Bernard S. and Sophie G. Gould Fund
The Bernard S. and Sophie G. Gould Fund was established in 2016 to support students participating MIT’s Summer Research Program in Biology (MSRP-Bio), now known as the Bernard S. and Sophie G. Gould MIT Summer Research Program in Biology (BSG-MSRP-Bio). MSRP-Bio was established in 2003 by Mike Gould and Sara Moss to provide an intensive research experience for undergraduate students from institutions with limited research opportunities — increasing the number of underrepresented minority students, first generation college students, and students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds entering PhD or MD/PhD programs. To date, more than 400 students have participated in MSRP-Bio, and nearly 100 have enrolled at MIT for graduate school.
Gould Fellows
2024
Adriana Camacho-Badillo
Home: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Undergraduate Institution: The University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla
MSRP Lab: Calo
Owen Eby
Home: Maryland
Undergraduate Institution: Mount St. Mary’s University
MSRP Lab: Schwartz
Ananya Hota
Home: Charlotte, North Carolina
Undergraduate Institution: Howard University
MSRP Lab: Grossman
Praise Lasekan
Home: Ondo State, Nigeria
Undergraduate Institution: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
MSRP Lab: Vos
Shante Pérez Nieto
Home: Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Undergraduate Institution: The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
MSRP Lab: Li
Pearl Dlamini
Home: Eswatini
Undergraduate Institution: Middlebury College
MSRP Lab: Jacks
Emily Freko
Home: Accra, Ghana
Undergraduate Institution: College of Idaho
MSRP Lab: Sanchez-Rivera
Wesley Grace
Home: Bremen, Georgia
Undergraduate Institution: Georgia State University
MSRP Lab: Yilmaz
Yeongseo Son
Home: Murfreesboro, Tenessee
Undergraduate Institution: University of Georgia
MSRP Lab: Spranger
Ndongwa Pemba
Home: Georgia
Undergraduate Institution: Agnes Scott College
MSRP Lab: Moura Silva
Mozani Zianti
Home: Arizona
Undergraduate Institution: University of Arizona
MSRP Lab: Ringel
Anna Gerasimenko
Home: Illinois
Undergraduate Institution: University of Illinois at Chicago
MSRP Lab: Oni
2023
Fareeda Abu-Juam
Home: Massachusetts
Undergraduate Institution: College of Wooster, ’24
MSRP Lab: Joey Davis
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD student in Computational Biology, Carnegie-Mellon University
TrishaJean Holt
Home: North Carolina
Undergraduate Institution: Liberty University, ’24
MSRP Lab: Littleton
Chibuikem Iheagwaram
Home: Nigeria
Undergraduate Institution: Fisk University, ’25
MSRP Lab: Boyer
Abigail Meyer
Home: New York
Undergraduate Institution: Brooklyn College, ’24
MSRP Lab: Lamason
Michelle Osiro
Home: Nairobi, Kenya
Undergraduate Institution: Macalester College, ’24
MSRP Lab: Jacks
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD student in Biology at MIT
Manasiben Patel
Home: Minnesota
Undergraduate Institution: Shippensburg University, ’24
MSRP Lab: Lev
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD student, Duke University
Veronica Perez Taboada
Home: Florida
Undergraduate Institution: Barry University, ’24
MSRP Lab: Lehmann
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD student, University of Florida
Thomas Schodl
Home: Missouri
Undergraduate Institution: Truman State University, ’24
MSRP Lab: Case
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD student, Washington University at St. Louis
Cyrille Teforlack
Home: Arizona
Undergraduate Institution: Bethune-Cookman University, ’23
MSRP Lab: Reddien
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD student, Duke University
Christina Volpe
Home: Connecticut
Undergraduate Institution: University of Florida, ’25
MSRP Lab: Spranger 2023, Tobi Oni 2024
Ross Wood
Home: Georgia
Undergraduate Institution: Kennesaw State University, ’24
MSRP Lab: Laub
Post MSRP-Bio: Research technician, Whitehead Institute (PI Lindsey Bachman)
Henoc Zinga
Home: Georgia
Undergraduate Institution: Vanderbilt University, ’24
MSRP Lab: Vos
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD student in Biology at MIT
2022
Rita Anoh
Home: Maryland
Undergraduate Institution: Mt. Saint Mary’s University, ’23
MSRP Lab: Joey Davis
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD student, Department of Biology, MIT (PI Thomas Schwartz)
Payton Dupuis
Home: Montana
Undergraduate Institution: Montana State, ’23
MSRP Lab: Troy Littleton
Post MSRP-Bio: PostBac student, Department of Biology Brain & Cognitive Sciences, MIT (PI Troy Littleton)
Sheanel Gardner
Home: Jamaica
Undergraduate Institution: Fisk University, ’23
MSRP Lab: Chris Burge
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Rockefeller University
Kevin Gibbons
Home: Maryland
Undergraduate Institution: University of Maryland, Baltimore County, ’23
MSRP Lab: Jacqueline Lees
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Department of Biology, MIT (PI Sarah Prescott)
Ellen Irving
Home: New York
Undergraduate Institution: Rochester University, ’23
MSRP Lab: Amy Keating
