This article is part of a series of profiles for SOLS alumni stories. In this month's edition, we cover 6 alumni including recent graduates and alumni who were at SOLS when it first began 20 years ago. Read part 1 here

Nicholas Maalouf - Class of 2017

A team of researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have generated the first complete chromosome sequences from non-human primates. Published in Nature, these sequences uncover remarkable variation between the Y chromosomes of different species, showing rapid evolution, in addition to revealing previously unstudied regions of great ape genomes. Since these primate species are the closest living relatives to humans, the new sequences can provide insights into human evolution. 

Bryan Yavari, a 2024 graduate who majored in neuroscience, has closed the chapter of his collegiate career filled with numerous achievements. Yavari chose to study neuroscience after a years-long interest in the brain, how it works and the research opportunities available to discover what is not yet known about it. During his undergraduate career in SOLS, Yavari led two projects focusing on cancer in the Arizona Cancer Evolution Center.

Each year, the Arizona State University Faculty Women’s Association (FWA) recognizes outstanding faculty mentors and distinguished graduate students at their annual awards program.

The FWA is an organization dedicated to providing support for faculty success and innovation at ASU. Since its founding in 1954, the FWA has served as an important resource to all faculty through our programming, advocacy efforts and special networking events.

Dementia, an umbrella term used to describe various forms of cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia, affects millions worldwide. With an expected surge to over 130 million cases by 2050, the search for effective treatments and early diagnostic methods is more urgent than ever. The personal impact of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's, cannot be overstated. As we witness loved ones struggle with the disease, we're reminded of the critical importance of understanding and addressing dementia.

Note: This story is part of an ongoing series profiling graduate students in the School of Life Sciences. See April's featured students here. 

Gissel Marquez Alcaraz – Evolutionary Biology 

What do cancer, cacti, and kombucha have in common?  

For Gissel Marquez Alcaraz, a third year PhD candidate in the Evolutionary Biology program, they’re all model systems for studying evolution.