Arbelaez, Juan Esteban
Oakwood University
Major: Biology
Project: Preservation of tissue samples in RNAlater for genomic and histological studies following experiments in Space
Mentor: Dr. Palniapan Sethu

Cooper, Aaron
Rhodes College
Major: Biology
Project: Impact of Breast Milk Exosomes on TREM-2 Expression in Mouse Microglial Cells: Implications for Inflammatory Processes
Mentor: Dr. Brian Sims

Davidson, Amelia
Southern Adventist University
Major: Psychobiology
Project: Progranulin (PGRN) is widely believed to be linked to many important functions in the body. Namely: lysosomal function & the development of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) when not functioning properly or lost entirely (Kao et al., 2017).
Mentor: Dr. Andrew Arrant

Dice, Ella
University of Alabama
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Project: Investigating the Effects of Cardiometabolic Syndrome on the Liver Circadian Clock
Mentor: Dr. Martin Young

Kim, Haley
Auburn University
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Project: Periodontitis is an inflammatory condition that damages the supporting structures of the teeth, which can lead to tooth loss and worsen diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, and cancer.
Mentor: Dr. Ping Zhang

McDaniel, Kylie
Texas A&M University
Major: Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience
Project: Sleep, Smoking, and Race: Not As Black and White As Expected
Mentor: Dr. Karen Gamble & Dr. Karen Cropsey

Neidigk, Jason
University of West Florida
Major: Biomedical Science and Biochemistry
Project: Generation and characterization of senataxin N-terminal domain mutations in the context of NHEJ
Mentor: Dr. Barry Sleckman

Neidigk, Daniel
University of West Florida
Major: Biomedical Science & Chemistry
Project: Dopaminergic Neuron Loss in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease
Mentor: Dr. Matt Goldberg

Pridemore, Aubrey
Samford
Major: Biology
Project: Insulin secretion from β-cells of pancreatic islets is essential for regulating whole blood glucose homeostasis
Mentor: Dr. Sushant Bhatnagar

Watkins, Riley
University of Montevallo
Major: Biology and Chemistry
Project: iPLA2β Expression in Female and Male NOD mice Differ in TLymphocyte Cytokine Secretion
Mentor: Dr. Sasanka Ramanadham

Watson, TiYanna
Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University
Major: Biology
Project: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves abnormal immune responses to the commensal organisms (the microbiota) that reside in the gastrointestinal tract.
Mentor: Dr. Craig Maynard

Ahn, Jennifer
Nova Southeastern University; Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Major: Biology
Project: TGF-B Mediated Regulation of Papss2 mRNA in ATDC5 cells
Mentor: Dr. Rosa Serra

Gracian, Kevino
University of West Florida; Pensacola, FL
Project: Intraocular pressure (Topic)
Mentor: Brian Samuel

Kim, Haley
Auburn University
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Project: Role of lipid droplets in the macrophage response to Porphyromonas gingivalis
Mentor: Dr. Ping Zhang

Neidigk, Jason
University of West Florida; Pensacola, FL
Major: Biomedical Science and Biochemistry
Project: Generation ofMcm3and SetxDouble Knockout Cells UsingCRISPR/Cas9
Mentor: Dr. Berry Sleckman

Powers, John
University of Oklahoma
Major: Microbiology
Project: Streptococcus pneumoniae (Topic)
Mentor: Dr. Carlos Orihuela

Anderson, Kristian
Rhodes College, Memphis, TN
Major: Neuroscience
Project: Investigating the Association of TDP-43 and Lysosomal Dysfunction
Mentor: Dr. Andrew Arrant

Chike, Ogenna
Xavier University of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, LA
Major: Biology
Project: Sialylation of EGFR by ST6Gal-I impacts downstream signaling pathways
Mentor: Dr. Susan Bellis

Harnew-Spradley, Sohpia "Sophie"
The Univeristy of the South, Sherwood, OR
Major: Neuroscience
Project: How is GLUT4 impacted in Dock3 KO Mice
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Alexander

