People
Director
Dr. Priyanka Rana, PT, PhD
PMR Lab Director
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy and Movement Sciences
prana@utep.edu
Director's Bio
Doctoral Students
Akash Singh
Major: Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Akash's research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of pain and developing movement-based rehabilitation strategies to improve musculoskeletal health and function. With a foundation in Physiotherapy, Akash integrates perspectives from biomechanics, psychology, and biostatistics to explore how physical and psychological factors interact in pain perception and recovery. His goal is to translate scientific evidence into innovative, patient-centered rehabilitation approaches that enhance quality of life and support sustainable health outcomes. In his free time, Akash enjoys playing cricket, cooking and listening to music.
asingh2@miners.utep.edu
Lindsey Gass
Major: Physical Therapy
Lindsey is currently a 2nd year DPT student at UTEP. She received her undergraduate degree in 2022 from Washington State University with a BS in Kinesiology and a minor in Business Administration. She is currently working in the Pain Research Lab on the Pain Modulation project; she is excited to continue delving into more research on chronic pain in the future. She enjoys playing volleyball and woodworking in her free time.
lgass@miners.utep.edu
McKenna Hastings
Major: Physical Therapy
McKenna is currently a DPT student at UTEP. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from UTSA in 2022. McKenna has previously worked in research focusing on weight loss and patients with cirrhosis. She aims to deepen her research background and expand into more research topics. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with friends, watching movies, and spending time with her cats.
mrhastings@miners.utep.edu
Victoria Perez
Major: Physical Therapy
Victoria is currently a 2nd year DPT student at UTEP. She received her Bachelor of Science at Texas A-M International University in May 2024. Victoria is currently working on her capstone research project and is excited to learn about how exercise can be used to reduce pain sensitivity. She looks forward to applying her knowledge with her future patients with the goal of helping reduce their pain and improve overall quality of life. In her free time, she enjoys exercising, watching movies, and cooking.
vperez49@miners.utep.edu
Alejandra Ruedas
Major: Physical Therapy
Alejandra is currently a 2nd year DPT student at UTEP. She received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a focus on allied health at Sul Ross State University. Alejandra is currently working on her project "Exploring Pain Modulation: The Effect of Repeated Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM) Exposure on Pain Inhibition." The aim is to investigate the central pain modulatory mechanisms assessed by CPM, and cortical excitability measured by TMS in healthy participants. In her free time, she enjoys painting and trying new coffee shops.
aruedas@miners.utep.edu
Undergraduate Students
Natalie Chong
Major: Kinesiology
Natalie is a fourth-year student at UTEP, pursuing an honors bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. Her research interests focus on understanding the mechanisms and origins of pain to better approach patient care in the future. Through this work, she aims to attend a Doctor of Physical Therapy program and eventually open her own physical therapy clinic. Natalie has gained experience in sports medicine settings at UTEP as well as in outpatient physical therapy clinics. She is also in organizations like the University Honors Program and HOSA. Outside of academics, she enjoys baking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
nechong@miners.utep.edu
Esteban Garcia
Major: Rehabilitation Sciences (concentration: Physical Therapy)
Esteban is a fourth-year Rehabilitation Sciences major at UTEP. He was drawn to Dr. Rana’s lab to develop a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind pain perception. His involvement in research has strengthened his appreciation for how innovative, evidence-based programs are developed and expanded his knowledge of pain mechanisms. Esteban plans to pursue a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and credits his research experience as instrumental in shaping the healthcare professional he aspires to become. In his free time, he enjoys lifting weights, swimming, and reading.
eagarcia42@miners.utep.edu
Miranda Garcia
Major: Kinesiology
Miranda is currently a junior at UTEP pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science. She plans to graduate in Spring 2028 and aspires to become a physical therapist. Miranda works at the Pain Research Lab, where she studies how regular exercise influences pain tolerance. Through her work, she assists in data collection and analysis to better understand the physiological and psychological factors involved in pain perception. She hopes to deepen her understanding of pain mechanisms and apply this knowledge in her future career as a physical therapist. In her free time, Miranda volunteers at a physical therapy clinic and at El Paso Children’s Hospital. Outside of academics and volunteering, she enjoys watching Netflix and exploring new restaurants around the city.
mgarcia154@miners.utep.edu
Melanie Ibarra
Major: Rehabilitation Sciences (concentration: Physical Therapy)
Melanie is a fourth-year student majoring in Rehabilitation Sciences. She is a part of Dr. Rana’s pain research lab, where the research focuses on neuroplasticity-driven pain modulation, understanding how pain correlates with repeated intervention methods. This research will determine how pain inhibitory mechanisms change due to exercise intervention and how it can be further applied for clinical settings. Outside of the lab, she has a leadership role in a competitive dance team, and she also enjoys Pilates.
mnibarra@miners.utep.edu
Frida Sanchez
Major: Rehabilitation Sciences (concentration: Physical Therapy)
Frida is a junior at UTEP majoring in Rehabilitation Sciences and plans to graduate in Fall 2026. Her involvement in this lab has sparked interest in how further research on central pain modulation can enhance rehabilitation care. She hopes to one day be able to better understand and apply this knowledge to better patient outcomes. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family and pets.
fasanchez6@miners.utep.edu
Isis Sarellano
Major: Rehabilitation Sciences (concentration: Physical Therapy)
Isis is a third-year Rehabilitation Sciences student at UTEP. She is interested in pain science, musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and cardiovascular therapy. Recently, she became curious about how cardiovascular health may relate to conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and hopes to explore this area further as she continues her education. Isis joined the Pain Research Lab to gain hands-on research experience, assist Dr. Rana, and begin developing her own research interests. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and TV shows, crocheting and coloring, listening to music, dancing, and spending time with her family and friends.
idsarellano@miners.utep.edu
Emily Saucedo
Major: Rehabilitation Sciences (concentration: Physical Therapy)
Emily is a fourth-year Rehabilitation Sciences student. As a member of the Pain Research Lab, she contributes to studies examining neuroplasticity-driven pain modulation and the effects of repeated interventions, such as exercise, on pain processing and recovery. Emily is grateful for the opportunity to support research that advances evidence-based approaches to pain management. Outside of academics and research, she enjoys spending time at the library listening to smooth jazz or R-B, walking her dog and best friend, Tyler, and crocheting blankets for friends and family.
esaucedo23@miners.utep.edu
Carolina Trejo
Major: Rehabilitation Sciences (concentration: Physical Therapy)
Carolina is a fourth-year Rehabilitation Sciences student. She is interested in understanding the mechanisms of pain and how the difference in lifestyles can influence pain perception and recovery. As a PT student, she wants to learn how different approaches can help people recover and regain function in clinical practice, as well as improve their quality of life. This lab’s focus on pain research has helped her to really understand how strong and how impressive certain thresholds and experiences can shape a person’s perspective on pain. Outside of school and work, she enjoys volunteering, working out and staying active by going on hikes.
ctrejo@miners.utep.edu
