Graduate Researchers
Sukirty Khadka
Sukirty Khadka
Biomedical Engineering PhD Student
Sukirty Khadka is a PhD student in Dr. Juhi Samal’s lab. Her general research interest includes glial biology, stroke pathology, and the role of glycans in cerebrovascular injuries. Her current work focuses on understanding how microglia and glycan-related mechanisms influence the outcomes after stroke, with the long-term goal of identifying new therapeutic targets. Sukirty earned her master’s degree in Neuroscience from the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway, where she studied astrocyte function and their involvement in brain health, aging, and disease. She is particularly passionate about bridging the gap between fundamental neuroscience, biomedical engineering, and the development of therapies for conditions involving glial dysfunction and neuroinflammation. Outside the lab, Sukirty enjoys reading, dancing, baking, and hiking.
Emmanuel Ajala
Data Science Master’s Candidate
My name is Emmanuel, and I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in data science. My passion for this field stems from my curiosity about artificial intelligence and the compelling stories data can tell. I aim to uncover and address gender disparities in the biomedical materials. Outside of my academic pursuits, I enjoy sports, playing the piano, staying fit, occasional travel, and a well-done cooked steak, anything less just won’t do!
Undergraduate Researchers
Adam K Amissah
Majoring in BME • UAB Honor’s Student
Adam Amissah is a Senior Biomedical Engineering student who is currently working on writing his thesis with Samal lab. He is a member of both Sci-Tech and Biomedical Engineering Honors at the university of Alabama Birmingham. Adam has shown great technical and organizational skills with Samal lab through his hard work in managing supplies and stocks. Currently Adam enjoys working BV-2 models working in cell culture. Looking into the future he is interested in working with animal models. Adam intends to pursue a graduate level education in Biomedical Engineering.
Elijah Scott
Majoring in Biomedical Engineering
Eli is an Undergraduate Student perusing his bachelor’s in biomedical engineering. He received his associates degree is 2024 from Rowan Cabarrus Community College where he dually enrolled while in Highschool. He has always wanted to help people and strives to apply his knowledge in both engineering and biology to do so. He is currently considering either a PhD or Doctoral path. Recently Eli has presented posters at 2 conferences and attended a third. His current research interests are neuroinflammation in stroke, microglial biology, and flow cytometry. Outside of lab he enjoys playing the guitar, learning new skills such as wielding and Python, and loves to 3D design and Print. He is very excited about contribute to the lab and learning all that he can from Dr. Samal and his peers!
Hamzeh A. Ghalayini
Majoring in Biomedical Engineering • UAB Honor’s Student
Hamzeh is an undergraduate pre-med student majoring in Biomedical Engineering. He has conducted research on BV2 cell culture, which was later used to study the effect of fucose on LPS-induced neuroinflammation. This year, he will focus on glycan mass spectrometry of BV2 cells. Hamzeh is deeply interested in the intersection of engineering and biomedical research and is eager to continue expanding his research experience.
Maribel M. Marrero
Majoring in Biomedical Engineering • UAB Honor’s Student
Maribel is a student at UAB pursuing a master’s degree in biomedical engineering along the Pre-Medicine track. As a new research assistant, she is eager to explore molecular biology through the process of culturing cells. With a background in prototyping and chemistry work, she hopes to expand her work under Dr. Samal’s excellence!
Meghana Tummala
Majoring in Neuroscience • UAB Honor’s Student
Meghana is a class of 2027 undergraduate student at UAB. She is very passionate about neuroscience and psychology. Meghana is very interested in service and serves as the Director of Philantropy for Sigma Kappa. She hopes to use this passion for the community to learn new things in the lab and continue to contribute to the research done here at UAB. By participating in this lab, she hopes to become closer to being a future physician within the field of neuroscience.
Robert Munive
Majoring in Biomedical Engineering • UAB Honor’s Student
Robert is studying for his bachelor’s in biomedical engineering in UAB’s School of Engineering. He has prior knowledge of biology and chemistry, and a solid foundation in cellular and molecular biology. He is looking forward to implementing his interdisciplinary training in the Glycans for Regeneration Lab to seek out new innovative ideas in biomedical research.
Samal Lab 