Thomas Schodl (they/he) is a second-year Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology (BBSB) PhD student in the laboratory of Dr. Natalie Niemi. Thomas is broadly interested in how cells maintain homeostasis, with a specific emphasis on mitochondrial function. Thomas earned their BS (summa cum laude) in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Truman State University in 2024, where they investigated respiratory defects in rodent models of Alzheimer’s Disease and received the Barry Goldwater Scholarship. They are actively involved in their program’s graduate student council and are excited to gain teaching experience as a teaching assistant in the 2025-26 academic year.