Skip to content
Contact us

2025 LIFT Cohort

Witness the latest advancements in aging and Alzheimer’s innovation on April 17th at the UMass Lowell iHub as the UMass LIFT Fellows showcase cutting-edge research and groundbreaking solutions designed to transform the future of healthcare.
Abu Ansar Md Rizwan

Abu Ansar Md Rizwan 
PhD Candidate at Texas Tech University

Abu Ansar Md Rizwan holds a BS and MS in Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Dhaka, and an MPH in Nutrition from Daffodil International University. His research focuses on dietary acculturation and diabetes risk among South Asian international students, using a theory-based intervention approach. With over nine years of professional experience, Abu aims to advance public health nutrition through innovative research and targeted interventions.

Aniruddha Sarkar
Post Doctoral Researcher at Harvard Medical School

Aniruddha Sarkar researches kinetochore-microtubule dynamics and chromosome stability in the Department of Radiation Oncology at DFCI. He led studies on the CDK5–cyclin B1 complex in mitotic fidelity, contributing to cancer therapeutics and publishing in Nature (2024). Currently, he investigates how the DNA Damage Response protein 53BP1 regulates genomic integrity during mitosis while developing imaging techniques and collaborating on chromosome instability research.

Aniruddha Sarkar
Hua Chen

Hua Chen
PhD Candidate at UMass Boston

Hua Chen has master’s degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, and a bachelor’s in Psychology. Hua is also a co-investigator in a smoking cessation program targeting Chinese Americans. His primary research focuses on population health, specifically investigating human posture in advanced age to improve postural health and enhance the quality of life for older adults.

Marsa Zaroudi 
PhD Candidate at Texas Tech University

Marsa Zaroudi is a Ph.D. candidate in Nutritional Sciences  with a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in the same field. Her research interests lie at the intersection of nutrition, psychology, neuroscience, and behavior, focusing on the prevention and management of chronic diseases. Marsa’s current Ph.D. research investigates the effects of synbiotic supplements on cognitive function and aging-related biomarkers in older adults, aiming to enhance understanding of cognitive decline and explore potential interventions.

Marsa Zaroudi
Akter_Nahida_202

Nahida Akter 
PhD Candidate at Pennsylvania State University

Nahida Akter is a Ph.D. candidate specializing in gerontological nursing. Her dissertation research focuses on nursing workforce challenges and resident care preferences in nursing homes, aiming to enhance person-centered care for older adults. With extensive experience in nursing education, clinical practice, and research, Nahida is dedicated to advancing evidence-based practices in long-term care and improving the quality of life for vulnerable older adults.

Sabrina Zequeira 
PhD Candidate at University of Florida

Sabrina Zequeira studies the aging brain, focusing on cannabinoids as potential therapies for age-related cognitive decline. Her research on aged rodent models has revealed promising pro-cognitive effects of acute and chronic cannabinoid exposure. Using advanced techniques like fiber photometry and MALDI MSI, she investigates the mechanisms behind these effects, aiming to develop therapeutic strategies for cognitive aging—particularly in response to increasing cannabis use among older adults.

Sabrina Zequeira_headshot_2024
Stephanie Washburn

Stephanie Washburn 
Master Student at University of Florida

Stephanie Washburn is a first-year Ph.D. Psychology student specializing in neuroscience. A McNair and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, her research focuses on social-cognitive and affective development in aging, using behavioral and neuroimaging methods. Stephanie has worked in six research labs, including those at MIT and UC San Diego, leading to publications and twenty conference presentations, including a TEDx talk.

Qinglin Gao 
PhD Candidate at University of Massachusetts Boston

Qinglin Gao is a Ph.D. candidate specializing in gerontology and the application of digital technology in senior living. Her research focuses on developing intelligent monitoring systems to support aging in place, including biometric recognition technologies like millimeter wave radars. With two patents and widespread adoption of her products across China, she is committed to improving the lives of the elderly through innovative technology.

Qinglin Gao