Doctoral Candidate
University of Southern California
My name is Riya Verma, MS, and I am a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Developmental, Stem Cells, and Regenerative Biology program at the Keck School of Medicine USC in the McCain Lab. My research is focused on using Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome patient stem cells to derive cardiomyocytes that are engineered into native structures and functionally characterized. My motivation for research has been to contribute to translationally relevant models aimed at improving patient outcomes. My doctorate goals involve utilizing a diverse set of biological and engineering tools to create a physiologically relevant system to study cardiac disorders.