Abigail Benvie, Ph.D.

Abby completed her Ph.D. at Cornell University in 2024, where she studied the signaling pathways that regulate adipose and skeletal muscle development and homeostasis. Abby is now a postdoctoral researcher in the Horsley Lab interested in the role of sensory neurons during wound repair.

Maria Fernanda Forni, Ph.D.

Nanda is from Brazil and received her Ph.D. from the University of Sao Paulo and Cambridge University. She received a Pew Fellowship to study how metabolism impacts wound healing in the Horsley Lab. Her overarching goal as a scientist is to understand how metabolism regulates cell fate and function in mammalian skin and how this process is derailed during aging. She also advocates for a more humane and equitable way of doing science by being part of the WISAY, ASCB WICB, and WIS Redox Biology Society, where she helps organize events and mentoring series.

Yiting Xu (Ting)

Yiting Xu (Ting) is a graduate student characterizing the role of immune cell metabolism during skin wound healing. She is originally from Shanghai, China and got her B.S. at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, where she studied molecular interactions and biochemical mechanisms during the process of bacterial protein toxins causing toxic effects on animal cells.

Aya Nassereddine, PhD

Aya earned her Ph.D. in Biophysics from the CINaM laboratory in France in 2019, where she focused on surface patterning strategies to study T-cell adhesion and actin organization. She was subsequently recognized as a "Young Innovative Doctor 2020" in the southern region of France. Transitioning into the role of R&D engineer, Aya contributed to the establishment of a startup specializing in nano-substrate fabrication with SATT Sud-Est.

As a postdoctoral researcher in the Horsley Lab in the MCDB department, Aya investigates the mechanical regulation of skin fibrosis using mouse and tissue culture models. Beyond her academic work, Aya maintains an active lifestyle, engaging in sports like pickleball, tennis, and outdoor activities such as biking and running. She is a fan of the lifestyles of people living in blue zones and is actively seeking her ikigai, with the dream of eventually living in one of these regions.