AAPS - USC STUDENT CHAPTER
The AAPS University of Southern California (USC) Student Chapter was established in 1996 by graduate students Neil Mathias, Wilson Meng, and Silvia da Costa in the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy.
The USC Student Chapter was one of the only four student organizations within AAPS in 1996. While its chapter members have continued to uphold the chapter's reputation for active involvement in speaker programs, social events, and networking, AAPS - USC Student Chapter's main pride lies in the success of its annual "Moving Targets" multidisciplinary symposium.
MOVING TARGETS 2019 - AI Real Solutions
How Big Data is Revolutionizing Medicine from Bench to Bedside
Amy Tran is a second year PhD student at the USC School of Pharmacy. She completed her Bachelor's degree at the University of California, Irvine in Biological Sciences, as well as a Master's degree in Regulatory Sciences at USC. Prior to pursuing a doctoral degree, she worked as a Regulatory Compliance Specialist at Metagenics Inc. Amy is currently working in Dr. Martine Culty's lab where she studies the toxicological effects of endocrine disrupting compounds and COX inhibitors on male germ cell development.
Rita Li is a second-year Ph.D. student at the USC School of Pharmacy. She received her Bachelor of Science in biological science from University of Southern California. Rita used to work in Dr. Jean Chen Shih's lab in TMZ-resistant glioma cell project and is currently working in the Dr. Stan Louie's Lab as part of the cigarette-smoking project.
Samuel Garza is a first-year Ph.D. student at the USC School of Pharmacy. He completed his Bachelor's degree in Biology at California State University, Los Angeles. He continued his education at California State University, Los Angeles for his Master's degree in Biology. Currently, Samuel is working in the lab of Dr. Vassilios Papadopoulos, where he studies the effect of the DINCH plasticizer on biological systems.
Amy Tran
CHAIR
Zeyang (Rita) Li
VICE CHAIR
Samuel Garza
SECRETARY
Yue Zhang is a Ph.D. candidate at the USC School of Pharmacy. She completed her Master's degree at Cornell University. Yue is currently working in the Dr. Curtis Okamoto's Lab, where she studies the function of Nlrp12, which is a Pattern Recognition Receptor in the innate immunity.
Melanie is a second year PhD student at the USC School of Pharmacy. She received her Bachelor’s degree at the University of California, San Diego in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Melanie is currently a student in Dr. Vassilios Papadopoulos’ lab where she is studying the protein-protein interactions that are important in the transport of cholesterol into the mitochondria for steroid biosynthesis.
Charlie Chen is a first-year graduate student majoring in Healthcare Decision Analysis at the USC School of Pharmacy. He completed his Bachelor's degree in Biology at University of Science and Technology of China.
Yue Zhang
TREASURER
Melanie Galano
CO-COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR
Charlie Chen
CO-COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR
Minchang Choi is a first year Ph.D Student at the USC School of Pharmacy. He completed his Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey. Minchang is currently co-mentored by Dr. Andrew MacKay and Dr. Sarah Hamm-Alvarez and he is working on identifying potential therapeutic and diagnostic targets for Sjögren's syndrome.
Minchang Choi
CO-SOCIAL CHAIR
Liz Aguiniga is the Associate Director for The Office of Graduate Affairs at the USC School of Pharmacy and serves as the Staff Liaison for the AAPS Board. Dr. Aguiniga received her Ph.D. from the Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences at Northwestern University. Dr. Aguiniga serves the graduate student population by providing academic and professional development opportunities for the students.
Lizath Aguiniga, Ph.D.
STAFF LIAISON
Christina is a second year PhD student at USC School of Pharmacy. She received her Bachelor’s degree at McGill University in Pharmacology, with a minor in Computer Science. Christina is currently a student in Dr. Vassilios Papadopoulos’ lab where she is studying alternative pathways for steroid synthesis in the brain.
Christina Lin
CO-SOCIAL CHAIR
Houda Alachkar received her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the Ohio State University in 2012 and received a PharmD degree from Ohio Northern University. She completed a fellowship in Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics at the University of Chicago before she joined the University of Southern California (USC) School of Pharmacy as an Assistant Professor in 2015. Dr. Alachkar's translational research focuses on experimental therapeutics and pharmacogenomics, particularly in acute leukemia.
Houda Alachkar, Ph.D.
FACULTY ADVISOR