Postdoctoral Association

The five fundamental goals of the MPDA

1. To provide support for postdoctoral career development through partnership with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) for academic and non-academic scientific career seminars and networking opportunities.
2. To collect and disseminate practical information to all fellows.
3. To embrace and celebrate the multicultural diversity of the members of the MPDA.
4. To promote social interaction and create an environment in which peer support is openly sought and available.
5. To offer guidance to postdocs to assist them in the transition from student to postdoctoral fellow then beyond.

MPDA Events 

The MPDA works with the OPA to provide valuable career development opportunities through several annual events:

General Meeting: Monthly meetings to share important information with Moffitt postdocs.

Junior Scientist Retreat (JSR): This day-long retreat for postdoctoral fellows and PhD students focuses on networking, exploring diverse career pathways, and discussing those skills and experiences needed to reach trainees’ desired career outcomes. The JSR involves educational panels and presentations by invited guests who represent a range of scientific career paths, and dedicated networking activities to foster peer mentorship between Moffitt postdocs and graduate students.

Distinguished Lecturer Symposium (DLS): This annual research symposium features an invited guest selected by the MPDA to deliver a keynote address, participate in networking activities with Moffitt trainees, and judge a postdoctoral abstract presentation competition. The purpose of the DLS is to provide Moffitt trainees with the opportunity to engage with and learn from prominent cancer researchers.

• Past Lecturers:
  • 2019 – Karen E. Knudsen, PhD
  • 2020 – Mina J. Bissell, PhD
  • 2021 – Scott Lowe, PhD
  • 2022 – Steven A. Rosenberg, MD, PhD
  • 2023 – Robert A. Weinberg

Coffee with a Scientist: Each month, the MPDA invites a Moffitt faculty member or senior scientist to have coffee with Moffitt students, postdocs, research scientists, and faculty members. The purpose is to encourage informal conversations about the realities of pursuing a career in science research.

Miles for Moffitt Tumor Busters Team: The MPDA participates in the annual Moffitt research fundraising run/walk, Miles for Moffitt, with their team the Tumor Busters.

Social and Networking Events: The MPDA organizes regular events to build community and provide important professional experiences such as group hikes, beach days, and scientific seminars.

MPDA Executive Committee

Eleonora Pelle, MD
Chair

I am a postdoctoral fellow at Dr. Jonathan Strosberg's lab, and my research focuses on developing new immunotherapeutic approaches for treating patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs). Immunotherapy with immune-checkpoint inhibitors has not shown significant activity in patients with NETs, indicating a need for improvement. We are currently developing new immunotherapy drugs that target the specific characteristics of the NETs microenvironment. As MPDA chair, I will promote efforts to enhance the academic, professional, and social lives of postdoctoral fellows and research scientists at Moffitt Cancer Center. In my free time, I enjoy sailing, going to the beach, and listening to science podcasts.

Estefania Julia, PhD
Vice Chair

I am a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Patrick Hwu’s lab. I earned my PhD from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I investigated the role of NK cells in breast cancer therapy. I joined Moffitt in October 2020 to pursue my passion for immunotherapy. My current research focuses on enhancing CAR-T cell therapies for patients with solid tumors. As the MPDA Vice Chair, I help articulate various MPDA activities and initiatives, aiming to support a vibrant postdoc community. Outside the lab, I enjoy biking, camping, and exploring new outdoor destinations.

Tracess Smalley, PhD
Diversity and Wellness Chair

I am a postdoctoral fellow in the Molecular Oncology Department where my research focuses on investigating and inhibiting viral oncoprotein pathways in HPV-driven cancers. I received my PhD from the University of South Florida, where I focused on the dysregulation of the atypical protein kinase C family in breast and ovarian cancers. As the diversity chair, I plan to utilize opportunities unique to Moffitt’s postdocs to further bolster the diversity, equity and inclusion culture found at Moffitt. In my free time, I am a mommy of two, I love trail running and reading graphic novels.