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD student, Department of Biology, MIT (PI Amy Keating)
Gabriel Jimenez
Home: Puerto Rico
Undergraduate Institution: University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, ’23
MSRP Lab: Yadira Soto-Feliciano
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD student, University of Michigan
Channon Lawrence
Home: New York
Undergraduate Institution: Farmingdale State College, ’24
MSRP Lab: Cathy Drennan
Post MSRP-Bio: United University Professions (UUP) College Scholarship Award
Madeleine Milner
Home: Arizona
Undergraduate Institution: University of Arizona, ’23
MSRP Lab: Thomas Schwartz
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD in Biochemistry, UCLA
Diego Pomales
Home: Puerto Rico
Undergraduate Institution: University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, ’24
MSRP Lab: Francisco Sanchez-Rivera
Post MSRP-Bio: NSF GRFP, PhD in Genetics, Stanford University
Isadora Rocha de Abreu
Home: Brazil
Undergraduate Institution: Nova Southeastern University, ’23
MSRP Lab: Seychelle Vos
Alejandra Rosario
Home: Puerto Rico
Undergraduate Institution: University of Puerto Rico, Cayey, ’23
MSRP Lab: Matthew Vander Heiden
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD, University of Michigan
Javonte Thelwell
Home: New York
Undergraduate Institution: Florida International University, ’23
MSRP Lab: Stephen Bell
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD student, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andres Villalobos
Home: Venezuela
Undergraduate Institution: University of Georgia, ’23
MSRP Lab: Peter Reddien
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD student, Northwestern University
2021
Samantha Nelson
Home: New York
Undergraduate Institution: University at Buffalo ’22
MSRP Lab: Matthew Vander Heiden
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD student, Department of Biology, MIT (PI Tyler Jackson)
Bailey Bowcutt
Home: Wyoming
Undergraduate Institution: Michigan State University ’23, Goldwater Fellowship
MSRP Lab: Becky Lamason
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Harvard University
Gabriel O Pagan-Gonzalez
Home: Puerto Rico
Undergraduate Institution:University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez ’22
MSRP Lab: Yukiko Yamashita
Post MSRP-Bio:: PhD Student, Harvard University
Paulina Rios
Home: Texas
Undergraduate Institution:University of Texas at El Paso ’23
MSRP Lab: Catherine Drennan
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Department of Biology, MIT (PI Francisco Sánchez-Rivera)
Talyia Griffin
Home: Georgia
Undergraduate Institution: Albany State University ’23
MSRP Lab: Michael Laub
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Biology, Cornell University
Sybrina Kerr
Home: Jamaica
Undergraduate Institution: Claflin University ’22
MSRP Lab: Joey Davis
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD student, Baylor College of Medicine
Katie Holland
Home: Texas
Undergraduate Institution: Angelo State University ’22
MSRP Lab: Tyler Jacks
Post MSRP-Bio: Goldwater Scholarship, Technician at Prime Medicine Inc.
Alejandra Ramos
Home: Florida
Undergraduate Institution: Florida International University ’22
MSRP Lab: Amy Keating
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Department of Biology, MIT (PI Vick Young)
Mario Coll
Home: Florida
Undergraduate Institution: Florida International University ’22
MSRP Lab: Seychelle Vos
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Department of Biology, MIT (PI Thomas Schwartz)
Chidera Okeke
Home: Nigeria
Undergraduate Institution: Fisk University ’22
MSRP Lab: Adam Martin
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Department of Biology, MIT (PI Olivia Corradin)
Victoria Howard
Home: Tennessee
Undergraduate Institution: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville ’22
MSRP Lab: Ankur Jain
Alexandria Jefferson
Home: Georgia
Undergraduate Institution: University of Georgia ’22
MSRP Lab: Tobiloba Oni
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Department of Biology, MIT
Shawn Soares
Home: Arizona
Undergraduate Institution: Western New Mexico University ’22
MSRP Lab: Tyler Jacks
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Immunology Program, Washington University St. Louis
2020
Toni-Ann Nelson
Home: Jamaica
Undergraduate Institution: Alcorn State University ’20
MSRP Lab: Tyler Jacks
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Northwestern
Lillian Delacruz
Home: Arizona
Undergraduate Institution: University of Arizona ’21
MSRP Lab: Matthew Vander Heiden
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Department of Biology, MIT
Shakira Crespo
Home: Puerto Rico
Undergraduate Institution: University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez ’21
MSRP Lab: Iain Cheeseman
Katie Blackwell
Home: Texas
Undergraduate Institution: University of Texas at Dallas ’20
MSRP Lab: Joey Davis
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Department of Biology, MIT
Alejandra Flores
Home: Mexico
Undergraduate Institution: University of Texas at El Paso ’21
MSRP Lab: Tyler Jacks
