2017-2018 PhD Thesis Titles 2016-2017 PhD Thesis Titles 2015-2016 PhD Thesis Titles
2013-2014 PhD Thesis Titles 2012-2013 PhD Thesis Titles 2010-2011 PhD Thesis Titles
October 21, 2011 Conferral
John Ashton, B.S. Rochester Institute of Technology 2003, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Genetics
Thesis: Molecular Genetic Analysis of Cooperative Gene Regulation in Leukemia Transformation
Donald Beqollari, B.S. St. Francis College 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Physiology
Thesis: Novel Insights Into the Signaling of Postsynaptically Localized group I (type 1) and group III (type 6) Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors
Jennifer Gewandter, B.S. University of Rochester 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Biochemistry
Thesis: Studies in Oxidative Damage-induced Signaling: A Focus Outside the Nucleu
Douglas Gunzler, B.A. Emory University 1998, M.S. Rutgers University 2006, M.S. University of Rochester 2007; Statistics
Thesis: A Class of Distribution-free Models for Longitudinal Mediation Analysis
Jonathan Holz, B.A. Washington University 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Toxicology
Thesis: Reactive Oxygen Species Mediate Lead Effects in the Genesis of Osteoarthritis
Michael Jacob, B.A. University of California Berkeley 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2010; Neurobiology and Anatomy
Thesis: The Active Control of Self-Movement Perception: Neuronal Mechanisms and Cognitive Aging
Su Jun Lim, B.S. University of Rochester 2006, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Genetics
Thesis: The Role of dCRIF in RNAi and Heterochromatin
Tao Lu, M.S. University of South Florida 2007, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Statistics
Thesis: Statistical Methods for High Dimensional ODE Models with Applications to Dynamic Gene Regulatory Network Identification
Krystle McLaughlin, B.A. Colgate University 2006, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Biophysics
Thesis: Structural and Thermodynamic Analysis of Protein-Nucleic Acid Interactions Involved in Gene Regulation
Keith Olsen, B.A. Williams College 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: The Role of Transglutaminase 2 in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Rebecca Porter, B.S. University of Rochester 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Pathology
Thesis: Prostaglandin E2 is a Positive Regulator of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells Under Normal Conditions and in Response to Radiation Injury
Matthew Quinn, B.S. Rochester Institute of Technology 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: Investigation of the Intrinsic Antibody Dependent Enhancement Hypothesis
Matthew Seetin, B.S. Harvey Mudd College 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2007; Biophysics
Thesis: RNA Structure Prediction: Advancing Both Secondary and Tertiary Structure Prediction
Xi Shi, B.S. Nanjing Normal University 2001, M.S. Nanjing Normal University 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Pharmacology
Thesis: RSK: a Pathogenic Mediator and Potential Drug Target in Cardiac Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury
Bradley Smith, B.S. Allegheny College 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2007; Genetics
Thesis: Tumor Suppressor Activity with the ATP-binding Cassette Transporter A1/Cholesterol Exporter (ABCA1) Gene
David Stephenson, B.S. Emory University 1998, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Biochemistry
Thesis: Pseudouridine Affects Spliceosome Function at Multiple Points in Splicing
Amy Tsurumi, B.A. Scripps College 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Genetics
Thesis: Investigating the Role of Kdm4 Histone Demethylases in Transcriptional Regulation and Development in Drosophila
Michael Valentino, B.S. SUNY Geneseo 2001, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: Development of a High Throughput Approach for the Identification of T Cell Epitopes in the Genomic Era: Application to Francisella tularensis
Joseph Whipple, B.S. SUNY Geneseo 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Biochemistry
Thesis: Defining the Substrate Specificity Determinants for the Yeast Rapid tRNA Decay Pathway and the Identification of Factors that Mediate Degradation
Nan Zheng, B.S. 2005; Health Services Research and Policy
Thesis: End-of-Life Care in Nursing Homes: Does Organization of Work Make a Difference?
