Alumni
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2024
The Interplay between Glutathione and Lipid Homeostasis
Advisor: Isaac Harris, Ph.D.
"Flying under the radar: Optimization of RfxCas13d reduces mammalian cellular toxicity when targeting endogenous RNAs"
Advisor: Mitchell O'Connell, Ph.D.
Distinct Roles of Paralogous U2AF2 and TatSF1 Proteins in HIV and Host Gene Expression
Advisor: Clara Kielkopf, Ph.D.
p53 Promotes cell identity and suppresses oncogenic signaling in the pancreas
Advisor: Stephano Mello, Ph.D.
Targeting Programmed Ribosomal Frameshifting in SARS-CoV-2 with a Resin-Bound Dynamic Combinatorial Library
Advisor: Benjamin Miller, Ph.D.
2023
Mechanisms Through Which Metabolism and the Human Cytomegalovirus UL26 Protein Contribute to Anti-Viral Signaling
Advisor: Joshua Munger, Ph.D.
uORF-mediated Translational Regulation of GATA4 in the Heart
Advisor: Peng Yao, Ph.D.
Now: Post Doctoral Fellow at Univ. of North Carolina
The Molecular Mechanism and Biological Impact of Cis-acting Elements and Trans-acting Factors in mRNA Translation Regulation
Advisor: Peng Yao, Ph.D.
Now: Post Doctoral Fellow at Stanford Univ.
Enolase 2: A novel determinant of Human Cytomegalovirus infection
Advisor: Joshua Munger, Ph.D.
Now: Research & Development Scientist II at Maine Molecular Quality Controls, Inc. Saco, Maine
Identifying Metabolic Vulnerabilities Associated with Viral Infections
Advisor: Joshua Munger, Ph.D.
Structural Basis of Translational Regulation by Bacterial Riboswitches
Advisor: Joseph Wedekind, Ph.D.
2022
The Biology of 1-Methyladenosine and Initiator tRNA in Evolutionarily Distant Yeast Species, and Other Aspects of tRNA Modification Biology
Advisor: Eric Phizicky, Ph.D.
Now: Research Scientist in R & D at hC Bioscience
The Role of CRISPR-Csx28 in CRISPR-Cas Anti-Phage Immunity
Advisor: Mitchell O'Connell, Ph.D.
Now: Postdoctoral Associate at Molecular Biology Department, University of California-San Diego
Global Analysis of the Interplay Between Protein Folding Stabilities and Methionine Oxidation
Advisor: Sina Ghaemmaghami, Ph.D.
Now: Postdoctoral Associate at Broad Institute
2021
New methods to improve the efficiency of RNA-targeted compounds: application to HIV
Advisor: Benjamin Miller, Ph.D.
Now: Postdoctoral researcher at Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Mechanisms of Translation Pausing Induced by mRNA Secondary Structures
Advisor: Dmitri Ermolenko, Ph.D.
Now: Research Investigator at Incyte
Identifying Molecular Determinants of the Structure of the Intrinsically Disordered H1.0 Carboxyl-Terminal Domain
Advisor: Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D.
Now: Scientist at Vertex Pharmaceuticals
An Analysis of Factors Involved in Translation Frameshifting and Inhibition due to Inhibitory Codon Pairs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Advisor: Elizabeth Grayhack, Ph.D.
Now: Application Scientist at Agilent Technologies
Investigating the Roles for Histone H2A Variants in Late-Stage Erythropoietic Nuclear Condensation and Gene Regulation
Advisor: Michael Bulger, Ph.D.
Now: Scientist I/Manager at bluebird bio
Roles of Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases in Smooth Muscle Cells and the Pathogenesis of Vascular Restenosis
Advisor: Xin Li, Ph.D. & Chen Yan, Ph.D.
Now: Postdoctoral scholar at Stanford Univ.
Probing genome-wide native chromatin structure via histone surface accessibilities
Advisor: Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D.
Now: Associate Product Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific
2020
Similarities and differences in tRNA quality control decay pathways in evolutionarily
distant yeast species
Advisor: Eric Phizicky, Ph.D.
Now: Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard Univ.
2019
The Mechanism and Function of RNA-Guided RNA Pseudouridylation
Advisor: Yi-Tao Yu, Ph.D.