Kelly, Olivia
Gannon University, Erie, PA
Major: Physchology and Biology
Project: Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 as a key regulator in Alzheimer’s disease-relatedpathology
Mentor: Dr. Qin Wang

Moye, Jonathan
Lee University, Grayson, GA
Major: Biological Sciences
Project: Characterizing phenotypic effects of mitotic protein Bub1deficiency in a zebrafish model
Mentor: Dr. John Parrant

Pan, Iris
Carnegie Mellon Unviersity, Pittsburgh, PA
Major: Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering
Project: Adaptation of hiPSC Culture and Cardiomyocyte Differentiation in a PBS Bioreactor System
Mentor: Dr. Jianyi "Jay" Zhang

Peterson, Holly
St. Olaf College, Holland, MI
Major: Chemistry and Music
Project: The Role of TAp73 Expression on Intrinsic Apoptosis in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Mentor: Dr. William J. Placzek

Robinson, Allison
Campbell University, Newport, NC
Major: Biology
Project: TGF-β mediated phosphorylation of Sox9 by PKA in an ATDC5 Model
Mentor: Dr. Rosa Serra

Smeltz, Ourania "Rania"
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Major: Biological Sciences and Microbiology
Project: Colonization dynamics of Lachnospiraceae bacteria in the mouse intestine
Mentor: Dr. Craig Maynard

Taglinao, Hanna
University of California, Merced, Merced, CA
Major: Biology, emphasis on Microbiology and Immunology
Project: Impairment of B cell development in ZTTK syndrome caused by SONloss-of function (LoF) mutations
Mentor: Dr. Erin Ahn

Vo, Leon
Colby College, Memphis, TN
Major: Chemistry
Project: A Comparative Study of Radiation Therapy on Glioblastoma Patient-Derived Xenografts
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Willey

Weber, Allison
University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
Major: Biology
Project: The Role ofERRy in the Development of Dopaminergic Neurons and Pathogenesis of Parkinson’s Disease
Mentor: Dr. Rita Cowell

Williams, Jayla
Alabama A&M University, Selma, AL
Major: Biology
Project: Pharmacological inhibition of EMT to suppress Metastatic Breast Cancer
Mentor: Dr. Rajeev Samant

SIBS-UPS Participants
Cagle, Loren "Alyssa" University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Major: Biology with emphasis in Neuroscience and AB in Music
Project: Mitochondrial Metabolism ModulatesBreast Cancer Metastasis
Mentor: Dr. Douglas Hurst

Gallion, Claire
Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, AL
Major: Biology
Project: The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on neutrophil fungal clearance
Mentor: Dr. Sixto Leal

Douglas, Hannah
Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Project: The Deficiency of ALOX5 Leads to Amplified Cardiorenal Inflammation In Acute Heart Failure Post-Myocardial Infarction
Mentor: Ganesh Halade (ganeshhalade@uabmc.edu)

Goodall, Grace
Williams College, Williams, MA
Major: Biology and Anthropology
Project: Biology & Anthropology
Mentor: Ceren Yara (cyarar@uab.edu)

Harpine, Courtnee
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Major: Exercise Science
Project: A Retrospective Data Collection of the Internal Fracture Fixation of Long Bones with the Stryker Plating System
Mentor: Sara J. Gould (sgould@uabmc.edu)

Jeon, Minhee
Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Major: Biology
Project: Exploring the Autophagy Lysosome Pathway fo Potential Biomarkers of Neurocognitive
Mentor: John J. Shaka (johnshacka@uabmc.edu)

Kittrell, Carolyn
Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Project: The Influence of CD4+ T Cell Depletion on the Development of HIV-1 Envelope Specific Antibodies
Mentor: James J Kobie (jjkobie@uabmc.edu)

Lindon, Scotti
Xavier University, New Orleans, LA
Major: Biology
Project: Mapping of Spactial Pattern of TBX1 and TBX5 to Determine the Cause of Congenital Heart Defects in Mice
Mentor: Jianbo Wang (j18wang@uab.edu)