March 16, 2012 Conferral
Saria Awadalla, B.S. Rochester Institute of Technology 2005, M.S. Rochester Institute of Technology 2005, M.A. University of Rochester 2006; Statistics
Thesis: Some Contributions to the Theory and Applications of R-Symmetry
Cristina Capella-Gonzalez, B.S. University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2007; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: Alterations that Influence dNTP Substrate Utilization by the Adenovirus Type 5 DNA Polymerase Result in Selective Modification of Adenovirus Replication
Gozde Colak, B.S. Middle East Technical University 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Pharmacology
Thesis: The Role of Transglutaminase 2 in Ischemic Cell Death
Ankit Gupta, B.S. Indian Institute of Technology 2006, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Biophysics
Thesis: Role of a Novel Doman in SF1/U2AF65 Complex Formation and 3 Splice Site Recognition
Jennifer Head, B.S. SUNY Potsdam 2006, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Toxicology
Thesis: Sustained Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Activation and its Role in Neutrophil Recruitment and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression in the Lung During Influenza A Virus Infection
Ryan Henry, B.A. Johns Hopkins University 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Biochemistry
Thesis: Multiple Roles for Members of the Long Flap Pathway in Okazaki Fragment Processing
Jong-Wei Hsu, B.S. National Chung-Hsing University 1999, M.S. National Taiwan University 2001, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Pathology
Thesis: Androgen Repair and Vitamin D Signaling in Bladder Cancer
Xiaoyu Hu, M.S. University of Science and Technology 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2010; Genetics
Thesis: Unphosphorylated STAT5A Enchances Heterochromatin Stability and Suppresses Colon Cancer Formation
Chiung-Kuei Huang, M.S. Institute of Biological Science 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2010; Pathology
Thesis: The Role of Androgen Receptor in Mesenchymal Stem Cells - Potential Therapy in Liver Cirrhosis
Ming Hsien Kung, B.S. SUNY College of Environmental Science 2002, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Toxicology
Thesis: Investigating the Molecular Mechanisms of Cigarette Smoke Inhibition of Fracture Healing
Holly Kuzmiak-Ngiam, B.A. Drew University 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2007; Biochemistry
Thesis: Roles of Hho1p, Esc2p, and he Post-Translational Modification of Sir2p in Transcriptional Silencing in Saccharomyces cerevisae
Sarah Latchney, B.S. St. Lawrence University 2006, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Toxicology
Thesis: Pluripotent Neural Stem Cells are Targets for Dioxin Toxicity: Novel Roles for the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor during Neurogenesis
Daniel Letzring, B.S. Providence College 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Biophysics
Thesis: A Systematic Analysis of Codon Effects on Translation Efficiency: Identification and Mechanistic Examination of the Inhibitory Effects of the Arginine Codon CGA
Xiang Liu, B.S. Zhejiang University 2001, M.S. Zhejiang University 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2007; Statistics
Thesis: Penalized Variable Selection for Semiparametric Regression Models
Alon Mantel, B.S. 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Pharmacology
Thesis: The Role of Aldo-Keto Reductase 1C3 in Human Epidermis, Atopic Dermatitis and Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Kathleen McAvoy, B.S. Fairfield University 2003, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Neuroscience
Thesis: The Von Hippel-Lindau Protein Regulates Developmental Cell Death in Sympathetic Neurons
Mustimbo Roberts, B.S. Oakwood College 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Pathology
Thesis: Memory B cell Phenotypic and Gene Expression Profiling in Primary Sjogren's Syndrome: Implications for Disease Pathogenesis and Diagnosis
Felix Santiago, B.S. University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez 2002, M.S. University of Rochester 2006; Microbiology Immunology
Thesis: The Use of Recombinant Hemagglutinin Proteins in the Study of Vaccination Against Emergent Influnza Viruses
Amir Taslimi, B.S. Rochester Institute of Technology 2005, M.S University of Rochester 2008; Biochemistry
