Khairah Adedotun
MS Program
Previous Education: Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science, Afe Babalola University
Email: koa29@drexel.edu

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Ethan Ciannamea
MS Program
Previous Education: BS Pre-veterinary Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst

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Katee Esposito
MS Program
Previous Education: BS Biology (Chemistry minor), Stockton University
Email: ke527@drexel.edu

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Adegbologun Grace Adegboro
PhD Program
Previous Education: BS Biochemistry, Ekiti State University: MS Biochemistry Covenant University
Email: aga57@drexel.edu

Background and Interests:  My research interest centers on understanding Plasmodium biology and therapeutic intervention strategies. Prior to joining Drexel, I investigated the anti-plasmodial activity of a ferroptosis inducer, erastin and its synergistic potential with artemisinin. I also contributed to studies on cytoprotective effects of natural compounds against cadmium-induced oxidative stress in rodent models. My current research focuses on mitochondrial dynamics in Plasmodium falciparum, with the goal of uncovering novel mechanisms that contribute to parasite survival and drug resistance.

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Amanda Danishanko
MS Program
Previous Education: BS Biology, University of Scranton
Email: ad4279@drexel.edu | LinkedIn

Background and Interests:  I hold a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Scranton. In the Carey Lab, I am looking at mechanisms of cell death in the neonatal immune system in response to influenza infection. My work focuses specifically on pyroptosis and aims to better understand how inflammatory cell death pathways contribute to immune responses and disease severity in early life.

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Franco Falcon
MS Program
Previous Education: BS Biology, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania Email: faf43@drexel.edu

Background and Interests:  I have a BS in biology and biochemistry with a minor in psychology from East Stroudsburg University. During my undergraduate education, my research focused on bacterial biofilms and their resistance in the presence of heavy metals, such as copper (II) sulfate. After graduating I worked as a laboratory scientist in a clinical hospital lab, with the goal of working in a clinical microbiology hospital lab after graduating. I am currently interested in the multiple applications of non-thermal plasma (NTP) to treat HSV infections and how NTP can help modulate the immunoproteasome.

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Samuel Krause
MS Program
Previous Education: BS Biology, Ursinus College
Email: sek352@drexel.edu | LinkedIn

Background and Interests: In my undergraduate studies at Ursinus College, I performed honors research focused on histological tissue analysis of Axolotl tail regeneration, looking at the impact of diet on tissue structure and gross tissue growth. During this time, I also performed clinical duties with Dr. Francis Clark at Wills Eye, learning about cutting-edge ophthalmic therapies. Post-graduation, I worked at a large pharmaceutical company developing novel vaccines for widespread viruses that represent a significant health burden. Here, I worked extensively with bioreactors and mammalian cell cultures. My current research focuses on the role of fibroblasts in pancreatic cancer from a spatial perspective, using the Xenium platform and organ-on-a-chip models to study potential future therapies.

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Kevin Lu
MS Program
Previous Education: BS Kinesiology, minor Biology, California Polytechnic State University 
Email: kl3539@drexel.edu | LinkedIn

Background and Interests:  I earned a BS in kinesiology from Cal Poly, but a microbiology course in my final year sparked my interest in microorganisms. This led me to become a microbiologist at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, where I have also taught clinical microbiology and mycology to undergraduates completing their clinical training. I particularly enjoy culturing and identifying microorganisms, especially bacteria and filamentous fungi. My research at Drexel is focused on mitochondrial bioenergetics in Plasmodium falciparum.

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Amanda Modica
PhD Program
Previous Education: BS Chemistry, BS Environmental Science, Trinity College
Email: am5465@drexel.edu | LinkedIn

Background and Interests:  I earned my BS in chemistry and environmental science from Trinity College in May 2022. During my undergraduate studies, I conducted research in Dr. Arianne Bazilio’s water chemistry lab, where I examined the effects of alum treatment on a lake used as a drinking water source, with the goal of reducing levels of eutrophication-promoting phosphorus. After graduating, I was accepted to the NIH-funded Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program at UMass Chan Medical School. There, I worked in Dr. Kiera Clayton’s pathology lab, investigating how HIV accessory proteins modulate immune evasion and trigger natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity. My current research interests focus on host-pathogen interactions, particularly in the context of HIV.

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Celensia Tolson
PhD Program
Previous Education: BS Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Carolina; MS Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University
Email: cbt52@drexel.edu | LinkedIn

Background and Interests:  During my undergraduate studies, I worked in a biochemistry lab performing protein crystallography of Cytochrome P450 NikP1-NikQ enzyme-substrate complexes. During that time, I also was in a research fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina looking at inpatient and outpatient PLWH in relation to substance use disorders. Afterwards, I attended Georgetown to pursue my MS and briefly did research in a hepatitis delta virus lab looking at the trimer Taylor clone of HDV and looking at potential point mutations within the trimer that contribute to pathology. After graduate school, I worked in a lab at Georgetown that worked on cellular senescence in HIV-1 cells. I then worked at a lab at George Washington University looking at HIV-1 in respect to platelet-monocyte complexes. I moved to Philadelphia and I worked at the Gene Therapy Program at UPenn on liver metabolomics and de-targeting AAVs from the liver to other organs. Prior to coming to Drexel, I briefly worked in Dr. Drew Weissman’s lab, specifically looking at NK cell activity in relation to administration of mRNA by optimizing an ADCC assay.

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Isabella Bendorf
MS Program
Previous Education: BS, Biological Science, Rowan University
Email: imb45@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Zachary Klase, PhD

Background and Interests: I have a BS in biology from Rowan University. During my undergraduate education, I worked at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine on a project evaluating the safety of silver oxide coated biomaterials in an attempt to prevent biofilm formation. I also participated in an internship at Colorado State University studying the metabolism of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis. My current research interests are understanding how the immune system reacts to pathogens and neuroinflammation.

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Arden Edgerton
PhD Program
Previous Education: BS, Biology, Drexel University
Email: aoe23@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Michele Kutzler, PhD, and Elias Haddad, PhD

Background and Interests:  I hold a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences with a concentration in organismal biology and physiology from Drexel University, along with a minor in business administration. Prior to starting my PhD, I spent three years as a senior research associate at Century Therapeutics, where I focused on generating allogeneic human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived CAR-NK and CAR-T cells to target hematologic and solid tumors. My work included gene editing, clone selection and optimization of differentiation platforms, contributing to a successful pre-IND filing and supporting cross-functional efforts in immuno-oncology.

