IMSD Alumni and Students: You can contact old friends or network with our alumni. Join us on our Linked IN group and follow us in Facebook.
2020 Graduates
Alejandra Laureano, PhD (Mentor: Kelvin Kwan)
The role of transcriptional elements during inner ear neuronal development
Current: In transition to post-doc
Gabriel Villegas, PhD (Mentor: Isaac Edery)
Biochemical and Functional Analysis of DAYWAKE, a novel wake-sleep regulator in Drosophila melanogaster
Current: Assistant Teaching Professor at Rutgers University
2019 Graduates
Kumar Tiger, MS (Mentor: Maureen Barr)
Endogenous gab-28is present in CEMs, RnBs, HOB and additional neurons in the head
Current: Analytical Scientist at Catalent
2018 Graduates
Deanna De Vore, PhD (Mentor: Maureen Barr)
Extracellular Matrix Regulates Morphogenesis and Function of Ciliated Sensory Organs
Current: STEM Academy Biology Teacher, Passaic County Technical Institute
Olufunmilola (Funmi) Ibironke, PhD (Mentor: Stephan Schwander)
Air Pollution Particulate Matter Effects on Adaptive Human Anti-mycobacterial Immunity
Current; Post-doc; Rutgers Dept of Exposure Science and Epidemiology
Julia Bolanle Olayanju, PhD (Mentor: Bing Xia)
Understanding the Anti-cancer activity of Moringa Isothiocyanates in Breast Cancer Cells
Current: Exec. Director, Global Food Health Institutes; Founder, FoodNiche
Christina Ramirez, PhD (Mentor: Ah-Ng (Tony) Kong)
Epigenetic Regulation of NRF2 and Ursolic Acid in Skin Carcinogenesis
Current: Oncology Lead Biological Specialist, Prolong Pharmaceuticals (NJ):
2017 Graduates
Melvili Cintron Cotto, PhD (Mentor: Nancy Woychik)
Functional analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis VapC toxins
Current: Clinical Microbiology Fellow, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Lizahira Rodriguez-Colon, PhD (Mentor: Shridar Ganesan)
A role for G9a methyltransferase in the DNA response signal
Current:Clinical Research Coordinator II, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University
2016 Graduates
Christal Lewis, PhD (Mentor: Helmut Zarbl)
A Transgenerational Study of Exposure to Zeranol, a Dietary Contaminant with Potent Estrogenic Activity
Current: Toxicologist, Avon
Eileen Oni, PhD (Mentor: Ronald P. Hart)
Bioinformatic Analysis of DNA Methylation in Neural Progenitor Cell Models of Alcohol Abuse
Current: Health Science Policy Analyst, National Institutes of Health
Eva Rubio-Marrero, PhD (Mentor: Davide Comoletti)
Structural and Functional Studies of CASPR2, a Molecular Approach of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Current: Scientist II, Celgene (NJ)
Jairo Sierra, MS (Mentor: Suzy Chen)
Activation of Grm1 expression by inducible mutated Braf in vitro and in vivo
Current: Associate Scientist II, PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (NJ)
2015 Graduates
Adenrele (Akintobi) Gleason, PhD (Mentor: Barth Grant)
Functional Characterization of C. elegans F-BAR protein SDPN-1
Current: Post-doc (PRAT) Fellow, National Cancer Institue (Julia Cooper)
Kristina (Hernandez) Rodriguez, PhD (Mentor: Bonnie Firestein)
The role of NOS1AP, a schizophrenia susceptibility gene, in the regulation of dendrite branching, dendritic spine formation, and actin dynamics.
Current: Lead Medical Writer, MediTech Media (NY)
Letzibeth Mendez-Rivera, MS (Mentor: Steve Brill)
The SLX5 Paradox: Expression Of A Sumo-Targeted Ubiquitin Ligase Generates Toxic Poly-Sumo Chains In Yeast
Current: Laboratory Manager, U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (Washington, DC area)
Leonardo Valdivieso-Torres, PhD (Mentor: Monica Roth)
Isolation and Characterization of Retargeted Feline Leukemia Virus Envelope Proteins and Isolations of Host Factors Involve in Envelope Specific Entry
Current: International Sales Specialist, USA Scientific (Florida)
2014 Graduates
Allen Alcivar, PhD (Mentor: Bin Xia)
BRCA2 and PALB2 in Cellular Stress Response
Current: Scientist II, Bristol-Myers Squibb
Judith Canabal, PhD (Mentor: Sunita Kramer)
Analysis of Two Distinct Functions of the Roundabout 2 Receptor during Drosophila Cardiac Assembly.
Current: Ob/Gyn Resident, Morristown Medical Center, NJ (MD, June 2018, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, Puerto Rico)
Andrew Hoffmann, MS (Mentor: Michael Verzi)
Enteroid Culture and its Impact on Stem Cell and Cancer Research.
Current: not known
Tiffany King, PhD (Mentor: Sunita Kramer)
The Cytoskeletal Regulator Enabled Mediates Proper Cardiac Fusion during the Final Stages of Drosophila Dorsal Vessel Formation.
Current: Post-doc, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine (previous: Staff Scientists, “Bio-Bus”, NYC)
Frank Macabenta, PhD (Mentor: Sunita Kramer)
Investigating the Coordinated Expression and Function of the Netrin-Frazzled Signaling Pathway During Drosophila Dorsal Vessel Formation.
Current: Post-doc, Caltech
Adriana Martin, PhD (Mentor: William Welsh) (MD/PhD: MD, RWJMS 2016)
Biophysical Characterization of Novel Amphiphilic Macromolecules: Modeling Membrane Interactions
Current: Fellow, Cardiovascular Disease, Dept of Medicine, Univ. of Arizona Medical School
Winder Perez, PhD (Mentor: Terri Goss Kinzy)
Mutations in Eukaryotic Translation Elongation Factor 1A that alter Protein Synthesis & Actin Bundling
Current: Staff Microbiologist, Stryker (NYC area)
Maryann (Poku) Obiorah, PhD (Mentor: Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom)
Developmental Vulnerability of the Rat Hippocampus to Methylmercury (MEHG).
Current: Associate Scientific Director, Vaniam Group (Wash, DC area); formerly Senior Medical Writer, Vaniam)
Felicia Smith, PhD (Mentor: Robin Davis)
The Role of Neurotrophins in Regulating Spiral Ganglion Morphology.
Current: Epilepsy Coordinator, Dept of Neurology, University of Florida Health (Jacksonville)
Connan Vaca, PhD (Mentor: Ramsey Foty)
Fibronectin Matrix- Mediated Inhibition of Tumor Cell DispersalMD, May 2019, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Current: Intern, Dept. of Anesthesiology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami.