Thesis: Conformational Changes Associated with Activation of the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae a- factor Receptor Ste2p
Joanna Touger Olsen, B.A. Williams College 2004; M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: SEVI, A Natural Enhancer of HIV Infection, as a Novel Target to Prevent HIV Transmission
Keith Van Nostrand, B.S. Houghton College 2002, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Biophysics
Thesis: Computational Investigation of RNA Conformational Change
May 19, 2012 Conferral
Elizabeth Brownell, B.A. St. Lawrence University 1999, M.A. University of Wales 2002; Epidemiology
Thesis: The Effect of Immediate Postpartum Depo-Provera on Early Breastfeeding Cessation
Zhuoxun Chen, B.S. Sun Yat-Sen University 2003, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Neuroscience
Thesis: Identification of Molecular Determinants of Testosterone-associated Angiogenesis and Neuronal Survival in Adult Songbird Forebrain
Emily Desmet, B.S. University of New Hampshire 2003, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: Insight into Influenza Manipulation of its Target Cell and the Countermeasures Taken by the Host to Limit Infection
Sally Duarte, B.E. McMaster University 1998, M.E. McMaster University 2001, M.S. University of Rochester 2010; Neurobiology and Anatomy
Thesis: Neuronal and Network Mechanisms of Ictogenesis
Vincent Fong, M.S. Lehigh University 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: Novel Targeting Strategies for Adenovirus Vectors: Investigating the Rad51 Promoter and Inducible Elements
Joseph Frasca, B.A. Ithaca College 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2010; Toxicology
Thesis: Interaction of Peripheral Inflammation and Pesticide Exposure in Multiple Hit Models of Parkinson's Disease: Comparative Vulnerability of Nigrostriatal Cell Bodies vs. Projection Areas
Benjamin Frisch, B.S. University of Rochester 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2010; Pathology
Thesis: Functional inhibition of osteoblastic cells in an in vivo mouse model of myeloid leukemia
Claire Hoffmire, B.S. University of Rochester 2006; Epidemiology
Thesis: Examination of Sleep Disturbances in Children with Down Syndrome and Multiple Comorbidities in New York State
Cory Hussar, B.A. Niagara University 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Neuroscience
Thesis: Representation of Speed and Direction in Prefrontal Cortex during Motion Discrimination Tasks
Edward Matthew Kennedy, B.S. University of Delaware 2001, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: Macrophage nucleotide pools uniquely promote rNTP and dUTP incorporation into HIV-1 DNA during reverse transcription: affecting viral mutagenesis, viability, and potential therapeutic regimes
Dawn Leah Lee, B.S. The College of New Jersey 2002, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Pathology
Thesis: Region-Specific Impact of Iron Deficiency on Postnatal CNS Development
Jie Li, B.S. Nankai University 2003, M.S. Nankai University 2006, M.S. University of Rochester 2010; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: The Non-Antibody Producing Role of B Cells in Inflammatory-Erosive Arthritis
Xi Li, B.S. University of Science and Technology of China 2003, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Microbiology and Immunology
Thesis: Kinetics of T Cell Cytokine Production, Chemokine, Production and Activation after Influenza Vaccination
Crystal McClain, B.S. University of Rochester 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2010; Neuroscience
Thesis: Pleiotrophin Maintenance of PDGFRX-defined Fetal Human Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cell Fate
Diana Metz-Estrella, B.S. University of Puerto Rico 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Pathology
Thesis: Duality of TRIP-1 Function in Regulating Osteoblast Activity In Vitro
Anita Peoples, B.S. St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi 2003, M.S. St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Biophysics
Thesis: Advances in the Mechanistic Understanding of Damage Formation in Single-stranded and duplex DNA due to the Direct Effects of Ionizing Radiation
Scott Peslak, B.S. University of Scranton 2006, M.S. University of Rochester 2010; Pathology
Thesis: Erthropoiesis: Injury and Recovery