Team

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. 

Aditi is an undergraduate neuroscience major interested in pursuing medicine. Wanting to combine her past experiences of pain and gut microbiome research, she joined the Sadler Lab. When she’s not in the lab, she enjoys fostering puppies, going on walks with friends, traveling to new places, and taking photos of said puppies and travel.  

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.