As a PhD student, I am currently working under the mentorship of Dr. Kutzler and Dr. Haddad. My research focuses on identifying alternative strategies to improve CD8+ T cell function in the context of chronic infection (HIV) and cancer. Specifically, I study the adenosine/ADA-1 signaling axis and explore the therapeutic delivery of ADA-1, a novel immunomodulator discovered in Dr. Haddad's laboratory, as a strategy to overcome T cell dysfunction and enhance immune responses.

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Nontokozo Mdluli-Berndt
PhD Program
Previous Education: BA, Biology, Kenyon College
Email: nvm35@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Eugenia Lo, PhD

Background and Interests: My research background is in bacteriology and host-pathogen interactions. Upon completion of my undergraduate degree, I worked with Dr. Frank at Uniformed Services University (USU) in Bethesda to study biofilm-associated virulence factors in Enterococcus faecalis and their interaction with the host, and also spent some time screening phage-antibiotic combinatorial therapy to remove biofilms and prevent their formation. Prior to starting my first year at Drexel, I worked with Dr. Abt at UPenn to study the implications of Clostridium difficile spatial localization to pathogenesis and immune response. Overall, I’m interested in host-pathogen interactions, immune response, and the dynamic interplay between damage mediated by pathogen or the host.

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Regan Schroeder
PhD Program
Previous Education: BS, Biology, Case Western Reserve University
Email: rs3772@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Eugenia Lo, PhD

Background and Interests: During my undergraduate research, I studied antibiotic-resistant bacteria and came to Drexel interested in drug resistance and pathogenic bacteria, but with an open mind to exploring all of the opportunities Drexel has to offer throughout the field of microbiology.

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Tassew Tefera Shenkutie
PhD Program
Previous Education: BS, Medical Laboratory Science, University of Gondar; MS, Clinical Laboratory Science, Addis Ababa University; MS, Medical Parasitology, Addis Ababa University
Email: ts3576@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Eugenia Lo, PhD

Background and Interests: After graduating my BSc degree in medical laboratory sciences, I worked in a hospital diagnostic laboratory, where I had the opportunity to examine different human samples for microbial infections. Through this experience in a health care setting, I witnessed the devastating impact of microbial diseases, which sparked my interest in studying microbiology.  I completed my MS in clinical laboratory science and MS in medical parasitology at Addis Ababa University. Prior to starting my PhD studies at Drexel University, I worked as a lecturer at Debre Berhan University. I began research on malaria during my MS in medical parasitology. Currently, my research work focuses on Plasmodium vivax gametocyte development and transmission potential. I am passionate about understanding the determining factors for the success of transmission of parasite gametocytes to mosquito vectors and its efficiency to continue the parasite life cycle in the mosquito vector. Identifying these factors, whether parasitic, host-related and/or environmental will helps to design effective transmission blocking vaccines and treatment strategies.

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Shirley Barrera
PhD Program
Previous Education: BS, Biological Sciences, SUNY Old Westbury; MS, Microbiology & Immunology, University at Buffalo
Email: sb4476@drexel.edu
Advisor/Mentor: Will Dampier, PhD, and Brian Wigdahl, PhD

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Samuel Effah
PhD Program
Previous Education: BS, Pharmacy, University of Ghana; MS, Molecular Cell Biology of Infectious Diseases, University of Ghana
Email: sne34@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Brian Wigdahl, PhD

Background and Interests: During my undergraduate study at the University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, I developed an interest in drug development, specifically against viral diseases. In my first year of pharmacy practice, the Ebola virus epidemic hit neighboring countries, creating a lot of fear and panic as people searched for solutions. I therefore decided it was time to pursue my interest in therapeutics against viral diseases by pursuing a master's in the molecular cell biology of infectious diseases at the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana. My thesis focused on the phenotypic responses of HIV genotypes in Ghana to novel integrase inhibitor-based antiretroviral therapy. Now at Drexel, my interests are in the development of both small-molecule drugs and immunotherapies against infectious diseases. I am currently in the Wigdahl Lab, and my research focuses on assessing the determinants of an efficient anti-HIV CRISPR/Cas9 therapy.

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Jasper Perry-Anderson
PhD Program
Previous Education: BA, Biochemistry, Oberlin College
Email: jcp362@drexel.edu
Advisor/Mentor: Akhil B. Vaidya, PhD

Background and Interests: I’m currently studying glycolysis enzymes in malaria parasites. Within parasitology, I like metabolism and structural biology because both involve biophysics and have subsequent relevance to drug development and global health. As an undergraduate student at Oberlin, I studied biochemistry while doing research in a physical chemistry lab. I graduated in 2020 and joined a lab focused on viral vector vaccine candidates at the U.S. FDA as a post-baccalaureate ORISE fellow.

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Mary Marino
PhD Program
Previous Education: BS, Biology, Saint Joseph's University
Email: mcm543@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Garth Ehrlich, PhD, and Joshua Chang Mell, PhD

Background and Interests: I discovered my passion for bacterial pathogenesis during my undergraduate studies. All four years, I worked on a variety of projects in a pathogenic microbiology lab focused on elucidating the roles of small RNAs and RNA-binding proteins in the post-transcriptional regulation of a pathogenicity island in enteropathogenic Eschericihia coli (EPEC). I began my PhD at Drexel University directly after graduating, and have since continued to study bacterial virulence factors under the mentorship of Dr. Garth Ehrlich and Dr. Josh Mell. My current research aims to further characterize “dark matter” (or poorly understood) genes in the opportunistic pathogen Haemophilus influenzae, with the goal of better comprehending the genetic components that enable this bacterium to cause disease.

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Felicity Tso
PhD Program
Previous Education: BS, Microbiology, University Of Kansas
Email: ft329@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Garth Ehrlich, PhD, and Donald Hall Jr., PhD

Background and Interests: My current research focuses on exploring new drug targets for the treatment of bacterial biofilms and chronic infections. My overall interests are understanding host-pathogen interactions and the human microbiome with an emphasis on bacterial pathogens.

