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Molecular & Cell Biology & Genetics (MCBG) Students & Alumni


Thesis Defenses and Final Presentations

Sri Havya Jana, MS (Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics)

Sri Havya Jana, MS
July 30, 2024
Mentor: Dr. Eishi Noguchi (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis Title: The Role of DDX11 in Telomere Maintenance and its Implications in Cancer Cells


Dorothy Benton, PhD (Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics)

Dorothy Benton, PhD
July 30, 2024
Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Chernoff (Fox Chase Cancer Center)
Thesis Title: Identifying new targets and drug combinations in Neurofibromatosis type 2


Sarath Reghunathan, MS (Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics)

Sarath Reghunathan, MS
July 29, 2024
Mentor: Dr. Shae Padrick (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis Title: Towards In-vitro reconstitution of Actin Comet Tail Formation and Septin Caging competition of Shigella


Karan Bamb, MS
July 19, 2024
Mentor: Dr. Joshua Mell (Department of Microbiology & Immunology)
Thesis Title: Multidrug Tolerance and the Stringent Response in Diverse Clinical Isolates of Haemophilus influenzae


Priyashree Nagarajan, MS (Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics)

Priyashree Nagarajan, MS
July 15, 2024
Mentor: Dr. Joshua Mell (Department of Microbiology & Immunology) and Dr. Shae Padrick (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis Title: Regulation of BORG2 by Cdc42 through Disruption of Internal Structure


Carly DeAntoneo, PhD (Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics)

Carly DeAntoneo, PhD
July 22, 2024
Mentor: Dr. Siddharth Balachandran (Fox Chase Cancer Center)
Thesis Title: Reovirus Z-RNAs Activate ZBP1 Dependent Cell Death


Roshni Kadam, MS, Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics Program

Roshni Kadam, MS
June 28, 2024
Mentor: Dr. Srinivas Somarowthu (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis Title: Investigating the functional role of highly structured regions in lncRNA SChLAP1 using CRISPR/Cas-based deletion analysis
Currently: PhD Student, Rutgers University


Tisha Kalpesh Desai, MS, Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics Program

Tisha Kalpesh Desai, MS
June 26, 2024
Mentor: Dr. Srinivas Somarowthu (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis Title: Investigating the role of SND1 in Glioblastoma using RNA-Seq
Currently: PhD Student, Thomas Jefferson University


Ranjit Kaur, MS (Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics)

Ranji Kaur, MS
June 20, 2024
Mentor: Dr. Michael Bouchard (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis Title: Interplay of Hepatitis B Virus and lncRNA FAM99A Expression and Interacting Proteins in Liver Cancer Cell Lines
Currently: PhD Student, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center


Emily Esquea, PhD (Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics)

Emily Esquea, PhD
June 7, 2024
Mentor: Dr. Mauricio Reginato (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis Title: Targeting Metabolic Vulnerabilities in Breast Cancer Brain Metastatic Cell


Jason DaCunza, MS (Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics)

Jason DaCunza, MS
May 3, 2024
Mentor: Dr. Seena Ajit (Department of Pharmacology & Physiology)
Thesis Title: miRNA cargo in small extracellular vesicles from mouse primary macrophages and RAW 264.7 cells
Currently: PhD Student, MCBG Program, Drexel University College of Medicine


Zach Capriotti, MS (Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics)

Zachary Capriotti, MS
May 1, 2024
Mentor: Dr. Zachary Klase (Department of Pharmacology & Physiology)
Project Title: Innate Immune Memory in Chronic HIV and HAND: Potential Mechanisms and Clinical Implications
Currently: PhD Student, MCBG Program, Drexel University College of Medicine


Casey DeAngelis, MS (Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics)

Casey DeAngelis, MS
April 19, 2024
Mentor: Dr. Eishi Noguchi (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis Title: Hyperglycemic Conditions May Promote Senescence & DNA Damage in TIMELESS Depleted Human Cardiac Fibroblasts


Steve Rutledge, MS (Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics)

Steve Rutledge, MS
April 19, 2024
Mentor: Dr. Joshua Jackson (Department of Pharmacology & Physiology)
Project Title: The Role of Astrocytes in the Progression of Brain Metastases
Currently: PhD Student, MCBG Program, Drexel University College of Medicine


Andrea Rosenkranz, PhD (Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics)

Andrea Rosenkranz, PhD
December 7, 2023
Mentor: Dr. Michael Bouchard (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis Title: Determining Secondary Structural Elements of Hepatitis B Virus Pregenomic RNA and Preliminary Analysis of the DDB1-HBx Interaction as a Therapeutic Target
Currently: Assistant Professor, Niigata University


Nakoa Webber, MS (Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics)

Nakoa Webber, MS
August 18, 2023
Mentor: Dr. Todd Strochlic (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Project Title: Sigma Receptors: Biology and Implications for Disease and Drug Targeting
Currently: PhD Student, Rowan University College of Science and Mathematics


