Education / Graduate Education / Statistics and Facts / 2018/2019 PhD Recipients Thesis Titles

2018/2019 PhD Recipients Thesis Titles

Andrew Allbee, B.S. Miami University, M.S. University of Rochester; Genetics

Thesis: Lmx1a is a Novel Regulator of Drosophila Ovarian Stem Cell Niche Establishment and Ovary Morphogenesis

Advisor: Dr. Benoit Biteau

Haiqing Bai, B.S. University of Science and Technology of China, M.S. University of Rochester; Pathology

Thesis: Non-transport Functions of the Na+, K+-ATPase β1 Subunit in Lung Epithelial Junctions

Advisor: Dr. David Dean

Maureen Ludmila Banach, B.A. Queens College, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: The Roles of MHC class I-like molecules and innate-like T cells in Xenopus laevis Tumor Immunity

Advisor: Dr. Jacques Robert

Tyler Beach, B.S. SUNY School of Environmental Science and Forestry, M.S. Roberts Wesleyan College, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology

Thesis: Recurrent DNA Damage and Chronic Oxidative Stress Following Whole Thorax Irradiation is Associated with an Epithelial Phenotype which Permits Inflammation and Fibrogenesis

Advisor: Dr. Jacob Finkelstein

Kyle Berger, B.S. SUNY Fredonia, M.S. SUNY Fredonia, M.S. University of Rochester; Biophysics

Thesis: Thermodynamic and Structural Studies of RNA Internal Loops Closed by GU Pairs

Advisor: Dr. Douglas Turner

Sarah Catheline, B.S. University of Rochester, M.S. University of Rochester, M.S. University of Rochester; Pathology

Thesis: Inflammation in Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis: Contribution of IKKβ/NF-κB Signaling and Interplay with Chondrocyte Hypertrophy

Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Jonason

Yu-Fu Chen, B.A. Brown University; Health Services Research and Policy

Thesis: Yu-Fu Chen, B.A. Brown University; Health Services Research and Policy

Advisor: Dr. Peter Veazie

Jennifer Colquhoun, B.S. Lehigh University, M.S. Lehigh University, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: Characterization of Staphylococccus aureus RnpA and approaches for antibacterial discovery

Advisor: Dr. Paul Dunman

Twylla Dillion, B.A. University of Rochester, M.A. St John Fisher College; Health Services Research and Policy

Thesis: A Personality Theory-based Explanation of Variation in Outcomes

Advisor: Dr. Peter Veazie

E’Lissa Flores, B.S. SUNY Stony Brook; Translational Biomedical Science

Thesis: Thy1 (CD90) is a Novel Regulator of Adipogenesis and is a Target of Obesogenic Environmental Chemicals

Advisor: Dr. Craig Morrell

Nicolas Goldstein, B.A. Washington University; Health Services Research and Policy

Thesis: Disproportionate Premature Birth in Women of Low Socioeconomic Status: A Psychological and Physiological Stress Explanation of Financial Risk Removal

Advisor: Dr. Peter Veazie

Adnan Hirad, B.S. CUNY Lehman College; Translational Biomedical Science

Thesis: Midbrain Axonal Injury is the Signature Neurotrauma in Subconcussion and Concussion

Advisors: Dr. Jeffrey Bazarian and Dr. Edwin van Wijngaarden

Maxime Jean, B.S. Barry University, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: The Dichotomy of Curaxin Compounds in HIV-1 Latency

Advisor: Dr. Jian Zhu

Viji Kannan, B.S. University of Georgia, B.B.A. University of Georgia, M.P.H. Emory University; Health Services Research and Policy

Thesis: Social Psychology Explanations of Care-Seeking Variation for a Myocardial Infarction

Advisor: Dr. Peter Veazie

Chelsea Katz, B.A. University of Texas, M.A. University of California; Health Services Research and Policy

Thesis: Understanding Differences in Cardiovascular Care for Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients with a Comorbid Mental Illness

Advisor: Dr. Peter Veazie

Eugene Kim, B.S. Konkuk University, M.S. Konkuk University; Genetics

Thesis: Mechanism regulating trachea-esophageal separation

Advisor: Dr. Jianwen Que

Christopher Kovacs, B.S. Niagara University, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: Defining Functional Roles for the Rhamnose-glucose Polysaccharides of Streptococcus mutans

Advisor: Dr. Robert G Quivey, Jr

Leslie Laam, B.A. Creighton University, M.S. Dartmouth College; Health Services Research and Policy

Thesis: Patient Safety in United States Hospitals: A Culture-based Explanation of Variation in Outcomes

Advisor: Dr. James Dolan

Tiffany Lee, B.A. University of South Florida, M.S. University of South Florida; Health Services Research and Policy

Thesis: Effect of Medicare Dialysis Payment Reform on Care Practices and Health Outcomes for ESRD Patients Receiving Dialysis

Advisor: Dr. Daniel Maeng

Allison Li, B.A. Washington University, M.S. University of Rochester; Pathology

Thesis: Assessing the Role of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)-Induced Bone Marrow Microenvironment Remodeling in MDS Progression

Advisor: Dr. Laura Calvi

Chi-Wen Lo, B.S. National Cheng Kung University, M.S. National Cheng Kung University, M.S. University of Rochester; Pathology

Thesis: The Role of Serpin B13 Antibody in Regeneration of Pancreatic β-Cells

Advisor: Dr. Jan Czyzyk

Bronwyn Lucas, B.S. University of Adelaide, M.S. University of Rochester; Biochemistry

