Physiological Optics Graduate Student Association - POGSA

The next alumni feature is on Dr. Krista Beach, who is currently a Research Scientist - Lisa A. Ostrin Laboratory (Previous lab: Earl L. Smith III)

Research interests: Environmental factors influencing the development of refractive error
Dissertation topic: Retinal regeneration and optic nerve axonal guidance
PhD advisor: Dr. Deborah C. Otteson
Favorite part of the eye/visual pathway: Retina
Favorite spot in Houston: The Theater District (Jones Hall, the Wortham Center, the Hobby Center) and Miller Outdoor Theater
Favorite spot on campus: My office
favorite location travelled to for a conference: Tokyo, Japan
Hobbies/interests outside of research: Reading, singing, baking, tea, beading, going to performing arts
Favorite memory during grad school: Rooming with my 3 best friends (fellow grad students) at ARVO in Seattle

What advice do you wish you had been given as a grad student?
Though lab work is your first priority, be sure to have a life outside of the lab so that your value as a person isn't lost when experiments go wrong.

Are there any accomplishments you would like to share?
As the chair of the UH Postdoctoral Fellows Association, I met with the UH administration to address inequities in hiring practices between departments and to advocate for standardizing hiring practices, benefits, and salaries for postdoctoral fellows.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the graduate program at UHCO. To commemorate the 50th anniversary, we are featuring alumni who are working at UHCO.
The first alumni feature is on Dr. Hanieh Mirhajianmoghadam, who is currently a Post-doctoral fellow at Dr. Lisa Ostrin's lab.

Research interests: Myopia, retinal imaging, Adaptive Optics
Dissertation topic: Examination of Cone Photoreceptor Packing and Foveal Architecture in Eyes of Children and Adults
PhD advisor: Dr. Jason Porter
Favorite part of the eye/visual pathway: Photoreceptors
Favorite spot in Houston: Herman Park, Water wall, Half price books in Rice village (unfortunately closed now), Bodegas Taco shop
Favorite spot on campus: Student center
Hobbies/interests outside of research: Learning languages; I studied French for 2 years and now I am learning Spanish. I also love painting and dancing.
Favorite memory during grad school:
Birthday parties in graduate lounge

An advice do you wish you had been given as a grad student: I wish someone would have told me to work smarter, not harder. And that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Our Sunday spotlight is on Chloe Degre Kendrick this week, a PhD student working on Myopia and higher-order aberrations.
favorite class: Core
favorite spot in Houston: EaDo for crawfish with friends
favorite spot on campus: Anywhere sunny 🌞
favorite part of the eye/visual pathway: All of it!
favorite memory: Getting together with everyone for Zoo Boo

fun fact: I love indoor plants! My husband and I packed over 20 of my plants (and our cat, BB) in the car when we made the 25 hour drive from Rochester, NY to Houston.
I am looking forward to presenting a poster at ARVO 2022: The Impact of Pupil Transmission Apodization on Visual Performance at Different Light Levels.

This week we are highlighting Suharsha Paidimarri, a first year PhD student who is interested in working on Retinal Imaging.

• Favorite class: Professional development
• Favorite spot in Houston: Gerald D. Hines Waterwall park
• Favorite spot on campus: Cullen fountain
• Favorite part of the eye/visual pathway:
Retina
• Favorite memory: Being unable to find the way to the class and getting confused in the hall ways
• Fun fact: Cooking food for friends is my favorite hobby