Three students from Penn State College of Medicine were named among the 42 recipients recognized through the University’s Graduate Student Awards, according to an April 15 announcement. Alexandra Nusawardhana, Ioannis Mouratidis, and Esma Yerlikaya each received the Alumni Association Dissertation Award, which is described as one of the most prestigious honors for doctoral students at Penn State.
The awards aim to celebrate graduate students who demonstrate exceptional scholarship and potential for significant impact in their fields. Supported by the President’s Office and administered by the Fox Graduate School, these recognitions highlight work that demonstrates innovation, societal impact, and leadership across a range of disciplines.
“These remarkable students make us incredibly proud,” said Karen Kim, MD, MS, dean of the College of Medicine. “Their curiosity, creativity, and dedication embody the very best of our College. Through their research, they’re not only advancing science but also helping shape a healthier future for communities here in Pennsylvania and beyond.”
Nusawardhana is a fifth-year PhD student in Biomedical Sciences whose research focuses on EXO1—a protein involved in DNA repair—and its role in cancer therapy. She said her work identifies EXO1 as both a biomarker for personalized medicine and as a target for new drug development: “This could lead to improved targeted therapies, reduced side effects and better outcomes for cancer patients.”
Mouratidis studies Bioinformatics and Genomics. He develops computational tools that help analyze genomic data to improve disease detection. His research includes identifying “neomers”—short DNA sequences absent from healthy genomes but present due to tumor mutations—which can be used with machine learning models to detect cancer through blood tests. “Neomers offer a minimally invasive way to detect cancer before symptoms appear,” he said.
Yerlikaya is also pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Sciences with research on diabetic retinopathy—the leading cause of blindness worldwide—by investigating how SYK protein affects retinal cells during diabetes progression. She explained: “By identifying SYK as a key driver of early retinal changes… we may be able to repurpose existing medications to stop the disease in its earliest stages.” Yerlikaya plans to apply for an ophthalmology residency next.
The achievements by these three students reflect Penn State College of Medicine’s commitment to training future clinical researchers and innovators.
