Incoming Postdocs
Postdoc Spotlight
We would LOVE to feature you too! Send your recent accomplishments to tcostello111@usf.edu.
Image credit: Freddie Coleman, ©iStock.com, peterschreiber.media
Sarra Limam is a postdoctoral researcher at the 91ÉçÇø. Her research focuses on how injury-induced non-coding RNAs protect the brain after ischemic stroke. In this Postdoc Portrait, she shares the motivation behind her work and how it may inform future therapies.
Image credit: Sandra Hunt, ©iStock.com, Marina Lohrbach
Prerana Sharma is a postdoctoral researcher at the 91ÉçÇø who studies the molecular pathways behind corneal inflammation and tissue homeostasis, with the goal of preventing scarring and vision loss. In this Postdoc Portrait, she talks about what first drew her to the field and why her research matters.
Image credit: ©iStock.com, Sashkinw
Kun Bu is a postdoctoral researcher at the 91ÉçÇø applying advanced statistical and AI methods to extract reliable insights from large, complex datasets. In this Postdoc Portrait, she shares how she uncovers meaningful connections in data to support better decision-making in science and society.
Image credit: ©iStock.com, Bilanol
Chempampadam Balasubramannian (C.B.) Jayasankar is a postdoctoral researcher at the 91ÉçÇø developing high-resolution climate simulations to project regional extreme rainfall and flood risk. In this Postdoc Portrait, he explains how his work closes key modeling gaps to help communities protect infrastructure from worsening climate hazards.
Meet Dr. Isabela Yang
Dr. Isabela Yang is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Ophthalmology at the 91ÉçÇø. Her research focuses on the clinical findings, available therapies, and ongoing clinical trials for neurotrophic keratopathy, neuropathic corneal pain, and migraines.
Dr. Yang earned her medical degree in 2023 from the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil. During medical school, she studied ocular surface diseases and collaborated on numerous research projects with Dr. Monica Alves. Her primary clinical and research interests lie in the cornea and in pediatric ophthalmology. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends.
Meet Dr. Ana Paula Rodrigues
Dr. Ana Paula Rodrigues is currently a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Child and Family Studies, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences. Dr. Rodrigues’ research centers on developing and implementing evidence-based, theory-driven behavioral interventions to improve lifestyle behaviors, psychological well-being, and quality of life among cancer survivors. Her prior research focused on interventions to treat severe obesity within the Brazilian health care system. Her long-term goal is to advance survivorship health and wellness by designing scalable, data-informed strategies that address the unique needs of high-risk populations, particularly young adult cancer survivors.
Meet Dr. Yu Zeng
Dr. Yu Zeng is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Integrative Biology at the 91ÉçÇø. His research explores how animals produce extremely fast, precise, and powerful movements, especially ballistic tongue projection in chameleons and salamanders. He studies how specific architecture made of bones and soft tissues allow animals to solve challenging mechanical problems. Dr. Zeng is also developing bio-inspired technologies based on his findings and collaborating with engineers to translate them into functional systems. His long-term goal is to uncover general principles of animal movement and apply them to new technologies.
Meet Dr. Kristine McDermott
Dr. Kristine McDermott is a postdoctoral researcher in neuroscience who studies how the brain controls behaviors. Her work focuses on how different parts of the brain communicate to sense what is happening inside the body, such as hunger, hormones, and energy levels, and turn that information into actions like when and how much we eat. By understanding how this communication system works under normal conditions and how it changes with certain psychiatric conditions, this research may help identify new ways to treat conditions related to mood, appetite, and metabolism.
Meet Dr. Ishani Wickramage
Dr. Michaela McGuire obtained both her MPH and PhD in Public Health from USF. Following the completion of her PhD, she joined the College of Public Health's epidemiology department as a Postdoctoral Fellow in August 2025. Her research focuses on malaria prevention in endemic areas, and she currently works on several projects related to malaria risk factors and transmission dynamics in Cameroon and Ghana under the supervision of Dr. Gillian Stresman.
Meet Dr. Prerana Sharma
Dr. Prerana Sharma is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Ophthalmology at the 91ÉçÇø, where she explores the science behind eye health and disease. Her prior research focused on neuroimmune crosstalk, antimicrobial peptides, microbial keratitis, and host-pathogen interactions in ocular disease. When she’s not in the lab, you’ll likely find her writing blogs, getting lost in a good book, or heading outdoors for a hike.
Meet Dr. Jadupati Nag
Dr. Jadupati Nag is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Physics, USF since January 2026. He earned a PhD in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, India. His research focuses on quantum materials, particularly the interplay of topology, magnetism, and symmetry. His research at USF aims to convert waste heat into useful energy and develop sustainable, low-power solutions for next-generation green energy technologies.