Graduate Student Appreciation Week: Kari

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Our final graduate student spotlight is Kari! She is a fifth year PhD candidate who continuously works hard both in her research and mentorship. She supports her mentees with patience and kindness by taking the time to answer every question, even if that means researching the answers she doesn’t know. She ensures her mentees have a full understanding of their research and models a collaborative work environment where every idea is heard. We couldn’t be more proud to have Kari in our lab!

Graduate Student Appreciation Week: Mariah

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The next graduate student we’d like to highlight is Mariah! On August 11th, Mariah successfully passed her doctoral thesis proposal and officially became a Doctoral Candidate in the Taylor Lab! Her research investigates neuroimmune mechanisms of tendon pain, with a focus on Substance P and NK1R signaling across in vitro, preclinical, and clinical models.

 

Her work integrates tendon-derived cell and macrophage in vitro systems, rodent models of supraspinatus injury with behavioral pain assessments, and human tissue analysis, including three-dimensional nerve mapping and clinical pain correlations. Through this translational approach, she aims to uncover how neuroimmune signaling drives tendon pathology and pain.

 

Alongside being an incredible researcher, she is also an outstanding graduate mentor. Mariah consistently instills confidence in her undergraduate mentees, empowering them to grow into independent researchers. She is thoughtful and intentional in her mentorship, ensuring her students are gaining the skills they hope to achieve in the lab. She truly sets the standard for what great mentorship and research looks like.

Graduate Student Appreciation Week: Harrison

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Our next spotlight for Graduate Student Appreciation Week is Harrison! Last May he successfully became a PhD candidate and has since been working hard to accomplish his research aims. He continuously shows up for his undergraduate mentees and is an inspiring mentor that leads by example. The Taylor Lab wouldn’t be the same without you Harrison!

Graduate Student Appreciation Week: Ananya and Bryce

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This week is Graduate Student Appreciation Week, and the Taylor Lab wants to spotlight our amazing graduate students that keep our lab running. First up is Ananya and Bryce, our master’s students! They’ve recently joined the lab but are already showing off their knowledge and hard work. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish in the near future!

BME Outreach Day 2026

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The University of Florida Biomedical Engineering department hosted our second annual BME Outreach Day, where labs across the field came together to ignite curiosity in research and STEM for young students. The Taylor Lab showcased our tendinous scaffolds, taught aspiring scientists how to pipette, and made a musculoskeletal crossword puzzle. After a successful event, we cannot wait for next year!

Taylor Lab ORS and SFB Presentations

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Come see the Taylor Lab at the 2026 SFB and ORS conferences present the amazing work we’ve been doing!

Fall Undergraduate Symposium Presentations

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Come learn more about The Taylor Lab’s research from our lovely undergraduate students presenting at the 2025 Fall Undergraduate Symposium!

Celebrating a Milestone: Harrison Broadaway’s PhD Candidacy Success!

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On May 6th, Harrison Broadaway successfully passed his doctoral thesis proposal and officially became the Taylor Lab’s second Doctoral Candidate! His research will develop in vitro and in vivo models of healthy and tendinopathic tendon in order to elucidate mechanisms underscoring tissue turnover, a key component in investigating the complex biomechanical interactions underlying tendon maintenance and disease progression. Now a Taylor Lab tradition, we celebrated his accomplishment with sparkling cider! Congratulations Harrison Broadaway!

Mariah Turner is awarded the Gator Engineer Leadership Award

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This spring, Mariah Turner was awarded the Attributes of a Gator Engineer Leadership Award from the UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering! Her commitment and dedication to the college continues to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. As always, Mariah makes the Taylor Lab proud!

Mariah Presents at the Pain Research Symposium

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At this year’s inaugural symposium for the Pain Research & Integrated Neuroscience Center (PRINC), Mariah Turner presented her poster titled “Macrophage-Driven Modulation of Substance P Secretion in Tendon-Derived Cells: A Neuroimmune Mechanism Underlying Tendinopathic Pain.” We are so proud of Mariah for sharing her research with other experts in the field!