Ashley Lui, PhD
Diversity and Wellness Co-Chair

I am a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Elsa Flores' lab, and my research focuses on the role of p63 isoforms on tumorigenesis. p63 is a transcription factor with many structural similarities to p53, a commonly altered gene that has been an elusive target for drug design in cancer. The p63 protein is expressed mainly as two different variants (TAp63 and ∆Np63) with distinct behaviors. TAp63 is a critical regulator in tumor suppression and metastasis with the ability to compensate for p53 loss whereas ∆Np63 plays a more complex and less understood role in the development and progression of cancer. As MPDA Diversity and Wellness co-chair, I aim to give voice to different cultures and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Moffitt community. Outside the lab, I lead a Girl Scout troop and enjoy baking, climbing and playing Nintendo Switch with my daughters. 

Olivia Rose, PhD
Social and Professional Development Chair

I earned my PhD in Biomedical Engineering from West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV. I joined Dr. Keiran Smalley’s lab as a postdoctoral fellow to pursue my interest in melanoma research. My current research focuses on the therapeutic potential of PROTACs for melanoma, specifically looking at the tumor microenvironment (TME). As the social chair, I help organize and plan networking activities for the postdocs at Moffitt. Outside the lab, I like to go to the gym, read, travel and spend time with family and friends. 

Yaakov Stern, PhD
Junior Scientist Retreat Chair

I am studying how cancer cells develop drug resistance, with a focus on a new class of inhibitors used in patients with KRAS-mutant lung cancers. My goal is to identify methods to prevent drug resistance or find treatments that are effective for patients who already have drug-resistant cancers. This work will ultimately help extend the time patients can effectively benefit from KRAS-mutant-directed drugs. I do this by studying how cells change their behavior over the course of treatment using a variety of approaches including proteomics, RNAseq, CRISPR and drug screening, and a battery of standard cell biology assays. Outside the lab, I enjoy exploring Florida’s wild and unique nature, gardening and cooking.

Renata Rossetti, PhD
Distinguished Lecturer Symposium Chair

I obtained my PhD in Immunology in 2016 from the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil). Since then, I worked for a while with clinical research and translational cellular therapy. Currently, I am a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Daniel Abate-Daga’s lab in the Department of Immunology. My research focuses on developing therapeutic strategies to improve TIL therapy for lung and melanoma. When I’m not doing research, I spend my time visiting Florida’s national parks and beautiful beaches.

Mahalakshmi Naidu Kalaga, PhD
Service and Science Advocacy Chair

I am a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Andrii Monastyrskyi's lab in the Drug Discovery Department. My work majorly focuses on developing cancer therapeutics for targets such as ULK1, CDK12/CDK13, CNS, and NSCLC; it includes designing, synthesizing, and characterizing novel heterocyclic (cancer/oncology drug discovery) organic compounds. I received my PhD in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry in 2016 from BITS-Pilani University, India, under Prof. KVG Chandra Sekhar, PhD. I started my career in the pharmaceutical industry at Ind-Swift Laboratories Ltd (2016) in India as a Scientist-II, Albany Molecular Research Inc. (2016-17) in India as a Senior Research Scientist, and TCG Lifesciences Ltd (2017-2022) in India as a Senior Research Scientist. I read books and journals in my free time, play chess, tennis, badminton, watch movies and walk.

Karol Prieto Sarmiento, PhD
Welcome Wagon Chair

I am a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Kenneth Tsai's lab. I received my PhD in the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota-Colombia, where I evaluated phytotherapy in melanoma cell lines. My work in the Tsai lab focuses on identifying and validating new molecularly targeted skin cancer prevention and treatment approaches. It includes working on the molecular understanding of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, such as squamous and Merkel cell carcinomas, and developing therapies for these recently described diseases. Our current research involves evaluating new treatments for these diseases and developing novel mouse models to enhance the study of carcinomas in immunocompetent animals.