UT Southwestern STARS Program

☀️ 2026 STARS Summer Seminar Series: Session 5

We were honored to welcome Margaret Phillips, PhD, Professor and Chair of Biochemistry, for an engaging seminar titled “Malaria Drug Discovery.”

Dr. Phillips discussed innovative approaches to developing new treatments for malaria. Her research focuses on identifying and targeting critical metabolic pathways in malaria parasites, leading to the discovery of promising antimalarial drug candidates, including compounds that have advanced to clinical trials.

Hello! My name is Zak Hu, and I am a rising senior at Hebron High School. I am working in the Department of Molecular Biology in the Buszczak Lab, under my mentor, Dr. Anirban Dasgupta, and my P.I., Dr. Michael Buszczak. In this research project, I am investigating how germ cells regulate the transcription of repetitive DNA regions using Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) as a genetic model. Previous work in the lab has identified GCNA as a factor that plays a critical role in female fertility by regulating transcription at the pericentromeric satellite repeats. By introducing mutations into specific regions of GCNA and examining their effects on fertility, I hope to understand how GCNA contributes towards repetitive DNA regulation and ensures genome stability across generations. In my free time, I enjoy oil painting, listening to music, gaming, journaling, reading, and spending time with friends. Later this fall, I plan to apply to colleges with strong neuroscience, research, and pre-medical programs. Special thanks to Dr. Tam, Ms. Bustamante, Ms. Bottin, and the other staff members who have contributed to making this program possible. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to conduct research, attend seminars, and socialize with others at UT Southwestern Medical Center this summer; I can’t wait to see how much I learn!

Hello! My name is Lizbeth Garcia, and I am an incoming senior at Jack E. Singley Academy. I am working in the Brugarolas Lab under the guidance of Dr. Ramesh Butti. This summer, I am working on the isolation and the characterization of wild type and MTOR-ST mouse embryonic fibroblasts. More specifically, I am studying the mice embryonic fibroblasts’ reaction to the drug Rapamycin, which is used to treat renal cell carcinoma, and noting the differences in the reaction between both mouse types. In my free time, I love to garden, paint, spend time with my friends, and cook! Next year, I plan to apply to schools with strong biochemistry and undergraduate research opportunities, such as UT Austin. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity that the STARS program has given me to conduct research and participate in a lab.