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Dr. Tapasree Roy Sarkar, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator

Dr. Tapasree Roy Sarkar received her Ph.D. from the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE), Purdue University. Dr. Sarkar did her postdoctoral research at the NIH/NCI and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.  She received a prestigious NIH T32 Bioinformatics fellowship at Texas A&M University. She is trained in an interdisciplinary field bringing together the knowledge of Cancer Biology,  Bioinformatics, Metabolomics, Molecular Biology, and Nanotechnology.  Her research work is published in PNAS, Oncogene, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Cancer Research, Oncotarget, Genome Biology, Neoplasia, Breast Cancer Research, Bioinformatics. Dr. Sarkar serves as an associate editor for the Cancer Cell International, and, the Journal of Stem Cell Research & Therapeutics. She serves on the editorial board of Frontiers in Oncology, Acta Scientific Cancer Biology and The Journal of Analytical Oncology. 

 

Education & Training:

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Ph.D., Purdue University, Biological Engineering

Postdoc, National Institute of Health/National Cancer Institute (NIH/NCI)

Postdoc, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

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Selected Awards: 

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  • Panther Research and Innovation for Scholarly Excellence (PRISE) Award, 2024

  • Southeastern Conference (SEC) Faculty Travel Program award, 2024

  • TAMU Junior Faculty Travel Award, 2023

  • Advanced NCFDD Faculty Success Fellow, Spring, 2023

  • NIH T32 Bioinformatics Fellowship, 2018

  • Fellows Award for Research Excellence (FARE), NIH, 2011

  • Scholar-in-Training Award, EMT and Cancer Progression and Treatment, AACR, Arlington, VA, 2010

  • Travel Grant Award at the 6th Annual Plant Sciences Institute Symposium.  3rd International Congress on Plant Metabolomics, Iowa State University, 2004

  • Sigma-Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research (Biochemistry /Cell Biology Division), 2003

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Research Personnel





   

                    
 
                              

Mrinmoy Sarkar

Olajumoke Ogunlusi

Kayla Carter

Postdoctoral Researcher

Graduate Student

Graduate Student

Mrinmoy received his Ph.D. degree from India and has worked as a Research Scientist at the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB). His research in the Sarkar lab investigates the role of the tumor microenvironment on tumor progression and drug response.

Ola is a Ph.D. student in the Sarkar Lab (Joined in 2022, fall). She has a Bachelor’s degree in Cell Biology and Genetics from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. Her research investigates the impact of circadian disruption on mammary tumorigenesis and mammary microenvironment. Outside the lab, she enjoys spending time with family and friends during her free time.

Kayla is a Ph.D. student in the Sarkar Lab (Joined in 2023, Fall). She has a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from Mississippi State University.  She is investigating the role of cancer associated fibroblasts in tumor progression and drug response in breast cancer. Outside the lab, she enjoys traveling, shopping, and spending time with family.

Harshini Davuluri

Graduate Student

Harshini is a graduate student (Joined in 2023) in MBIOT at Texas A&M and holds a bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from Vellore Institute of Technology, India. Her research interests include Molecular Biology, Stem cell Engineering, and Cancer Biology. Outside the lab, she enjoys reading books and traveling.

Trenton Stewart

Graduate Student

Trenton is a graduate student in the Sarkar Lab (Joined in 2024). He has a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Texas A&M University. His research is investigating the impact of circadian disruption on mammary gland. In his free time he enjoys spending time with friends and family. 

Aaryan Amin
 

Aaryan is a class of 2025 Business Honors major from Austin, Texas, and is in the University Honors program. After completing his undergraduate degree, he plans to attend medical school. He enjoys photography/videography, reading, and martial arts. He is working on how tumor heterogeneity reshapes the tumor microenvironment to influence drug resistance.

Undergraduate Student

    David Arreola

David Arreola is a biology student from Flower Mound, Texas. He is planning on going to medical school. In his free time, he enjoys watching movies and playing board games. He is expecting to graduate in 2025 from the College of Science Biology department with a B.S. in Biology. He is working on the anti-cancer and cardioprotective properties of a vitamin derivative/metabolite in breast cancer.

Undergraduate Student

Christan Nguyen

Subiksha Sankar

Christian is a Biology major from Colleyville, TX. Upon receiving his undergraduate degree in 2026, Christian plans to go to medical school. In his free time, he enjoys playing the piano, competing in tennis, playing video games, and spending time with his friends and family!

Undergraduate Student

Subiksha Sankar is a Biology major from Prosper, TX. She will graduate in 2025 and plans on entering medical school. In her free time, she loves to go on hikes, listen to music, and try new cuisines with friends!

Undergraduate Student

Hamzah Mir

Hamzah is a  Biology major from Houston, Texas. Upon receiving his undergraduate degree in 2026, he plans on attending medical school. In his free time, Hamzah enjoys playing basketball and powerlifting. He is working on the effect of circadian disruption on breast tumor progression.

Undergraduate Student

Leslie Favela

Undergraduate Student

Leslie Favela is a Microbiology major with a minor in English and Public Health from Rio Grande City, Texas. She is expected to graduate in 2026. After receiving her undergraduate degree, Leslie plans on attending medical school. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and playing the piano!  

Soham Mazumdar

Undergraduate Student

Soham is a class of 2026 Biology Honors major from Houston, Texas. Upon receiving his undergraduate degree in 2026, he plans on attending medical school. In his free time, Soham enjoys playing basketball, watching movies, and listening to music

Elaina Moss

Undergraduate Student

Elaina is a biomedical sciences major from Houston, Texas. She plans on attending medical school after graduating. In her free time, Elaina enjoys fencing, writing, dancing, and making music! She is working on the anti-cancer properties of novel nanomaterials in breast cancer.

   




Alumni

Shaikh Aslam (2018-2019)
Valerie Cantu (2018-2019)
Cody King (2019-2020)
Jonathan Hoar (2020-2021) (Current position: Research Assistant, UTSW)

Issa Abujeries (2021) (Medical School: Texas Tech)
Rachel RajaSuresh (2021-2022)
Anuj Maniyar (2021-2022) (Current position: Medical School, University of North Texas)
Christina Garcia (2021-2022) (Current position: Texas A&M Medical School)
Laura Lee (2021-2022)
Quinn Fan (2020-2022) (Curre
nt Position: Sam Houston Medical School)
Tristan Nguyen (2021-2023, (Current Position: MD-PhD, UTMB/MD Anderson)
Esheksha Gundre, (Current position: Andelyn Biosciences)
Ashley Nguyen (2021-2023)
James Sampson (2022-2024), (Current position: NMED, Texas A&M University)





Summer Interns (STEM):
Mansi Patel (Clemson High School, Summer, 2022)
Saketh Sadhanala (Rick Reedy High School, Summer, 2022)
Mrunmayee Gokhale (Cypress Ranch High School, Summer, 2023)
Christopher Teichmann (Austin College, Summer, 2024), NSF-SURGe Program
Carrington Williams (PVAMU, Summer, 2024), NIH- GREAT Genomics UG Research Experience #STEM 
Abhimanyu Arekere, (University of Texas, Austin, Summer, 2024) #STEM
Marian Taha (College Station High School, Summer, 2024) #STEM



 

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