2011/2012 PhD Recipients Thesis Titles

Rebecca Porter, B.S. University of Rochester 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Pathology

Thesis: Prostaglandin E2 is a Positive Regulator of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells Under Normal Conditions and in Response to Radiation Injury

Matthew Quinn, B.S. Rochester Institute of Technology 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: Investigation of the Intrinsic Antibody Dependent Enhancement Hypothesis

Matthew Seetin, B.S. Harvey Mudd College 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2007; Biophysics

Thesis: RNA Structure Prediction: Advancing Both Secondary and Tertiary Structure Prediction

Xi Shi, B.S. Nanjing Normal University 2001, M.S. Nanjing Normal University 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Pharmacology

Thesis: RSK: a Pathogenic Mediator and Potential Drug Target in Cardiac Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Bradley Smith, B.S. Allegheny College 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2007; Genetics

Thesis: Tumor Suppressor Activity with the ATP-binding Cassette Transporter A1/Cholesterol Exporter (ABCA1) Gene

David Stephenson, B.S. Emory University 1998, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Biochemistry

Thesis: Pseudouridine Affects Spliceosome Function at Multiple Points in Splicing

Amy Tsurumi, B.A. Scripps College 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Genetics

Thesis: Investigating the Role of Kdm4 Histone Demethylases in Transcriptional Regulation and Development in Drosophila

Michael Valentino, B.S. SUNY Geneseo 2001, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: Development of a High Throughput Approach for the Identification of T Cell Epitopes in the Genomic Era: Application to Francisella tularensis

Joseph Whipple, B.S. SUNY Geneseo 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Biochemistry

Thesis: Defining the Substrate Specificity Determinants for the Yeast Rapid tRNA Decay Pathway and the Identification of Factors that Mediate Degradation

Nan Zheng, B.S. 2005; Health Services Research and Policy

Thesis: End-of-Life Care in Nursing Homes: Does Organization of Work Make a Difference?

March 16, 2012 Conferral

Saria Awadalla, B.S. Rochester Institute of Technology 2005, M.S. Rochester Institute of Technology 2005, M.A. University of Rochester 2006; Statistics

Thesis: Some Contributions to the Theory and Applications of R-Symmetry

Cristina Capella-Gonzalez, B.S. University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2007; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: Alterations that Influence dNTP Substrate Utilization by the Adenovirus Type 5 DNA Polymerase Result in Selective Modification of Adenovirus Replication

Gozde Colak, B.S. Middle East Technical University 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Pharmacology

Thesis: The Role of Transglutaminase 2 in Ischemic Cell Death

Ankit Gupta, B.S. Indian Institute of Technology 2006, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Biophysics

Thesis: Role of a Novel Doman in SF1/U2AF65 Complex Formation and 3 Splice Site Recognition

Jennifer Head, B.S. SUNY Potsdam 2006, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Toxicology

Thesis: Sustained Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Activation and its Role in Neutrophil Recruitment and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression in the Lung During Influenza A Virus Infection

Ryan Henry, B.A. Johns Hopkins University 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Biochemistry

Thesis: Multiple Roles for Members of the Long Flap Pathway in Okazaki Fragment Processing

Jong-Wei Hsu, B.S. National Chung-Hsing University 1999, M.S. National Taiwan University 2001, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Pathology

Thesis: Androgen Repair and Vitamin D Signaling in Bladder Cancer

Xiaoyu Hu, M.S. University of Science and Technology 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2010; Genetics

Thesis: Unphosphorylated STAT5A Enchances Heterochromatin Stability and Suppresses Colon Cancer Formation

Chiung-Kuei Huang, M.S. Institute of Biological Science 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2010; Pathology

Thesis: The Role of Androgen Receptor in Mesenchymal Stem Cells - Potential Therapy in Liver Cirrhosis

Ming Hsien Kung, B.S. SUNY College of Environmental Science 2002, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Toxicology

Thesis: Investigating the Molecular Mechanisms of Cigarette Smoke Inhibition of Fracture Healing

Holly Kuzmiak-Ngiam, B.A. Drew University 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2007; Biochemistry

Thesis: Roles of Hho1p, Esc2p, and he Post-Translational Modification of Sir2p in Transcriptional Silencing in Saccharomyces cerevisae

Sarah Latchney, B.S. St. Lawrence University 2006, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Toxicology

Thesis: Pluripotent Neural Stem Cells are Targets for Dioxin Toxicity: Novel Roles for the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor during Neurogenesis

Daniel Letzring, B.S. Providence College 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Biophysics

Thesis: A Systematic Analysis of Codon Effects on Translation Efficiency: Identification and Mechanistic Examination of the Inhibitory Effects of the Arginine Codon CGA