Now: Scientist Molecular/Viral Vector Biology at ElevateBio
Investigating the Function of Hyperacetylated Chromatin Domain-Forming Enhancers
Advisor: Michael Bulger, Ph.D.
Now: Postdoctoral researcher at Coriell Institute for Medical Research
The intersection of Human Cytomegalovirus infection and innate immune signaling
Advisor: Joshua Munger, Ph.D.
Now: Medical Writer at ApotheCom: A MEDiSTRAVA Company
The role of the intrinsic closeness of mRNA ends in translation
Advisor: Dmitri Ermolenko, Ph.D.
Now: Senior Quality Engineer at Amgen
Reading frame maintenance at translation stalls in yeast involves eukaryotic specific mechanisms
Advisor: Elizabeth Grayhack, Ph.D.
Now: Data Science Analyst at Mayo Clinic
Use of Yeast Surface Display to
Identify Variants of HIV Envelope
Glycoprotein with Enhanced Affinity
for Precursors to Broadly Neutralizing
Antibodies
Advisor: Mark Dumont, Ph.D.
Now: Healthcare Strategy Consulting at Fletcher Spaght, Inc.
2018
Molecular Characterization of Nucleosome Recognition by Linker Histone H1.0
Advisor: Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D.
Now: Senior Test Engineer at Ginkgo BioWorks, Inc
The Biology of Anticodon Stem-Loop Modifications of Yeast tRNAs
Advisor: Eric Phizicky, Ph.D.
Now: Scientist, RNA Biology at Arrakis Therapeutics
ER-associated Functions of the Double-stranded RNA-binding Protein Staufen1
Advisor: Lynne Maquat, Ph.D.
Now: Senior Research Scientist at UMass Chan Medical School
Insights into G protein βγ Regulation of Phospholipase Cε
Advisor: Alan Smrcka, Ph.D.
Now: Editor at Trends in Pharm. Sciences at Cell Press
Characterization of tRNA Quality Control Pathways in Yeast
Advisor: Eric Phizicky, Ph.D.
Now: Postdoctoral Researcher at National Institute on Aging
KNa1.2 as a Cardiac Mitochondrial Potassium Channel with Metabolic Impact on Energy Usage
Advisor: Paul Brookes, Ph.D.
Now: Chief Scientific Officer at CannaMetrix
2017
Specific Codon Pairs Inhibit Translation in Yeast and Act by Distinct Mechanisms
Advisor: Elizabeth Grayhack, Ph.D.
Now: Associate at Heslin Rothberg Farley & Mesiti P.C.
Regulation of Ribosome Structural Dynamics by Antibiotics, Translation Factors and mRNA Secondary Structure
Advisor: Dmitri Ermolenko, Ph.D.
Now: Scientific reviewer at FDA
Computational Tools for RNA Structure Prediction
Advisor: David Mathews, M.D., Ph.D.
Now: Data Scientist at Xometry
2016
The Impact of Oncogenic Signaling on Metabolic Stress Responses and Human Cytomegalovirus Infection
Advisor: Joshua Munger, Ph.D.
Now: Senior Scientist at Merck
2015
Characterization of ATP-Dependent Chromatin Remodeler-Nucleosome Interactions and Analysis of the Role of HMGB1 in Base Excision Repair
Advisor: Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D.
Now: Senior Molecular Biologist II at Antylia Scientific
Investigating the Role of Prostaglandin E2 Receptor Subtype 1 in Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation
Advisor: Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D. & Regis O'Keefe, M.D., Ph.D.
Now: Senior Scientist at Axcella Health
Characterization of PIN-domain Toxin-antitoxins VapBC from Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Advisor: Scott Butler, Ph.D.
Now: Software Engineer at LenelS2
Contributions of Pyrimidine Biosynthesis to Viral Infection
Advisor: Joshua Munger, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant Professor at Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware
Identification of A2 Inter-Subunit Interactions in Factor VIIIa of the Blood Clotting Pathway
Advisor: Philip Fay, Ph.D.
Now: Clinical Trials Medical Writer at ACM Global Laboratories
The Non-Histone Protein HMGN1 Alters Core Histone Tail and H1 Interactions to Modify Higher-Order Chromatin Structure
Advisor: Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D.