Zahra Charania, MS

Zahra Charania, MS
August 8, 2023
Mentor: Dr. Srinivas Somarowthu (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis Title: Identifying conserved regions in lncRNA SChLAP1
Currently: Staff Scientist, QPS Holdings, LLC


Tara Fortino, Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics Program

Tara Fortino, PhD
July 26, 2023
Mentor: Dr. Michael Lane (Department of Microbiology & Anatomy)
Thesis Title: Spinal Interneuron Transplantation to Repair the Injured Cervical Spinal Cord
Currently: Postdoctoral Fellow, The University of British Columbia


David Joyner, Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics Program

David Joyner, MS
July 24, 2023
Mentor: Dr. Elias El Haddad (Department of Medicine)
Thesis Title: Improved HIV-Specific T Cell Immunity Following Adenosine Deaminase-1 Co-Delivery in Preclinical Models of Vaccination
Currently: PhD Student, MCBG Program, Drexel University College of Medicine


Kelvin Koser, MS

Kelvin Koser, MS
July 18, 2023
Mentor: Dr. Joshua Chang Mell (Department of Microbiology & Immunology)
Thesis Title: Using Accessory Gene Content to Predict the Clinical Isolation Source of Haemophilus influenza Genome
Currently: Computational Scientist, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine


Skandha Ramakrishnan, Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics Program

Skandha Ramakrishnan, MS
May 1, 2023
Mentor: Dr. Liang Oscar Qiang (Department of Microbiology & Anatomy)
Literature Review Title: Isoform specific implications of spastin in spg4
Currently: PhD Student, MCBG Program, Drexel University College of Medicine


Alexa Cannon

Alexa Cannon, PhD
April 11, 2023
Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Chernoff
Thesis Title: Investigation of Novel Therapeutic Targets in RAC1-mutant Melanoma
Currently: Postdoctoral Fellow, Novartis Biomedical Research


Allison Yankey, PhD

Allison Yankey, PhD
April 6, 2023
Mentor: Dr. Srinivas Somarowthu (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis Title: A novel interaction between long noncoding RNA lncTCF7 and SND1 modulates the gene regulation activity of the SWI/SNF complex
Currently: Scientific Communications Manager, Red Nucleus


Rebecca Holton

Rebecca Holton, PhD
March 30, 2023
Mentor: Dr. Karen Berkowitz (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis Title: CHTF18 safeguards the quantity and quality of the ovarian reserve and mediates meiotic cohesion
Currently: Postdoctoral Fellow, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine


Lorela Ciraku, PhD

Lorela Ciraku, PhD
June 10, 2022
Mentor: Mauricio Reginato, PhD (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis Title: OGT/CDK5/ACSS2 Axis Regulates Metabolic Adaptation of Tumors in the Brain
Subsequent Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Lausanne University, Switzerland


Lisa Stukenborg, MS

Lisa Stukenborg, MS
June 22, 2022
Mentor: Christian Sell, PhD (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis Title: Enhancing Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapeutic Potential Through mTOR Inhibition
Subsequent Position: Research Associate, Vesalius Therapeutics


Jessie Nagle, MS

Jessie Nagle, MS
June 17, 2022
Mentor: Eishi Noguchi, PhD (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis Title: The Role of Maf1 in Age-Associated Phenotypes
Subsequent Position: Scientist, Absorption Systems


Gabrielle Tramonte, MS

Gabrielle Tramonte, MS
July 25, 2022
Mentor: Garth Ehrlich, PhD and Joshua Chang Mell, PhD (Department of Microbiology & Immunology)
Thesis Title: Functional investigation of Haemophilus influenzae genes of unknown function implicated in pathogenesis
Subsequent Position: Scientist, Eurofins


Sarah Nicolson, MS

Sarah Nicolson, MS
July 14, 2022
Mentor: Todd Strochlic, PhD, VMD (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis Title: Exploring Copper-Mediated Regulation of CK2 Activity in D. melanogaster
Subsequent Position: Veterinary nurse technician at Philadelphia Animal Specialty and Emergency (PASE) Clinic


Manali Potnis, PhD

Manali Potnis, PhD
July 27, 2022
Mentor: Christian Sell, PhD, (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis Title: lncRNA H19/let7b/EZH2 axis regulates cellular senescence
Subsequent Position: Senior Scientist, West Pharmaceutical Services


Diehl De Souza, MS

Diehl De Souza, MS
December 2, 2021
Mentor: Dr. Michael Nonnemacher (Department of Microbiology & Immunology)
Thesis Title: Assessment of genes in defective integrated HIV-1 provirus within the PBMC compartment of individuals with neuroHIV
Subsequent Position: Laboratory Technician at National Institutes of Health (NIH-NINDS)


