Incoming Postdocs
Postdoc Spotlight
We would LOVE to feature you too! Send your recent accomplishments to tcostello111@usf.edu.
Meet Dr. Ana Paula Rodrigues
Dr. Ana Paula Rodrigues is currently a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Child and Family Studies, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences. Dr. Rodrigues’ research centers on developing and implementing evidence-based, theory-driven behavioral interventions to improve lifestyle behaviors, psychological well-being, and quality of life among cancer survivors. Her prior research focused on interventions to treat severe obesity within the Brazilian health care system. Her long-term goal is to advance survivorship health and wellness by designing scalable, data-informed strategies that address the unique needs of high-risk populations, particularly young adult cancer survivors.
Meet Dr. Yu Zeng
Dr. Yu Zeng is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Integrative Biology at the 51°µÍø. His research explores how animals produce extremely fast, precise, and powerful movements, especially ballistic tongue projection in chameleons and salamanders. He studies how specific architecture made of bones and soft tissues allow animals to solve challenging mechanical problems. Dr. Zeng is also developing bio-inspired technologies based on his findings and collaborating with engineers to translate them into functional systems. His long-term goal is to uncover general principles of animal movement and apply them to new technologies.
Meet Dr. Kristine McDermott
Dr. Kristine McDermott is a postdoctoral researcher in neuroscience who studies how the brain controls behaviors. Her work focuses on how different parts of the brain communicate to sense what is happening inside the body, such as hunger, hormones, and energy levels, and turn that information into actions like when and how much we eat. By understanding how this communication system works under normal conditions and how it changes with certain psychiatric conditions, this research may help identify new ways to treat conditions related to mood, appetite, and metabolism.
Meet Dr. Ishani Wickramage
Dr. Michaela McGuire obtained both her MPH and PhD in Public Health from USF. Following the completion of her PhD, she joined the College of Public Health's epidemiology department as a Postdoctoral Fellow in August 2025. Her research focuses on malaria prevention in endemic areas, and she currently works on several projects related to malaria risk factors and transmission dynamics in Cameroon and Ghana under the supervision of Dr. Gillian Stresman.
Meet Dr. Prerana Sharma
Dr. Prerana Sharma is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Ophthalmology at the 51°µÍø, where she explores the science behind eye health and disease. Her prior research focused on neuroimmune crosstalk, antimicrobial peptides, microbial keratitis, and host-pathogen interactions in ocular disease. When she’s not in the lab, you’ll likely find her writing blogs, getting lost in a good book, or heading outdoors for a hike.
Meet Dr. Jadupati Nag
Dr. Jadupati Nag is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Physics, USF since January 2026. He earned a PhD in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, India. His research focuses on quantum materials, particularly the interplay of topology, magnetism, and symmetry. His research at USF aims to convert waste heat into useful energy and develop sustainable, low-power solutions for next-generation green energy technologies.