Now: Principal Scientist, Bioprocess Development at Zoetis Inc.
Stimulation of Neutrophil Migration through the Dynamic Regulation of Signaling by the Heterotrimeric G Proteins ai and bgSubunit
Advisor: Alan Smrcka, Ph.D.
Now: Scientific Researcher at Gilead Sciences
Beta-catenin signaling integrates with BMP2 and CCN1 signaling to regulate chondrocyte differentiation and cartilage development
Advisor: Regis O'Keefe, M.D., Ph.D.
Now: Associate Research Scientist at Columbia University
2014
Hyperacetylated Domain Formation and cis-acting Regulatory DNA Sequences within the Murine β-globin Locus
Advisor: Michael Bulger, Ph.D.
Now: Research Associate at University of Puerto Rico
Characterizing the Role of Elongation Factor 1A and Other Cellular Proteins in the Yeast Rapid tRNA Decay Pathway
Advisor: Eric Phizicky, Ph.D.
Now: Principal Scientist at Nova Rock Biotherapeutics
Structural and Functional Analysis of Gene Regulatory PreQ1 Riboswitches
Advisor: Joseph Wedekind, Ph.D.
Now: Associate Director, Medical Affairs at uniQure
Characterization of the APOBEC3G ssDNA Editing Complex and its Regulation by RNA
Advisor: Harold Smith, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant Professor at University of Massachusetts
Tissue Specific Gene Activation by a Class of Enhancers in Hyperacetylated Domains of Chromatin
Advisor: Michael Bulger, Ph.D.
Now: Medical Writer at Pfizer
Investigation of an evolutionarily conserved Staufen-mediated mRNA decay pathway that involves SINEs and lncRNAs
Advisor: Lynne Maquat, Ph.D.
2013
Selection, Identification, and Characterization of Codon Pairs that Inhibit Translation and the Development of the RNA-ID Method to Measure the Effects of Cis-Regulatory Elements
Advisor: Elizabeth Grayhack, Ph.D.
Now: Clinical Project Manager at Becton Dickinson
Thermodynamic Analysis and Characterization of Viral-Host Protein Interactions as a Preface to HIV Therapeutic Design
Advisor: Joseph Wedekind, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant Professor at Department of Biology, Alfred University
Characterization of Intra- and Inter-nucleosomal Interactions of the Histone H4 Tail Domain and the Effects of H4 Acetylation on Chromatin Structure
Advisor: Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D.
Now: Educator at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, DNA Learning Center
Fatty Acid Biosynthesis: Elucidating the Mechanisms Behind the Manipulation and Necessity of a Metabolic Pathway Critical for Viral and Cancer Pathogenesis
Advisor: Joshua Munger, Ph.D.
Now: Senior Research Scientist at Bio X Cell
Identification of Mutations Affecting the Thermal Stability of Ste2p, a G Protein Coupled Receptor in S. cerevisiae
Advisor: Mark Dumont, Ph.D.
Now: Bioinformatics Scientist at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
2012
The Mechanisms for Catalytic Inactivation of FVIIIa by APC and Factor Xa
Advisor: Philip Fay, Ph.D.
Now: Photographer at Jennydee Photography
The Role of Glutamate Receptors in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis
Advisor: David Pearce, Ph.D.
Now: Licensing Officer at Virginia Tech
Binding and Cleavage Specificities of Human Dna2 and FEN1 Define Their Enzymatic Activities during DNA Replication and Repair
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Director Business Relations & Portfolio Management at Excellus BCBS
Staufen1-Mediated mRNA Decay in Mammalian Cells
Advisor: Lynne Maquat, Ph.D.
Now: Investigator II at Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research
Human Telomere DNA Damage by Oxidation and Direct Effect Ionizing Radiation, and the Promotion of Telomere DNA Repair by Telomere Proteins
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Senior QC Scientist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms of Genome Maintenance
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Medical Director of Pathology Informatics at Bingham and Women’s Hospital
Air Proteins Control Differential TRAMP Substrate Specificity for Nuclear RNA Surveillance
Advisor: Scott Butler, Ph.D.
