CORTEX
Mentorship and Research vision
At Cortex, we believe that mentorship is the cornerstone of impactful research. Great discoveries don’t happen in isolation—they are cultivated through guidance, collaboration, and the transfer of knowledge from experienced researchers to aspiring minds. Our vision is to create an ecosystem where mentorship is not just about answering questions, but about empowering students with the skills, confidence, and critical thinking needed to drive meaningful change in research. Too often, students eager to explore research find themselves lost in a maze of complex methodologies and unclear pathways to publication. Cortex bridges this gap by equipping learners with essential skills—from study design and data analysis to scientific writing and publication—ensuring they don’t just consume knowledge but actively contribute to the scientific community. Through structured mentorship, hands-on learning, and collaborative opportunities, we transform curiosity into expertise, enabling students to challenge existing ideas, innovate boldly, and become leaders in their fields. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and shared growth, we don’t just teach research—we build a new generation of researchers who will, in turn, mentor others, creating an enduring cycle of knowledge and discovery.
Our Team.
At CORTEX, our dedicated team of student associates works to bridge the gap between research and community. Through weekly blog posts, our associates share their experiences in medicine, research, and student life, offering insight, reflection, and connection.
Emily Casteen
Research Associate
Emily Casteen graduated from the University of Kansas in 2019 with a degree in Behavioral Neuroscience. She is currently a third-year medical student at the University of Kansas Medical Center interested in the field of Hematology/Oncology.
Khadijah AbdulKhaliq
Research Associate
Khadijah Khaliq is a 3rd year undergraduate student at the Univedsity of Kansas majoring in psychology. She is a pre-medicine student and is working alongside the CORTEX team to empower future healthcare leaders.
Rumesa Nisar
Research Associate
Rumesa is a recent graduate from the University of Missouri Kansas City with her Bachelors of Science in Biology. She is currently working here at cortex and getting ready to pursue a career in the medical field.
Student Scientific committee
The Student Scientific Committee at Cortex is a team of dedicated student and trainee members committed to fostering a strong research culture among students. They play a vital role in organizing research discussions, guiding peers through the research process, and contributing to the development of educational resources. Through their leadership, they help create a supportive environment where students can learn, collaborate, and excel in research.
William Wesson
Emily Casteen
Nikhil Vojjala
Sohaib Irfan
Muhammad Atif Khan
Digital innovation scholar
As a Digital Innovation Scholar, Sohaib Irfan is passionate about leveraging machine learning and deep learning to revolutionize healthcare research. His work focuses on developing AI-driven predictive models and chatbots to enhance patient education and streamline clinical decision-making. Through innovation, he aims to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and real-world medical applications.
Present and Past Students
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
The Present & Past Students of Cortex are a testament to its mission of empowering future researchers. Current students actively engage in learning, mentorship, and collaborative projects, building a strong foundation in research. Past students have successfully transitioned into academia, clinical research, and publication, with many presenting at conferences and pursuing advanced studies. Their achievements reflect Cortex’s commitment to nurturing lifelong contributors to science.
William Wesson
William C. Wesson, MD, MPH is a PGY-1 Internal Medicine resident at the University of Kansas Medical Center with a strong research background in cellular therapeutics, CAR-T therapy, and hematologic transplant. His work focuses on optimizing patient outcomes, with numerous peer-reviewed publications analyzing toxicity management, relapse prediction, and access disparities in immunotherapy. Dr. Wesson aims to become an independent investigator in cellular therapy, contributing to advancements in graft-versus-host disease treatment and lymphoma/myeloma care. Outside of medicine, he enjoys tabletop gaming, 3D printing, rock climbing, and performing music.
Emily Casteen
Emily Casteen is a third-year medical student at the University of Kansas Medical Center interested in the field of Hematology/Oncology. She graduated from the University of Kansas in 2019 with a degree in Behavioral Neuroscience. Afterwards, she was a clinical research assistant for three years at McLean Hospital, where she was involved in psychiatric research. These projects have been presented at the Society for Biological Psychiatry and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, and they have been published in Brain and Behavior and Neuropsychopharmacology. In medical school, her interests turned toward Internal Medicine and Hematology/Oncology. During this time, she participated in the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children's Digestive Disease Summer Research Program and has contributed to abstracts featured in the online publication of Blood. She was recently accepted into the Gold Humanism Society. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends, reading, and exploring the outdoors.
Aroog Khaliq
Aroog Khaliq is an MS4 at the University of Kansas School of Medicine with interests in hematology-oncology and palliative care, and mentorship from Dr. Ahmed has allowed her to contribute meaningfully to these fields. Aroog's research focuses on cellular therapy and stem cell transplant and has been published in Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma & Leukemia, Blood, and Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. For her work on gender inequities in transplant research authorship, she received an Abstract Award from the American Society of Hematology. In the near future, Aroog plans to further her training as an internal medicine resident and follow in Dr. Ahmed's footsteps as a clinician who prizes medical education and mentorship. During her free time, Aroog enjoys writing poetry, baking, making cards and spending time with loved ones in her hometown of Kansas City.
Raeef Rahman
Aliya Rashid
Nikhil Vojjala
Dr. Nikhil Vojjala is a second-year Internal Medicine resident at Trinity Health Oakland Hospital, affiliated with Wayne State University School of Medicine. He is currently applying for a Hematology-Oncology fellowship, with a special interest in transplant and cellular therapies. Dr. Vojjala’s work focuses on Multiple Myeloma, CAR-T cell therapy, and transplants. His academic achievements include being selected as a trainee for the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Society (HTRS) Spring 2024 cycle, an honor awarded to only 30 residents and fellows across the United States.
Sohaib Irfan
Sohaib Irfan, a graduate of Aga Khan University, is deeply interested in predictive modeling and the application of AI, machine learning, and deep learning to healthcare. His research focuses on leveraging these technologies to improve clinical outcomes, particularly in hematology and oncology.
Muhammad Atif Khan
Lauren N. Scott
I graduated from UCLA in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology. I am currently a second-year medical student hoping to pursue a career in pediatric hematology-oncology. My interest is in improving toxicity management from cell-based therapies.
Ben Hane
I am a recent University of Kansas graduate who majored in Biochemistry. I am currently a second-year medical student pursuing a career in clinical hematology/oncology. I am interested in learning more about CAR-T and cell-based therapies.
Hamed Alza'tary
My name is Hamed Alza’tary. I’m Palestinian and I did my medical school in Egypt. I did 3 months of rotations in the U.S. during my medical school. I applied for the match this year for Internal Medicine. Right now, I live in Detroit, Michigan.
Ishita Kamboj
I am a medical graduate currently involved in research in the Hematology-Oncology Department at the University of Kansas Medical Center, focusing on immune effector cell therapies. I am passionate about exploring new innovations to advance medicine while advocating for health equity and accessibility. Outside of medicine, I find inspiration and balance through dance, embracing creativity and movement.
Dania Shoaib
Maggie Ziegler
Emerson Logan
Carine Tabak
Priyanka Venkatesh
Gina Singh
My name is Gina Singh, and I’m a third-year medical student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. I’m really passionate about hematology/oncology and love how much research and growth there is in the field—I definitely see myself pursuing it in the future. I’m originally from Kansas City, and in my free time, I enjoy yoga and dancing.
Achievements
The achievements of Cortex reflect its commitment to empowering aspiring researchers. Students have successfully published research papers, presented at international conferences, and contributed to groundbreaking projects in science and medicine. Through mentorship and collaboration, Cortex continues to shape the next generation of innovators and leaders in research.