2017/2018 PhD Recipients Thesis Titles
2016-2017 PhD Thesis Titles 2015-2016 PhD Thesis Titles 2013-2014 PhD Thesis Titles
2012-2013 PhD Thesis Titles 2011-2012 PhD Thesis Titles 2010-2011 PhD Thesis Titles
William Alexander, B.A. Maryville College, M.S. University of Rochester; Genetics
Thesis: Oncogenic Mutations and Injury in the Mouse Liver
Advisor: Dr. Aram Hezel
Martina Anto-Ocrah, B.S. Canisius College, M.P.H. University of Rochester; Epidemiology
Thesis: Reproductive and Sexual Functioning after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI)/Concussion in Women
Advisor: Dr. Edwin van Wijngaarden
Shringkhala Bajimaya, B.S. Salem College, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: Elucidating the Role of Cholesterol in Respiratory RNA Virus Infection and Transmission
Advisor: Dr. Toru Takimoto
Margaret Barlow, B.S. Rochester Institute of Technology, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: Effects of Total-Body vs. Localized Radiation Exposure on the Immune System
Advisor: Dr. Edith Lord
Adan Becerra, B.A. University of Chicago; Epidemiology
Thesis: Childhood and Adulthood Stress Exposures in Relation to Late-Life Cognitive Function: A Life Course Perspective
Advisor: Dr. Christopher Seplaki
Anna Bird, B.S. Hillsdale College, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: the Role of Neutrophils in the Pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Advisors: Dr. Jennifer Anolik and Dr. Deborah Fowell
Joseph Bisson, B.S. University of New Hampshire, M.S. University of Rochester; Pharmacology
Thesis: The Role of Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling in Heart Development and Repair
Advisor: Dr. Ethan David Cohen
Christina Brule, B.S. Nazareth College, M.S. University of Rochester; Biochemistry
Thesis: Specific Codon Pairs Inhibit Translation in Yeast and Act by Distinct Mechanisms
Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Grayhack
Peter Bryk, B.S. Rochester Institute of Technology, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: Investigation of the Roles of Vaccinia Virus Protein F13 and its Molluscum Contagiosum Virus Homolog MC021 at Steps Post-Envelopment
Advisor: Dr. Brian Ward
Lauren Campbell, B.A. Ithaca College, M.A. University of Rochester; Health Services Research and Policy
Thesis: Impact of Public Reporting on Racial/Ethnic Disparities in 30-Day Rehospitalization
Advisor: Dr. Yue Li
Matthew Cavanaugh, B.S. SUNY Geneseo, M.S. University of Rochester; Neuroscience
Thesis: Properties of Training-induced Visual Recovery in Cortical Blindness
Advisor: Dr. Krystel Huxlin
Chutikarn Chaimayo, M.D. Mahidol University, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: Mechanistic Analysis of Influenza A Virus Assembly and Host Gene Regulation
Advisor: Dr. Toru Takimoto
Chongshu Chen, B.S. Pennsylvania State University, M.A. University of Pittsburgh, M.A. University of Rochester; Statistics
Thesis: Finite Mixtures of Nonlinear Mixed-effects Models for Longitudinal Data
Advisors: Dr. Sally Thurston and Dr. Ollivier Hyrien
Yang Cheng, B.S. Xiamen University, M.S. University of Rochester; Genetics
Thesis: Genetic and Pharmacological Regulation of Epigenetic Aging
Advisor: Dr. Dirk Bohmann
Joseph Ciminelli, B.A. University of Rochester, M.A. University of Rochester; Statistics
Thesis: Mixed-Membership and Spatial Models for Social Network Data
Advisor: Dr. Tanzy Love
Kelli Connolly, B.S. SUNY Geneseo, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: Targeting the Radiotherapy-Induced Immune Response Leads to Increased Efficacy and Survival in Preclinical Tumor Models
Advisor: Dr. Scott Gerber
Amber Cutter, B.S. Siena College, M.S. University of Rochester; Biochemistry
Thesis: Molecular Characterization of Nucleosome Recognition by Linker Histone H1.0
Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Hayes
Anthony DiPiazza, B.S. University of Maryland, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: Insights into CD4 T Cell-Mediated Immunity to Influenza Viruses
Advisor: Dr. Andrea Sant
Parker Duffney, B.S. SUNY Geneseo, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology
Thesis: Cigarette Smoke Dysregulates Innate-Immune Responses in Epithelial Cells to Viral Infection
Advisor: Dr. Patricia Sime
Christopher Farnsworth, B.S. Roberts Wesleyan College, M.S. University of Rochester; Pathology
Thesis: Increased Orthopaedic Infection Severity in Obesity/Type 2 Diabetes is Associated with Impaired Humoral Immunity and Staphylococcus aureus Adaptation to the Host
Advisor: Dr. Robert Mooney
Daniela Geba, M.D. Grigore T. Popa University; Translational Biomedical Science