Maram Balkhair, MS
November 29, 2021
Mentor: Dr. Eishi Noguchi (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Project Title: The Role of MAF1 in Lipid Metabolism, Cancer and Aging
Subsequent Position: Medical Technologist, Jefferson Health


Kristopher Raghavan, Molecular & Cell Biology & Genetics Program

Kristopher Raghavan, PhD
November 22, 2021
Mentor: Dr. Edna Cukierman (Fox Chase Cancer Center)
Thesis Title: The Role of NetrinG1 in Stroma-derived Extracellular Vesicle-mediated Survival of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma under Nutrient-deprivation
Subsequent Position: Scientist, Integral Molecular


Danielle Piazza

Danielle Piazza, PhD
November 19, 2021
Mentors: Dr. Joshua Chang Mell and Dr. Ming Xiao (Department of Microbiology & Immunology) Thesis Title: Testing the Limits of Natural Transformation: Effects of Donor DNA Size and Genomic Structural Variation on Haemophilus influenzae Recombination
Subsequent Position: Senior Scientist, Frontage Laboratories, Inc.


Daniel Kantner, MS

Daniel Kantner, MS
July 29, 2021
Mentor: Joris Beld, PhD (Department of Microbiology & Immunology)
Thesis title: Activity and substrate specificity of cobinamide/cobamide amidohydrolase CbiZ in diverse bacteria
Subsequent Position: PhD student, Biomedical Sciences Program, Temple University


Matthew Ritts, MS

Matthew Ritts, MS
July 28, 2021
Mentor: Sandhya Kortagere, PhD (Department of Microbiology & Immunology)
Project title: Inflammation in Parkinson’s Disease
Subsequent Position: Associate Scientist, Proclinical Staffing


Michelle Swift, Molecular & Cell Biology & Genetics

Michelle Swift, PhD
July 26, 2021
Mentor: Jane Clifford, PhD (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis title: Investigating the role of cell cycle-dependent regulation of Sp1 in double strand break repair
Subsequent Position: Postdoctoral fellow, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute


Rongrong Li, MS

Rongrong Li, MS
July 12, 2021
Mentor: Todd Strochlic, VMD, PhD (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis title: Cell-Based Readouts of Copper-Modulated CK2 Kinase Activity
Subsequent Position: Research Technician, Rutgers University


Tylor Brewster, MS

Tylor Brewster, MS
July 9, 2021
Mentor: Eishi Noguchi, PhD (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis title: Roles of Timeless in DNA Repair and Carcinogenesis
Subsequent Position: Scientist, Absorption Aystems, LLC


Tejsi Dhameliya, MS

Tejsi Dhameliya, MS
July 6, 2021
Mentor: Mauricio Reginato, PhD (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis title: The role of KLF8 in breast cancer stem cells
Subsequent Position: Associate Scientist, Cell line development, Sana Biotechnology, Inc.


Nima Sarfaraz, MS
June 30, 2021
Mentor: Michael Bouchard, PhD (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Project title: The Interplay of Long Non-Coding RNAs and Hepatitis B Virus
Subsequent Position: PhD Student, MCBG Program, Drexel University College of Medicine


Sydney Wilson, MS
June 28, 2021
Mentor: Pooja Jain, PhD (Department of Microbiology & Immunology)
Project title: Adult T-cell Leukemia/Lymphoma: The Role of Genetic Variation on Clinical Disparities and Disease Progression between ATLL Patient Populations


Emily Esquea, Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics Program

Emily Esquea, MS
June 21, 2021
Mentor: Mauricio Reginato, PhD (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Project title: Understanding the role of the OGT/CDK5/ACSS2 signaling axis on breast cancer brain metastatic growth
Subsequent Position, PhD Student, MCBG Program, Drexel University College of Medicine


Julia Oleksak, MS

Julia Oleksak, MS
June 2, 2021
Mentor: Edward Hartsough, PhD (Department of Pharmacology & Physiology)
Project title: Role of CADM1 in Reducing Viability of Melanoma Circulating Tumor Cells
Subsequent Position: Scientist, Pharmaceutical Product Development, Inc.


Katherine Innamorati, PhD

Katherine Innamorati, PhD
April 23, 2021
Mentor: Garth Ehrlich, PhD (Department of Microbiology & Immunology)
Title: Comparative genomics of the keystone mucosal pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis and Gardnerella vaginalis reveal associations between virulence phenotypes and phylogenetic structure
Subsequent Position, Postdoctoral Fellow, Drexel University College of Medicine


Daniel Slusaw, MS

Daniel Slusaw, MS
April 14, 2021
Mentor: Srinivas Somarowthu, PhD (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis title: HOTAIR domains can independently regulate gene expression in breast cancer
Subsequent Position: PhD Student, Biological Sciences Program, University of Delaware

A Molecular & Cell Biology & Genetics program graduate student working in a laboratory at Drexel University College of Medicine.