Lipari, Natalie
SUNY Cortland, Cortland, NY
Major: Psychology
Project: TRelationnships between White Matter Microstructure, Neurochemistry, And Conditioned Fear Responses in Posttraumatic Stress
Mentor: David Knight (knightdc@uab.edu)

McCardell, Ronisha
Dillard University, New Orleans, LA
Major: Biology
Mentor: Serra A. Rosa (rserra@uab.edu)

McCloy, Meredith
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA
Major: Psychology - Neuroschience
Project: Targeting Skeletal Muscle with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) to Improve Fiber Type Distribution and Size in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Mentor: Yacoubian, Talene (tyacoubian@uabmc.edu)

Norwood, Chelsey
Spelman College, Atlanta, GA
Major: Biology and Anthropology
Project: Investigation of amyloid beta plaque accumulation in the hippocampi of transgenic miceeting Skeletal Muscle with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) to Improve Fiber Type Distribution and Size in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Mentor: Karen Gamble (klgamble@uab.edu)

Primeaux, Austin
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Major: Biochemistry
Project: Fox01-Activated CD36 Transcription Swittches Arteriolar Differentiation of Endothelial Cells
Mentor: Bin Ren (bren@uabmc.edu)

Ransom, Alleyah
Claflin College, Orangeburg, SC
Major: Biochemistry
Project: Examining the Use of Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches among African American and White Adults with Heart Failure in the Deep South
Mentor: Kristen Allen-Watts (krallen@uab.edu)

Scheinost, Ashlyn
McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA
Major: Biology
Project: The Relationship Between Adolescent Obesity and Depression
Mentor: Li Y Li (liyli@uabmc.edu)

Suppa, Evan
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
Major: Biology
Project: Targeting Skeletal Muscle with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) to Improve Fiber Type Distribution and Size in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Mentor: Kirk Habegger (kirkhabegger@uabmc.edu)

Terry, Dana (Mackensie)
Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL
Major: Biochemistry
Project: The Role of beta-Hydroxybutyrate in Gucagon Receptor Stimulated Food Intake Suppression in Dio mice
Mentor: Jane Allendorfer (allendjb@uab.edu)


SIBS-UPS (Undergraduate Pathology Scholars)

Garrison, Braden
Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Project: Lipid Peroxidation Signaling is Critical for C2C12 Myoblast Differentiation
Mentor: Namakkal Soorappan Rajasekaran (rajnsr@uab.edu)

Deshazor-Burnett, Lexis
North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, North Carolina
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Project: The Role of ATG7 in Vascular Smoth Muscle Cell Calcification
Mentor: Yabing Chen (ybchen@uab.edu)


(Mcnair Scholar)

Gann, Alex
Lee University, Cleveland, TN
Major: Biochemistry
Project: Relationship Between Vestibular Dysfunction and Fatigue in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis
Mentor: Jennifer Braswell Christy (jbraswell@uab.edu)

Dobrozsi, Rachel
East Tennessee State University, Johnson City TN
Major: Health Science
Project:The Effects of Different Resuscitation Fluids Used in Trauma on the Release of Heparanase
Mentor: Jillian Richter (jillianrichter@uabmc.edu)

Fokakis, Zoe
Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
Major: Chemistry and Psychology
Project: Classical Conditioning of Electroconvulsive Seizures as a Model of Psychogenic Seizures
Mentor: Farah Lubin (flubin@uab.edu)

Hanan, Jonathan
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Major: Chemistry
Project: Construction of Pol1 Active Center Mutant
Mentor: David Schneider (dschneid@uab.edu); Catie Scull (cescull@uab.edu)

Harris, Shelby
Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL
Major: Biology
Project: Rac1-induced mitochondrial ROS mediates mitochondrial biogenesis and profibrotic of macrophages in pulmonary fibrosis
Mentor: A Brent Carter (acarter@uabmc.edu)