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Lindsay Barger
PhD Program
Previous Education: BS, Biotechnology, minor in Microbiology, Pennsylvania State University
Email: lnb56@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Gabriel Romano, PhD

Background and Interests: My research background is relatively broad. I worked for three years as a student at Penn State in the Department of Animal Science. I have had internships generally focused on research and drug development at Genesis Biotechnology and GlaxoSmithKline. At Genesis, I studied proteins involved in bladder cancer. At GSK, I screened small drug molecules in the bioanalytical department of drug manufacturing and pharmacokinetics. At Drexel, my primary interest is in onco-immunology.

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Brenna Duffy
PhD Program
Email: bcd46@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Sandhya Kortagere, PhD, and Michael Nonnemacher, PhD

Background and Interests: Through my undergraduate research and post-graduate work in neurobiology, I developed an interest in understanding common mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. I am particularly interested in the role of microglia as a resident immune cell in the central nervous system, and the influence of neuroinflammatory and immune processes on pathogenesis. The interaction of glial cells with neuronal circuitry is becoming more consistently studied in neurodegenerative diseases, and I hope to contribute to this growing field. Currently I am applying my background and developing new skills to study mechanisms of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. Working in Dr. Kortagere’s lab also provides opportunities to study the mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, enabling a broader understanding of multiple neurodegenerative diseases.

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Joanna Jones, MS
PhD Program
Previous Education: BS, Microbiology, West Chester University; MS, Microbiology & Immunology, Drexel University
Email: jj993@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Michael Nonnemacher, PhD

Background and Interests: After completing my bachelor’s degree, I worked in the microbiology lab at Terumo Cardiovascular in Elkton, Maryland, where I was responsible for testing and verifying the safety of medical devices used in heart surgery and related procedures. In the Nonnemacher Lab, my research is focused on how chromatin and other epigenetic factors impact the efficacy of CRISPR/Cas9 gene therapy as a cure for HIV-1. Later in my career, I hope to continue studying how epigenetic factors play a role in chronic and understudied diseases.

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Kenneth Kim
PhD Program
Previous Education: BS, Biology, Pennsylvania State University; MS, Biomedical Science – Immunology/Virology, Hood College
Email: kmk467@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Christopher B. Rodell, PhD

Background and Interests: During my undergraduate years, I worked in a biomedical engineering lab focusing on enhancing the visualization of the retinal and choroid blood vessels under diabetic retinopathy conditions using MRI. Then, I received the Cancer Research Training Award (CRTA) Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellowship and worked at the National Cancer Institute, where I also received a master's degree in biomedical science (immunology/virology) at Hood College. Currently, my research focuses on developing tolerogenic biomaterials to induce antigen-specific tolerance in autoimmune diseases. My research interests are translational applications for autoimmune diseases, focusing on immunology, immune engineering and biomaterials.

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Emily Konopka
PhD Program
Previous Education: BS, Cell and Molecular Biology, Lycoming College
Email: ek845@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Michele Kutzler, PhD

Background and Interests: During my undergraduate research, I worked on identifying a novel Moraxella species isolated from clinical cases of keratitis. These experiences directed my growing interests in host-pathogen interactions and translational research for infectious diseases. Currently, my research is focused on vaccination responses against C. difficile in aged murine models of vaccination and infection, and how the addition of adenosine deaminase-1 as an adjuvant can improve immunosenescent responses correlated with aging.

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Ikechukwu Nwankwo
PhD Program
Previous Education: BSc, Zoology (Parasitology Major), University of Lagos, Nigeria
Email: icn32@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Hangjun Ke, PhD

Background and Interests: My research is focused on pyrophosphate and polyphosphate metabolism in Plasmodium falciparum.

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Ijeoma Okoye
PhD Program
Previous Education: BA, Biochemistry, Vassar College
Email: ico32@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Akhil Vaidya, PhD

Background and Interests: I am passionate about global infectious diseases, particularly malaria. For my undergraduate thesis at Vassar College, I determined the structure and antioxidant activity of bioactive compounds in traditional medicinal plants used to treat malaria in endemic regions in Africa. Now, at Drexel, my research focuses on investigating the mitochondria of Plasmodium falciparum parasites to contribute to the discovery and development of new antimalarial targets.

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Abigail Onufer
PhD Program
Previous Education: BS, Biotechnology, Biology, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Email: apo38@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Alison Carey, MD

Background and Interests: Following my undergraduate studies, I spent two years working in industry. My research primarily focused on the development of various immunological assays for the detection of impurities in downstream drug development. I am interested in understanding the immune response to pathogens with a focus on identifying therapeutic targets to mitigate disease. Currently, my research focuses on the role of the pulmonary epithelium in response to influenza infection in the developing lung, and how age-specific immune responses contribute to severe disease.

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Evangeline Williams, MS
PhD Program
Previous Education: BA, Biology, University of Pennsylvania; MS, Microbiology & Immunology, Drexel University
Email: emw366@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Josh Chang-Mell, PhD

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Ben Haslund-Gourley
PhD Program
Previous Education: BA, Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara within the College of Creative Studies
Email: bsh62@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Mary Ann Comunale and Dr. Joris Beld

Background and Interests: I am a candidate in Drexel’s MD/PhD program and will complete my PhD in microbiology and immunology. Throughout my undergraduate education and during my two gap years before medical school, I gained extensive background in human sepsis, glycobiology and enzyme assay optimization. Under the direction and mentorship of Dr. Mary Ann Comunale and Dr. Joris Beld, I will employ multiple protein fractionation techniques, mass spectrometry (MALDI imaging), HPLC, and other glycoproteomic tools to characterize aberrant glycosylation and identify potential biomarkers that will improve Lyme disease diagnostics and inform on disease resolution. After completing Drexel’s MD/PhD program I plan to pursue a research career in immunology, translational medicine and diagnostics.

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Swaksha Rachuri
PhD Program
Previous Education: BS, Cell Biology, University of Maryland
Email: sr3389@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Akhil Vaidya, PhD

Background and Interests:  I am an MD/PhD student with a diverse research background in microbiology and immunology. Prior to joining the MD/PhD program, I studied the role of adenylyl cyclase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the role of programmed -1 frameshifting in ribosomopathies and the immune/safety profile of CpG-ODN treatment in Leishmania major. I completed my PhD training under the mentorship of Dr. Akhil Vaidya. My project focused on studying the role of the antimalarial drug target, PfATP4, and the phenotypic effects of resistance associated mutations. I am currently completing my final year of clinical training.

