GSS Executive Board
The Graduate Student Society (GSS) Executive Board members serving for the 2011-12 academic year are listed below. Please contact us at GSSBoard@urmc.rochester.edu.
2011-2012 GSS Executive Board Members
Alison Billroth-Maclurg
I grew up in Seattle, Washington and worked at Amgen and Cellnetix, where I decided that I needed more education and experience to develop my scientific career with a PhD in immunology. After starting my PhD at University of Rochester in the Microbiology and Immunology program in 2009, I joined Deb Fowell’s lab and began my research in Regulatory CD4 T cells, and am deep into research in my third year. In addition to studying T cell biology, I also have been interested in improving the graduate student involvement in academic, social and philanthropic opportunities and developing a united student voice at URMC. I joined GSS last year as Social Chair and am now President for 2011-2012. I am thrilled for this year and welcome you to send me your ideas and comments anytime.
Donna Davidson
In the summer of 2006, following my junior year of college, I had the opportunity to participate in the Summer Scholars Program at the University of Rochester. This opportunity made me realize how much I wanted to pursue a PhD in Virology, and I ultimately decided to join the graduate program in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Every experience that I have had here at UR and in the lab of Dr. Sanjay Maggirwar has been wonderful. Participating in the Graduate Student Society allows me to not only help further career development and social events for other graduate students, but to give back to the U of R and community that we all share.
Elaine Hart
I am originally from the Pacific Northwest and moved to Rochester in 2010 to work towards a PhD in Immunology. I joined the GSS to help bring a diverse range of volunteer opportunities to the student body. I am motivated by the many successful organizations working in the local community. It is my hope that together we can promote community involvement and build long lasting relationships between U of R students and our neighbors. I look forward to hearing about organizations and events that are important to you.
Sara Knowlden
I grew up in Clifton Park, NY and graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) with a BS in Biotechnology in 2006. After graduating, I obtained a position at the pharmaceutical company Pfizer and worked in a pharmacokinetic group searching for new biotherapeutic drugs. I later decided to further my education and moved back to Rochester to earn a PhD in Immunology. I am currently a third year graduate student in the laboratory of Dr. Steve Georas and I'm studying the effects of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and autotaxin on T cell homing and recirculation. I am excited to be a part of GSS this year and look forward to us accomplishing great things!
Mike Moses
I grew up in Geneva, NY and attended Clarkson University for my undergraduate studies in Biochemistry. While there, I completed an independent research project on HPV and cervical cancer and discovered my passion for cancer-related biomedical research. I came to Rochester for a PhD in Pathology after graduating from Clarkson and have been studying the molecular mechanisms of prostate cancer progression. For the past year, I have been a member of the Department of Pathology Student Council and decided to join GSS to further develop it as a professional organization aimed at helping current graduate students progress in terms of academic, social, philanthropic, and professional development. Please do not hesistate to contact us with any suggestions!
Oded Spindel
I am an international student coming from Israel. I first came to Rochester in the summer of 2007 for a six-month internship at the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology. I applied for the PhD program and was fortunate to be granted into the PhD program in the Pharmacology program. After I finished my first year in Grad school I joined the laboratory of Dr. Bradford C Berk MD, PhD at the Aab Cardiovascular Institute. My thesis project is focusing on Thioredoxin-interactin protein (Txnip) and its ability to regulate endothelial cell homeostasis. I believe that student organizations should contribute and organize activities to both our interests but also our community and institute. Looking forward to the following year exciting activities!!!
Wenli Wang
As a third-year graduate student in the Department of Biomedical Genetics at the University of Rochester Medical Center, I have had great opportunities to get high-quality education and to make friends with my fellow graduate students majoring in a variety of disciplines including Biochemistry, Genetics, Immunology, Pharmacology and Physiology, Statistics, Epidemiology, Biomedical Engineering and so on. I chose to become a Graduate Student Society (GSS) Executive Board member this year because I was so impressed by the former GSS events, such as the Merit Awards Poster Competition and Philosophy meetings, where GSS did a good job to provide us students a professional platform to present our original research to and communicate with our faculty members and peers. Moreover, as an International student who just came from China two years ago, I started getting exposed to the American culture while joining many social events like Halloween Party held by GSS. Being grateful, I want to serve at the GSS board and make contributions to fulfilling the academic, social as well as administrative needs of our graduate students.
