Student spotlights

Wayne State is proud of its world-class faculty, staff and students and we invite you to nominate yourself or spotlight fellow Warriors who are making a difference.

Andrea Batchev

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

School of Medicine

M.D./Ph.D. student Andrea Batchev, who is a research assistant in the Department of chemistry, has earned the NIH F30 award. The award, also known as the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, supports the integrated research and clinical training of students pursuing a career as physician-scientists. Batchev’s research explores outersphere kinetic control over the oxidation of oxygen-sensitive MRI contrast agents for imaging hypoxia.

Andrea Batchev

Taylor Takla

Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 

School of Medicine

Taylor Takla, a Ph.D. candidate in translational neuroscience program, received a two-year, $96,812 F31 grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health to study fear of falling in those with multiple sclerosis.

Taylor Takla

Peter Dimitrion

School of Medicine

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation has named Peter Dimitrion a 2024 Gold Student Summer Fellow. The Gold Foundation offers fellowships annually to provide opportunities for medical students to deepen their understanding of health inequities, to advance culturally responsive care and to direct attention toward community health needs.

 

Peter Dimitrion

Anahita Zahertar

College of Engineering

Anahita Zahertar, a distinguished Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Wayne State University, was awarded first place in the student poster competition at the Great Lakes District meeting of the Institute of Transportation Engineers. Zahertar's research focuses on the integration of bikeshare and transit systems in Detroit, a pivotal step toward equitable transportation solutions for the city.

Anahita Zahertar

Mizumi Setia

School of Medicine

Doctoral candidate Mizumi Setia's research shined bright at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Conference, the world’s largest eye and vision research organization. Setia won the Cora Verhagen Young Investigator Award in Ocular Immunology, given to the best poster or paper presented by a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow in the immunology session. She also was named the runner up for the organization’s Raniyah Ramadan Young Investigator Award in Microbiology.

 

Mizumi Setia

Biyyiah Lee

College of Nursing

Jonas Nursing, a leading supporter of doctoral nursing education in the U.S., and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, announced that Ph.D. student Biyyiah Lee has been selected as a Jonas Scholar for the program’s 2024-2026 cohort. The program aims to improve health care by expanding the pool of Ph.D. and DNP-prepared nurses needed to educate the next generation of nurse leaders.

Biyyiah Lee

Taybah Hashmi

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

As a student employee with Learning Support Services, Taybah presented at a supplemental instruction (SI) conference in Baltimore. She has been recognized by the team for her dedication to student success and academic achievements.  

‘…Taybah holds a passion for learning and helping individuals succeed, no matter their background or major. She has been an incredible role model for the Learning Support Services peer leaders and has created an impact in the entire department.”

-University Counselor Shaina Jansen

Taybeh Hashmi

Nuha Ahmed

College of Engineering

Nuha was awarded the Michigan Council of Women in Technology scholarship. The award has inspired her to continue pursuing her passion for technology and computer science and to take advantage of the networking opportunities to connect with other women in the field. 

College of Engineering student Nuha Ahmed poses with her family after winning a scholarship award.

Nina Goodwin

Mike Ilitch School of Business

Nina presented her research about marketing customer loyalty programs at the National Convention of Undergraduate Research.

Nina Goodwin

Carissa Bennett

Irvin D. Reid Honors College

Carissa was named one of the 2023 American Council on Education’s Students of the Year. Bennett is a Marine Corps veteran and an aspiring pediatric neurologist, who has excelled in the classroom and in supporting the community through organizations dedicated to helping veterans, children and people with neurological disabilities. 

Carissa Bennet

Katrina Lewandowski

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Biological sciences Ph.D. student Katrina Lewandowski is a 2024 John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, working as a coastal resilience specialist in the National Sea Grant office. She is currently working on her dissertation in Great Lakes ecology.

Ph.D. student Katrina Lewandowski

Biola Makinde-Odusola

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Biola Makinde-Odusola is the first student to complete the Dean of Students Office's Warrior Rewards path, designed to help students develop life-long friendships and connect with Wayne State. Makinde-Odusola participated in 68 events and experiences.

Biola Makinde-Odusola

Daniel Grey

Student-Athlete, Tennis

Daniel Grey was named Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men's Tennis Player of the Week for the fourth time this season.

Daniel Grey

Abigail Fielder

School of Medicine

Abigail and her faculty mentor, Associate Professor Kristen Purrington, have secured Wayne State's first spot in the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute fellowship program. The pair's work investigating racial disparities in breast cancer survival rate aligns with the program's commitment to building a more inclusive scientific ecosystem.

Abigail Fielder

Share your story

The Wayne State Newsroom serves as the hub for news, announcements, and information of interest to the campus community. We seek to share Wayne State’s story, with special emphasis on highlighting work that supports the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan, the Prosperity Agenda and other broader university initiatives. We also want to recognize the successes of Wayne State’s world-class faculty, staff and students and invite you to nominate yourself or spotlight fellow Warriors who are making a difference. Submissions will be considered for a variety of content forms. Please share your ideas below.