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Sharada Saraf
MD/PhD Program
Previous Education: BS, Human Biology with minor in Global Health; University of California at San Diego
Email: ss5547@drexel.edu | LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Michael Nonnemacher

Background and Interests: I am an MD/PhD student at Drexel University with a research background in Zika virus, HIV and SARS-CoV-2 dynamics. I earned my bachelor’s degree in human biology with a minor in global health from UC San Diego, where I developed a strong interest in infectious disease, immunology and public health. As an undergraduate, I conducted research at Scripps Research, contributing to projects on arbovirus detection and surveillance. After graduation, I joined the National Institutes of Health as a post-baccalaureate research fellow, where I investigated mechanisms underlying the latent HIV reservoir; additionally, I explored the relationship between symptomatology and antibody responses in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2. In my first year as PhD student in the Nonnemacher Lab, my research will focus on elucidating the viral dynamics behind HIV/HBV co-infection.

2025

Alexis Brantly, PhD – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Mike Nonnemacher, PhD

Mackenzie Collins, PhD – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Mike Nonnemacher, PhD

Adam Glass, PhD – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Sonia Navas-Martin, PhD

Armoni Mayes, MS LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Sonia Navas-Martin, PhD

Vicki Ruszin, MS – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Michele Kutzler, PhD

Julia Sutter, PhD – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Fred Krebs, PhD, and Vandana Miller, MD

Lauren Walsh, MS – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Donald J. Hall, PhD, and Vandana Miller, MD

Kyra Woloszczuk, PhD – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Elias El Haddad, PhD

2024

Amanda Abavana-Mensah, MS
Advisor/Mentor: Amy Ma, PhD

Caroline Corcoran, MS Program
Advisor/Mentor: Fred Krebs, PhD, and Vandana Miller, PhD

Gina Cusimano, PhD – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Michele Kutzler, PhD

Elijah H. Davis, PhD – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Sonia Navas-Martin, PhD

Dema Ghaban, PhD
Advisor/Mentor: Alexander Muller, PhD

Julie Joseph, PhD – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Pooja Jain

Karen Malanda, MS – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Hangjun Ke, PhD

Abhisek Rao, PhD – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Alison Carey, PhD

Yih-Ping Su, PhD Program – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Garth Ehrlich, PhD

Alexis Tang, MS – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Sonia Navas-Martin, PhD

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2023

Matthew Bell, PhD
Advisor/Mentor: Michele Kutzler, PhD

Erik Carter, MS – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Irwin Chaiken, PhD

James Johnson, MS – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Olimpia Meucci, MD, PhD

Hayley Klingenberg, MS
Advisor/Mentor: James Burns Jr., PhD

Doug Krauth, MS – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Sonia Navas-Martin, PhD

Ian Lamb, PhD – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Akhil Vaidya, PhD

Richa Pande, PhD
Advisor/Mentor: Seena Ajit, PhD

Dominic J. Sales, MS – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Pooja Jain, PhD

Kayla M. Socarras, PhD – LinkedIn – ResearchGate
Advisor/Mentor: Garth D. Ehrlich, PhD

William Stump, MS – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Jim Burns, PhD

Ukamushu Undieh, MS
Advisor/Mentor: Sandhya Kortagere, PhD

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2022

Jennifer Connors – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Elias El Haddad, MD, and Michele Kutzler, PhD

Swati Dass
Advisor/Mentor: Hangjun Ke, PhD; co-Advisor: Akhil Vaidya, PhD

Abdullah Izmirly – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Elias Haddad, PhD; co-Advisor: Michele Kutzler, PhD

Haley M. Majer – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Joris Beld, PhD

Lilly McQueen – LinkedIn

Phillip Palmer
Advisor/Mentor: Garth Ehrlich, PhD

Amanda Platt
Advisor/Mentor: Joris Beld, PhD

Cassandra Spector – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Michael Nonnemacher, PhD

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2021

Avantika I. Ahiya
Advisor/Mentor: Akhil B. Vaidya, PhD

Matthew Bell
Advisor/Mentor: Michele Kutzler, PhD

Olivia Cipollini –
Advisor/Mentor: Sonia Navas-Martin, PhD

Rita Esposito  
Advisor/Mentor: Fred Krebs, PhD

Katherine (Kaytie) Innamorati
Advisor/Mentor: Garth Ehrlich, PhD

Ronak Loonawat –
Advisor/Mentor: Michael Bouchard, PhD

Kiran Madugula – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Pooja Jain, PhD

Hager Mohamed – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Fred C. Krebs, PhD

Neeta Shadija – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Hangjun Ke, PhD

Omobukola Solebo – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Hangjun Ke, PhD

Bhavani Taramangalam – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Elias El Haddad, PhD

Riley M. Williams
Advisor/Mentor: Glenn Rall, PhD

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2020

Donald C. Hall Jr. (DJ) – LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Garth Ehrlich

Alexander Allen – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Utilizing the CRISPR/Cas9 system to cure HIV-1 infection

Ogan K. Kumova
Advisor/Mentor: Alison Carey, MD
Thesis: Altered Innate Immune Responses to Influenza Virus in the neonate

Jamie Marino – LinkedIn
Advisor: Mike Nonnemacher
Thesis: Effects of morphine and HIV-1 Tat on the blood-brain barrier: Implications in HIV disease and HAND

Anthony R. Mele – LinkedIn
Advisor: Mike Nonnemacher
Thesis: Impact of HIV genetic variation on Tat length, function and ability to be targeted by gene-editing

Kevin Raible
Advisor/Mentor: Joshua Chang Mell, PhD
Thesis: Effects of morphine and HIV-1 Tat on the blood-brain barrier: Implications in HIV disease and HAND

Aarti A. Ramanathan – LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: The antimalarial drug target PfATP4 and effects of its inhibition at the intersection of life and death in P. falciparum

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2019

Kristen Buenconsejo
Advisor: Joris Beld
Master's thesis: The Significance of Secondary Metabolism on the Predatory Behavior of Myxococcus fulvus

Jacqueline Schneider Eacret – LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Design, Production and Evaluation of a Plasmodium Falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein 2-Based Vaccine for Inclusion in a Multivalent Formulation Targeting Multiple Parasite Stages

