Team

Kate joined the Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies at The University of Texas at Dallas in January 2023. Kate grew up in southwestern Pennsylvania and attended the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg for her undergraduate studies. She completed her doctoral training with Dr. Ben Kolber at Duquesne University and her postdoctoral training with Dr. Cheryl Stucky at the Medical College of Wisconsin. For over a decade, Kate has been using rodent models to study the neurobiological basis of pain. When she’s not in the lab, Kate enjoys quilting, baking fancy treats, riding her Peloton, and going to Third Eye Blind concerts.

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Ashley, originally from Illinois, earned her BS in Psychology at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA before diving into the Neuroscience PhD graduate program at the University of Iowa in 2019. For her thesis, she researched testosterone’s protective effects on muscle pain under the mentorship of Dr. Kathleen Sluka. After graduating in spring 2024, Ashley joined the Sadler laboratory. Outside the lab, she enjoys going to the gym, discovering cozy spots for drinks, walking the Katy Trail, and relaxing by the pool.

Salma was born in Minnesota and raised in the US and the United Arab Emirates, but she is ethnically from Nyala, Sudan. She completed her BS in neuroscience at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. She then obtained her MS in biology from the Fisk-Vanderbilt Master’s-to-PhD Bridge Program in Nashville, TN where she researched the dopamine metabolism pathway and its effects in movement. She joined the lab in Fall 2023 and has many interests beyond chronic pain. Salma likes to paint, travel, and find hidden gems wherever she goes. (P.S. she is always taking suggestions)

Nya was born in Nebraska and raised in Minnesota. She attended the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN, for her undergraduate studies in biochemistry. Recently, Nya graduated from the Fisk-Vanderbilt Master’s-to-PhD Bridge Program in Nashville, TN, with a master’s in biology. Her master’s research project examined how neural circuits, such as the nociceptive pathway, intersect and interact with the dopaminergic pathway. During her academic journey, Nya grew a strong interest in chronic pain. Outside the lab, Nya enjoys being beside a body of water, discovering new places to eat in Dallas, traveling, fashion, and naps. 

McKenna is a recent graduate of the University of South Carolina Honors College where she studied biochemistry & molecular biology. During her undergraduate career, she grew interested in psychological disorders and the brain in general. She hopes to gain experience in the field of neuroscience research and eventually obtain a PhD in clinical psychology. Outside of the lab, McKenna enjoys eating ice cream, hanging out with her cat, and binging NCIS.

Divya is an undergraduate neuroscience major interested in pursuing a career in medicine and research. She joined the Sadler lab to learn more about chronic pain and internal pain circuits, particularly relating to the gut microbiome, as well as the process behind analgesic drug development. In her free time, Divya enjoys reading, making music, spending time with friends and family, and taking afternoon naps.

Lucia is an undergraduate biochemistry major interested in research and medicine. She joined the Sadler lab because of her interest in the gut microbiome and chronic pain. She loves spending time outside, playing with her dogs, finding cute ice cream shops, and drinking lots of decaf coffee.

Cheri is an undergraduate at UTD studying cognitive science. In the summer of 2022, she worked in Dr. Burton’s Neuroimmunology and Behavior Lab under the Clark Summer Research Program, where she gained an interest in the neuroscience of pain. Cheri’s too-much-time-on-her-hands activities include reading, lifting, crocheting, and successfully not burning the kitchen down.

Juanna is a part of the Clark Summer Program at UTD and enjoys working in the Sadler Lab and conducting research with the team. When she is not working, she is a big Star Wars geek and enjoys watching movies and going on hikes with her family. She also likes to draw, write, and spend time reading books while listening to orchestral music! She also enjoys learning new things and her most recent hobby is crocheting. 

Rooney is originally from Iowa, which explains why she has stolen more than one stick of butter off of the counter in her life. Not a fan of lab work, she prefers to spend her time playing with friends at daycare, finding fun hikes in Dallas, and snuggling on the couch.