Education / Graduate Education / Statistics and Facts / 2021/2022 PhD Recipients Thesis Titles

2021/2022 PhD Recipients Thesis Titles

Kadijah Abston, B.A. University of Mississippi Main Campus, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology

Thesis: Investigating sperm-mediated epigenetic inheritance of Pb toxicity

Advisor: Dr. Martha Susiarjo

Andrea Amitrano, B.S. SUNY Geneseo, M.S. University of Rochester; Pathology

Thesis: Optical Control of CD8+T Cell Mitochondrial Metabolism

Advisor: Dr. Minsoo Kim

Timothy Anderson, B.A. Austin College, M.S. Oklahoma State University-Main Campus, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology

Thesis: Neurotoxicity of Inhaled Paraquat: a Translationally Relevant Route of Exposure

Advisor: Dr. Deborah Cory-Slechta

Viktoriya Anokhina, B.S. Novosibirsk State University, M.S. University of Rochester; Biochemistry

Thesis: New methods to improve the efficiency of RNA-targeted compounds: application to HIV

Advisor: Dr. Benjamin Miller

John Bachman, B.S. Pennsylvania State University, M.S. University of Rochester; Pathology

Thesis: The Contribution of Skeletal Muscle Stem Cells to Prepubertal Skeletal Muscle Maturation and the Implications for Pediatric Cancer Radiotherapy

Advisor: Dr. Joe Chakkalakal

Chen Bao, B.A. Fudan University, M.S. University of Rochester; Biochemistry

Thesis: Mechanisms of Translation Pausing Induced by mRNA Secondary Structures

Advisor: Dr. Dmitri Ermolenko

Miriam Barnett, B.S. SUNY Geneseo, M.S. Rochester Institute Of Technology, M.S. University of Rochester; Pharmacology

Thesis: Differential Regulation of Opioid Receptor Signaling via Gα Proteins

Advisor: Dr. Jean Bidlack

Holly Beaulac, B.S. University Of New England, M.S. Brandeis University, M.S. University of Rochester; Neuroscience

Thesis: An Investigation of the Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Homozygous Foxo3-knockout Mice

Advisor: Dr. Patricia M. White

Lauren Benoodt, B.S. SUNY Brockport, M.S. University of Rochester; Biophysics

Thesis: Functional Analysis of Transcriptomic Data Utilizing Prior Biological Knowledge

Advisor: Dr. Juilee Thakar

Andrew Bischer, B.S. University Of Scranton, M.S. East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: Physiological Significance and Regulation of Rhamnose Biosynthesis in Streptococcus mutans

Advisor: Dr. Robert Quivey

Michael Bryan, B.S. SUNY Geneseo, M.S. Rochester Institute of Technology, M.S. University of Rochester; Biophysics

Thesis: Integrated Photonics for Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Advisor: Dr. Benjamin Miller

Sai Shashank Chavali, B.E. K L University, M.S. Rutgers University-Camden, M.S. University of Rochester; Biophysics

Thesis: Use of Lab-Evolved Proteins to Guide Development of Inhibitors that Target HIV-1 TAR RNA

Advisor: Dr. Joseph Wedekind

Matthew Corsetti, B.A. University of Rochester, M.S. Rochester Institute Of Technology, M.A. University of Rochester; Statistics

Thesis: A Series of Novel Ensemble Procedures with Tree Learners

Advisor: Dr. Tanzy Love

Emily Crosier, B.S. University Of New England, M.S. University of Rochester; Neuroscience

Thesis: Investigating the Link Between Locomotion and Olfaction in Rodents: Utilizing Behavioral, Physiological, and Anatomical Approaches

Advisor: Dr. Krishnan Padmanabhan

Alina Denham, B.S. Samara State University, M.S. University of Liverpool; Health Services Research and Policy

Thesis: Understanding the Impact of the ACA Medicaid Expansion on Emergency Department Utilization for Primary Care Sensitive Conditions

Advisor: Dr. Peter Veazie

Louben Dorval, B.S. Nova Southeastern University, M.S. University of Rochester; Pharmacology

