Recent Graduates

Rafael H. Gil de Rubio

The Role of PLC-Dependent Hydrolysis of Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate in Signaling and Disease

Advisor: Alan Victor Smrcka, Ph.D.

Now: Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Michigan

Jesi Lee Anne To, Ph.D.

The Importance of G Protein Signaling in Immune Cell Function: A Novel Role for Active G Protein in Cell Adhesion and Migration and the Therapeutic Potential of Targeting G in Inflammation

Advisor: Alan Victor Smrcka, Ph.D.

Now: Medical Affairs Fellow at Promius Pharma, Princeton, NJ

Liwei Wang, Ph.D.

Region-specific Proteolysis Differentially Regulates Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate Receptor Activity

Advisor: David Ian Yule, Ph.D.

Now: Postdoctoral Research Fellow at New York University, New York, NY

Jimmy Zhang, Ph.D.

Mitochondrial Metabolism in Cardiac Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Advisor: Paul S. Brookes, Ph.D.

Now: Medical-Scientist Training Program at University of Rochester

Amanda N. Amoh, M.S.

Pharmacological Investigation into the Congenital Long QT Syndrome Type 3

Advisor: Coeli M.B. Lopes, Ph.D.

Joseph A. Bisson, Ph.D.

The Role of Non-canonical Wnt Signaling in Heart Development and Repair

Advisor: Ethan David Cohen, Ph.D.

Now: Postdoctoral Fellow at Columbia University, New York, NY

Corey Hoffman, Ph.D.

The Bone Microenvironment in the Setting of Acute Injury and Aging

Advisor: Laura M. Calvi, M.D.

Now: ORISE Fellow/Contract Officer at Biomedical Advanced Research Development Authority, U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services, Washington, DC

Alina M. Monteagudo-Cabellero, Ph.D.

Transglutaminase 2 Role in Neurological Disease and Injury: Alterations in Proliferation, Migration, and Metabolism

Advisor: Gail V. W. Johnson, Ph.D

Now: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Neurology at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Makaia M. Papasergi-Scott, Ph.D.

Phosphorylation Regulates Molecular Chaperoning and GEF Functions of Ric-8A in Heterotrimeric G-protein Signaling

Advisor: Robert S. Freeman, Ph.D.

Now: Postdoctoral Fellow at Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester NY

Breandan R. Quinn, M.S.

Transglutaminase 2 (TG2): Friend or Foe?

Advisor: Gail V. W. Johnson, Ph.D

Now: Laboratory Technician at University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

Michael A. Trembley, Ph.D.

Linking the cytoskeleton to transcription: A role for myocardin-related transcription factors in heart development and disease

Advisor: Eric M. Small, Ph.D.

Now: Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Rachel L. Walker, M.S.

Mitochondrial Calcium Buffering in C. elegans

Advisor: Keith Webster Nehrke, Ph.D.

Now: Medical Illustration MFA Program at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY

Alina Ainbinder, Ph.D.

Structural and Functional Impact of Mitochondrial Ca2+ Signaling in Skeletal Muscle

Advisor: Robert T. Dirksen, Ph.D.

Now: Research Scientist at Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA

Ellie M. Carrell, Ph.D.

Short- and Long-term Roles for Orai1 in Skeletal Muscle Structure and Function

Advisor: Robert T. Dirksen, Ph.D.

Now: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Neurology at University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

Rahul Chandrasekhar, Ph.D.

Unique Regulatory Properties of Heterotetrameric Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate Receptors Revealed by Studying Concatenated Receptor Constructs

Advisor: David Ian Yule, Ph.D.

Now: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Cell Biology at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

Peter V. DiStefano, Ph.D.

Regulation of Endothelial Cell Behavior and Vascular Function by Krev Interaction Trapped Protein 1 (KRIT1)

Advisor: Angela Glading, Ph.D.

Now: Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at Toronto General Hospital/ Research Institute (UHN), Toronto, ON

Laura Fornarola, M.D., Ph.D.

The Role of PIN1 in Neuronal Programmed Cell Death Following Trophic Factor Deprivation

Advisor: Robert S. Freeman, Ph.D.

Now: Resident, Anesthesiology at University of Rochester

Alex F. Fricke, Ph.D.

Ca2+ Signaling Involved in Pancreatic Stellate Cell Proliferation and Identification of a Potential Therapeutic Target

Advisor: David Ian Yule, Ph.D.

Now: Fellow, Department of Neurology at Center for Health and Technology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

Mary A. Gantz Marker, Ph.D.

Cell-type and Stimulus-specific Regulation of JUN and BIM by EGLN3 in Multiple Models of Neuronal Death

Advisor: Robert S. Freeman, Ph.D.

Walter E. Knight, Ph.D.

Regulation, Function, and Mechanisms of Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterase 1C in Pathological Cardiac Remodeling and Dysfunction

Advisor: Chen Yan, Ph.D.

Now: Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Medicine at University of Colorado-Denver, Aurora, CO

Bharti R. Patel, Ph.D.

Heterotrimeric G-Protein α Subunit Chaperone Ric-8A as a Novel Target for Cancer Therapeutics

Advisor: Gregory G. Tall, Ph.D.

Now: Research Scientist at Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA

Hannah Stoveken, Ph.D.

Activation of Adhesion G Protein-coupled Receptors by a Tethered Agonist: Mechanism of Action and Pharmacological Modulation

Advisor: Gregory G. Tall, Ph.D.

Now: Postdoctoral Fellow at The Scripps Research Institute-Florida Campus, Jupiter, FL

Qiuyu Zhu, Ph.D.

The Role of STXBP5, VAMP8, and SNAP23 in Endothelial Exocytosis

Advisor: Charles J. Lowenstein, M.D.

Now: Postdoctoral Fellow at Broad Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge, MA

Yelena V. Lerman, Ph.D.

Integrin alpha3beta1 on Neutrophils during Sepsis and TLR-mediated Inflammation: From Function to Immunotherapy Implications

Advisor: Minsoo Kim, Ph.D.

Now: Health Project Coordinator at Wilmot Cancer Center, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

Kristina L. Modjeski, Ph.D.

Get a GRIP: The Role of a PDZ Scaffolding Protein in Platelets and T Cells

Advisor: Craig N. Morrell, D.V.M., Ph.D.

Now: Student at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA

Hen Prizant, Ph.D.

mTOR-mediated Leiomyoma Growth in Uterine-specific Tsc2-null Mice is Exclusively Dependent on Estradiol Signaling – Implications in the Treatment of Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)

Advisor: Stephen R. Hammes, M.D., Ph.D.

Now: Postdoctoral Associate at Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY