Brianna Trankle, PhD
July 31, 2025
Mentor: Roland Dunbrack, PhD (Fox Chase Cancer Center)
Thesis title: Analysis and Prediction of E2 Enzyme–E3 Ligase Pairings Using AlphaFold-Modeled Ternary Complex Structures

Erik Schubert, MS
July 28, 2025
Mentor: Ridhdhi Desai, PhD (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis title: Modeling the Cooperative Effects of GNAS^R201C, KRAS^G12V, and TP53^R175H in Juman Pancreatic Ductal Epithelial Cells

Mihyun Oh, PhD
July 15, 2025
Mentor: Srinivas Somarowthu, PhD (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis title: Structural and Functional Dissection of the Oncogenic LncRNA SChLAP1

Maria Ruiz, MS
July 7, 2025
Mentor: Lu Chen, PhD (Fox Chase Cancer Center)
Thesis title: The Effect of SMN Depletion on the Cell Cycle Progression

Khushi Patel, MS
June 23, 2025
Mentor: Sanjeevani Arora, PhD (Fox Chase Cancer Center)
Thesis title: Profiling DNA Damage Response in Lymphocytes from BRCA2 Heterozygote Carriers

Emily Pochet, MS
June 16, 2025
Mentor: Lu Chen, PhD (Fox Chase Cancer Center)
Integrative Proteomic and Genomic Approaches Reveal Nuclear Role of SMN in Chromatin and RNA Regulation

Kendra Williams, MS
May 1, 2025
Mentor: Pooja Jain, PhD (Department of Microbiology & Immunology)
Thesis title: Epstein-Barr Virus Gene Regulation and Reactivation in the Context of HIV Infection

Kareen Pestana, PhD
April 11, 2025
Mentor: Eugenia Lo, PhD (Department of Microbiology & Immunology)
Thesis title: Copy Number Variations in Plasmodium vivax: Implications for Erythrocyte Invasion, Malaria Transmission, and Host-Pathogen Interactions in Ethiopia and Sudan

Nima Sarfaraz, PhD
March 24, 2025
Mentor: Michael J. Bouchard, PhD (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis title: Decoding Liver Cancer Biology: Optimizing Disease Models and Uncovering FAM99A as a Liver-Specific Translation Regulator

Shih-Chun Shen, PhD
March 18, 2025
Mentor: Alexander Muller, PhD (Lankenau Institute for Medical Research)
Thesis title: Exploiting and Exploring the Role of IDVCs in Supporting Inflammatory Neovascularization

Kyle Yeakle, PhD
January 8, 2025
Mentor: Michael Bouchard, PhD (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Project title: HIV1 Tat Activates ERK1/2 Signaling in HBV-infected Hepatocytes to Inhibit HBV Replication and Promote Hepatocyte Survival

Camille Cunanan, PhD
November 12, 2024
Mentor: Edward Hartsough, PhD (Department of Pharmacology & Physiology)
Project title: BAP1 loss affords lipotoxicity resistance in uveal melanoma
Subsequent position: Postdoctoral Researcher, Drexel University College of Medicine

Kayla Schardien, PhD
November 12, 2024
Mentor: John Houle, PhD (Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy)
Project title: Cholinergic V0c Spinal Interneurons and Respiratory Plasticity after Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
Subsequent position: Postdoctoral Researcher, Drexel University College of Medicine

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
Currently: Research Assistant, Harvard Medical School

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
Currently: Postdoctoral Researcher, Fox Chase Cancer Center

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
Currently: Scientist, AClariTy Genomics

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
Currently: Scientist, Eurofins PSS Insourcing Solutions

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

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
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

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
June 7, 2024
Mentor: Dr. Mauricio Reginato (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Thesis title: Targeting Metabolic Vulnerabilities in Breast Cancer Brain Metastatic Cell
Currently: Postdoctoral Researcher, Columbia University Irving Medical Center

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

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
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
Currently: Multinational Analyst, Chubb

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
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
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
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, 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, 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
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, 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, 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
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, 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)

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, 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
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
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, 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
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
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
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, 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
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
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
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