Meet the team

Dr. Elizondo attended University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she had her first biomedical research exposure studying obesity, as part of the Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS)-Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) Program. The experience was so rewarding and opened a new series of questions in the field of inflammation that she committed to continue her training at Howard University PhD’s program in Cell and Molecular Biology with a concentration in immunology, allowing her to study diabetes from an autoimmune perspective. She remained committed to her training in endocrinology by joining the Future Leaders Advancing Research in Endocrinology (FLARE) program, offered by the Endocrine Society, and pursuing postdoctoral training in immunometabolism at University of Michigan, followed by a second postdoctoral fellowship in metabolism at the National Institutes of Health. Currently, Dr. Elizondo continues to contribute to the field of immunometabolism at University of Maryland, Baltimore County in the Biology Department, where her research focuses on delineating the role of myeloid immune cells in metabolic dysfunction.

Inioluwa graduated from UMBC in 2024 with a degree in Biological Sciences and minors in Psychology and Chemistry. Her goal is to become a professor and run her own lab with a focus on neurobiology. She loves to read, crochet, and binge-watch shows. She is excited to be part of the Elizondo lab, where she looks forward to broadening her research perspective and learning more about metabolism and immunology.

DeOnna is a sophomore Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major at UMBC with interests in genetics, immunology, and cell biology – she plans to pursue a PhD in one of these areas. Outside of school, she enjoys trying new foods, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.

Irene is a first-year biological sciences major interested in immunology.  In the future, she wants to be a neonatal neurosurgeon and Lupus researcher. Outside of school, she plays tennis, reads, and hangs out with family and friends.

Nifemi is a third-year Biological Sciences major with a minor in Emergency and Disaster Health systems and a certificate in Korean studies on the pre-med track. Her goal is to become a cardiothoracic surgeon. Outside of school, she enjoys playing the piano, singing, reading and spending time with friends.