PhD Student Niyonshuti Selected as ASPET Washington Fellow

Congratulations to PhD student Pascaline Niyonshuti for being selected as one of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) Washington Fellows for 2026-2027.  Pascaline was born and raised in Rwanda, where her involvement in community service, debates, and girls' empowerment initiatives, along with her participation in the Global Give Back Circle, sparked an early passion for advocacy and science-informed public policy. She earned her bachelor's degree in integrated sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. During her college time, she further cultivated her passion for science and advancing public health outcomes. She served as an undergraduate research assistant fellow in the Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience (UCARE) program, which fostered her interests in pharmacology. She is currently pursuing a PhD in the field of drug transporters in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Oklahoma Health Campus under the mentorship of Dr. Wei Yue. Her research focuses on the regulation of two clinically important transporters, OATP1 B1 and OATP1 B3, and assessing OATP-mediated DOis using a multidisciplinary approach encompassing molecular biology and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. She enjoys mentoring high school, undergraduate, and fresh graduate students interested in pursuing careers in scientific research. Beyond research, she actively engages in community and professional service through the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (MPS) student chapter and volunteer work with the University of Oklahoma Big Event, outreach at the Mobile Home Community at Edmond, Oklahoma, and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. As an AS PET Washington fellow, Pascaline aspires to deepen her understanding of policy development and implementation, apply her research experience to inform science-based policy decisions, and advocate for continued funding of biomedical research.