Now: Principal Scientist at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Factors that Promote Strand Transfer Recombination during HIV-1 Reverse Transcription
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Sr. Principal Scientist, Drug Safety R & D at Pfizer
Uncovering the Mechanism by Which Human Cytomegalovirus Mediates Glycolytic Activation
Advisor: Joshua Munger, Ph.D.
Now: Manager of QC & Technical Support at Zepto Metrix Corporation
Constitutive and inducible pseudouridylation of S. cerevisiae U2 snRNA
Advisor: Yi-Tao Yu, Ph.D.
Now: Principal Statistical Analyst at Merck
2011
Quality control and organization of small ribosomal subunit biogenesis
Advisor: Gloria Culver, Ph.D. & Eric Phizicky, Ph.D.
Now: Principal Scientist at Modalis Therapeutics
Studies in Oxidative Damage Induced Signaling: A Focus Outside the Nucleus
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D. & Michael O'Reilly, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant Professor at Department of Anesthesiology, University of Rochester
Multiple Roles for Members of the Long Flap Pathway in Okazaki Fragment Processing
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant Professor at Department of Chemistry, Wilkes University, PA
Defying and Defeating Cancer: Hyaluronic Acid and the Rad51 Promoter
Advisor: Michael Bulger, Ph.D. & Vera Gorbunova, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant Staff at Learner Research Institute
Regulation of Translation Termination by Box H/ACA RNP-mediated Post-transcriptional Modification
Advisor: Yi-Tao Yu, Ph.D.
Now: Associate Professor at Vanderbilt University
Roles of Hho1p, Esc2p, and the post-translational modification of Sir2p in transcriptional silencing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Advisor: Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D. & Xin Bi, Ph.D.
Now: Owner & Head Coach at Run with Holly
Mechanism of ySWI/SNF and RSC catalyzed nucleosome sliding
Advisor: Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant Laboratory Director, Clinical Biochemical Genetics at Baylor Genetics
Pseudouridylation of the Branch Site Recognition Region of U2 Affects Spliceosome Structure and Function
Advisor: Yi-Tao Yu, Ph.D.
Now: Chief Intellectual Property Officer at Steuben Foods
Conformational Changes Associated with Activation of the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae α-factor Receptor Ste2p
Advisor: Mark Dumont, Ph.D.
Now: Postdoctoral Research at Univ. of Colorado Auschutz Medical Campus
Defining the Substrate Specificity Determinants for the Yeast Rapid tRNA Decay Pathway and the Identification of Factors that Mediate Degradation
Advisor: Eric Phizicky, Ph.D.
Now: Development Scientist I at New England Biolabs
2010
Studies of the Cell Biology of CLN3 and Cell Motility Defects in the Cln3-/- Mouse
Advisor: David Pearce, Ph.D.
Now: Biology/Chemistry Teacher at The Taft School
Molecular Determinants of Linker Histone Binding to Nucleosomes
Advisor: Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D.
Now: Global Clinical Program Leader at Proctor and Gamble
The Role of NPAT in S-Phase-Dependent Histone Gene Transcription and DNA Double-Strand Break Repair
Advisor: Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D. & Jiyong Zhao, Ph.D.
Now: Scientific Consultant at Diamond Age Data Science
Development of a Bipartite Herpes Simplex Virus Sleeping Beauty Amplicon Vector Platform: Toward Site-Directed Integration of Large Transgenons Within the Human Genome
Advisor: William Bowers, Ph.D.
Now: Vice President of Product Development at Shattuck Labs Inc.
A novel role for tumor suppressor gene Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) in regulating ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis
Advisor: Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D. & Willis Li, Ph.D.
Now: Advisor-Grants and Alumni Relations at Christian Medical College & Hospital
2'O-methylation of Yeast Telomerase in RNA
Advisor: Yi-Tao Yu, Ph.D.
Now: Associate Director at Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.
Mitochondrial membrane fusion, pH homeostasis and ROS signaling in C. elegans
Advisor: Joshua Munger, Ph.D. & Keith Nehrke, Ph.D.
Now: Instructor at Department of Biology, Genesee Community College
Mechanisms and Functional Roles of Pseudouridines in RNAs
Advisor: Yi-Tao Yu, Ph.D.
