Scripps Research Graduate Program

Happy New Year from everyone at the Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences at Scripps Research! We’re looking forward to another year of training the brightest, most innovative scientists anywhere to tackle the most important problems in human health.

We hope you’ll join us in 2026 by attending one of our free events (Front Row lectures start again in Feb!), listening to one of our podcasts or supporting our research and the training of our graduate students. Either way, we raise our test tubes to you and everyone who supports scientific discovery!

To our dedicated students, esteemed faculty and partners, committed staff, and the entire community of Scripps Research supporters, we extend our heartfelt wishes for a Happy New Year! 🎉

Here's to another year of bold scientific exploration and groundbreaking discoveries that benefit the world. Together, we look toward a future of hope, scientific progress and improved global health.

WATCH TODAY at 10! We’re celebrating 61 new PhDs in the chemical and biological sciences today (May 16) at our 33rd Commencement! Watch the ceremony live and see the face of the future of biomedical research and discovery. Join us at 10am PDT for the procession, intros by Dean Keary Engle and President Pete Schultz, and the conferral of degrees upon these OUTSTANDING young researchers. Register to watch at: scripps.edu/graduation

Ines Forrest, one of our 2025 doctoral program graduates, studied in the lab of Prof. Christopher Parker, where she developed an innovative chemical proteomic strategy using novel target-agnostic small-molecule degraders to study and eliminate proteins linked to various diseases, including , , and diseases. A recipient of numerous awards for her research and contributions to community and diversity in science, made a profound impact that extended well beyond her laboratory.

She says that she’s now looking forward to applying her training in chemical biology and expertise in chemical proteomics to advancing the development of new therapeutics and contributing to improving human health. Congratulations, Ines! We can’t wait to see the positive impacts you make next.

Learn more about our 2025 graduating class—and register to watch the live broadcast of our 33rd commencement on May 16 at: scripps.edu/graduation.

Congrats to Ahmed Khattab, one of 61 grad students receiving a doctoral degree THIS FRIDAY at our 33rd Commencement! Working in the Torkamani and Zorrilla labs, Khattab developed machine learning tools that combine genetic and clinical data to personalize risk prediction and make early detection more equitable.

Learn more about Khattab and all of our 2025 graduating class—and register to watch the live broadcast of our 33rd commencement on May 16 at: scripps.edu/graduation.

Caroline Cuoco () completed graduate studies in the US and UK, as part of our Skaggs-Oxford joint doctoral program. At she was mentored by Prof. Jeff Kelly, in whose lab she utilized phenotypic-based drug discovery to uncover novel and therapeutically targetable signaling pathways in the fields of cardiac regeneration and .

She’s now pursuing a postdoc at in the lab of Fleur Ferguson. Following her , she hopes to transition into an early-stage drug discovery startup as a chemical biologist.

Learn more about our 2025 graduating class—and register to watch the live broadcast of our 33rd commencement on May 16 at: scripps.edu/graduation.

Michael Pigula (), one of our 2025 PhD recipients, completed doctoral studies in the lab of Prof. Pete Schultz. He’s now extending his research into the development of protein therapeutics at ‘s Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines.

Learn more about our 2025 graduating class—and SIGN UP to watch the live broadcast of our 33rd commencement on May 16: scripps.edu/graduation.

Amanda Sul - .sul - a grad student in the lab of Prof. Luke Lairson, investigated the in vivo efficacy of oligodendrocyte differentiation-inducing small molecules using the cuprizone-induced model of . Now part of our 2025 graduating class of PhD recipients, she’s eager to continue advancing drug discovery by building a career in the industry.

Learn more about our 2025 graduates by registering to watch the live broadcast of our 33rd commencement on May 16 at: scripps.edu/graduation.

Congrats to Yujie Shi, a grad student in the lab of Prof. Peng Wu, on being a part of our 2025 class of recipients! Shi focused on developing chemical tools for enhancing adoptive transfer therapy, by improving the specificity and functionality of therapeutic T cells.

She’s now looking forward to continuing her research in cancer and as a Scripps Research postdoc! Learn more about her research and grad school experience—and a few of our other 2025 graduates—then register to watch the live broadcast of our 33rd commencement on May 16 at: scripps.edu/graduation.

Nathan Beutler was a grad student in the lab of Prof. Dennis Burton, where he developed -based tools to prevent and treat infectious diseases, with a particular emphasis on development and pandemic response.

He’s now looking forward to continuing his training as a at working with Professors Elizabeth Winzeler and Thomas Rogers. He’ll study the evolution of resistance to vaccines and therapeutic antibodies, with the goal of guiding the development of next-generation interventions. Long term, he’s looking forward to an academic career, with research focused on the discovery of innovative therapeutics for infectious diseases. Beutler is committed to working at the intersection of and global health—advancing impactful therapies and to improve human health worldwide. Congratulations, Nathan!

Learn more about his research and grad school experience—and a few of our other 2025 graduates—then register to watch the live broadcast of our 33rd commencement on May 16 at: scripps.edu/graduation.

Today we’re celebrating Eleanor Landwehr, who completed graduate studies in the at and is part of our 2025 graduating class. Landwehr synthesized several GB from high fraction sp2, commercially available starting materials. Gram-scale access to these bioactive molecules has allowed for modern biological evaluation of their properties. She is already part of the discovery chemistry team at Johnson & Johnson in La Jolla. Congratulations, Eleanor!

Learn more about her experience—and our other 2025 graduates—and register to watch the live broadcast of our 33rd on Friday, 5/16 at: scripps.edu/graduation.

Congratulations to 2025 doctoral degree recipient Andi Pan () who studied on the campus in the labs of Prof. Michael Farzan and Prof. Mauricio Martins. (.martins83) Pan developed an in vivo affinity maturation system relying on B-cell engineering to improve efficacy of protein therapeutics. He’s now looking forward to working in the industry and translating scientific discovery to medicines that benefit people.

Learn more about Pan’s experience—and that of our other 2025 graduates—and register to watch the live broadcast of our 33rd on Friday, 5/16 at: scripps.edu/graduation.