Thesis: FGF21 is a Potential Therapeutic for Morphine Preference and Dependence

Advisor: Dr. Jean Bidlack

Megan Dunagan, B.S. Miami University-Oxford, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF INFLUENZA HOST SHUTOFF PROTEINS

Advisor: Dr. Toru Takimoto

Yu Gu, B.S. University of London, B.S. Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, M.A. University of Rochester, M.S. University of Rochester; Statistics

Thesis: A Quantile-Based Robust P-value Combination Method with Applications in High-throughput Data Analysis

Advisor: Dr. Xing Qiu

Jakob Gunderson, B.S. Baylor University, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology

Thesis: Mediators and Moderators of Methylmercury Toxicity during Drosophila Neuromuscular Development

Advisor: Dr. Matthew Rand

Lisa Houston, B.S. Brigham Young University, M.S. University of Rochester; Biochemistry

Thesis: An Analysis of Factors Involved in Translation Frameshifting and Inhibition due to Inhibitory Codon Pairs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Grayhack

Matthew Ingalls, B.S. Messiah College, M.S. University of Rochester; Genetics

Thesis: Acinar cell dynamics in salivary gland homeostasis and recovery from injury

Advisor: Dr. Catherine E. Ovitt

Nazish Jeffery, B.S. Saint John Fisher College, M.S. University of Rochester; Biochemistry

Thesis: Investigating the Roles for Histone H2A Variants in Late-Stage Erythropoietic Nuclear Condensation and Gene Regulation

Advisor: Dr. Michael Bulger

Chinmayee Katragadda, B.S. Biju Patnaik University of Technology, M.S. Gonzaga University, M.S. University Of Arizona; Health Services Research and Policy

Thesis: Impact of Medicare accountable care organizations (ACOs) and physician social networks on urologic cancer surgery outcomes

Advisor: Dr. Yue Li

Julie Kittel-Moseley, B.S. Virginia Commonwealth University, M.A. College Of William And Mary; Epidemiology

Thesis: In Transition: Physical Function, Mental Health, and Social Support in Cancer Survivors Entering Survivorship

Advisor: Dr. Christopher Seplaki

Rui Li, B.S. Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Epidemiology

Thesis: Epidemiologic Investigations of the Association Between Dysmenorrhea and Chronic pain in Women

Advisor: Dr. Christopher Seplaki

Jing Liu, B.S. China Pharmaceutical University, M.S. Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, M.S. University of Rochester; Pharmacology

Thesis: Electroporation Mediated Gene Delivery to Rescue the Alveolar Capillary Barrier Function for ARDS Treatment

Advisor: Dr. David Dean

Debanjana Maji, B.S. Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, M.S. University of Rochester, M.S. Indian Institute of Science Education and Research; Biophysics

Thesis: The Influence of Disease-Associated Mutations on the Structure and Function of U2AF2

Advisor: Dr. Clara L. Kielkopf

Olivia Marola, B.S. Fairfield University, M.S. University of Rochester; Pathology

Thesis: Mechanisms of Glaucoma-Relevant Retinal Ganglion Cell Death

Advisor: Dr. Richard Libby

Nicole Mayo, B.S. California State University-Northridge; Epidemiology

Thesis: Measurement and Evaluation of Seated Behaviors and Markers of Adiposity in a Postpartum Cohort

Advisor: Dr. Diana Fernandez

Alexandra McHale, B.S. New York University, M.S. University of Rochester; Neurobiology and Anatomy

Thesis: The ins and outs of the primate amygdala: connectivity gradients, development, and early life stress

Advisor: Dr. Julie Fudge

Savannah Moritzky, B.S. Winthrop University; Translational Biomedical Science

Thesis: The Impact of Vaccine Composition and Pre-Existing Immunity on Human Adaptive Immune Responses After Influenza Vaccination

Advisor: Dr. Andrea Sant

Karli Norville, B.S. University Of California-Santa Barbara, M.S. University of Rochester; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: Approaches to immunotherapy using cytokines to alter the tumor microenvironment

Advisor: Dr. John G. Frelinger

Jayme Olsen, B.S. Michigan State University-Lyman Briggs College, M.S. University of Rochester; Genetics