Now: Physician Assistant at Baylor Scott & White Health
Understanding Why Three Pathways are Needed for Synthesis of Eukaryotic Nuclear DNA
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Health Plan Analytics Consultant at Excellus BCBS
Biophysical Characterization of the HIV-1 Viral Infectivity Factor and the Innate-Immunity Factor APOBEC3G
Advisor: Joseph Wedekind, Ph.D.
Now: Scientist at OyaGen Inc
2009
The Formation and Function of Chromatin Domains at the Murine Beta Globin Locus
Advisor: Michael Bulger, Ph.D.
Now: Vice President of Research and Development at Shattuck Labs, Inc
Metabolic Regulation and Structural Evaluation of APOBEC-1 Complementation Factor
Advisor: Harold Smith, Ph.D.
Now: Associate at Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester
The Production of Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species at Steady-state Oxygen Concentrations: Implications for Oxygen Sensing
Advisor: Joshua Munger, Ph.D. & Paul Brookes, Ph.D.
Now: Scientist I - Molecular Screening at Cayman Chemical
Contributions of Active Site Docking and Exosite Binding to the Mechanism of Thrombin-Catalyzed Activation of Factor VIII
Advisor: Philip Fay, Ph.D.
Now: Instructor and Lab Coordinator at University of Maine
SYT-SSX1 Regulates PIASy Activity to Cause the Overexpression of NCOA3 in Synovial Sarcoma
Advisor: Yin Sun, Ph.D.
Now: Postdoctoral Research Scientist at German Cancer Research Center
Investigation of the Roles of the Highly Conserved G-1 Residue of tRNAHis and Analysis of Unexpected Modification Changes in tRNAHis Variants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Advisor: Eric Phizicky, Ph.D.
Now: Senior Applications Scientist at Promega Corporation
Mechanism Analysis of the Factors that Determine the Efficiency of Recombination Events during HIV-1 Reverse Transcription
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Category Manager at BASF Corporation
Studies on the Biochemical and Immunological Consequence of Lysosomal Dysfunction in Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses
Advisor: David Pearce, Ph.D.
Now: DNA Criminalist at Dept. of Criminal Investigation, State of Iowa
Identification of Novel Molecular Interactions of the Mitochondrial Fission Protein hFis1: Insight into its Action Mechanism and Therapeutic Potential
Advisor: Yisang Yoon, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant Professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Functional Interactions between Replication Protein A, Dna2, and Flap Endonuclease 1 during Okazaki Fragment Processing
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant Professor, Department of Biology at University of South Carolina
Monocytes and Their Mitochondria in Alzheimer's Disease
Advisor: Thomas Gunter, Ph.D.
Now: Adjunct Curriculum Writer/Instructor at Rochester Institute of Technology
The Interrelationship between pH, Btn1p and Phospholipid Regulation
Advisor: David Pearce, Ph.D.
Now: Biology & Genetic Disease Scientist at Relay Therapeutics
2008
Identification of Mitochondrial S-nitrosothiols and Determination of the Protective Effect of Mitochondrial S-nitrosation in Cardiac Ischemia Reperfusion Injury
Advisor: Paul Brookes, Ph.D.
Now: Associate Professor at Wells College
Core exosome independent function of the nuclear exoribonuclease Rrp6p
Advisor: Scott Butler, Ph.D.
Now: Associate Professor at St. John Fisher College
Degradation of several hypomodified mature tRNA species in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is mediated by Met22, and the 5’-3’ exonucleases Rat1 and Xrn1
Advisor: Eric Phizicky, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant Head of School at Namaste Montessori School
Activities of Two Base Excision Repair Enzymes on Nucleosomal Substrates
Advisor: Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D.
Now: IRTA Fellow, Clark Lab at NIH
Factors That Promote Recombination during HIV-1 Reverse Transcription and Properties of M184 Drug Resistant Reverse Transcriptases
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Researcher at Univ. of Chicago
Unique Mechanisms that Control the Efficiency of HIV-1 Minus Strand Strong Stop Transfer
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant director of Core Antisense Research at Ionis Pharmaceuticals
The Yeast Model for Batten Disease: Genetic and Physical Interactions
Advisor: David Pearce, Ph.D.
Now: Associate Professor, Department of Genetics, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Cell Signaling at Augustana University
2007
Elucidating and Characterizing the Interacting Partners of the Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses Proteins
Advisor: David Pearce, Ph.D.
