Lab Alumni

Current Lab Members

Dustin C. Hancks, Ph.D.


Assistant Professor & Principal Investigator


CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research

Dustin was raised a Cubs fan on the Mississippi River in Moline, IL. Following high school, Dustin served in the U.S. Army in Virginia and elsewhere working on cargo ships. In his free time, Dustin enjoys going to rock concerts; he has attended several hundred to date. In addition, he likes hosting cook-off parties including a chili cook-off now entering its eighth year.

  • A.A., Black Hawk College

  • B.S. in Biology, Southern Illinois University

  • Ph.D. in Cell & Molecular Biology, UPenn

  • Postdoc, University of Utah

Publications | Email

 

Tyron Chang


Graduate Student

Tyron graduated from California State University, Chico. After he graduated from college, he worked in the lab of Dr. Tiffany Reese as a technician at UT Southwestern. In her lab, he studied how different immune responses can regulate viral reactivation. After working in the Reese lab, he then joined in the lab of Dr. Dustin Hancks as a graduate student. In the Hancks lab, he studies how micronutrients can shape immune responses during infection.

  • B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell & Molecular Biology from California State University, Chico

  • UTSW Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program​ (2015)

  • Graduate student in the Genetics, Development, & Disease Program

  • Funded under the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (T32) through the UT Southwestern Immunology Training Grant Program (2018-2022)

Publications | Email

Natalia Herrera, M.S.


Research Assistant

Natalia started at UT Southwestern after shortly graduating from UTSA in 2020. In her free time, Natalia loves explore new hiking places with her golden retriever, Chloe, and read an unhealthy amount of books.

  • B.S. in Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas at San Antonio

  • M.S. in Biology with Emphasis in Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas at San Antonio

Publications | Email

Sarahbeth Roberts


Research Technician

Sarahbeth joined the Hancks lab in Summer of 2022. Before coming to UTSW, her background includes work in emergency medicine, a clinical lab, and behavioral animal research in vivariums. When she’s not in the lab, Sarahbeth spends her free time exploring Dallas or curling up at home with her black cat Noire to read a good book.

  • B.S. Psychology, B.A. Performing Arts, Minor in Biology, Minor in Chemistry, Radford University

Publications | Email

Cynnie Tam, M.S.


Graduate Student

Cynnie graduated from San Francisco State University (SFSU) with a B.S. and M.S. She began her research career in Dr. Blake Riggs Lab at SFSU as a volunteer studying neuronal development in Drosophila model where she also did her master’s thesis work. After that, she wanted to join the work force and worked as lab manager/technician with Dr. Adrian Erlebacher at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) studying reproductive immunology. She decided to attend UT Southwestern as a Ph.D. student to further her academic career and joined the Hancks Lab. She likes to cozy up at home with wine, a book, clean & cook, and binge documentaries (mostly true crime). Outside of the house, she likes to be adventurous, hang out with friends, and watch sports.

·      B.S. in Biology with Emphasis in Physiology and Minor in Chemistry (SFSU)

·      M.S. in Biology with Emphasis in Cell and Molecular Biology (SFSU)

Jessica Alvarez

Graduate Student

Jessica received her BS in Biology from UT San Antonio in 2023. She completed her honors thesis in the lab of Dr. Lindsey Macpherson where she participated in projects to further understand the plasticity of the peripheral taste system. After moving to Dallas, she joined the Hancks lab as a graduate student in the spring of 2024. She loves all things virus related and is excited learn more about them.When not in the lab, she enjoys going out to eat, testing new cooking recipes, and watching her favorite shows on Netflix.

  •    B.S. in Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio

  • Favor Adeyinka

    STARS Summer Student (2018)

    Currently:
    Undergraduate at University of Pittsburgh

  • Austin King

    SURF Summer Student (2018 & 2019)

    Currently:
    Ph.D. Student at University of Pennsylvania

  • Dana Truempy

    Research Assistant

    Currently:
    Data Engineer at H-E-B

  • Swetha Velayutham

    Intern (2021)

    Currently: Student at University of Texas at Austin

  • Palmy Jesudhasan, Ph.D.

    Lab Manager/Research Scientist

    Currently:
    Research Microbiologist at USDA-ARS

  • Suzette Palmer, M.S.

    Research Assistant

    Currently:
    Ph.D. student at UT Southwestern Medical Center

  • Mahsa Sorouri, Ph.D.

    Ph.D. Student

    Currently:
    Lab Manager (Harbour Lab) at UT Southwestern Medical Center

  • Yefan Wang

    Intern

    Currently:
    Student at Xiamen University

  • Samrawit Alemu

    Research Technician

    Currently:
    Ph.D. Student at Harvard University

  • Maxine Williams

    SURF Summer Student (2022)

    Currently:
    Senior at UT San Antonio

  • Neha Jayarajan

    Intern

    Currently:
    Junior at UT Austin

  • Avery Arnold

    Intern

    Currently:
    Sophomore at UT Dallas

  • Chelsea Pinkham, Ph.D.

    Postdoctoral Researcher & Lab Manager

    Currently: Technical Applications Scientist II at ThermoFisher

  • Donna Osunde

    Intern

    Currently: Student at Dallas Community College

  • Josh Bailey, M.S.

    Research Assistant

    Currently: Entymologist at Central Garden & Pet Co.

  • Sruthi Chappidi, Ph.D.

    Postdoc, Computational Biologist

  • Angie Esparza

    Research Assistant I

    Currently:

    Research Assistant II at UNTHSC Institute for Translational Research

Previous Lab Rotation Students

Mridula Annaswamy Srinivas (2020)
Mikayla Stokes (2018)
Acacia Young (2018)