Thesis: Utilization of Screening Methods for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Primary Care Settings: Current Practice and Future Directions
Advisor: Dr. Ann Dozier
Rafael Gil de Rubio, B.S. University of Puerto Rico, M.S. University of Rochester; Pharmacology
Thesis: The Role of PLC-Dependent Hydrolysis of Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate in Signaling and Disease
Advisor: Dr. Alan Smrcka
Katherine Grzesik, B.S. SUNY Oswego, B.A. SUNY Oswego, M.A. University of Rochester; Statistics
Thesis: Local Cross-Validated Smoothing Parameter Estimation for Linear Smoothers
Advisor: Dr. Derick Peterson
Lu Han, B.S. Nankai University, M.S. University of Rochester; Biochemistry
Thesis: The Biology of Anticodon Stem-Loop Modifications of Yeast tRNAs
Advisor: Dr. Eric Phizicky
Margaret Hill, B.S. University of Rochester, M.S. University of Rochester; Genetics
Thesis: The Origin of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma and the Importance of MCL-1 for Tumor Development
Advisor: Dr. Aram Hezel
Corey Hoffman, B.S. SUNY Geneseo, M.S. University of Rochester; Pharmacology
Thesis: the Bone Marrow Microenvironment in the Setting of Acute Injury and Aging
Advisor: Dr. Laura Calvi
Jennifer Judge, B.S. SUNY Cortland, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology
Thesis: Lactate Dehydrogenase as a Novel Therapeutic Target in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Advisor: Dr. Patricia Sime
Carolyn Klocke, B.S. Boise State University, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology
Thesis: The Disruption of Fetal Neurodevelopment as a Consequence of Gestational Exposure to Concentrated Ambient Fine and Ultrafine Particles in the Mouse
Advisor: Dr. Deborah Cory-Slechta
Justin Komisarof, B.A. Harvard University, M.S. University of Rochester; Genetics
Thesis: Patterns in Dysregulated, Non-mutated Cancer Mediator Gene Expression
Advisor: Dr. Hartmut Land
Shannon Lacy, B.S. Cornell University, D.V.M. University of Wisconsin, M.P.H. University of Massachusetts, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology
Thesis: Human Lung Fibroblasts Produce and Respond to Pro-Resolving and Anti-Fibrotic Prostaglandins
Advisors: Dr. Richard Phipps and Dr. Patricia Sime
Amy LaLonde, B.S. SUNY Oswego, M.A. University of Rochester; Statistics
Thesis: Bayesian Model-Based Clustering Methods: Procedures for Data with Unknown Numbers of Clusters
Advisor: Dr. Tanzy Love
Irina Lerman, B.A. University of Rochester, B.S. University of Rochester, M.S. University of Rochester; Pathology
Thesis: Neutrophil Elastase and SERPINB1 are Critical Regulators of Prostate Cancer Progression
Advisor: Dr. Stephen Hammes
Timmy Li, B.A. University of Rochester; Epidemiology
Thesis: The Association between Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and Disparities in Emergency Medical Services Use and Quality of Emergency Stroke Care
Advisor: Dr. David Rich
Clarence Ling, B.S. SUNY Geneseo, M.S. University of Rochester; Biochemistry
Thesis: Regulation of Ribosome Structural Dynamics by Antibiotics, Translation Factors and mRNA Secondary Structure
Advisor: Dr. Dmitri Ermolenko
Wenxuan Liu, B.S. Nankai University, M.S. University of Rochester; Genetics
Thesis: Contribution of Adult Skeletal Muscle Stem Cells to the Regeneration and Lifelong Maintenance of Neuromuscular Junctions
Advisor: Dr. Joe Chakkalakal
Jerry Madukwe, B.S. Lee University, M.S. University of Rochester; Biochemistry
Thesis: Insights into G protein βγ Regulation of Phospholipase Cε
Advisor: Dr. Alan Smrcka
Claire McCarthy, B.A. Hiram College, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology
Thesis: Dung Biomass Smoke Exposure Suppresses Immune Responses to Respiratory Virus Infections and Heightens Inflammatory Responses
Advisor: Dr. Patricia Sime
Michelle Warren Millar, B.S. Hofstra University, M.S. University of Rochester; Genetics
Thesis: The Adhesion GPCR, GPR56/ADGRG1, Inhibits Cell-ECM Signaling to Prevent Metastatic Melanoma Growth
Advisor: Dr. Hartmut Land
Bradley Mills, B.S. University of Rochester, M.S. University of Rochester; Pathology
Thesis: Intratumoral Induction of Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1 Regulates the Growth and Survival of the Glioblastoma Tumor Progenitor Population
Advisor: Dr. Marc Halterman
Zachary Murphy, B.S. Rochester Institute of Technology, M.S. University of Rochester; Pathology
Thesis: STAT3 Regulates Primitive Erythroid Maturation both Dependent and Independently of Erythropoietin Signaling
Advisor: Dr. James Palis
Heather Natola, B.A. University of New Hampshire, M.S. University of Rochester; Neuroscience
Thesis: Targeting Neuronal Function to Restore Motor Control Following Contusion Spinal Cord Injury
