Anna M. Ferkul

Anna Ferkul is a 2025-2029 Self Graduate Fellow pursuing her Ph.D. in neuroscience at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC). She graduated with distinction from the University of Kansas in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and minor in Psychology. While at KU-Lawrence, Anna’s research focused on the role of poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP)-14 in Herpes-Simplex 1 viral infection, using cell culture techniques, infection models, and specific PARP inhibitors.

Her current research in Dr. Julie Christianson’s lab investigates the impacts of early life stress on physiologic functions, like chronic pain, metabolism, and cognition. Specifically, Anna is interested in determining how early life stress can impact chronic pain in Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (UCPPS), examining mitochondrial function in various tissues, measuring pain indications, and testing for cognitive impairment. The ultimate goal is to determine differences within the brain and affected tissue from stress and chronic pain to identify new avenues of treatment.

After completing her graduate degree at KUMC Anna aspires to stay in the field of academia and become a professor, allowing her to run a lab of her own and mentor future generations scientists. Additionally, she hopes to continue her passion for advocating for scientific funding, education, and literacy through sharing her knowledge inside and outside the scientific community.

Mentor: Julie A. Carlsten Christianson, PhD. Professor, Cell Biology and Physiology