Ebony Gary – LinkedIn
Advisor: Michele Kutzler
Thesis: Enhancing the Immunogenicity of Anti-HIV DNA Vaccines with Molecular Adjuvants

Harmin Herrera – LinkedIn
Advisor: Anand Mehta
Thesis: Development of lectins for cancer-specific fucosylation

Sezin Nicklas – LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Exploring Interactions Between the Parasite Plasma Membrane and the Parasite Vacuolar Membrane of Plasmodium falciparum

Muhammad Sheraz
Advisor: Ju-Tao Guo
Thesis: Identification of Host Proteins Required for Hepatitis B Virus Covalently Closed Circular DNA Biosynthesis by a Chemogenetic Approach

Liudi Tang – LinkedIn
Advisor: Ju-Tao Guo
Thesis: Role and Mechanism of Host Cellular DNA Repair Proteins in Hepatitis B Virus cccDNA Biosynthesis

Breanna Tyrell – LinkedIn
Advisor: Amy Ma
Thesis: The Complex Nature of Cobalamin Biosynthesis in the Pathogenic Bacterium Vibrio cholerae

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2018

Suyash Bhatnagar – LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Investigating Na+ and Lipid Homeostasis as Targets for Antimalarial Drugs

Rashida Ginwala – LinkedIn
Advisor: Pooja Jain
Thesis: Potential of the Flavonoid Apigenin in Regulating Immune Cell Functions During

Marguerite Johnson – LinkedIn
Advisor: Sandhya Kortagere
Master's thesis: Sustained proinflammatory signaling contributes to neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s Disease

Vivin Karthik – LinkedIn
Advisor: Elias Haddad
Master's thesis: Role of CMV- and HIV-Specific cTFH response in HIV infection

Jennifer Marcy – LinkedIn
Advisor: Vanessa Pirrone
Thesis: Dysregulation of the Wnt Signaling Pathway in the Development of Colorectal Cancer in HIV-Infected Patients

Courtney Marshall
Advisor: Sandhya Kortagere
Thesis: D3 Receptor Agonism Attenuates Deficits Observed in Rodents with 6-OHDAInduced Medial Forebrain Bundle Lesions

Monique Maubert – LinkedIn
Advisor: Mike Nonnemacher
Thesis: Effects of morphine and the viral protein Tat on the blood-brain barrier, Implications in HIV disease and HAND

Elizabeth Parzych – LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis:Towards a Multivalent, Multistage Malaria Vaccine: Evaluation of a Plasmodium-specific Carrier Protein to Enhance Production and Immunogenicity of a Transmission-blocking Vaccine Candidate

Chris Stairiker – LinkedIn
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: Molecular Changes in Alveolar Epithelial Cells During Influenza Virus Infection

Neil Sullivan – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Understanding the functional, immunological and clinical impact of genetic variation in the long terminal repeat (LTR), the viral promoter of HIV-1 in relation to CRISPR/Cas9 gRNA design

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2017

Frank Bearoff – LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Genetic Mapping and Analysis of Disease Susceptibility in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis

Hanna David
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Parasite growth inhibitory activity of antibodies to conserved and polymorphic epitopes of a malaria vaccine candidate antigen

Kevin Egan – LinkedIn
Advisor: Stephen Jennings
Thesis: Characterizing Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Replication Kinetics, Latency, and Reactivation in the Lip Scarification Model of Infection and Disease

Jenna Hope
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: Novel roles for microRNAs in the regulation of effective CD8+ T cell responses

Arpita Mondal – LinkedIn
Advisor: Mueller (Lankenau)
Thesis: IDO1, an immuno-oncology target that supports tumor-promoting, inflammatory neovascularization

Andrea Partridge
Advisor: Julio Martin-Garcia
Thesis: A senescence-like phenotype in human macrophages

Lindsay Pomykala, PhD, RAC - – LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Genetic exploration of the ATP synthase complex in Plasmodium falciparum

Arjun Ramamurthi – LinkedIn
Advisor: Michele Kutzler
Thesis: Plasmid DNA as a Platform for the Development of Prophylactic and Therapeutic Vaccines Against Clostridium difficile in Aging Models of Disease

Emily Reesey
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Characterization of the Mitochondrial DNA Polymerase in Plasmodium falciparum

Melody Wright – LinkedIn
Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: PFF1320C an Essential but Presumptive Plasmodium Myosin Light Chain

Ming Yang – LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: The Role of Isocitrate Dehydrogenase and Assessment of Intracellular ATP Levels during the Erythrocytic Stages of Plasmodium falciparum

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2016

Chelsea Burgwin – LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Characterization of the cell-autonomous traits of Tsk2/+ mice, a model of systemic sclerosis

Ashley Curtola – LinkedIn
Advisor: Michele Kutzler

Andrew Holmes – LinkedIn
Advisor: Irwin Chaiken
Thesis: AIDS vaccine candidates from a combinatorial library of human rhinovirus 14 (HRV14): Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV -1) gp41 chimeras

Bethany Jenkins
Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: Characterization of PfCoq10 and its use in exploring the Plasmodium falciparum mitochondrial proteome

Selena Lin – LinkedIn
Advisor: Ying-Hsiu Su
Thesis: Analysis of the complexity of HBV-host junction sequences in patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Courtney Marin – LinkedIn
Advisor: Shira Ninio
Thesis: BffA: a Novel Regulator of Biofilm Formation in the Pathogen Legionella pneumophila

April Pershing – LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Genetic exploration of the ATP synthase complex in Plasmodium falciparum

Nehal Solanki
Advisor: David Wiest (FCCC)
Thesis: Role of RPL22 in T Cell Development and Transformation

Andreas Solomos – LinkedIn
Advisor: Glenn Rall
Thesis: The central contribution of CD4+ T cells to neurotropic virus control and neuropathogenesis

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2015

Adam Fike – LinkedIn
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Non-thesis master's degree

Aidan Hancock – LinkedIn
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: Effect of Influenza A virus on type II alveolar epithelial cells

Jason Lamontagne – LinkedIn
Advisor: Michael Bouchard
Thesis: Global analysis of HBV-mediated changes to the primary hepatocyte transcriptome and metabolome

Renzo Perales – LinkedIn
Advisor: Sonia Navas-Martin
Thesis: Role of Toll-like receptor 3 in the context of a neurotropic virus infection

