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Julia (Pietromicca) Victor, a PhD candidate in the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME), has received an American Association of ÃÍÁÏÊÓƵ Women (AAUW) American Dissertation Fellowship for demonstrating scholarly excellence.

As a recipient of the 2025-2026 American Dissertation Fellowship Program, Victor receives a $25,000 stipend that is intended to offset expenses during her final year of dissertation writing.

Victor conducts research in the Vascular Mechanobiology Laboratory at UB under the direction of SUNY Empire Innovation Professor B. Rita Alevriadou. In the lab, she designs in vitro experiments to replicate the mechanical environment that endothelial cells, the cell type that covers the inner surfaces of blood vessels, experience in early hypertension.

In hypertension (high blood pressure), the arteries are subjected to greater tensile forces and stretch more with each heartbeat compared to normotension (normal blood pressure). The increased stretching is known to cause endothelial cells to become inflamed and dysfunctional.

In collaboration with G. Ekin Atilla-Gokcumen, Dr. Marjorie E. Winkler Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Victor is investigating the role of sphingolipids, a class of membrane lipids, in regulating endothelial cell dysfunction under simulated hypertension. Her findings aim to provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular disease.

“Julia’s work has the potential to identify new molecular targets for preventing the initial hypertensive stretch-induced vascular endothelial cell dysfunction in arteries and the subsequent progression to cardiovascular disease,” said Alevriadou, a core faculty member in the BME department.

In addition to her research activities, Victor is actively involved in science outreach and mentoring. As a member of UB’s Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) outreach committee, she volunteers in local schools to encourage young students to explore careers in STEM. She has mentored several undergraduate students from various science and engineering majors in the Alevriadou lab. Victor is also a recipient of the UB Presidential Fellowship, the WNY Prosperity Fellowship, and the Olga Lindberg Scholarship from the AAUW Buffalo Branch.

Victor said she is grateful to AAUW for their support, and looks forward to applying her BME training in the field to promote growth and success in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors in Western New York (WNY) following the completion of her PhD.

“Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in WNY and across the U.S., highlighting the critical need for research to advance our understanding of its underlying mechanisms. As a Buffalo native, I am honored to contribute to work that may inform innovative therapies and improve health outcomes in our community,” said Victor.

She added "I hope my journey encourages young women to believe in their potential and see themselves as future engineers, scientists, and researchers."