the best advice you were given?
    Not really advice, but this is my favorite quote: “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” -Pablo Picasso

CAROLINE DEATERLY, BS, BSN, RN

T32 PREDOCTORAL FELLOW

Caroline joined the SHARC team in Gainesville in Fall 2020 as a T32 Predoctoral Fellow. Caroline started as undergraduate research student at Elon University working with breast cancer survivors.

After graduating from Elon, she completed an internship at the Durham VA working with geriatric veterans diagnosed with PTSD. She worked for a year as a medical technician at an Ophthalmology practice in Sarasota, Florida. 

While obtaining her BSN from the UF accelerated nursing program, Caroline was able to participate again as an undergraduate research student working on fall risk prevention research. After graduating from her nursing program, she worked as an RN in labor and delivery and post-partum care.

GET TO KNOW CAROLINE BETTER!

  1. What do you like to do in your free time?
    In my free time I enjoy working out, reading, and getting outside.
  2. Do you have a favorite pet?
    I just adopted a three-month old kitten named Cosmo, but I also adore my family dog Molly.
  3. What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
    Most people don’t know that I decided to become a nurse after a long hospital scare during my junior year of college, that resulted in a stay in the intensive care unit and dialysis treatments.
  4. Who inspires you?
    My research mentors who I have worked with through both my undergraduate research experiences have inspired me, the nurses who saved my life and trained me as a nursing student have also been a big inspiration for me.
  5. If you won the lottery, what would you do with it?
    If I won the lottery I would donate a portion to medical research, invest another portion, and use the rest to travel.
  6. What’s the best advice you were given?
    Someone once told me healthcare and medicine is a marathon not a race, this has proved to be useful advice.

JASON DEFELICE

PHD STUDENT

Jason joined the SHARC team in Gainesville in Fall 2020 as a PhD student. During Jason’s undergraduate career, he worked in a neuropsychology lab studying basal oxytocin and dopamine levels and aspects of psychosocial adjustment.

After graduating from Bates College in 2017, Jason started working at Fenway Health (an LGBTQ+ health organization in Boston) as a biomedical research assistant and study coordinator in HIV-prevention and treatment for two years. He later worked as a clinical research coordinator at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the department of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology before moving to Gainesville in August.

GET TO KNOW JASON BETTER!

  1. What do you like to do in your free time?
    In my free time, I like to read, go to the beach, figure skate, and explore the outdoors with my partner and our rescue dog, Desmond (aka Dezzy).
  2. Do you have a favorite pet?
    Desmond (aka Dezzy)
  3. What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
    Most people don’t know that I once performed in a drag show fundraiser for an LGBTQ+ youth organization to a Nicki Minaj/Drake mashup.
  4. Who inspires you?
    I am inspired by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez because of her feisty attitude and progressive platform, and Lizzo because of her fell-good/empowering lyrics.
  5. If you won the lottery, what would you do with it?
    If I won the lottery, I would donate most of my money to social justice and animal welfare campaigns and then move to Costa Rica to live out the rest of my days working at a sloth sanctuary.
  6. What’s the best advice you were given?
    The best advice I was ever given was a Dolly Parton quote my partner once told me, which ultimately inspired me to pursue a clinical psychology graduate program rather than medical school: “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.”

CARISSA HANSEN

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Carissa joined the SHARC team in Gainesville in Fall 2020 as a Research Assistant with the SHARC Research team.

Carissa previously worked in a neuroscience lab at the University of Florida where she was a lab manager and helped on numerous projects. She is also working on my senior thesis in the same neuroscience lab involving the history of Parkinson’s disease, levodopamine, and animal models. 

GET TO KNOW CARISSA BETTER!

  1. What do you like to do in your free time?
    In my free time I enjoy reading books on psychology and crime, but always have a soft spot for Netflix.
  2. Do you have a favorite pet?
    I have a tabby cat that I got about a year ago. He just turned one and has been the absolute joy in my life. Oddly enough, he likes to play fetch!
  3. What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
    One thing most people do not know about me is that I did a lot of different sports growing up including gymnastics, martial arts, cheerleading, tennis, and more. Though none have stuck with me and I found my passion for research, I still enjoy outdoor activities and traveling.
  4. Who inspires you?
    My great-grandfather is one who inspires me. I met him when I was very young and I am unable to remember him now, but he was a prominent psychologist during his time and I got invested in psychology by reading through his books when I was in middle school.
  5. If you won the lottery, what would you do with it?
    If I won the lottery, I would most likely donate a majority away to research or environmental foundations. But I would also take a bit out for me so I can tour Europe and Asia, I have never been and would love to go.
  6. What’s the best advice you were given?
    The best advice I was ever given was to understand that you know nothing. Everything you do and every question you answer produces more uncertainty and questions.

