Liam Carman: Advancing Research in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases 

Originally from Staten Island, Liam received his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the College of Staten Island. He also has two years of biopharma experience at GenScript, where he solidly advanced as a bench scientist and realized he wanted to both direct and execute industry projects as he might do after completing doctoral training. The combination of his undergraduate and industry experiences led Liam to apply to the pharmacology-toxicology graduate program in the UConn School of Pharmacy Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. In 2022, he was accepted to professor of pharmacology and toxicology, Brian Aneskievich’s lab. The prestige of the graduate program, combined with Liam’s desire to stay close to home and the energetic department atmosphere, has allowed Liam to thrive for the past three years.  

Under the guidance of Aneskievich, Liam focuses his research on chronic inflammatory disorders, mainly of the skin. Combined with his advisor’s experiences with skin as a target organ system, Liam and his colleagues have the disease–relevant and hands-on research experience to investigate a protein called TNIP1, the cell’s natural defense against inflammation. In his research project he submitted to AFPE, entitled “Assessing Biomolecular Protein Condensates as Sites for Restricting Cytoplasmic Progression of Signaling in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases,” Liam explores the cell-level organization of proteins like TNIP1 and how they fight inflammation.  

Liam strives to share his research with the greater pharmaceutical world through publications, with the ultimate goal of developing new mechanisms and therapeutic angles to help those struggling with chronic inflammatory disorders.  

When asked about his research, Liam explains the impactful role the graduate program has had in cultivating and carrying out his passion for pharmacology. Liam’s project is also partially supported by a UConn Research Excellence Program (REP) grant to Aneskievich. Additionally, Liam credits the School, department, and Aneskievich’s guidance in helping him pursue his research and stay on track.  

Since becoming a Husky, Liam capitalized on these resources to expand his research, presentation skills, and professionalism. Attending and speaking at student seminars has helped Liam with his public speaking. Attending conferences has also given Liam opportunities to network with others in academia and the pharmaceutical industry. 

Liam’s research advancements have been recognized on campus by his receipt of the Cohen/Rosenberg Research Fellowship, the Khairallah Research Fellowship, and regionally by a poster award at the 2025 Northeast Society Toxicology Research Conference. Receiving his AFPE fellowship award came as a surprise to Liam and has motivated him to keep expanding on his research and working hard in the lab.  

“For scientists on the review committee to actually look at my work and determine it to be promising and worth studying – it gives me motivation to continue to work hard.”

With the extra funding Liam received through this award, he is looking forward to gathering more materials and integrating advanced technology in his research. Being an AFPE fellow has introduced Liam to a new community of well-respected and successful pharmaceutical scientists, and he himself plans to mentor students in the future. 

When asked, Liam would absolutely recommend UConn to prospective Ph.D. students. From the industry connections to the diversity of projects, Liam has learned things he never expected to learn.  

Looking to the future, Liam hopes to start his career as an industry scientist in clinical safety sciences or drug screening. With a background of research from UConn and his title as an AFPE pre-doctoral fellow, Liam is excited for his future!  

Luke Burroughs: Advancing Research in Parenteral Drug Products 

With a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Calvin University, Luke worked on Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing at Pfizer for two years before coming to UConn in 2022, where he started research in Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutics and Pfizer Distinguished Endowed Chair in Pharmaceutical Technology Diane Burgess’ lab.   

While completing his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the School, Luke has received multiple awards including the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) best abstract award, AAPS travelship, and R.E. Singiser Memorial Fellowship Award for the past three years. Additionally, Luke is the President of the AAPS-UConn student chapter and a graduate student representative on UConn’s School of Pharmacy Professionalism Committee. A member of many professional associations, including AAPS, the Controlled Release Society (CRS), the AAPS Northeast Regional Discussion Group (NERGG), and the Center for Pharmaceutical Processing Research (CPPR), Luke remains passionate for pharmacy both within and outside of UConn. 

Luke has excelled in Burgess’ lab, working on a continuous manufacturing skid for complex parenteral drug products, such as liposomes and LNPs while operating advanced analytical technology developed in Burgess’ lab and not found at any other university. Luke’s research project that helped him become an AFPE pre-doctoral fellow is titled “Continuous Manufacturing of Complex Parenteral Drug Products: Next Generation Control, Development, and Standards.”  

 Working under Burgess has been helpful for Luke in learning to write effective proposals and papers and becoming involved on campus as a leader. Constantly refining his research, while collaborating with other students and faculty members in committees he’s joined, Luke has grown his professionalism and pharmacy community. 

“Burgess really helps us in every aspect of writing proposals or papers and helps shape our ideas.”

Receiving this fellowship award, the Herb and Nina Demuth Memorial Award in Pharmaceutics, will help Luke perform more research and expand his interests. 

With future plans to continue his career in the pharmaceutical industry, UConn and what he’s accomplished here will always be special for Luke. One of his favorite memories is hiking with Burgess and his colleagues during Thanksgiving break or in the summers, sometimes even traveling as far as Vermont!