Graduate Students

Daniel Apicco
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology/Biomedical Neuroscience
Advisor: Benjamin Wolozin, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology and Neurology
Research Summary: Dan’s research aims to understand the intersecting biology of tau and RNA binding proteins associated with stress granules in Alzheimer’s disease and other taupathies.  Currently, he is working on elucidating specific stress signaling pathways involved in pathological tau aggregation.

 

Jacob Beierle
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: David H. Farb, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology
Research Summary: Jacob is interested in developing a mechanistic understanding of addiction and using that understanding to create interventions that abate drug seeking behaviors.

 

 

Amanda Bolgioni
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Neil J. Ganem, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine
Research Summary: Amanda is currently examining how the Hippo pathway acts to maintain genome stability. In particular, she is examining the regulation of YAP/TAZ during mitosis.

 

 

Jeremy Burns 
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology/ Biogen
Advisor: Marc Muskavitch, Ph.D., Senior Director, Epigenetics/Biogen
Research Summary: Jeremy is researching transcriptional pathways modulated by GPR65 in microglia and how the expression is modulated.

 

 

 

Kevin Clayton 
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Tsuneya Ikezu, M.D./Ph.D., Professor Pharmacology and Neurology
Research Summary: Kevin looks to research novel therapeutics to treat Alzheimer’s Disease as well as other neurological disorders.

 

 

Iriny Ekladious
Program: Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering/Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Mark W. Grinstaff, Ph.D., Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry
Research Summary: Iriny’s work involves synthesizing, characterizing, and assessing the efficacy of polymeric nanoparticles for the local delivery of chemotherapeutic agents.

 

 

Alissa Frame
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Richard Wainford, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine 
Research Summary: Alissa’s research focuses on the integrated central neural and renal mechanisms regulating blood pressure with the goal of identifying potential targets in hypertension.

 

 

Jonique George
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: David H. Farb, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology
Research Summary: Jonique is interested in diabetes and cardiovascular research.

 

 

Veronica Go
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: David H. Farb, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology
Research Summary: Veronica’s interests consist of neurobiology/neuropharmacology and drug discovery.

 

 

Lisa Goldberg
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology/Biomedical Neuroscience
Advisor: : Camron D. Bryant, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of  Pharmacology and Psychiatry
Research Summary: Lisa’s work focuses on understanding the genetic underpinnings of behavioral traits associated with substance abuse by combining gene mapping with behavioral assays such as conditioned place preference. Currently, she is focusing on differentiating the opposing regulatory roles of the delta and epsilon isoforms of casein kinase 1 in sensitivity to drugs of abuse.

Trevor Grant
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: : Anurag Singh, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine
Research Summary: Trevor’s research aims to characterize novel therapeutic targets found in the aberrantly functioning signaling pathways of KRAS-driven pancreatic cancer.

 

Christopher Gromisch
Program: M.D./Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: : Mark Grinstaff, Ph.D., Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry
Research Summary: Chris is interested in developing new in vitro and in vivo models of cancer and developing new techniques of drug delivery for the treatment of cancer.

 

 

Julia Guzova
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology/ Pfizer
Advisor: J. Perry Hall, Ph.D., Director, Inflammation & Immunology Research, Pfizer
Research Summary: Research focus will be on understanding the mechanism of action and identifying the pathway(s) responsible for skin rash caused by a broad spectrum of marketed kinase inhibitors in a non-target tissue/cell type such as primary human keratonocytes. The goal will be development of a predictive in vitro cutaneous cytotoxicity model for characterizing future kinase inhibitors.

 

Kathryn Hixson
Program: Ph.D. Neuroscience/Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Shelley J. Russek, Professor of Pharmacology
Research Summary: Kathryn’s research is focused on understanding the dynamic gene regulation of inhibitory neurotransmission and how it is altered in neurological diseases, such as epilepsy.  Her current focus includes looking at the results of permanently increased BDNF levels in the brain after seizures and how it affects the GABA-A receptor.

