PhD Spotlight: Matthew Reiss ’23
Matthew Reiss is a PhD candidate in the Biomolecular Pharmacology program at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. Matt’s research in the lab of Rachel Flynn, PhD, studies the role that a long non-coding RNA, TERRA, plays in the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway for mammalian cancer cells. Matt successfully defended his dissertation in March 2023 and will graduate in the upcoming May 2023 Commencement exercises. Read more about Matt below! What did you complete your dissertation research on and how did you settle on that topic? My dissertation research centered on studying the role a long non-coding RNA, More
Congratulations to Our 2023 Outstanding Student Achievement Award Winners!
Graduate Medical Sciences is pleased to award three high-achieving, graduating students with Outstanding Student Achievement Awards in the categories “Outstanding Research” and “Community Service.” These students have made exceptional contributions to their departments and communities that have set them apart from their peers during their time at GMS. Meet each awardee below: Claire Burgess '23 PhD in Molecular & Translational Medicine Program in Biomedical Sciences Claire Burgess will officially graduate in May 2023, leaving behind a tremendous research impact on the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. Burgess, a PhD student in the Graduate Medical Sciences Program in Molecular & Translational Medicine (MTM), is... More
2023 Outstanding Student Achievement Award: PhD Research Category
Claire Burgess '23 Molecular & Translational Medicine Program in Biomedical Sciences Claire Burgess will officially graduate in May 2023, leaving behind a tremendous research impact on the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. Burgess, a PhD student in the Graduate Medical Sciences Program in Molecular & Translational Medicine (MTM), is a 2023 winner of the GMS Outstanding Student Achievement Award in the PhD Research category. Burgess matriculated into the PhD umbrella Program in Biomedical Sciences in 2017, following her graduation from Sewanee: the University of the South that year. She currently works in the lab of Darrell Kotton, MD, the director of the... More
2023 Outstanding Student Achievement Award: Master’s Community Service Category
Rhode-Armelle Jean Jacques '23 Physician Assistant Program “Community is a huge part of everything that I’ve done,” said Rhode-Armelle Jean Jacques, the winner of the 2023 Graduate Medical Sciences Outstanding Student Achievement Award in the Master’s Community Service category. Born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jean Jacques and her mother sought refuge in Miami, Florida, due to ongoing political instability in the country. Jean Jacques completed high school and her undergraduate degree in Miami, graduating from the University of Miami with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in chemistry in 2016. She also obtained a Master of Public Health from George Washington... More
C3 End-of-Semester Pizza Party Draws 158 GMS Community Members
Graduate Medical Sciences students, faculty and staff celebrated the end of the Spring 2023 semester with a pizza party hosted by the Community Catalyst Center. The event, held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., drew 158 members of the GMS community from across many master's and PhD programs. Attendees enjoyed several types of pizza, fruit and beverages while listening to music on the lawn. Next to the food tables, attendees could play several lawn games, like Kan Jam, cornhole, ladder toss, and Kubb Viking Chess. The sun broke out just in time for the day's fun, bringing some warmer spring weather to... More
29th Annual Henry I. Russek Student Achievement Day Celebrates GMS Academic Research and Service
Graduate Medical Sciences marked the 29th Annual Henry I. Russek Student Achievement Day on Friday, April 21, in the Hiebert Lounge. Russek Day, held each year since 1994, honors the memory of both Henry I. Russek, MD, a prolific physician scientist in cardiology, and his wife, philanthropist Elayne Russek. The Russek’s daughter, Shelley Russek, PhD, organizes the event each year to celebrate the ongoing achievements of the graduate student body at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. Russek is a professor of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, director of the Graduate Program for Neuroscience and the president of The Russek Foundation. She explained that the mission... More
PhD Student Spotlight: Emilie Mausser ‘23
Emilie Mausser is a PhD candidate in the Molecular and Translational Medicine program through the Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS). Emilie’s research in the lab of Professor of Medicine Deborah Anderson, PhD, works on developing a nonhormonal, on-demand contraceptive product. Emilie successfully defended her dissertation in March 2023 and will graduate in the upcoming May 2023 Commencement exercises. Read more about Emilie below! What did you complete your dissertation research on and how did you settle on that topic? In the lab of Dr. Deborah Anderson, we are developing a nonhormonal, on-demand contraceptive product. The human contraception antibody (HCA) specifically binds a... More
PhD Student Spotlight: Keshia Pitt ‘23
Today, we’re highlighting Keshia Pitt, a May PhD candidate in the Molecular and Translational Medicine program through the Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS). Keshia’s dissertation, which she successfully defended in March 2023, studied the effect of the p63 gene on the acceleration of epithelial cancer. During her time at BU, she has worked under Associate Professor of Molecular & Cell Biology Makoto Senoo and Clinical Assistant Professor of Molecular & Cell Biology Yoshiyuki Mochida, PhD, DDS. She will graduate in the upcoming May 2023 Commencement exercises. Read more about Keshia below! What did you complete your dissertation research on? How did... More
Introducing Our 2023 Commencement Speakers!
With Commencement fast approaching, we would like to take a moment to highlight the four students who have been selected to speak at this year’s Graduate Medical Sciences ceremonies. Three students were chosen to speak at the Master’s Ceremony, and one student was chosen to represent GMS at the MD, PhD & MD/PhD Ceremony. All speakers were nominated by their programs, and finalists were selected by a committee of GMS representatives. Meet each speaker below: Eaba Beyene Masters in Oral Health Sciences Program Eaba was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he lived for the first seven years of his life. He then moved to... More
A Look Back At 2023 Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week
Graduate Medical Sciences and the Community Catalyst Center were thrilled to celebrate our students during this year’s Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week, recognized from April 3 to 7. Throughout the week, GMS, C3 and our collaborators hosted a variety of events that brought students together for networking, professional development and community connection. Check out a full recap of the week’s program: Monday, April 3: Coffee, Conversation & Coffee Cake with the GMS Associate Provost & Dean Students had two opportunities to chat with Dr. Jamie McKnight, associate provost and dean of Graduate Medical Sciences, to mark the first day of GPAW. Dr. McKnight was excited... More