Meet the PSI Leadership:

Program Directors

Sam King

Program Co-Director

Sam King (he/him) is a 2nd-year MD/PhD student in the OHSU School of Medicine. His previous research centered on developing drugs designed to target epigenetic complexes involved in cancer. Sam has mentoring and teaching experience as a lab mentor at Purdue University, a Supplemental Instruction Leader for anatomy & physiology, and a tutor in science and math. He is passionate about motivating students to explore careers in science and medicine, aiming to make these fields more accessible.

Sofia Vignolo

Program Co-Director

Sofia Vignolo (she/her) is a 6th-year MD/PhD student in the OHSU Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program. Her research focus is on bone regeneration with a clinical application in reconstructive surgery. She has experience in teaching under the Science Made Sensible program at the University of Miami as well as involvement in tutoring and mentorship throughout her career development. She aims to take an active role in inspiring the future generation of researchers to advance their scientific curiosity.

Teaching Assistants

Erin Santos

Senior Teaching Assistant

Erin Santos is a 4th-year PhD student in the OHSU Neuroscience Graduate Program. Her research focus is on studying the role of glial cells in regulating neural circuits and their impact on brain function. With an academic background in education, she collaborates nationally to provide mentorship and academic support to underserved communities. Passionate about increasing the accessibility of STEM opportunities, Erin encourages lifelong learning and enthusiasm for science.

Kareem Woods

Teaching Assistant

Kareem Woods is a 2nd-year MD/PhD student in the OHSU School of Medicine. His previous research focused on learned associations between cues and rewards in the context of drug relapse. He has previous mentoring and community outreach experience as a post-baccalaureate fellow at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He aims to encourage students of underrepresented backgrounds to pursue opportunities in STEM.

Madison Hupp

Summer Internship Lead

Madie Hupp (she/her) is a 4th-year PhD student in the OHSU Neuroscience Graduate Program. Her research focus is on understanding how the brain undergoes developmental neuronal remodeling through neuron-glia communication and how perturbing necessary remodeling affects behavior. She has experience teaching, tutoring, and mentoring at different stages throughout her career. Madie is passionate about mentoring the future generation of STEM leaders and providing accessible opportunities to help all young researchers succeed.

Alyssa Granados

Teaching Assistant

Alyssa Granados (she/her) is a 3rd-year PhD student in the OHSU Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, focusing on immune-cancer interactions in lung cancer. She brings extensive mentoring and outreach experience, from virtual tutoring during COVID to guiding undergraduate researchers and volunteering with OnTrack and PSI’s mentor team. Alyssa is passionate about supporting students on their path to reach their goals, fostering interest in science among young learners, and breaking down barriers to scientific careers.

Kevin Elk

Teaching Assistant

Kevin Elk is a 3rd-year PhD student in the OHSU Neuroscience Graduate Program. As a member of the Mishra Lab, he is currently studying the molecular mechanisms underpinning the regulation of blood flow to the brain. Kevin is passionate about teaching and is committed to increasing the presence of underrepresented voices in STEM. He believes that in addition to providing information about our natural world, effective science education can develop skills in collaboration and critical thinking, and foster curiosity for life.

Ruhika Prasad

Teaching Assistant

Ruhika Prasad is a 3rd-year medical student at the OHSU School of Medicine and an alumna of the PSI program, where she was first introduced to research in high school. She later studied Alzheimer’s disease in mouse models during college, and most recently was a 2024–2025 NIH Medical Research Scholar, where she focused on how maternal factors influence microbiome transfer at birth. Ruhika has also supported first-year medical students as a tutor and is deeply committed to mentorship, health equity, and uplifting the next generation, especially through programs like PSI that helped shape her own path.

Peter Tran

Teaching Assistant

Peter Tran is a 2nd-year MD/PhD student in the OHSU School of Medicine. His previous research focused on drug discovery in immunotherapy-resistant melanoma, as well as mitochondrial bioenergetics and proteasome degradation in adipose metabolism. Peter is now studying the role of tumor-immune hybrid cells in cancer progression and metastasis. He has extensive mentoring experience from his time at UCLA as both an undergraduate and master’s student, and continues to mentor during medical school. His goal is to provide accessible opportunities for all students interested in science and medicine.

Arthi Inagandla

Teaching Assistant

Arthi Inagandla (she/her) is a second-year MD/MPH student at the OHSU School of Medicine. Her journey began at community college and continued at UC Berkeley, where she dedicated much of her time to tutoring and mentoring fellow students, as well as local high schoolers. She is interested in a variety of medical specialties including surgery specialties, gynecological oncology, and internal medicine. Arthi is deeply passionate about increasing access to medicine and science, especially by empowering high school and community college students to pursue careers in the scientific and medical fields

Faculty Leaders

Ramon Barajas, M.D.

Faculty Sponser

A neuroradiologist and physician-scientist, Dr. Barajas now co-leads the BBB Program with Dr. Muldoon following Dr. Neuwelt’s retirement. His research focuses on advancing tumor-specific drug delivery through innovations in imaging and a deeper understanding of the tumor immune-metabolic microenvironment. Dr. Barajas is committed to fostering an inclusive research environment and mentoring the next generation of physician-scientists.

Leslie L. Muldoon, Ph.D.

Faculty Sponser

An Associate Professor of Neurology and Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Dr. Muldoon has directed the BBB program’s preclinical research labs since 1990. Her collaborative work continues with Dr. Ramon Barajas on novel MRI-based strategies to better understand and treat brain tumors. Dr. Muldoon has been a longtime supporter of the PSI program with the goal of making scientific careers more accessible.

Previous leadership:

The PSI program has an extensive history spanning over two decades, previously directed by a distinguished line of individuals: James Rosenbaum, MD, Edward Neuwelt, MD, Richard Rosenbaum, MD, Tammy Martin, PhD, Leslie Muldoon, PhD, DreeAnna Morris, BS, CPIA, & Hayleigh Ast, ND.

Past Teaching Assistants (TAs):

We also want to acknowledge the contributions of our past TAs who played a vital role in shaping the program's success: Viviane Cahen, MD, Brittny Flynn, MD, & Lola Sosanya.

We are always looking for more TAs and

support, so email us if you are interested!