Fiorella Rossi – LinkedIn
Advisor: Julio Martín-García
Thesis: The Role of TLR3 Stimulation in the Suppression of HIV-1 Infection in Monocyte Derived Dendritic Cells

Divya Sagar – LinkedIn
Advisor: Pooja Jain
Thesis: Dendritic Cell Trafficking in to the Central Nervous System : Targeting C-type Lectin Receptors to Prevent Neuroinflammation

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2014

Scott Baliban – LinkedIn
Advisor: Michele Kutzler
Thesis: Development of a DNA Vaccine Encoding the Receptor-Binding Domain of Clostridium Diffiicile Toxin A and Toxin B, and the Role of Immune Suppression in Increased Susceptibility to Clostridium Difficile Infection

Satinder Dahiya – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis title: Transcriptional regulation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 via the cis-acting binding elements in the long terminal repeat

Ian Goodwin – LinkedIn
Advisor: Shira Ninio
Master's thesis: A Novel Virulence-Related Operon in the Pathogen Legionella Pneumophila

Archana Gupta – LinkedIn
Advisor: Sonya Navas-Martin
Thesis: Activated Monocyte-Derived Exosomes Transfer MIR-223 to Neural Cells: Impact of Peripheral Inflammation of Cognitive Impairment

Elamaran Meibalan – LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Reticulocyte-associated protein export machinery and cytoadherence in blood stage malaria parasites

Mohit Sehgal – LinkedIn
Advisor: Pooja Jain
Thesis: Immunomodulatory effects of IFN-α on dendritic cells: Implications for HIV-1/HCV pathogenesis and treatment

Luz-Jeanette Sierra – LinkedIn
Advisor: Julio Martín-García
Thesis: Characterization of the Genotypes, Phenotypes and Neurotropism of the HIV-1 Envelope glycoproteins from two highly Neurotoxic CSF-derived isolates

Gokul Swaminathan – LinkedIn
Advisor: Julio Martin-Garcia
Thesis: Novel roles of Toll-Like Receptor-3 and microRNA-155 in HIV-1 infection of human macrophages

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2013

Sarah Cavanaugh – LinkedIn
Advisor: Glenn Rall
Thesis: Characterization of cell type-specific responses to interferons in the central nervous system

Ryan Eberwine – LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Germline-Encoded T-cell Receptor Sequences Are a Determinant of Diabetes Susceptibility and Islet-Antigen Recognition in the LEW.1WR1 Rat Model of Type-1 Diabetes

Kelley Healey – LinkedIn
Advisor: Santosh Katiyar
Thesis: Sphingolipids modulate echinocandin susceptibility in opportunistic fungi

Alicia Holmgren – LinkedIn
Advisor: Glenn Rall
Thesis: Interferons induce BST-2/tetherin in measles virus-infected neurons and permissive mice

Noshin Kathuria – LinkedIn
Advisor: Michele Kutzler
Thesis: Modulation of immune responses to DNA-based vaccine antigens following co-delivery of mucosal chemokine molecular adjuvants CCL28 and CCL25

Shawn Keogan – LinkedIn
Advisor: Fred Krebs
Thesis: Sphingolipids modulate echinocandin susceptibility in opportunistic fungi

Christina Kollias
Advisor: Stephen Jennings
Thesis: Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses in Herpes Simplex Virus

Kathryn Matthias – LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: A Tale of Two Regulators: Expression of the Virulence-Associated Type IV Pili and Lipooligosaccharide sialyltransferase is Controlled by CrgA and Rsp in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Nirzari Parikh – LinkedIn
Advisor: Fred Krebs
Thesis: Using an in vitro model of the polarized cervicovaginal epithelium to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of human semen and impact on the risk of hum

Marianne Strazza – LinkedIn
Advisor: Mike Nonnemacher/Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: The Impact of HIV-1 and Mu-Opioids on the Bone Marrow and Blood-Brain Barrier

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2012

Benjamas Aiamkitsumrit – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Identification of HIV-1 X4 and R5 genetic signatures in the viral promoter, Tat, and Vpr

Jennifer Bennett – LinkedIn
Advisor: Garth Erlich
Thesis: Identification and characterization of a novel bacterial virulence in Haemophilus influenza

Amy Cernetich Ott – LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Global gene expression profiling, cytoadherence and immune evasion in Plasmodium yoelii blood-stage malaria parasites

Joseph Fraietta – LinkedIn
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: Targeting Inflammation for the Prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Transmission and Disease Progression

Donald Gracias – LinkedIn
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: Role of microRNA-155 in CD8+ T cell Responses

Benjamin Janto – LinkedIn
Advisor: Garth Erlich
Thesis: Characterization of Autoinducer-2 Quorum Sensing and the Lsr locus Haemophilus influenzae

Michael Johnson – LinkedIn
Advisor: Thomas Edlind
Thesis: Mutational and topological analysis of FKS1: A novel for echinocandin action

Lorena Loarca – LinkedIn
Advisor: Carol Artlett
Thesis: The Role of Glucose-derived Compounds in Liver Diseases

Kristen Long – LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Examination of a Model of Systemic Sclerosis, Tight Skin 2 Mouse: Before, During and After Fibrotic Disease

Luidmilla Mazaleuskaya – LinkedIn
Advisor: Sonia Navas-Martin
Thesis: Contrasting Effects of Triggering Toll-Like Receptors 2, 3, 4, and 7 in the Macrophage Susceptibility to Murine Coronavirus Infections

Jonathan Pitcher – LinkedIn
Advisor: Olimpia Meucci
Thesis: The role of ferritin heavy chain and opiates in neuroAIDS

Sonia Shah – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Regulation of HIV-1 LTR driven gene expression within a chromatin-based microenvironment

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2011

James Alaro – LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Development of a novel chimeric blood-stage malaria vaccine.

Nishat Aliya – LinkedIn
Advisor: Ju-Tao Guo
Non-thesis master's degree

Kasturi Chaterjee – LinkedIn
Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: Identification of the myosin B light chain partner in Plasmodium and elucidation of the motor properties.

Adriano Ferrucci – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: The role of extracellular human immunodeficiency virus type 1 viral protein R in neuropathogenesis

Suresh Maddur Ganesan – LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Investigation of mitochondrially targeted proteins in blood stage malaria parasites.

