Second Year (Ph.D. Program in Pathology)

Jonathan Cherry

My current interests are studying the effects and pathways of radiation or peripheral injuries on neuroinflammation.

Home town: Rochester, NY
B.S., Biology, Ursinus College

Mentors: Kerry O'Banion and John Olschowka

Amali Epa

My current research interests lie in cancer cell biology and stem cell medicine. Specifically, identifying pathways which could have an impact on cancer cell growth inhibition.

Home town: Colombo, Sri Lanka
B.S., Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Mentor: Patricia Sime

Jenna Frame

I am investigating the emergence and differentiation of the first definitive multipotential hematopoietic progenitors in the mammalian embryo. Understanding the differences between these progenitors and adult-repopulating hematopoietic stem cells that arise later in development will uncover molecular mechanisms important for long-term maintenance of the hematopoietic system and for erythroid-myeloid lineage restriction within the hematopoietic hierarchy.

Home town: Rome, NY
B.S., Biochemistry, University of Rochester

Mentor: James Palis

Rialnat Lawal

My research interest is studying the bone marrow microenvironment  to determine the role of the niche in hematopoietic stem cell regulation.

Home town: Houston, TX
B.A., Biological Sciences, Rutgers University

Mentor: Laura Calvi

M.D./Ph.D. Program

Allison Light

My current research interests are focused on the role of paxillin in the context of prostate cancer progression.

Home town: Parsippany, NJ
B.A., Biology, University of Vermont

Mentor: Stephen Hammes

Tristan Nicholson

My scientific interests are in benign and malignant diseases of the genitourinary tract. I am interested in translating basic science into improved prevention and novel therapeutics.

Home town: Seattle, WA
B.A., Anthropology, University of Washington

Mentor: William Ricke

M.D./Ph.D. Program

Lisa Niswander

My current research focuses on characterizing the injury and recovery of the megakaryocyte lineage in the bone marrow to radiation. These platelet-producing cells are essential for hemostasis, and understanding their response to radiation has important implications for the management of bone marrow damage in patients receiving radiation therapy or with radiation sickness.

Home town: Buffalo, NY
B.A., Molecular Biology/Biochemistry and Religion, Middlebury College

Mentor: James Palis
M.D./Ph.D. Program

Min Tian

I am interested in the pathology of cancer and metabolism disorder syndromes, such as obesity and diabetes.

Home town: Hefei, Anhui Province, China
M.S., Cell Biology, Xiamen University, China

Mentor: Dirk Bohmann

Cuicui Wang

I am currently interested in the mechanisms by which Notch signaling maintains and expands hMSCs ex vivo, and also methods of promoting bone fracture healing .

Home town: Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
Degree: M.S., Molecular Genetics, Nanjing University

Mentor: Matthew J. Hilton

Michael Wilson

My research interest is in the molecular mechanisms of EVI1-induced leukemias and potential therapeutic targets.

Home town: Erie, PA
Degree: B.S., Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State University

Mentor: Archibald Perkins