 

Xuan (Anita) He
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: David H. Farb, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology
Research Summary: Anita is interested in understanding the molecular biology underlying metabolic diseases, particularly diabetes, as well as cancer diseases and using that knowledge toward drug discovery and development.

 

 

Kevin Hua
Program: M.D./Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Anurag Singh, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine
Research Summary: Characterization of the KRAS-miRNA signaling network of KRAS dependent cancers and its functional role in modulating cancer cell plasticity and drug resistance.

 

 

Leah Huiting
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Hui Feng, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine
Research Summary: Exploiting  transgenic and xenograft zebrafish models to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor cell intravasation and screen for small molecules that block the intravasation of triple-negative breast cancer cells.

 

Natasha Khatri
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology/Biomedical Neuroscience
Advisor: Hengye Man, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology and Pharmacology
Research Summary:  Natasha is studying an E3 ubiquitin ligase implicated in autism and its role in neuronal morphology. She is researching the molecular pathways by which this protein can lead to dysregulated dendrite and synapse formation during neuronal development. She is also studying novel E3 ligases involved in AMPA receptor trafficking.

 

Leah (Kressin) Ray
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Karen N. Allen, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry
Research Summary: Leah’s research aims to understand the biochemical and structural basis of interactions between PGC-1a, PPARa, and Lipin-1a leading to transcriptional co-activation of triglyceride and phospholipid metabolism-linked genes.

 

Yoonjoo Lee
Program: M.D./Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Vickery Trinkaus-Randall, Ph.D., Professor of  Medicine and Biochemistry
Research Summary:Yoonjoo’s research focuses on characterizing the SDE2 protein and its possible role in telomere maintenance pathways.

 

 

Sanghee Lim
Program: M.D./Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Neil J. Ganem, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine
Research Summary: Sanghee’s research currently focuses on elucidating the mechanisms underlying genomic instability as a downstream effect of oncogene expression through non-canonical pathways in models of melanoma.

 

Amy Lin
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology/Biomedical Neuroscience
Advisor: Angela Ho, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology
Research Summary: Amy studies the role of Mint2, a neuronal adaptor protein in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).

 

 

Ying (Jane) Lock
Program:  M.D./Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Fabio Petrocca, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine
Research Summary: Jane is interested in doing cancer genomics research with the goal of developing potential therapeutic interventions.

 

 

Emily Lough
Program: Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering/Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Tyrone Porter, Ph.D, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Research Summary: Emily is developing a targeted nanoparticle to co-deliver cisplatin and paclitaxel to ovarian cancer cells.

 

 

Emily Mason-Osann
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Rachel Flynn, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology
Research Summary: Emily’s research focuses on telomere maintenance mechanisms that allow replicative immortality of cancer cells.  Currently her work aims to further characterize the lengthening of telomeres pathway with the goal of finding new therapeutic targets.

 

 

Brandon Maziuk
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Benjamin Wolozin, M.D./Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine
Research Summary: Brandon is interested in understanding the cellular and molecular biology underlying neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s disease.

 

 

Cari Meisel
Program: Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering/Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Joyce Wong, Ph.D., Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Research Summary: Cari’s work involves development and characterization of a targeted iron oxide nanoparticle capable of aiding in early detection of calcific aortic valve disease.

 

 

Jessica Min-Debartolo
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology/Pfizer
Advisor: Robert Martinez, Ph.D., Director, Tissue Fibrosis and NASH, Pfizer
Research Summary: Jessica examines innate immune signaling and its role in inflammatory pathogenesis of renal injury.

 

 

Cassie Moore
Program: Ph.D. Neuroscience/Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Pietro Cottone, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Psychiatry
Research Summary: Cassie is studying the neurobiological substrates of addiction and motivated behaviors, such as compulsive eating and palatable food dependence.

 

 

Patrick Mucka
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: David H. Farb, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology
Research Summary: Patrick’s interests range from cancer biology to neuroscience, inspiring him to seek new therapeutics that go beyond the current standard of care.

