The mission of the Moffitt Postdoctoral Association (MPDA) is to foster the academic, professional and social lives of junior scientists at Moffitt Cancer Center.

The five fundamental goals of the MPDA

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.
To collect and disseminate practical information to all fellows.
To embrace and celebrate the multicultural diversity of the members of the MPDA.
To promote social interaction and create an environment in which peer support is openly sought and available.
To offer guidance to postdocs to assist them in the transition from student to postdoctoral fellow then beyond.

Post docs at the Junior Scientist Retreat

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.
Meet the Executive Committee

Chair - Vural Tagal, PhD

I am a Research Scientist in Dr. Noemi Andor's Lab within the Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology. My current work focuses on understanding and mathematically modeling the roles of chromosomal instability, aneuploidy, and whole-genome doubling in cancer initiation, progression, metastasis and drug resistance. I earned my PhD from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where I studied SMARCA4-mutant tumors and polyploid giant cancer cells in lung cancer. Beyond my academic research, I led the Meetings Committee for the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) from 2022 to 2025, where I chaired the organization of the Annual NPA Conferences in Philadelphia, Seattle, and Boston. Outside the lab, I enjoy outdoor sports, paragliding, astronomy and exploring Florida's nature.

Vice Chair - Aya Elmarsafawi, PhD

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.

Community Wellness Chair: Federico Mazzon, PhD

I am a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Perna’s lab in the Clinical Science Department. My current research focuses on investigating tumor microenvironment to enhance CAR T cell therapy. As the MPDA Community Wellness Chair, I will foster collaboration, spark curiosity and try to break down disciplinary barriers. Outside the lab, I enjoy running, reading and watching movies.

Social and Professional Development Chair – Kennady Bullock, PhD

I received my PhD from Vanderbilt University under the mentorship of Dr. Ann Richmond. My dissertation focused on developing combinations of targeted therapies and chemotherapies to make triple-negative breast tumors more responsive to immune checkpoint inhibitors. I'm currently a postdoc in Dr. Patrick Hwu's lab, where I'm studying therapeutic vaccines for the treatment of various solid tumors, with a focus on gynecological malignancies. I'm particularly interested in identifying and targeting human endogenous retroviral elements (HERVs) as tumor antigens. HERVs are genomic remnants of ancient viral infections that show little to no expression in normal, healthy adult tissue, but can be re-expressed in some tumors. The tumor-specific expression patterns of some HERVs make them good candidate targets of therapeutic vaccines or other immunotherapy strategies.

Junior Scientist Retreat Chair – Francesca Albano, PhD

Immunology at the Humanitas Clinical and Research Institute in Milan, Italy, where I studied the role of T cells in lung metastasis. I am currently a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Perna’s lab in the Immuno-Oncology Department. I have just completed a project that resulted in a publication in the Cancer Cell journal. My current research investigates the role of the bone marrow microenvironment (BME) in determining the efficacy and toxicity of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. We are developing a humanized mouse model to characterize the cellular and molecular changes of the human BME under CAR therapy and to find a pathway to target and improve therapy tolerability and the quality of patient lives. I also serve MPDA as JSR Chair, organizing the next Junior Scientific Retreat (a career-oriented event that helps our trainees meet high-profile scientists who share their experience and knowledge about delivering science and promoting themselves).

Distinguished Lecturer Symposium (DLS) Chair - Tabitha Boeringer, PhD

I am a postdoctoral researcher in the Drug Discovery Department, under the mentorship of Dr. Derek Duckett and Dr. Stuart Maudsley, where my work focuses on identifying GPCR targets for targeted cancer therapies, specifically for colorectal cancer and cancer-related cachexia. I received my PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of South Florida, with a focus on developing nanoparticle drug delivery mechanisms, where I investigated the development of protease-resistant growth factor formulations for the healing of chronic wounds. In my free time, I enjoy reading science fiction novels, hiking with my dogs and exploring Tampa Bay.

Distinguished Lecturer Symposium (DLS) Chair Co-Chair: M A Masud, PhD

I am an Applied Postdoctoral Fellow in the Anderson Lab within the Integrated Mathematical Oncology Department at Moffitt Cancer Center. I earned my PhD in Mathematics from Kyungpook National University in Daegu, South Korea. My research focuses on leveraging mathematical modeling to explore complex biological processes. Previously, I worked on developing a mathematical model to understand transmissible disease outbreak trends and find effective control strategies. My recent work primarily involves combining data-driven approaches and mathematical modeling to understand tumor growth, treatment resistance and optimize treatment strategies. Currently, I am using differential equation models, data-fitting techniques, and agent-based modeling to design and inform treatment strategies for patients participating in evolutionary therapy trials.

Service and Science Advocacy Chair – Shirin Changizi, PhD

I am a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Dunne’s lab within the Bioengineering Department. I earned my PhD in biomedical engineering, where my research centered on drug delivery and cardiovascular engineering. Currently, my work focuses on advancing therapies for solid tumors using innovative microgels known as “backpacks.”

As Chair of Advocacy for the MPDA, I am dedicated to strengthening relationships between postdoctoral scholars and legislators to foster positive change for our community. Outside the lab, I enjoy working out and creating digital content.

Service and Science Advocacy Chair Co-Chair: Zoe Zhou, PhD

I am currently engaged in a comprehensive study examining the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on skin cancer development. Additionally, I am exploring potential preventative measures and therapeutic interventions that could mitigate the risk and improve outcomes for those affected by skin cancer. My goal is to elucidate the complex interaction between UV radiation and skin cells, providing crucial insights that could ultimately contribute to the advancement of skin cancer prevention and treatment strategies.

Welcome Wagon Chair – Karol Prieto Sarmiento, PhD

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.
Past Executive Committee Members
- Chair:
- Vice Chair:
- Community Wellness Chair:
- Social and Professional Development Chair:
- Junior Scientist Retreat Chair:
- Distinguished Lecturer Symposium Chair:
- Service and Science Advocacy Chair:
- Welcome Wagon Chair:

Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

Postdoctoral Association

The five fundamental goals of the MPDA

Cambiar el idioma