Krishan, Veena
Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, AL
Major: Biology, Chemistry
Project: Pretreatment of Carprofen Impairs Inflammatiry Resolution Response and Promotes Cardiorenal Syndrome
Mentor: Ganesh Halade (ganeshhalade@uab.edu)

Lightfoot, Christopher
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Major: Biology
Mentor: Alexander Szalai (aszalai@uabmc.edu)

Lincoln, Beverly
Sonoma State University - Ronert Park, CA
Major: Biology
Project: Effects of Auxotrophy and Media Composition on Yeast Lifespan and Production of Aging Factors
Mentor: John Hartman (jhartman@uab.edu)

Nelson, Benjamin
Auburn University, Auburn, AL
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Project: Functional Characterization of Redox Responsive Genes in Lactobacillus reuteri
Mentor: Michael Gray (mjgray@uab.edu)

Pohl, Keely
Capital University, Columbus Ohio
Major: Chemistry/Pre-Medicine
Project: GCell Number Decreases with Suppressors of Site Iq Electron Leak and Suppressors of Site IIIo Electron Leak in Hyperoxia Exposure of Murine Epithelial Cells
Mentor: Trent Tipple (ttipple@peds.uab.edu)

Raymundo, Allison
Crafton Hills College, Yucaipa, CA
Major: Chemistry
Project: Autophagy in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
Mentor: Jianhu Zhang (jianhuazhang@uabmc.edu)

Sidebottom, Christian
Union University Jackson, TN
Major: Cell and Molecular Biology
Project: Myofiber Type Proportion Disparity Between Races in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury
Mentor: Mark Bevensee (bevensee@uab.edu)

Smith, Ashley
Alcorn State University, Alcorn, MS
Major: Biochemistry
Project: REV-ERBa Influences on Autophagy in WT and CBK Hearts
Mentor: Martin Young (martinyoung@uabmc.edu)

Tobin, Brielle
Duke University, Durham, NC
Major: Neuroscience
Project: FRZB is a novel ;potential biomarker for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Mentor: Peter King (phking@uabmc.edu)

Zoretich, Kaeli The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH
Major: Biochemistry and Moloecular Biology
Project: Preliminary Phenotypic Characterization of Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from Normal and Leukemic Samples
Mentor: Ravia Bhatia (rbhatia@uabmc.edu)


SIBS-UPS (Undergraduate Pathology Scholars)

Stumpf, Hannah
Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI
Major: Biochemistry/Mathematics
Project: SPAG5 Expression in Breast Cancer
Mentor: Sooryanarayana Varambally (soorya@uab.edu)

Abdo, Yasmeen
University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
Major: Biochemistry
Project: Oncogenic Potential of Somatic Mutations in Splicing Factor ZC3H11A
Mentor: Akinyemi Ojesina (ojesina@uab.edu)

Branscomb, Rachael
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
Major: Biology
Project: Prolactin receptor signaling in the pancreatic β-cell: The role of STAT5
Mentor: Ronadip Banerjee (ronadip@uab.edu)

Dyer, Elizabeth
St. Francis University, Loretto, PA
Major: Chemistry
Project: Understanding the Role and Relationship of IL10 and ICOSL in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Mentor: Craig Maynard (clmaynard@uab.edu)

Eastep, Gunnar
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Major: Chemistry
Project: Elucidating the Specificity of ASV Matrix Binding to Plasma Membrane Constituent
Mentor: Jamil Saad (saad@uab.edu)

Hale, Kaelee
Rocky Mountain College, Billings, MT
Major: Biology, Chemistry
Project: Rac1 Regulates Apoptosis Resistance in Pro-Fibrotic Alveolar Macrophages Via Mediation of Mitochondrial Dynamics and Metabolic Reprogramming
Mentor: A. Brent Carter (brarter1@uab.edu)

Hartheimer, Joline
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Major: Chemical Engineering
Project: Cellular Mechanisms Underlying Gene-Nutrient Interactions Affecting Longevity
Mentor: John Hartman (jhartman@uab.edu)