Now: Transformation Program Manager at Nouryon
A Functional Analysis of the Domains of APOBEC3G Involved in Dimerization, Anti-viral Activity and Cellular Localization
Advisor: Harold Smith, Ph.D.
Now: Chief Scientific Officer at Oyagen, Inc.
A Role for the Human Rad9-Rad1-Hus1 DNA Clamp Complex in DNA Repair
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Director of Career Development and Training at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Analysis of the Mechanisms of 5-Fluorouracil Toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Advisor: Scott Butler, Ph.D.
Now: Staff Scientist at National Cancer Institute
Identification of Yeast tRNASer Um44 2'-O-Methyltransferase (Trm44) and Demonstration of a Role of Trm44 in Maintaining Levels of Specific tRNASer Species
Advisor: Eric Phizicky, Ph.D.
Now: Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Crystallographic Analysis of a Small Catalytic RNA and Structural Insights into the Enzymes and Substrates of RNA / DNA Editing
Advisor: Joseph Wedekind, Ph.D.
Now: Senior Pharmacokineticist at Covance
Distinguishing the Pathways of Primer Removal during Eukaryotic Okazaki Fragment Maturation
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Sr. Director, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations at ViaCyte
Contributions of Exosite Interactions and Active Site Docking to Activated Protein C-Catalyzed Inactivation of Factor VIIIa
Advisor: Philip Fay, Ph.D.
Now: Hematology Manager at Cerus
Studies of Signaling Pathways in Cellular Responses to Titanium Particles: Implications of Cyclooxgenes-2/Prostaglandin E2/RANK Ligand Induction in Fibroblasts During Wear Debris-Induced Osteolysis
Advisor: Regis O'Keefe, M.D., Ph.D.
Now: Associate Professor at Washington University School of Medicine at St. Louis
Functions and Mechanisms of RNA Pseudouridylation
Advisor: Yi-Tao Yu, Ph.D.
Now: Researcher at Umass Medical School
G Protein bg Subunit Mediated Signaling Specificity: Implications for bg subtypes and Novel Mechanisms of Activation
Advisor: Alan Smrcka, Ph.D.
Now: Director at Cowin Biosciences, Inc.
2006
Probing Protein-Protein Interactions in Factor VIII: Characterization of Inter-Subunit Interactions and Epitope Mapping of Factor VIII Subunits
Advisor: Philip Fay, Ph.D.
Now: Program Director at NIH
dNTP Interaction Mechanisms of HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase
Advisor: Baek Kim, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant Professor at SUNY Geneseo
Functional Dissection of Estrogen Signaling Pathways Conveyed by Estrogen Receptor Homodimers and Heterodimer
Advisor: Russell Hilf, Ph.D.
Now: CEO at Luxena Pharmaceuticals
The Human Papillomavirus E7 Oncoprotein Upregulates AKT Activity through the Retinoblastoma Protein (Rb) during Keratinocyte Differentiation
Advisor: Mark Dumont, Ph.D.
Now: CAR-T cell Scientist at Spring House
Essential Role of Proteoglycans in Caenorhabditis elegans Early Embryonic Cell Division and Characterization of Sequence Requirement for Proteoglycan Modification Site
Advisor: Fred Hagen, Ph.D.
Now: Analyst, Risk Business Intelligence at Kaiser Permanente
2005
Ligand Binding and Receptor Activation in a G Protein Coupled Receptor in Baker’s Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Advisor: Mark Dumont, Ph.D.
Now: Technical Talent Sourcer at Microsoft
Identification of the Essential Yeast Gene THG1 Encoding the Unusual tRNAHis Degree Guanylytransferase, and Elucidation of Multiple Consequences of Thg1p Post Depletion in vivo
Advisor: Eric Phizicky, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant Professor, Cell Biology and Neuroscience at University of California Riverside
Protein Engineering and Rational Mutagenesis in the Crystallization and Structure Determination of Human Cyclin B1
Advisor: Ravi Basavappa, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant Professor at University of Novi Sad
Expression and Solubilization of Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Integral Membrane Proteins for Functional and Structural Genomics
Advisor: Mark Dumont, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics at Washington University in St. Louis
Structural and Functional Analysis of APOBEC-Related Editing Enzymes, and the Structural Basis of Antibody Specificity in Blood Type Recognition
Advisor: Joseph Wedekind, Ph.D.