YIYANG LIU, PHD

POSTDOC RESEARCHER, SHARC DATA TEAM

Dr. Liu joined the SHARC team in Gainesville in Summer 2020 as a postdoc researcher with the SHARC data team.

Dr. Liu completed her Bachelor in Pharmaceutical Business Administration from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine in 2013 and her Master in Public Health from Tulane University in 2015.

Most recently, she graduated from the PhD program from the UF Department of Epidemiology under the mentorship of Dr. Linda Cottler. Her research focused on non-medical use of prescription medications and cocaine use and her dissertation focused on examining the relationship between quantity, frequency, and duration of cocaine use and the risk of cocaine use disorder.

Previously she worked as a research assistant on the Medication Use, Safety and Evidence (MUSE) study and the Study of Non-oral Administration of Prescription Stimulants (SNAPS).

GET TO KNOW DR. LIU BETTER!

  1. What do you like to do in your free time?
    I like to solve jigsaw puzzles and build Lego models in my spare time. I also like to play the Pokemon Go game for fun and exercise (but that is mostly pre-COVID-19).
  2. Do you have a favorite pet?
    I am a cat person. I have two lovely kitty cats live with me. One named Daona, and another named Tanggua.  I don’t pick a favorite between them.
  3. What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
    I like to collect Coke cans and Pez dispensers. I already have a good amount of collections for them. Some of my Coke can collections are still in China, because they are so hard to transport.
  4. Who inspires you?
    I am very inspired by Walt Disney, especially his vision about the future and his ability to bring that vision into reality and impact others.
  5. If you won the lottery, what would you do with it?
    I would like to travel around the world; build two treehouses: one for myself and another to rent as an Airbnb.
  6. What’s the best advice you were given?
    “Hope for the best, and plan for the worst.” An advice my mom always said to me. 

PREETI MANAVALAN, MD, MSC

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE

Dr. Manavalan joined the SHARC team in August of 2020 and is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine. Her specific area of interest is in HIV, HIV-related comorbidities and implementation science. 

She attended medical school at Howard University and completed internal medicine residency training at Yale University. She completed training in infectious diseases at Duke University where she had the opportunity to pursue a Master of Science in Global Health and spent a year in Tanzania as a Fogarty Global Health Fellow working at the intersection of HIV and non-communicable diseases.

GET TO KNOW DR. MANAVLAN BETTER!

  1. What do you like to do in your free time?
    I enjoy traveling, reading, cooking, trying out new restaurants, and spending time with family and close friends.
  2. Do you have a favorite pet?
    I have a rescue dog from Tanzania who is full of energy, joy and mischief.
  3. What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
    Before going into medicine I had many different kinds of odd jobs. My favorite job was working as a barista at a coffee shop. The strangest job I had was working as a telemarketer selling milk.
  4. Who inspires you?
    My parents are a big inspiration. They immigrated to the U.S. in the late 1970s and I often think how courageous they were for leaving behind everything they knew in hopes of a better life and to provide for their families. Their work ethic, resilience and kindness are constant inspirations.
  5. If you won the lottery, what would you do with it?
    I’d pay off student loans, travel the world, and donate to charities contributing to human rights and animal welfare.
  6. What’s the best advice you were given?
    Believe in yourself and believe that the possibilities in life are limitless.

EDWIGE NICHOLAS, MPH

FLORIDA COHORT RESEARCH 
COORDINATOR II

Edwige joined the SHARC team in Gainesville in March of 2020. Previously, she worked at the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition as Prevention Director.

She completed her MPH at the University of North Florida. She and her dog, Sora, are pursuing a new adventure in Gainesville!

GET TO KNOW EDWIGE BETTER!

  1. What do you like to do in your free time?
    SLEEP, exercise (yoga and walks), catch up on shows, chat and check-in with family and loved ones
  2. Do you have a favorite pet?
    My dog, Sora (well most of the time)
  3. What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
    I can’t swim and I’m not ashamed.
    I dislike lizards and other things in nature.
    I’m truly a City Girl.
  4. Who inspires you?
    My parents and grandma. My mom is back in school, and I’ve enjoyed going to her graduations more than my own.
  5. If you won the lottery, what would you do with it?
    Give 10% to churches that have truly helped and prayed for me in the past.
    Pay off my debts.
    Give 15% to my financial advisor to invest in great stocks.
    Spend 10% on bonds.
    Buy a few properties and have a third party manage them.

    Put the rest in a savings account at a bank that I have limited access to.
    Continue working.
  6. What’s the best advice you were given?
    Psalm 16: 5-6
    The ways in which you ask is how you will receive.
    Be strategic about everything that you do, whether it’s your personal life, who you choose to be around and those who you allow to enter into your life, and most importantly be strategic about your career. 
    These choices will define who you are, and will lead you to where you want to be.
    Life is a journey, not a destination
    .