Jennifer Gyamfi – LinkedIn
Advisor: Michele Kutzler
Non-thesis master's degree

Hangjun Ke – LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Investigation of the unusual tricarboxylic acid metabolism and mitochondrial electron transport chain functions in Plasmodium falciparum.

Sumit Kumar – LinkedIn
Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: Identification and characterization of transcription co-factor multiprotein bridging factor-1 in Plasmodium.

Yuanjie Liu – LinkedIn
Advisor: Anand Mehta
Thesis: Ubiquitin plays a critical role in Hepatitis B virus envelope protein MHC class I antigen presentation

Sharron Manuel – Website
Advisor: Pooja Jain/Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Dynamics of dendritic cells and T cells in HTLV-1 associated oncogenesis and neurimflammation: Implications in immunomodulatory therapies and diagnostic tools

Angela Richardson – LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Genetic determinants of susceptibility to herpes simplex virus encephalitis in the murine host

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2010

Praveen Balabaskaran Nina – LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Investigation of the unusual ATP synthase complexes in the alveolates Tetrahymena thermaphila and Plasmodium falciparum.

Priyanka Duttagupta – LinkedIn
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: The cellular and signaling requirement of effector CD8+T cells during influenza A virus infection.

Luna Li – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Functional properties of patient-derived human immunodeficiency virus type 1 long terminal repeat and the transactivator protein Tat

Danielle Loughlin
Advisor: Carol Artlett
Thesis: A story of the ACEs: Regulation of dermal fibroblast signaling by the precursor of advanced glycation end products 3-deoxyglucosone

Karissa Lozenski – LinkedIn
Advisor: Fred Krebs
Thesis: Use of the murine model of cervicovaginal toxicity to examine factors that adversely affect epithelial integrity and inflammation following microbicide application.

Mitali Purohit – LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: Anthrax sporulation, the role of proteases in anthrolysin O expression, and interactions of a novel immunomodulator with cells of the innate immune system.

Saifur Rahman – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl/Pooja Jain
Thesis: Evaluating the role of dendritic cells in host immune response during human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection using a transgenic mouse model system.

Viraj Sanghvi – LinkedIn
Advisor: Laura Steel
Thesis: Interactions between HIV-1 and host cell RNAi pathways and the characterization of a conditional promoter for use in RNAi-based anti-HIV-1 therapeutics.

Jessica Kennedy Weidner – LinkedIn
Advisor: Ju-Tao Guo
Thesis: Modes of action of two newly identified interferon-induced antiviral proteins, IFITM3 and GBP5, against vesicular stomatitis virus infection.

Meghan Wynosky-Dolfi – LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: Characterization of receptor interactions with ALO and activation of signaling pathways.

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2009

Anupam Banerjee – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Modulation of HIV-1 replication by μ-opiod and cAMP pathways in human bone marrow progenitor cells

Mariana Bernui – LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: The effects of antioxidants on the interaction of bacillus anthracis with phagocytes

Hui Nie – LinkedIn
Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: Finding the link from a surface adhesion in to the actin motor for Plasmodium merozoite invasion

Marissa Panicella-Migaleddi – LinkedIn
Advisor: Bill Bergman
Non-thesis master's degree

Patricia Petritus – LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Analysis of vaccine- and infection-induced immune responses contributing to suppression of blood-stage malaria in the Plasmodium yoelii rodent model

Vanessa Pirrone – LinkedIn
Advisor: Fred Krebs
Thesis: Poly(styrene-alt-maleic acid) (PSMA) as an inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and as a partner in safe and effective combination microbicides

Shriya Raj – LinkedIn
Advisor: Thomas Edlind
Thesis: Mechanisms of antifungal drug resistance in Candida species

Swati Thorat – LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Plasmodium yoelii orthologue of macrophage migration inhibitory factor alters the course of blood stage malaria infection

Kristen Weaver – LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Comparative immunogenicity and efficacy studies in a rodent model of a subunit blood-stage malaria vaccine formulated with adjuvants suitable for use in humans

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2008

Christie Deneve Bucks
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: CD8+ T cells: From Autoimmunity to antigen induced exhaustion

Yujie Liu – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Impact of a downstream C/EBP site on HIV-1 gene expression and pathogenesis

Heather Painter – LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: The Role of the Mitochondria in the Life and Death of Plasmodium falciparum

Devanshi Pandya
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Study of the regulation of the human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) promoter formatted in the context of chromatin in T cells and monocytes

Nina Thakkar Rivera – LinkedIn
Advisor: Fred Krebs
Thesis: Mechanism of action studies defining the activity of the biguanide-based, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 co-receptor inhibitor NB325

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2007

Aikaterina Alexaki – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Modeling bone marrow progenitor cell differentiation and susceptibility to HIV-1 infection

Elise Mosser – LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: The bacillus anthracis toxin anthrolysin O modulates human macrophage and neutrophil function

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2006

John-Paul Vermitsky – LinkedIn
Advisor: Thomas Edlind
Thesis: Molecular Basis for Azole Resistance in C. glabrata

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2005

Annie Borowski – LinkedIn
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: The role of CD28 costimulation in the reaction of memory CD8+ T cells

Mathanraj Packiam – LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: Differential expression and regulation of lipooligosacharide specific sialyltransferase in pathogenic neisseria

Qifang Shi
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Characterization of merozoite surface protein-8 and evaluation of it's potential as a blood-stage malaria vaccine candidate

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2004

Christian Grant – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Analysis of cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating human T cell leukemia virus type 1 viral gene expression in cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage

Kate Mostoller – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Secretion and extracellular function of the human T cell leukemia virus trans-activator protein Tax

Michael Nonnemacher – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Comparative analysis of lentiviral LTR structure and function

Jason Stumhofer – Website
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Characterization of a functional DNA repair enzyme from Plasmodium falciparum that displays gycolyase and AP-lyase activity

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2003

Ross Albert – LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Signaling through serotonin 1B and 2C receptors on lymphocytes is essential for T cell activation and proliferation

Timothy Alefantis – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Analysis of amino acid signals within the human T cell leukemia virus type 1 transactivator protein Tax that control nuclear export, cytoplasmic intracellular localization, and secretion

Tricia Burdo – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Cellular and viral factors involved in HIV-1-associated neurologic disease