Thesis: Post-transcriptional gene regulation by the double-stranded RNA-binding protein Staufen1

Advisor: Dr. Eric Phizicky

Xaioting Ma, B.S. Beijing Forestry University, M.S. Georgetown University, M.S. University of Rochester; Pathology

Thesis: Paxillin regulates genomic networks in prostate cancer

Advisor: Dr. Stephen Hammes

Madhurima Majumder, B.S. University of Calcutta, M.S. University of Calcutta, M.S. University of Florida, M.A. University of Rochester; Statistics

Thesis: Conditional Tests for Multivariate One-sided Hypotheses with Missing Data

Advisor: Dr. Michael McDermott

Kristen Marshall, B.S. University of Houston, M.P.H. Texas A&M University; Translational Biomedical Science

Thesis: Inpatient mobility to predict hospital-onset Clostridium difficile: a network approach

Advisor: Dr. Marin Zand and Dr. Gourab Ghoshal

Kelly McGlynn, B.S. University of Wisconsin, M.S. University of Rochester; Pharmacology

Thesis: Cooperative and Mechanistic Roles of Mecom in Hematopoiesis

Advisor: Dr. Archibald Perkins and Dr. Robert Freeman

Fanju Meng, B.S. Shandong University; Genetics

Thesis: Regulation of Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation by Drosophila Sox21a and Sox100B in the Adult Intestine

Advisor: Dr. Benoit Biteau

Jared Mereness, B.S. Hamilton College, M.A. Rochester Institute of Technology; Genetics

Thesis: Collagen 6 is critical component of lung structure and pulmonary epithelial cell function

Advisor: Dr. Tom Mariani

Jessica Meyers, B.S. University of Pittsburgh, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology

Thesis: Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Activation During Development Reduces Dendritic Cell Function Later in Life

Advisor: Dr. B. Paige Lawrence

Taylor Moon, B.S. St. Lawrence University, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: Effects of P2Y2 Signaling on Regulation of Efferocytosis and CXCR4 Internalization

Advisor: Dr. Michael R. Elliott

Keith Morris-Schaffer, B.A. SUNY Geneseo, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology

Thesis: Neurotoxicological Consequences of Developmental Exposure to Hyperoxia and Ultrafine Ambient Particulate Matter: Concurrent Risk Factors of Premature Birth

Advisor: Dr. Deborah Cory-Slechta

Aditi Murthy, B.Tech. SRM University, M.S. Stephen F. Austin University, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: Impact of tumor hypoxia on immune response: implication for radiotherapy and anti-tumor immunity

Advisor: Dr. Edith Lord

Matthew Payea, B.S. Eastern Illinois University, M.S. University of Rochester; Biochemistry

Thesis: Characterization of tRNA Quality Control Pathways in Yeast

Advisor: Dr. Eric Phizicky

Mechelle Sanders, B.A. Penn State; Health Services Research and Policy

Thesis: Regulatory Focus Theory as an Explanation for Unwarranted Clinical Practice Variation

Advisor: Dr. Peter Veazie

Aleta Steevens, B.A. University of Minnesota, M.S. University of Rochester; Neuroscience

Thesis: The Dynamic Role of SOX2 in Mammalian Inner Ear Development

Advisor: Dr. Amy Kiernan

Zhen Tan, B.s. University of Tokyo, M.S. University of Rochester; Biophysics

Thesis: Modeling RNA Secondary Structure Using Structure Conservation

Advisor: Dr. David Mathews

Lauren Walling, B.S. Cornell University, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: Specificity Determinants of Homologous VapBC Toxin-Antitoxin Systems

Advisor: Dr. J Scott Butler

Brandon Walling, B.S. Whitworth College, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: Chemokine Insensitive CD8+ T cell Migration

Advisor: Dr. Minsoo Kim

Liwei Wang, B.S. East China University of Science, M.A. SUNY Buffalo, M.S. University of Rochester; Pharmacology

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

Advisor: Dr. David Yule

Xiaowen Wang, B.S. University at Buffalo-SUNY, M.S. University of Rochester; Pharmacology

Thesis: Targeting the c-Cbl Tumor Suppressor Protein as a Novel Therapeutic Approach in Overcoming Acquired Tamoxifen Resistance in Luminal Breast Cancer

Advisor: Dr. Mark Noble

Pei-Lun Weng, B.S. Taipei Medical University, M.S. National Taiwan University, M.S. University of Rochester; Pathology

Thesis: Progenitor Cell Contributions to Maintenance and Regeneration in Salivary Gland and Olfactory Epithelium

Advisor: Dr. Catherine Ovitt

Annalynn Williams, B.A. University of Rochester, M.S. SUNY Buffalo; Epidemiology

Thesis: Inflammation and Cognitive Function in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukema Survivors

Advisor: Dr. Edwin Van Wijngaarden

Zhiqiu Ye, B.S. Shandong University, M.S. Shandong University; Health Services Research and Policy

Thesis: Patient Sharing Between Hospitals and Nursing Homes and the Impact on Hospital Readmission Rates

Advisor: Dr. Orna Intrator

Yun Zhang, M.Math University of Oxford, M.S. University of Pennsylvania, M.A. University of Rochester; Statistics

Thesis: Novel Statistical Methods for Gene Set Enrichment Analysis with Empirical Memberships for Overlapping Genes

Advisors: Dr. Xing Qiu and Dr. Juilee Thakar