Xiang Liu, B.S. Zhejiang University 2001, M.S. Zhejiang University 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2007; Statistics

Thesis: Penalized Variable Selection for Semiparametric Regression Models

Alon Mantel, B.S. 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Pharmacology

Thesis: The Role of Aldo-Keto Reductase 1C3 in Human Epidermis, Atopic Dermatitis  and Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Kathleen McAvoy, B.S. Fairfield University 2003, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Neuroscience

Thesis: The Von Hippel-Lindau Protein Regulates Developmental Cell Death in Sympathetic Neurons

Mustimbo Roberts, B.S. Oakwood College 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Pathology

Thesis: Memory B cell Phenotypic and Gene Expression Profiling in Primary Sjogren's Syndrome: Implications for Disease Pathogenesis and Diagnosis

Felix Santiago, B.S. University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez 2002, M.S. University of Rochester 2006; Microbiology Immunology

Thesis: The Use of Recombinant Hemagglutinin Proteins in the Study of Vaccination Against Emergent Influnza Viruses

Amir Taslimi, B.S. Rochester Institute of Technology 2005, M.S University of Rochester 2008; Biochemistry

Thesis: Conformational Changes Associated with Activation of the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae a- factor Receptor Ste2p

Joanna Touger Olsen, B.A. Williams College 2004; M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: SEVI, A Natural Enhancer of HIV Infection, as a Novel Target to Prevent HIV Transmission

Keith Van Nostrand, B.S. Houghton College 2002, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Biophysics

Thesis: Computational Investigation of RNA Conformational Change

May 19, 2012 Conferral

Elizabeth Brownell, B.A. St. Lawrence University 1999, M.A. University of Wales 2002; Epidemiology

Thesis: The Effect of Immediate Postpartum Depo-Provera on Early Breastfeeding Cessation

Zhuoxun Chen, B.S. Sun Yat-Sen University 2003, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Neuroscience

Thesis: Identification of Molecular Determinants of Testosterone-associated Angiogenesis and Neuronal Survival in Adult Songbird Forebrain

Emily Desmet, B.S. University of New Hampshire 2003, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: Insight into Influenza Manipulation of its Target Cell and the Countermeasures Taken by the Host to Limit Infection

Sally Duarte, B.E. McMaster University 1998, M.E. McMaster University 2001, M.S. University of Rochester 2010; Neurobiology and Anatomy

Thesis: Neuronal and Network Mechanisms of Ictogenesis

Vincent Fong, M.S. Lehigh University 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: Novel Targeting Strategies for Adenovirus Vectors: Investigating the Rad51 Promoter and Inducible Elements

Joseph Frasca, B.A. Ithaca College 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2010; Toxicology

Thesis: Interaction of Peripheral Inflammation and Pesticide Exposure in Multiple Hit Models of Parkinson's Disease: Comparative Vulnerability of Nigrostriatal Cell Bodies vs. Projection Areas

Benjamin Frisch, B.S. University of Rochester 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2010; Pathology

Thesis: Functional inhibition of osteoblastic cells in an in vivo mouse model of myeloid leukemia

Claire Hoffmire, B.S. University of Rochester 2006; Epidemiology

Thesis: Examination of Sleep Disturbances in Children with Down Syndrome and Multiple Comorbidities in New York State

Cory Hussar, B.A. Niagara University 2004, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Neuroscience

Thesis: Representation of Speed and Direction in Prefrontal Cortex during Motion Discrimination Tasks

Edward Matthew Kennedy, B.S. University of Delaware 2001, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: Macrophage nucleotide pools uniquely promote rNTP and dUTP incorporation into HIV-1 DNA during reverse transcription: affecting viral mutagenesis, viability, and potential therapeutic regimes

Dawn Leah Lee, B.S. The College of New Jersey 2002, M.S. University of Rochester 2009; Pathology

Thesis: Region-Specific Impact of Iron Deficiency on Postnatal CNS Development

Jie Li, B.S. Nankai University 2003, M.S. Nankai University 2006, M.S. University of Rochester 2010; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: The Non-Antibody Producing Role of B Cells in Inflammatory-Erosive Arthritis

Xi Li, B.S. University of Science and Technology of China 2003, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Microbiology and Immunology

Thesis: Kinetics of T Cell Cytokine Production, Chemokine, Production and Activation after Influenza Vaccination

Crystal McClain, B.S. University of Rochester 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2010; Neuroscience

Thesis: Pleiotrophin Maintenance of PDGFRX-defined Fetal Human Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cell Fate

Diana Metz-Estrella, B.S. University of Puerto Rico 2005, M.S. University of Rochester 2008; Pathology

Thesis: Duality of TRIP-1 Function in Regulating Osteoblast Activity In Vitro