The Cell-ebrity Wall
Dr. Vito Rebecca
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health
Dr. Rebecca is an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is also a Member of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Department of Oncology and the Melanoma Program in the Kimmel Cancer Center. He has a B.S. from Lafayette College and a Ph.D. from the University of South Florida / H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center cancer biology graduate program. Dr. Rebecca serves on the Steering Committee for the Society for Melanoma Research and on various committees to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the biomedical sciences. He is the recipient of several awards for his work including the Melanoma Research Foundation Young Investigator Award (2019), the Christopher Marshall Award (2018), and the Johns Hopkins University Faculty Innovation Award (2021).
Marie Elena Portuallo
PhD Student
I am a PhD student from CMM in the Rebecca Lab. I love to try new restaurants, play board games, and go to the farmers market every week! My passion for translational cancer research is evident in the Rebecca Lab, where I have already gained 2 co-authored publications since 2023. By the time I graduate, I hope to become a skilled researcher and mentor for those that wish to pursue cancer research. I look forward to expanding my knowledge and expertise as a scientist in the Rebecca Lab and beyond!
Dr. Steffanus Pranoto Hallis
Post Doctoral Fellow
Hi, I’m a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University, originally from Indonesia. I’ve always been fascinated by how small changes inside our cells can have a big impact on health and disease, especially cancer. In Dr. Rebecca’s lab, I study acral melanoma, a distinct subtype of skin cancer, and I’m particularly interested in why some cancer cells resist treatment while others respond well. My research focuses on how the environment around cancer cells, such as their anatomic location, shapes their behavior and influences their response to therapy. By understanding these mechanisms, I hope to help uncover new strategies to make treatments more effective for cancer patients.
Dr. Marjorie Roskes
Post Doctoral Fellow
Marjorie is a Research Associate with a background in mathematics, computer science, and computational biology. She earned her B.A. and M.S. in Mathematics from Yeshiva University and completed her Ph.D. through the Tri-Institutional Program in Computational Biology and Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine.
During her doctoral work, she focused on castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), developing expertise in analyzing large-scale datasets across multiple modalities, including WGS (cfDNA and tissue), bulk and single-cell RNA-seq, and Hi-C spatial data. Her research explored the genomic and epigenomic heterogeneity of CRPC, uncovering key insights such as a novel structural variant linked to stem-cell-like CRPC.
She is passionate about applying computational approaches to complex biological questions and values collaborative, enthusiastic research environments. She is eager to explore new data types and analytical strategies while contributing to team-driven science.
Limin An (AnAn)
PhD Student
AnAn is a PhD student in BMB. Her research focuses on the role of tissue stiffness in acral melanoma. She looks forward to the day when cancer is defeated. Outside of research, she identifies as an INFP and enjoys connecting with ENFJ personalities.
Beatriz Pereira Peixoto
ScM Thesis Student
Sheshadri is a Masters thesis student from India. His interests started with Vitiligo, a depigmentation skin disorder and led to exploring the ocean of melanomas we suffer. His research focuses on understanding the complications age has on ALM progression. He is exploring paths to join a PhD program after his masters. Away from lab he enjoys Swimming and also loves to explore cuisines from around the world.
Viviana Smart
PhD Student
I am Viviana Smart a PhD student in the Cellular and Molecular Medicine Program at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. I grew up in Maryland most of my life and graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a BS in Biochemistry. I find myself to be a very curious and chill person. No matter what I’m doing, I always ask myself how things work and why something happens. This is exactly why I decided to pursue the research field in biomedical science because there are so many different types of rare diseases with too many unanswered questions. Being a student in Vito’s lab allows me to dive into these mysteries in research, specifically disparities in acral melanoma research, and how to tackle these ongoing problems in public health and medicine.
Sheshadri Suresh Temkar
ScM Thesis Student
Sheshadri is a Master's thesis student in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department. His journey into research began with an interest in Vitiligo, a depigmentation skin condition. This curiosity about skin biology sparked his exploration into the vast challenges of melanomas, particularly Acral Lentiginous Melanoma (ALM)
His research focuses on unraveling the relationship between aging and the progression of ALM.
Away from lab Sheshadri loves to swim and enjoys exploring cuisines from around the globe
William Rosenthal
Laboratory Technologist
I oversee the daily operations of the laboratory to ensure research projects are carried out safely.
My responsibilities include maintaining equipment, managing supply inventories, enforcing safety standards. I also serve as a liaison between researchers and administrative staff, fostering collaboration and supporting the lab’s overall scientific goals.
Kevin R. Villatoro
Laboratory Technician
Kevin is a proud 1st-generation Salvadoran college student from Kissimmee, Florida. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Microbiology from the University of Central Florida. He is both a DSIP-VTSI Summer Fellow 2025 and a Ronald E. McNair Scholar Alumnus. He aspires to obtain a PhD to contribute to academia by both conducting research and teaching the next generation of scientists. His philosophy is rooted in lifelong learning and an unwavering drive to push scientific discovery forward. Through rigorous research and dedicated mentorship, Kevin aspires to make a lasting impact on the scientific community while championing diversity in STEM education. Kevin is one of the Rebecca Lab's Laboratory Technicians and has a profound interest in molecular biology and cellular research, microbiology, genetics, socio-economic/health disparities, and health communication, especially in underrepresented communities.
Forever Fam.
We’re proud to celebrate the scientists who have contributed to our lab's journey over the years. Whether they’ve gone on to academia, industry, or new adventures, each has left a positive mark on our research.
Dr. Bailey Robertson
PhD Graduate, 2025
Dr. Jeremy Bravo Narula
PhD Graduate, 2025