Program Graduates
Academic Year
Brandon Coughlin, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Regulation of IL-6 Signaling in Human Retinal Cells and Tissue in Health and Disease
Advisor: Susanne Mohr, Ph.D.
Graduated: Summer 2019
Kaitlin Durga, M.S.
Thesis: Effects of Early Life Stress and Mast Cells on Brain Function and Behavior in the Mouse and Pig
Advisor: A.J. Robison, Ph.D.
Graduated: Summer 2020
Sonia Gentile, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Targeting Cellular Signaling Pathways in ER Positive Breast Cancer
Advisor: Susan Conrad, Ph.D.
Graduated: Fall 2018
Trevor Gohl, M.S.
Thesis: Lineage specific role for Adhesion and Degranulation promoting adaptor protein (ADAP) in iNKT cell development and functions
Advisor: Rupali Das, Ph.D.
Graduated: Spring 2018
Tanwir Hashem, M.S.
Thesis: CD2 regulates pathogenesis of asthma induced by house dust mite extract
Advisor: Rupali Das, Ph.D.
Graduated: Fall 2019
Jonathan Kasper, Ph.D.
Dissertation: The Role and Regulation of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase in Skeletal Muscle Bioenergetics and Type 2 Diabetes
Advisor: Robert Wiseman, Ph.D.
Graduated: Graduated Fall 2018
Sarah Keaton, Ph.D.
Dissertation: The Role of Inflammation and the Kynurenine Pathway in Mood
Disorders and Pregnancy
Advisor: Lena Brundin, M.D., Ph.D.
Graduated: Spring 2019
Gizem Kurt, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Lateral Hypothalamic Neurotensin Neurons Orchestrate Ingestive Behaviors
Advisor: Gina Leinninger, Ph.D.
Graduated: Fall 2019
Yan Levitsky, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Microrespiromety to Study Ceramide-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Diabetic Retinopathy
Advisor: Julia Busik, Ph.D.
Graduated: Spring 2020
Matthew Lewis, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Mitochondrial Function Does Not Limit Aerobic Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetes: Magnetic Resonance Studies in The Goto-Kakizaki Rat
Advisor: Robert Wiseman, Ph.D.
Graduated: Fall 2019
Fatma Madi, M.S.
Thesis: Neuroprotective Effect of Intraocular Bdnf and Optogenetic Stimulation of Visual Cortex on Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival and Function in the Rat following Optic Nerve Injury
Advisor: Arthur Weber, Ph.D.
Graduated: Fall 2018
Sean Misek, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Characterization of Pharmacological Vulnerabilities in Drug-Resistant Melanoma Cells
Advisor: Kathleen Gallo, Ph.D.
Graduated: Spring 2020
Martin Ogrodzinski, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Targeting Metabolic Vulnerabilities in Breast Cancer Subtypes
Advisor: Sophia Lunt, Ph.D.
Graduated: Spring 2020
Jonathan Rennhack, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Clinical Insights from Mouse Models of Breast Cancer
Advisor: Eran Andrechek, Ph.D.
Graduated: Fall 2018
Irving Salinas, M.S.
Thesis: Androgen Actions in PCOS Liver
Advisor: Aritro Sen, Ph.D.
Graduated: Fall 2019
Jonathan Schepper, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Investigation of the gut microbiota as a mediator and therapeutic target for secondary osteoporosis
Advisors: Laura McCabe, Ph.D. and Narayanan Parameswaran, BVSc., Ph.D.
Graduated: Spring 2019
Nguyen Truong, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Impact of interferon gamma on pancreatic beta cell lipid metabolism and cellular function
Advisor: L. Karl Olson, Ph.D.
Graduated: Spring 2020