Thesis: Bmi-1 Regulation of Human Erythroid Ex Vivo Self-Renewal

Advisor: Dr. James Palis

Yunpeng Pang, B.A. Kalamazoo College, M.S. University of Rochester; Neuroscience

Thesis: Redox-Fyn-c-Cbl (RFC) pathway regulates oligodendrocyte progenitor cell cycle exit and negative regulation of the RFC pathway

Advisor: Dr. Mark Noble

Ashley Peppriell, B.S. SUNY Geneseo, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology

Thesis: Developmental Myotoxicity of Methylmercury: Investigating Targets Across the Myotendinous Junction in Drosophila melanogaster

Advisor: Dr. Matthew Rand

Ashley Rackow, B.A. Coe College, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology

Thesis: Novel Mechanisms Surrounding Myofibroblast Differentiation: microRNAs, pH and T-cell death-associated gene 8 (TDAG8)

Advisor: Dr. Matt Kottmann

Jasmine Reed, B.S. University Of Virginia-Main Campus, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology

Thesis: Bisphenol A (BPA), Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and Pregnancy Outcomes: Mechanisms Related to Maternal-Fetal Immune Tolerance

Advisor: Dr. Martha Susiarjo

Timothy Smyth, B.S. SUNY Geneseo, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology

Thesis: Investigating the Role of the Tight Junction Protein Tricellulin in Diesel Exhaust Particle Induced Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction

Advisor: Dr. Steve Georas

Daniel Steiner, B.S. SUNY Geneseo, M.S. SUNY Brockport, M.S. University of Rochester; Biophysics

Thesis: Development of Photonics-Enabled Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Advisor: Dr. Benjamin Miller

Harsha Swamy, B.S. St Louis University Mo, M.S. University of Rochester; Pharmacology

Thesis: Regulation of endothelial cell behavior via KRIT1 localization and function

Advisor: Dr. Angela Glading

Lara Terry, B.S. Drake University, M.S. University Of Osteopathic Medicine And Health Sc, M.S. University of Rochester; Pharmacology

Thesis: Functional Analysis of Disease-Associated Mutations in the Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor

Advisor: Dr. David Yule

Keegan Vaughan, B.S. University Of California-Davis, M.S. University of Rochester; Toxicology

Thesis: Modulation of AHR signaling alters the lineage potential of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

Advisor: Dr. B. Paige Lawrence

Kathryn-Mary Wakim, B.S. Carnegie Mellon University, M.S. University of Rochester; Neuroscience

Thesis: Assessing Combinatorial Effects of HIV and Cocaine Dependence on Brain Structure and Function: an EEG and MRI Investigation

Advisor: Dr. John Foxe

Brendan Whitelaw, B.A. University Of Pennsylvania, M.S. University of Rochester; Neurobiology and Anatomy

Thesis: Mechanisms of ATP-dependent microglial process motility

Advisor: Dr. Ania Majewska

ChiaHao Wu, B.S. Chung Shan Medical University, M.S. University of Rochester; Pathology

Thesis: Roles of Extracellular Vesicle-Borne Protein Disulfide Isomerase in Bladder Cancer Recurrence

Advisor: Dr. Yi-Fen Lee

Luoying Yang, B.S. University of Rochester, B.S. University of Rochester, M.A. University of Rochester; Statistics

Thesis: Model-Based Clustering of Longitudinal Data in High Dimensions

Advisor: Dr. Tong Tong Wu

Meiling Ying, B.A. Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, M.A. Nankai University; Health Services Research and Policy

Thesis: Impact of Medicare Bundled Payments for Post-Acute Care on Skilled Nursing Facility Financial Performance and Quality of Care

Advisor: Dr. Yue Li

Alexis Zavez, B.A. Swarthmore College, M.A. University of Rochester; Statistics

Thesis: Bayesian Latent Variable Models for Multiple Exposures with Unknown Group Memberships

Advisor: Dr. Sally Thurston

Chongyang Zhang, B.S. SUNY University at Buffalo, M.S. SUNY University at Buffalo, M.S. University of Rochester; Pharmacology

Thesis: Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterase and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Advisor: Dr. Chen Yan

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