CHRISTINA PARISI

T32 PREDOCTORAL FELLOW

Christina joined the SHARC team in Gainesville in Fall 2020 as a T32 Predoctoral Fellow. Christina completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland, where she majored in Biology and Community Health, and completed her MPH at Yale School of Public Health with a degree in Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases. 

She worked as an intern at the National Institutes of Health in two different institutes and got a good “behind-the-scenes” look at the research process: first in the Office of Scientific Review at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and later in the Office of Planning, Analysis, and Evaluation at the National Institute on Aging. 

As an undergraduate, Christina was a Research Assistant and later Project Manager in the Center on Young Adult Health and Development at the University of Maryland. During her master’s degree, Christina worked as a Research Assistant in the Connecticut Emerging Infections Program on projects involving influenza and RSV surveillance and specialized studies on Group A and Group B Streptococcus.

GET TO KNOW CHRISTINA BETTER!

  1. What do you like to do in your free time?
    I love watching movies and TV and reading books and have amassed enough knowledge in these areas to be a pretty formidable trivia player! I also enjoy traveling, trying new foods, and hanging out with animal friends. 
  2. Do you have a favorite pet?
    I love all my pets equally! I have a cat named Davy Jones and two dogs named Pepper and Bean. They live in Maryland with my parents and sisters. 
  3. What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
    I love to write fiction stories. I was first runner-up for a PBS young authors and illustrators contest in kindergarten for a book I wrote about socks. In undergrad, my Honors Humanities thesis project was a science-fiction novel about bioethics and research. I continue to write in my free time! 
  4. Who inspires you?
    My parents inspire me. They both work incredibly hard in their fields and are supportive of my sisters and me in everything we do. They never back down from a challenge, enjoy trying new things, and have taught me to never lose sight of what is important in life. 
  5. If you won the lottery, what would you do with it?
    I would still finish my PhD and pursue my dream of working for the CDC or NIH. I would also plan some nice vacations with my friends and family. I have never been out west so that would probably be the first trip; I would love to see all the national parks and explore historical sites around the world that I have read and learned about. I would also buy a nice house with a pool near a beach. I would add a library room where I could read and write, a home gym, and a movie theater! 
  6. What’s the best advice you were given?
    My great-grandfather told me in order to succeed in life I should always show up, try hard, and do good. He said this was so I could have options to choose my life, instead of my life being chosen for me.

KHAIRUL SIDDIQI, PHD

ASSISTANT RESEARCH SCIENTIST

Dr. Siddiqi joined the SHARC team in Gainesville in Fall 2020. He started his public health career in the Population Council where he worked for approximately two years on sexual and reproductive health projects in the Bangladesh office.

He has also have worked as a graduate research assistant in different projects, mostly using HIV data, at the University of South Carolina, during his doctoral studies. 

GET TO KNOW DR. SIDDIQI BETTER!

  1. What do you like to do in your free time?
    I love traveling to new places, hanging with friends, listening music, and playing guitar.
  2. Do you have a favorite pet?
    Any cute pet is my favorite pet!
  3. What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
    I am a sapiosexual.
  4. Who inspires you?
    My elder brother (personally) and Bill Gates (professionally). 
  5. If you won the lottery, what would you do with it?
    I will build a boarding school to educate the orphan children of Bangladesh. 
  6. What’s the best advice you were given?
    Stop chasing success and find the value of life.

PATRICIA ZIELINSKI, MPH

RECRUITMENT COORDINATOR

In Spring 2020, Patricia completed her MPH at the University of Florida with and internship with SHARC in Gainesbille. Patricia rejoins SHARC in July 2020 as the Recruitment Coordinator.

She is also starting her fourth year of working at UF Health Shands Hospital in the Medical ICU. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served as an epidemiologist with the St. Johns Department of Health.

GET TO KNOW PATRICIA BETTER!

  1. What do you like to do in your free time?
    I love to doing Orangetheory or going to the gym, taking walks at Sweetwater, or enjoying a beer at Depot Park!
  2. Do you have a favorite pet?
    I think everyone knows this by now – but without a doubt its my kitten, Tuna.
  3. What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
    A lot of people might know this but my whole family lives in Poland, and Polish was my first language!

    I also don’t drink coffee strictly a tea drinker
  4. Who inspires you?
    My mom – she’s my best friend and biggest supporter and is the hardest working person I know.
  5. If you won the lottery, what would you do with it?
    After paying off my student loans (and making sure I have enough money for medical school), I’d pay off any debts me and my mom have and then use the rest of the money to travel periodically throughout my career!
  6. What’s the best advice you were given?
    Something I was told once, was that It’s not always the outcome that matters – its the work that is put in that is the most important.