The GW Integrated Biomedical Sciences (IBS) PhD Program welcomed its newest graduate student cohort during a White Coat Ceremony on Aug. 20, 2026.
This year marks the program's 30th anniversary. Since its founding, IBS has graduated more than 340 PhD students who have gone on to careers across the biomedical sciences.
Remarks were delivered by Norman Lee, PhD, director of the IBS Program and professor of pharmacology & physiology; Alison Hall, PhD, senior associate dean of research at SMHS and professor of neurology; and Robert Miller, PhD, vice dean of SMHS and Vivian Gill Distinguished Research Professor.
“The enthusiasm that you bring really amplifies all the research that we do,” said Hall. “You are an extremely welcome and treasured part of our research community.”
Introducing the New Cohort
“I’m truly delighted to meet our new students, chosen from over 250 applicants nationwide,” said Lee. Once in the program, students pursue coursework and rotations to select their PhD projects in one of five available PhD programs in the IBS: Cancer Biology, Genomics & Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Immunology, Neuroscience, or Pharmacology & Physiology.
This year’s entering PhD students include:
Nicholas Couchara holds a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Cornell University. Before coming to GW, he worked as a researcher at the Moffitt Cancer Center in the laboratory of Shari Pilon-Thomas, PhD, contributing to seven publications.
Jackson Dardis holds a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology from Elizabethtown College. While there, he received the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in Biology.
Emily Friedman holds a Bachelor of Science in both Biology and Biochemistry from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. In 2025, she received the Undergraduate Achievement in Biochemistry or Biological Chemistry Award from the American Chemical Society.
Rishi Pandey holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from University of Maryland, College Park where he received the University of Maryland President’s Scholarship. He also holds a Master of Science in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology from Johns Hopkins University where he received a Tuition Scholarship.
Coleman Klapheke holds a Bachelor of Science in both Neurobiology and Psychology from University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he also received the William F. Vilas Scholarship.
Kelly Tammen holds a Bachelor of Science in both Cell and Molecular Biology & Neuroscience from Tulane University. She previously received an Outstanding Poster Presentation Award from the Society of General Physiology for her research on KCNMA1 gene mutations.
Mia Yagodich holds a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience from Lehigh University. She also gained international research experience in neurodegeneration at Copenhagen University and King’s College, London where she earned a Master of Science in Neuroscience.
Joshua Fuller holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Haverford College. Prior to joining GW, he served as an ALS research technician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where he also mentored high school students through the CHOP RISES Program.
Valaria Leal holds a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University. She has explored addiction, atherosclerosis, and neurodevelopment through her research experiences at Johns Hopkins and at Children’s National Hospital (Children’s National).
As part of their orientation, members of the new cohort attended a Washington Nationals game, toured research laboratories at Children’s National, and volunteered at the Capital Area Food Bank. They will soon begin the first of three laboratory rotations, an important step in selecting the faculty mentor who will guide them through their doctoral training.