Now: Lead Chemist at US Army Public Health Command - Region Pacific
2004
Design of Estrogen Response Element (ERE) Binding Proteins to Study the Roles of ERE-containing Genes in Cell Proliferation and the Functional Differences Between ER Alpha and ER Beta
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Principal Investigator at The National Cancer Institute
Obesity-Associated Interleukin-6 Contributes to Hepatic Insulin Resistance in Mice
Advisor: Robert Mooney, Ph.D. & George Kimmich, Ph.D.
Now: Medical Writer II at Technical Resources International, Inc.
Degradation of mRNA in the nucleus and polyadenylation of noncoding RNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Advisor: Fred Sherman, Ph.D.
Now: Senior Director at Head of DEL Biology WuXi AppTec
Identification of Pseudouridylases Responsible for the Formation of Pseudouridines in Yeast U2 snRNA
Advisor: Yi-Tao Yu, Ph.D.
Now: Executive Director, Medical Affairs at Coherus BioSciences
The Transport and Metabolism of the Neurotransmitter Glutamate: Regulation of the Glutamate Transport EAAC1 by Protein Kinase C; and Aminotransferase- Catalyzed Isotope Exchange and its Implications for the Glutamate-Glutamine Shuttle Model
Advisor: George Kimmich, Ph.D.
Now: Chief Scientific Officer at SiMPore
The Mechanism of Minus Strand Stop Transfer during HIV-1 Reverse Transcription
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Scientific Officer at BioAgilytix
Cooperation of activated Ras and mutant p53 in control of cell motility and invasion during malignant cell transformation
Advisor: Hartmut Land, Ph.D.
Now: TBC at TBC
Intra- and Inter-nucleosomal Protein-DNA Interactions of the Core Histone Tail Domains in a Model Dinucleosome and Oligonucleosome Array
Advisor: Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D.
Now: President and CEO at Robustnique Corporation
2003
Investigation of the Mechanism of Nucleosome Remodeling by the Human SWI?SNF and Xenopus Mi-2 Chromatin Remodeling Complexes
Advisor: Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D.
Now: Principal Editor for Benign Hematology at EBSCO Information Services
Investigation of Mitochondrial Protein Degradation Using Mutationally Altered Forms of Yeast Chromosome
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D. & Fred Sherman, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant Professor (tenure Track) at University of Pittsburg
Study on Roles of Eukaryotic Flap Endonuclease 1 (FEN1) in Maintaining Stability of Repeat Sequences During RNA Replication
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Florida International University
Studying the Roles of Androgen Receptor (AR) Coactivators in Prostate Cancer Progression using Dominant-negative Mutants and RNA Interference
Advisor: Chawnshang Chang, Ph.D. & Fred Sherman, Ph.D.
Now: Scientist at Pfizer
The Mechanism of Recombination of HIV-1
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant Professor of Neurology at John Hopkins Medicine
The molecular recognition of carbohydrates and ions in aqueous solution.
Advisor: Benjamin Miller, Ph.D.
Now: Associate Professor at Nazareth College
A Family of Dihydrouridine Synthases with Different Specificities Responsible for Modification of Cytoplasmic tRNAs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Advisor: Eric Phizicky, Ph.D.
Now: Research Fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
2002
Analysis of Mammalian Base Excision Repair: Role of AP Endonuclease and Replication Protein A
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Senior Vice President at Quidel
Studies on Mechanisms of Estrogen Receptor Subtype-Specific Transcription Regulation
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine
2000
Intramolecular Interactions among Transmembrane Regions of STE2, a G Protein Coupled Receptor in Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Advisor: Mark Dumont, Ph.D.
Now: Director, Viral Vector Care at National Institute of Environmental Health and Sciences
1999
Dominant Negative Mutations of the a-Factor Receptor Encoded by the STE2 Gene of the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Advisor: Mark Dumont, Ph.D.
Now: TBC at TBC
Characterization of Estrogen-induced Synergistic Response at Multiple EstrogenResponsive Elements (EREs)
Advisor: Robert Bambara, Ph.D.
Now: US Regulatory Science Lead at UCB