Kem, Danielle
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Major: Biology
Project: 23nm Diameter Pre-formed a-synuclein Fibrils are More Effective at Inducing Parkinson’s Disease Pathology in Spraque Dawley Rats
Mentor: Andrew West (abwest@uab.edu)

Mallenahalli, Sheila
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Major: Biological Engineering
Project: Effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines on galactose deficient IgA1 production in IgA Nephropathy B cells
Mentor: Colin Reily (creily@uab.edu)

Manu, Nidhi
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Major: Chemistry with Biochemistry Specialization
Project: Session-to-session performance measures of stroke survivors performing two body-weight-support treadmill training protocols
Mentor: David A. Brown (dbrownpt@uab.edu)

Joshua Nougaisse
Georgia Gwinnett College. Lawrenceville, GA
Major: Biochemistry
Project: Growing Crystals of the High Affinity Copper Uptake Protein (hCTR1) for Structural Determination Using X-ray Crystallography
Mentor: Stephen Aller (sgaller@uab.edu)

Nutter, Christopher
Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
Major: Biochemistry
Project: Investigating the maturation and cell-cycle of hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes after electrical stimulation
Mentor: Jianyi Jay Zhang.(jayzhang@uab.edu)

Patel, Kush
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Major: Mathematics
Project: Assessing the Role of TMD12 in Ion Translocation of the Na/Bicarbonate Cotransporter, NBCe1
Mentor: Mark Bevensee (bevensee@uab.edu)

Scott, Johnathan
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Major: Biology, emphasis on Biotechnology
Project: The Relationship Between Alpha-Synuclein, Alpha-Galactosidase A, and Ischemic Stroke
Mentor: John Shacka (shacka@uab.edu)

Sutton, Rachel
Martin Methodist College, Pulaski, TN
Major: Biology
Project: Do Lactic Acid Bacteria Convert Glucosinolates to AHR Agonists during Food Fermentation?
Mentor: Michael Gray (mjgray@uab.edu)

Samantha Yates
Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA
Major: Biochemistry
Project: The G protein-coupled Estrogen Receptor is Required for Normal Swimming Performance in Zebrafish
Mentor: Daniel Gorelick (danielg@uab.edu)


SIBS-UPS (Undergraduate Pathology Scholars)

Ankenbauer, Katherine
Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN
Major: molecular biology
Project: The role of PAICS in the tumorigenesis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Mentor: Sooryanarayana Varambally (sorrya@uab.edu)

Zubov, Tanya
Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC
Major: Biology
Project: Effect of time-restricted alcohol feeding on select clock and metabolic genes in the liver and hippocampus
Mentor: Shannon Bailey (sbailey@uab.edu)

Ansell, James
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Mentor: Palaniappan Sethu (psethu@uab.edu)

Bloom, Emma
Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
Major: Neuroscience
Mentor: Rosalinda Roberts (rcusidor@uab.edu)

Brown, Blake
Simpson College, Indianola, IA
Major: Neuroscience
Mentor: Candace Floyd (clfloyd@uab.edu)

Chavez, Jennifer
Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL
Major: Biology
Mentor:Michael Gray (mjgray@uab.edu)

Fyfe, Abby
Central College, Pella, IA
Major: Biochemistry
Mentor: N. Ambalanannan (ambal@uab.edu)

Gerges, Ereny
University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Pembroke, NC
Major: Chemistry and Biology
Mentor: A. Brent Carter (bcarter1@uab.edu)

Lee, David
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Mentor: Palaniappan Sethu (psethu@uab.edu)

Lee, Joshua
North Park University, Chicago, IL Major: Biology
Mentor: Mohammad Hassan (hassank@uab.edu)

Luikart, Shelby
Trinity University, San Antonio, TX
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Mentor: Jeonga Kim (jakim@uab.edu)

Newman, Hannah
East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN
Major: Microbiology
Mentor: David Schneider (dschneid@uab.edu)

