Current Lab Members

Dustin C. Hancks, Ph.D.


Assistant Professor & Principal Investigator


CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research

Dustin was raised a Cubs fan on the Mississippi River in Moline, IL. Following high school, Dustin served in the U.S. Army in Virginia and elsewhere working on cargo ships. In his free time, Dustin enjoys going to rock concerts; he has attended several hundred to date. In addition, he likes hosting cook-off parties including a chili cook-off now entering its eighth year.

  • A.A., Black Hawk College

  • B.S. in Biology, Southern Illinois University

  • Ph.D. in Cell & Molecular Biology, UPenn

  • Postdoc, University of Utah

Publications | Email

 

Sarahbeth Roberts


Research Technician

Sarahbeth joined the Hancks lab in Summer of 2022. Before coming to UTSW, her background includes work in emergency medicine, a clinical lab, and behavioral animal research in vivariums. When she’s not in the lab, Sarahbeth spends her free time exploring Dallas or curling up at home with her black cat Noire to read a good book.

  • B.S. Psychology, B.A. Performing Arts, Minor in Biology, Minor in Chemistry, Radford University

Cynnie Tam, M.S.


Graduate Student

Cynnie graduated from San Francisco State University (SFSU) with a B.S. and M.S. She began her research career in Dr. Blake Riggs Lab at SFSU as a volunteer studying neuronal development in Drosophila model where she also did her master’s thesis work. After that, she wanted to join the work force and worked as lab manager/technician with Dr. Adrian Erlebacher at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) studying reproductive immunology. She decided to attend UT Southwestern as a Ph.D. student to further her academic career and joined the Hancks Lab. She likes to cozy up at home with wine, a book, clean & cook, and binge documentaries (mostly true crime). Outside of the house, she likes to be adventurous, hang out with friends, and watch sports.

·      B.S. in Biology with Emphasis in Physiology and Minor in Chemistry (SFSU)

·      M.S. in Biology with Emphasis in Cell and Molecular Biology (SFSU)

Jessica Alvarez

Graduate Student

Jessica received her BS in Biology from UT San Antonio in 2023. She completed her honors thesis in the lab of Dr. Lindsey Macpherson where she participated in projects to further understand the plasticity of the peripheral taste system. After moving to Dallas, she joined the Hancks lab as a graduate student in the spring of 2024. She loves all things virus related and is excited learn more about them. When not in the lab, she enjoys going out to eat, testing new cooking recipes, and watching her favorite shows on Netflix.

  •    B.S. in Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio

Sofia Rivera

Graduate Student

Sofia received her BS in Molecular Engineering (Bioengineering) from the University of Chicago in 2024. In the summer after her freshman year, Sofia worked under Dr. Mary Herrick as a Research and Development Intern at Bridge Bio studying AAV gene therapies. Later, Sofia joined the lab of Dr. Nicolas Chevrier at UChicago. There she studied CD8+ T cell infiltration in mouse lymph nodes following vaccination and viral challenge. Sofia is very interested in viruses, and excited to learn more about Influenza A and its influence on metabolic reprogramming during infection! During her spare time Sofia enjoys hanging out with friends, watching movies, exploring new restaurants, swimming and running (she has so far run a 5K and a 10K and hopes to train for a half-marathon soon).

  • B.S. in Molecular Engineering, Minor in Immunoengineering, University of Chicago

 Lab Alumni

  • Favor Adeyinka

    STARS Summer Student (2018)

    Currently:
    Undergraduate at University of Pittsburgh

  • Austin King

    SURF Summer Student (2018 & 2019)

    Currently:
    Ph.D. Student at University of Pennsylvania

  • Dana Truempy

    Research Assistant

    Currently:
    Data Engineer at H-E-B

  • Swetha Velayutham

    Intern (2021)

    Currently: Student at University of Texas at Austin

  • Palmy Jesudhasan, Ph.D.

    Lab Manager/Research Scientist

    Currently:
    Research Microbiologist at USDA-ARS

  • Suzette Palmer, M.S.

    Research Assistant

    Currently:
    Ph.D. student at UT Southwestern Medical Center

  • Mahsa Sorouri, Ph.D.

    Ph.D. Student

    Currently:
    Lab Manager (Harbour Lab) at UT Southwestern Medical Center

  • Yefan Wang

    Intern

    Currently:
    Student at Xiamen University

  • Samrawit Alemu

    Research Technician

    Currently:
    Ph.D. Student at Harvard University

  • Maxine Williams

    SURF Summer Student (2022)

    Currently:
    Senior at UT San Antonio

  • Neha Jayarajan

    Intern

    Currently:
    Junior at UT Austin

  • Avery Arnold

    Intern

    Currently:
    Sophomore at UT Dallas

  • Chelsea Pinkham, Ph.D.

    Postdoctoral Researcher & Lab Manager

    Currently: Technical Applications Scientist II at ThermoFisher

  • Donna Osunde

    Intern

    Currently: Student at Dallas Community College

  • Josh Bailey, M.S.

    Research Assistant

    Currently: Entymologist at Central Garden & Pet Co.

  • Sruthi Chappidi, Ph.D.

    Postdoc, Computational Biologist

  • Angie Esparza

    Research Assistant I

    Currently:

    Research Assistant II at UNTHSC Institute for Translational Research

  • Natalia Herrera, M.S.

    Lab Manager/ Research Assistant

  • Tyron Chang, Ph.D.

    Ph.D. Student

    Currently:

    ORISE Fellow at USDA

Previous Lab Rotation Students

Mridula Annaswamy Srinivas (2020)
Mikayla Stokes (2018)
Acacia Young (2018)