 

 

Christine Nykyforchyn
Program: Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering/Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: David Waxman, Ph.D., Professor of Biology and Medicine
Research Summary: Christine uses lipid-based nanoparticles to deliver miRNAs to KRAS mutant cancers in order to modulate the cancer state and “chemosensitize” the tumor to therapeutics.

 

 

Keri Omuro
Program: Ph.D. Neuroscience/Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Angela Ho, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology
Research Summary: Keri’s research is currently focused on the alternative splicing of the ApoER2 receptor and Reelin signaling in neurons.

 

 

Franco Puleo
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: David H. Farb, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology
Research Summary: Franco is interested in drug development geared towards cancer research.

 

 

Sema Quadir
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: David H. Farb, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology
Research Summary: Sema is interested in researching the biological underpinnings of addiction.

 

 

Ryan Quinton
Program: M.D./Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Neil J. Ganem, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine
Research Summary: Ryan is interested in understanding how the Hippo pathway is involved in tumorigenesis.

 

 

Patricia Rein
Program: Ph.D. Neuroscience/Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Tarik Haydar, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Anatomy & Neurobiology
Research Summary: Patricia is interested in looking at neural development, the role in different neural precursor cells in the developing brain and how oligodendrocyte maturation influences the formation of white matter tracks in both healthy and diseased brains.

 

Qiu Ruan
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Tsuneya Ikezu, M.D./Ph.D, Professor of Pharmacology and Neurology
Research Summary: Qiu is interested in dissecting the complex molecular networks underpinning diseases, especially the aspect of identifying key biomarkers to develop a therapeutic strategy for treatment.

 

Angel Rubio
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Tyrone M. Porter, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering
Research Summary: Angel’s research is focused on utilizing temperature-sensitive liposomes for the development of novel cancer immunotherapies.

 

 

Mariel Seiglie
Program: Ph.D. Neuroscience/Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Valentina Sabino, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Psychiatry
Research Summary: Mariel’s research is focused on elucidating the neurobiological substrates underlying stress systems associated with anxiety and withdrawal.

 

 

Michael St. Andre
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology/Pfizer
Advisor: Jane Owens, Ph.D., Senior Director and Head of Neuromuscular Research, Pfizer
Research Summary: Understanding SMAD regulation during muscle fibrosis formation in muscular dystrophy.

 

 

Margarita Tararina
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Karen Allen, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry
Research Summary: Margarita’s research is focused on studying atomic protein structure and function using x-ray diffraction and enzyme kinetics to aid in drug discovery and development.

 

 

Marc Vittoria
Program: M.D./Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor: Neil Ganem, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine
Research Summary: Marc’s research involves assessing possible novel regulators of the Hippo pathway while also exploring new research ideas.

 

 

Zohar Weinstein
Program:M.D./Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology
Advisor:Muhammad H. Zaman, Ph.D., Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Research Summary:Zohar’s research focuses on the development of novel drug probes for the purpose of identifying substandard drugs in low-resource settings.

 

 

Neema Yazdani
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology/Biomedical Neuroscience
Advisor: Camron D. Bryant, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of  Pharmacology and Psychiatry
Research Summary: Neema’s work is aimed at studying the genetic basis of methamphetamine addiction. Currently, he is working to identify and characterize which one of four candidate genes is responsible for the differences in methamphetamine sensitivity among mouse strains.

 

 Hana Yeh
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology/Biomedical Neuroscience
Advisor: Tsuneya Ikezu, M.D./Ph.D Professor Pharmacology and Neurology
Research Summary: Hana is interested in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurodevelopment disorders including Autism Spectrum Disorder.

 

 

Melvin Zhang
Program: Ph.D. Biomolecular Pharmacology/Pfizer
Advisor: Marion Kasaian, Ph.D., Scientist, Pfizer
Research Summary: Melvin is interested in pharmacology, the study and properties of drugs as well as their interactions with living systems.