
Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, Ph.D.
President, Chief Scientific Officer, and Investigator

The Planarian Outreach Program was made possible by the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and the Sánchez Alvarado Laboratory. Its content is the responsibility of the authors Julianna O. Haug, Dr. Aubrey Kent, and Dr. Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado.
This project was sculpted in many ways, most significantly with the help of local teachers in Kansas City. Special thanks to Blue Valley North teachers Chris Ollig and Bre Murphy, as well as Oregon Trail Middle School teacher Scott Neubauer for the collaboration of their classrooms and students. I would like to thank Robert Schnittker for his support in the first few years of the program launch. Finally, thank you to all the wonderful students we have interacted with through the program.

Founder and Program Instructor
Julianna Haug has been a student scientist at the Stowers Institute for Medical Reseach since 2019. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Physiology with a minor in Journalism from the University of Arizona in 2021. Julianna began her career through the Stowers Summer Scholars Program, where she discovered her passion for studying stem cell regeneration. Beyond the lab, Julianna is deeply committed to the community engagement. Her early experiences volunteering with the National Charity Leage and the Kansas City Intersport Network instilled a dedication to give back. Through developing the Planarian Outreach Program, she has aimed to inspire curiosity in science, connect with students, and learn. Outside of sciences, Julianna enjoys running, playing cello, and flying.

Program Instructor
2016 – A.A. from Metropolitan Community College
2018 – B.A. in Biology from William Jewell College
2025 – Ph.D. in Biology from The Graduate School of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Dr. Kent earned her Ph.D. from the Graduate School of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, where her research focused on stem cells and regeneration. During her graduate training, she became actively involved in science education and outreach, joining the Planarian Outreach Program in 2023 as an instructor. In this role, she has worked with middle school, high school, and college students, developing and leading hands on learning experiences that introduced foundational concepts in biology, stem cell science, and regenerative research.
Dr. Kent is currently a professor of biology at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, where she teaches Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Stem Cell Biology. She is passionate about mentoring students and fostering curiosity, confidence, and critical thinking in the sciences. Her work is guided by a strong commitment to making science accessible, engaging, and meaningful for learners at all stages.
Outside of her academic and outreach work, she enjoys spending time with friends and family and has a strong interest in the arts. Exploring science through nature is where she finds balance and inspiration. She is a multidisciplinary artist who approaches art with the same curiosity and rigor she brings to her scientific work, viewing science itself as a form of creative expression.

President, Chief Scientific Officer, and Investigator
Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Development and Regeneration, Genetics and Genomics, Evolutionary Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology
Cell Biology; Evolution and Model Systems; Laboratory Rotation; Thesis Laboratory
Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, Ph.D., is the President and Chief Scientific Officer of the Stowers Institute. Alejandro joined the Institute in 2011, was named its Scientific Director in 2019, and named Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer in 2021. In 2023 he was named President and Chief Scientific Director.

Team Member