Each month, the editors of three of the ASPET journals choose their Highlighted Trainee Authors. These early-career scientists are recognized for their innovative research published in The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Drug Metabolism and Disposition, and Molecular Pharmacology. This feature showcases selected young scientists, demonstrates what drives them, and reveals why pharmacology is important to them. This month we are featuring the March 2026 Highlighted Trainee Authors.
Sherouk Tawfik
The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Sherouk Tawfik is a PhD candidate in Pharmacology at the University of Connecticut, where she works under the mentorship of Dr. Xiao-bo Zhong. It was during her pharmacy training that she became increasingly drawn to the biology underlying therapeutic response. She was deeply interested in clinical application, but equally captivated by understanding the molecular and cellular processes that ultimately determine drug efficacy. Curiosity evolved into commitment, and she chose pharmacology because it sits at the intersection of molecular discovery and patient impact. Additionally, Tawfik credits academic mentors who encouraged rigorous mechanistic thinking and translational perspective for being instrumental in shaping academic development.
Tawfik’s research, “Cholesterol-dependent control of endosomal escape regulates intracellular trafficking of small interfering RNA therapeutics and interactions with small molecule drugs,” asks a fundamental question: once a drug enters a cell, what determines whether it can do its job? She explains, “Although siRNA medicines are designed to silence harmful genes, most become trapped within intracellular compartments and never reach their target. I study the cellular mechanisms that govern this process, particularly those that regulate endosomal trafficking and escape.” Essentially an access problem, understanding and improving the final step can help make innovative therapies more reliable and effective for patients.
The most rewarding aspect of her research has been uncovering how fundamental cellular pathways, including Annexin A2 and cholesterol-dependent mechanisms, can profoundly influence therapeutic efficacy. Ultimately, Tawfik hopes her research will contribute to a more integrated understanding of drug action, one that bridges molecular engineering with cellular biology.
Tawfik aspires to lead a research program focused on advancing next-generation RNA therapeutics. While siRNA medicines represent a transformative shift in precision medicine, their intracellular journey remains incompletely understood. Her goal is to make these therapies more predictable, durable, and impactful by bridging mechanistic pharmacology with therapeutic strategy. Equally committed to mentorship and scientific advocacy, she champions collaborative, supportive research environments where discovery can thrive.
For Tawfik, having her work published in The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics is deeply meaningful, humbling, and motivating. As a trainee, “It affirms the value of careful, thoughtful science and strengthens my sense of belonging within the pharmacology community.”
Sadikshya Aryal
Sadikshya Aryal, a fifth-year PhD candidate at Purdue University, built a strong foundation in molecular biology while completing her undergraduate and graduate degrees in agriculture and plant science. After receiving her master’s degree, she worked as a lab manager in a molecular pharmacology lab, which sparked her interest in pharmacology and drug discovery. Aryal also credits her husband, who was pursuing a PhD in medicinal chemistry and often shared what excited him about drug discovery and its real-world impact, for influencing her to pursue her PhD in molecular pharmacology.
Aryal’s research, “Oligomerization of transmembrane adenylyl cyclase isoforms,” focuses on understanding how a key signaling enzyme in the nervous system, called adenylyl cyclase 1 (AC1), is regulated inside cells. AC1 helps control levels of a messenger molecule called cAMP, which influences how strongly nerve cells respond to signals, including pain signals.
She describes her work as studying a “control switch” in nerve cells that can amplify pain. By learning exactly how this switch is regulated, researchers can identify better ways to turn pain signals down more precisely, supporting the development of safer, non-opioid pain treatments in the future. “I hope my research will impact pharmacology by expanding our understanding of how AC1 is regulated inside cells and identifying new control points that shape cAMP signaling,” she shared.
The most rewarding aspect of Aryal’s journey has been her growth as a researcher. “Learning to think more critically, ask sharper questions, design more rigorous experiments, persist through setbacks, and communicate results with clarity and confidence as I become more independent as a scientist has been the most fulfilling part of the experience.”
Aryal’s long-term career and research goal is to contribute to the design and development of therapeutic strategies for inadequately treated diseases. Whether in academia or industry, she plans to continue pursuing translational research by identifying new intervention approaches and helping advance them toward drug development and improved patient outcomes.
For Aryal, being published in Molecular Pharmacology is a meaningful milestone. “As a pharmacology-focused researcher, I want my work to be read and recognized by the broader pharmacology community.”