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Vanderbilt University
Diego Detrés
Home: Puerto Rico
Undergraduate Institution: University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez ’22
MSRP Lab: Eliezer Calo
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Department of Biology, MIT (PI Francisco Sánchez-Rivera & Eliezer Calo)
2019
Sebastian Cruz-Gonzalez
Home: Puerto Rico
Undergraduate Institution: University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras ’20
MSRP Lab: Christopher Burge
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, UCSF School of Pharmacy
Trae Dunn
Home: Georgia
Undergraduate Institution: Kennesaw State University ’21, Goldwater Fellowship
MSRP Lab: Robert Horvitz
Post MSRP-Bio: MD/PhD Student, Stanford University
Stephanie Guerra
Home: Puerto Rico
Undergraduate Institution: University of Puerto Rico at Humacao ’21
MSRP Lab: Michael Laub
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD student, Emory University School of Medicine
Jeandele Elliot
Home: Saint Lucia
Undergraduate Institution: Howard University ’21
MSRP Lab: Jing-Ke Weng
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Standford University
Meucci Ilunga
Home: Arizona
Undergraduate Institution: University of Arizona ’20
MSRP Lab: Amy Keating
Post MSRP-Bio: Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Johns Hopkins University
Sara Zoghi Tavana
Home: Iran
Undergraduate Institution: Suffolk University ’20
MSRP Lab: Troy Littleton
Post MSRP-Bio: Technician at MIT, PhD Student, Brain & Cognitive Sciences, MIT (PI Ed Boyden)
2018
Nicolas Arp
Home: Iowa
Undergraduate Institution: Wartburg College ’19
MSRP Lab: David Sabatini
Post MSRP-Bio: MD/PhD program, University of Wisconsin at Madison
Elizabeth Bond
Home: Massachusetts
Undergraduate Institution: UMass Amherst ’19
MSRP Lab: Tania Baker
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Tetrad program, University of California, San Francisco
Calvin Herman
Home: Indonesia
Undergraduate Institution: Hunter College ’20
MSRP Lab: Alan Grossman
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Student, Rockefeller University
Gabriela Lopez-Perez
Home: Puerto Rico
Undergraduate Institution: University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez ‘ 20
MSRP Lab: Mary Gehring
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD student, Department of Biology, MIT
Overbeck Christian Takou Mbah
Home: Senegal
Undergraduate Institution: UMass Boston ’19
MSRP Lab: Phillip Sharp
Post MSRP-Bio: Medical School, Stanford University
Giselle Valdes
Home: Miami
Undergraduate Institution: Florida International University ’19
MSRP lab: Eliezer Calo
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD program, MIT Department of Biology (Peter Redien)
2017
Yamilex Acevedo
Home: Puerto Rico
Undergraduate Institution: University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez ’18
MSRP Lab: Alan Grossman
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD program, MIT Department of Biology ’23
Asmita Panthi
Home: Nepal
Undergraduate Institution: South Carolina State ’19
MSRP Lab: Tyler Jacks
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD program (pharmacology), University of Pennsylvania
Elizabeth Gorodetsky
Home: New York
Undergraduate Institution: Hunter College ’18
MSRP Lab: Matthew Vander Heiden
Post MSRP-Bio: MD/PhD program, New York University
Bruna Lima
Home: Cape Verde
Undergraduate Institution: UMass Boston ’18
MSRP Lab: Gene-Wi Li
Post MSRP-Bio: M.S. Degree in Computational and Systems Biology, MIT
Samuel Nkrumah
Home: Ghana
Undergraduate Institution: Fisk University ’18
MSRP Lab: Thomas Schwartz
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD Program in Bioinformatics, UC San Diego
Bertina Telusma
Home: Haiti
Undergraduate Institution: Barry University ’18
MSRP Lab: Stephen Bell
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD program, MIT Department of Biology
2016
Chantel Acevero
Home: Trinidad and Tobago
Undergraduate Institution: Howard University ’18
MSRP Lab: Martin Polz
Austin Maduka
Home: Maryland
Undergraduate Institution: University of Maryland, Baltimore County ’17
MSRP Lab: Susan Lindquist
Post MSRP-Bio: MD/PhD program, Duke University
Patience Mukashyaka
Home: Rwanda
Undergraduate Institution: Spelman College ’18
MSRP Lab: Tania Baker
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD program (bioinformatics), Jackson Laboratory
Francis Reilly
Home: Puerto Rico
Undergraduate Institution: University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus ’18
MSRP Lab: Troy Littleton
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD program, MIT Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Sheena Vasquez
Home: Guyana
Undergraduate Institution: University of Georgia ’17
MSRP Lab: Catherine Drennan
Post MSRP-Bio: PhD program, MIT Department of Biology ’22; Gould Fellow, Gilliam Fellow and NSF GRFP recipient; Postdoc, Stanford University
George Zakusilo
Home: Ukraine
Undergraduate Institution: Hunter College ’17
MSRP Lab: Wendy Gilbert
Post MSRP-Bio: MD/PhD Tri-Institutional program, Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan Kettering