Advisor: Dr. Chris Proschel
John O’Donnell, B.A. Johns Hopkins University, M.S. University of Rochester; Neurobiology and Anatomy
Thesis: Extracellular Ions and Volume Regulation in Brain States
Advisor: Dr. Maiken Nedergaard
Makaía M. Papasergi-Scott, B.S. SUNY Geneseo, M.S. University of Rochester; Pharmacology
Thesis: Phosphorylation Regulates Molecular Chaperoning and GEF Functions of Ric-8A in Heterotrimeric G-protein Signaling
Advisors: Dr. Robert Freeman and Dr. Gregory Tall
Ian Perry, B.S. SUNY Geneseo, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: Analysis of the Capacity of Salmonella Typhimurium to Infect the Human Placenta
Advisor: Dr. Shawn Murphy
Benjamin Plog, B.A. University of Rochester, M.S. University of Rochester; Pathology
Thesis: Novel Insight into Regulation of Lymphatic Flow with Implications for Traumatic Brain Injury
Advisor: Dr. Maiken Nedergaard
Lisa Prince, B.S. Juniata College, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology
Thesis: Myogenic Targets of Methylmercury Toxicity During Development
Advisor: Dr. Matthew Rand
Rebecca Rausch, B.S. University of Michigan, M.S. University of Rochester; Neuroscience
Thesis: Notch and BMP Signaling Ligands in Ocular Development: An Analysis of Altered Spatiotemporal Expression and Gene Dosage
Advisors: Dr. Richard Libby and Dr. Amy Kiernan
Michael Rudy, B.S. University of Colorado, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology
Thesis: Early Life Iron Deficiency Changes the Ratio between Interneuron Subtypes and Alters Excitability in the Adult Brain
Advisor: Dr. Margot Mayer-Proschel
Eric Schott, B.S. Stonehill College, M.S. University of Rochester; Pathology
Thesis: The Pathobiology of Osteoarthritis in Obesity: The Role of Synovial Inflammation, Joint Insulin Resistance, and Dysbiosis of the Gut Microbiome
Advisors: Dr. Michael Zuscik and Dr. Robert Mooney
Dillon Schrock, B.S. California State University, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: Efficient Germinal Center Support Requires Tfh Expression of Alpha V Integrins
Advisor: Dr. Deborah Fowell
Deepika Sharma, B.S. Rochester Institute of Technology, M.S. University of Rochester; Genetics
Thesis: HES1 Functions Downstream of SHH in the Pathogenesis of Preaxial Polydactyly
Advisor: Dr. Matthew Hilton
Laura Shum, B.S. SUNY Brockport; Translational Biomedical Science
Thesis: Mitochondrial Metabolism in Bone Physiology and Pathology
Advisor: Dr. Roman Eliseev
Michael Sloma, B.A. Wells College, M.S. University of Rochester; Biochemistry
Thesis: Computational Tools for RNA Structure Prediction
Advisor: Dr. David Mathews
Charles Smith, B.A. Cornell University, M.S. SUNY Albany, M.S. University of Rochester; Biochemistry
Thesis: KNa1.2 as a Cardiac Mitochondrial Potassium Channel with Metabolic Impact on Energy Usage
Advisor: Dr. Paul Brookes
Karl Smith, B.S. Allegheny College, M.S. University of Rochester; Biophysics
Thesis: Understanding Sieving and Clogging in Ultrathin Membrane Filtration
Advisor: Dr. James McGrath
Min Tian, B.S. Xiamen University, M.S. Xiamen University, M.S. University of Rochester; Pathology
Thesis: An Nrf1- and Nrf2-related Transcription Factor, Cnc-C, Mediates Multiple Stress Responses in Drosophila Melanogaster
Advisor: Dr. Dirk Bohmann
Jesi Lee Anne To, B.S. SUNY Buffalo, M.S. University of Rochester; Pharmacology
Thesis: The Importance of G Protein Signaling in Immune Cell Function: A Novel Role for Active Gαi in Cell Adhesion and Migration and the Therapeutic Potential of Targeting Gβγ in Inflammation
Advisor: Dr. Alan Smrcka
Michael Trembley, B.S. St. Lawrence University, M.S. University of Rochester; Pharmacology
Thesis: Linking the Actin Cytoskeleton to Transcription: A Role for Myocardin-Related Transcription Factors in Heart Development and Disease
Advisor: Dr. Eric Small
Xiaowei Wang, B.Sc. Hunan Normal University, M.S. University of Rochester; Neuroscience
Thesis: Studies of Na+-K+-2Cl-- Cotransporter-1 Function in the Central Nervous System in Health and Disease
Advisor: Dr. Maiken Nedergaard
Elissa Li-yee Wong, B.A. Swarthmore College, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology
Thesis: Consequences of Development Ethanol Exposure on Synaptic Plasticity, Microglial Phenotype, and Dendritic Spines Dynamics
Advisor: Dr. Ania Majewska
Laura Yunes-Medina, B.S. University of Puerto Rico, M.S. University of Rochester; Neuroscience
Thesis: The Role of Transglutaminase 2 in Neuronal Viability
Advisor: Dr. Gail V. W. Johnson
Jimmy Zhang, B.A. Cornell University, M.S. University of Rochester; Physiology
Thesis: Mitochondrial Metabolism in Cardiac Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Advisor: Dr. Paul Brookes