Bradley Catalone – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Model systems for the preclinical evaluation of topical vaginal microbicides

– LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya Plasmodium falciparum Enzymes Involved in Redox Balancing of Thesis: Nicotinamide Nucleotides

Alfred Kim – LinkedIn
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: The role of CD40 in dendritic cell induced CD8+ T cell responses

Janine Knight – LinkedIn
Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: The Regulation of Pho81p, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Kim Metera – LinkedIn
Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: Characterization of the YLR190w Gene Product in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Shane Quiterio – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Modeling HIV-1 infection of bone marrow progenitor cells: Implications for HIV-1 CNS disease

Jeffrey Shannon – LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: Characterization of Anthrolysin O, the Baccillus anthracis cholesterol-dependent cytolysin

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2002

Eric Scott Halstead – Website
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: Modulating CD8+ T Cell Responses in Vivo

Kerrianne Mello
Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: Characterization of proteins that interact with the amino-termius of the plasmodium merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1)

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2001

Brian Cocca – LinkedIn
Advisor: Marko Radic
Thesis: Structural basis for autoantibody recognition of phosphatidylserine-Beta2 glycoprotein 1 and apoptotic cells.

John Leander Po – LinkedIn
Advisor: Donna Murasko
Thesis: Age-associated changes in influenza A virus-specific CD8+ lymphocyte response in C57BL/6 mice

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2000

Mohamed Elrafaei – Website
Advisor: Donna Murasko
Thesis: The effect of aging on the immune response again E55+ murine leukemia retrovirus infection

Karl Henry – LinkedIn
Advisor: Thomas Edlind
Thesis: Molecular basis for tolerance to sterol biosynthesis inhibitors in Candida species and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

John McAllister – Website
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Cell type-and differentiation-specific gene regulation and viral replication: Implications for HIV-1 disease pathogenesis

Scott Millhouse – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Biochemical and functional analysis of the herpes simplex virus type 1 latency-associated transcript promoter

Heather Ross
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Impact of LTR sequence variation and C/EBP factors on HIV-1 gene expression in cells of the monocytic lineage: Implications for HIV-1 CNS disease

Naomi Vishnupad – LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Factors that contribute to resistance and susceptibility to EAE in the rat.

Jing Yao – Website
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Physical and functional interface of CREB-1, SP1, and Tax with the HTLV-1 LTR

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1999

Dawn Maria Shell – LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: Physical and immunologic characterization of neisserial sialyltransferases; the role of PIII (Rmp) in gonococcal adhesion and invasion.

John Williams – Website
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: Using the yeast two-hybrid system to identify human epithelial cell proteins that bind gonococcal opa proteins.

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1998

Melissa Bourque-Philion – LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Characterization of the EAE-resistant LER rat T cell response following immunization for EAE

Jessica Jenulis
Advisor: Edward Schulman
Thesis: Release of Chemokines from Human Lung and Human Mast Cells

Rocio Marchese – LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest/Blank
Thesis: Immunogenetic Studies on the Mechanisms of Host Resistance against Experimental Vaginal Candidiasis

Anne Marie Martin – LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: The genetics of autoimmunity in the rat: The search for non-MHC-linked genes

Paul Artur Plett – LinkedIn
Advisor: Donna Murasko
Thesis: Age-related decrease in murine natural killer cell activity after interferon-a/b stimulation

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1997

Erica Bernstein – LinkedIn
Advisor: Donna Murasko
Thesis: The role of cell-mediated immunity after influenza vaccination of healthy elderly individuals

Ana Gabrea-Todor – LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Analysis of the high nitric oxide and high eosinophil phenotypes in the brown Norway rat

Mark Glaum – Website
Advisor: Edward Schulman
Thesis: Expression and modulation of asthma-related cytokines by human lung mast cells

Yang Kang
Advisor: Carole Long
Thesis: The 19-kDa Carboxyl-Terminal Region of Merozoite Surface Protein-1 as a Vaccine Candidate against Malaria

John Langell – LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Suppression of α1,3-galactosyl epitopes on mammalian cells

Denise LaTemple – LinkedIn
Advisor: Uri Galili
Thesis: Enhancement of tumor vaccine immunogenicity by the nature anti-gal antibody

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1996

Maria Cristina Cruz – LinkedIn
Advisor: Thomas Edlind
Thesis: Molecular basis for benzimidazole susceptibility and resistance in the opportunistic yeasts Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans

Janine Ferguson
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: Regulation of gonococcal sialyltransferase activity by in vivo signals and substrates

Fred Krebs – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Lymphoid and neuroglial ATF/CREB factors interact physically and functionally with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 long terminal repeat

Joseph Kutza – LinkedIn
Advisor: Donna Murasko
Thesis: The effect of aging on human natural killer and lymphokine activated killer cell activity

Xiao He – LinkedIn
Advisor: Donna Murasko
Thesis: Response of murine splenocytes to staphylococcal enterotoxin b in vitro: Effects of aging and cytokines

Timothy Henion – LinkedIn
Advisor: Uri Galili
Thesis: Primate α1,3-galactosyltransferase: Structure-function analysis and application for the enhancement of vaccine immunogenicity

David McGee – LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: Molecular analysis of the regulation of expression of gonococcal and meningococcal sialyltransferase gene(s)

Yvette Murley-Henry – LinkedIn
Advisor: John LiPuma
Thesis: Cloning and characterization of the haemocin locus of haemophilus influenzae and assessment of its role in virulence

Le Wang – LinkedIn
Advisor: Uri Galili
Thesis: Anti-Gal immunoglobulin genes

Norman Waters – LinkedIn
Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: Identification of multiple substances of the Pho85 cyclin dependent protein kinase as key regulators of acid phosphatase expression and glycogen metabolism in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

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1995

Joseph Kenny – LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: An analysis of the cell type-specific transcriptional regulation of the herpes simplex virus type 1 latency-associated transcript promoter

Christina Nevel-McGarvey – LinkedIn
Advisor: Alan Hudson
Thesis: Changes in the mitochondrial genetic system in rabbit urinary bladder after partial outlet obstruction

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1994

Maribeth Tillmann – LinkedIn
Mentor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: A biochemical and functional analysis of the human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 long terminal repeat region

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1991

Charles Kunsch – LinkedIn
Advisor: Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 infection of the developing human nervous system