Peoples, Felicia
Huntingdon College, Montgomery, AL
Major: Biochemistry
Mentor: John Shacka (shacka@uab.edu)

Ravishankar, Pavitra
University of California-Davis, Davis, CA
Major: Microbiology
Mentor: Paul Goepfert

Swain, Courtney
Universityof West Florida, Pensacola, FL
Major: Biology
Mentor: Yang, Yang (yangyang@uabmc.edu)

Travis, Roman
eduSamford University, Birmingham, AL
Major: Physics and Biochemistry
Mentor: Ganesh Halade (halade@uab.edu)

Treffalls, John
Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Major: Biology/Psychology
Mentor: Paul Gamlin (pgamlin@uab.edu)

Tuluca, Andrei
Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
Major: Health and Exercise Science
Mentor:Sabine Huke (huke2@uab.edu)


SIBS-UPS

Bandyopadhyay, Ananya
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Mentor: Douglas Hurst (dhurst@uab.edu)

Roman-Holba, Samara
Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY
Major:
Mentor: Sooryanarayana Varambally (soorya@uab.edu)

Clanton, Nicholas
Samford University
Major: Biochemistry and Chemistry
Project: The Role of Non-Canonical Translation in Proliferation and Survival of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Mentor: Sunnie Thompson (sunnie@uab.edu)

French, Katelyn
College of Wooster
Major: Mathematics
Project: Distribution of clinical features and laboratory characteristics in multiple myeloma patients with and without light chain restricted disease
Mentor: Elizabeth E. Brown (elbrown@uab.edu)

Hedaya, Alexander
University of Georgia
Major: Biology
Project: Neuronal Activity and NBCe1 Stimulation Elicit Distinct Changes in Extracellular pH and Presynaptic pH of the Rat Hippocampus
Mentor: Mark Bevensee (bevensee@uab.edu)

Kulman, Dan
Cleveland State University
Major: Biology
Project: The Effector Domain of Myristoylated Alanine-rich C-Kinase Substrate is Required for its Nuclear Localization in Glioblastoma Multiforme
Mentor: Christopher Willey (cwilley@uab.edu)

LaMagna, Sam
CUNY Queens College
Major: Neuroscience
Project: Purification of ABCA4 for X-Ray Crystallographic Structural Studies
Mentor: Alecia Gross (agross@uab.edu)

Luft, Marissa
Ball State University
Major: Biochemistry
Project: Exploring the Novel Surface of GBS GAPDH: Structure-Functional Analysis of the Q306T Mutant
Mentor: Dabasish Chattopadhyay (debasish@uab.edu)

Moore, Megan
University of Tennessee – Knoxville
Major: Animal Science - Bioscience
Project: ATG Dose Responses in Type II Murine Lung Epithelial Cells
Mentor: Trent Tipple (ttipple@uab.edu)

Moraczewki, Jason
University of Georgia
Major: Biology and Psychology
Project: PDLIM3 a Regulator of Glycolytic and Oxidative Skeletal Muscle
Mentor: Glenn Rowe (gcrowe@uab.edu)

Pham-Hua, Duyen
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Major: Biochemistry
Project: TA/PVPON-containing nanothin coatings can suppress pro-inflammatory chemokine synthesis and potentially elicit islet transplant survival
Mentor: Hubert Tse (htse@uab.edu)

Pound, Ilya
Hendrix College
Major: Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Project: Investigation of mechanistic differences between gemcitabine and cytarabine through analysis of gene-drug interactions in S. cerevisiae
Mentor: John Hartman (jhartman@uab.edu)

Rhynes, Summer
Birmingham Southern College
Major: Biology
Project: The Developmental Expression of Protective Intestinal Antibody Localization
Mentor: Colin Martin (Colin.Martin@childrensal.org)

Robbins, Cason
Mississippi College
Major: Biology/Medical Sciences & Chemistry
Project: Effects of PGC-1α Deletion in Pyramidal Neurons on Memory
Mentor: Rita Cowell (rcowell@uab.edu)

Sams, David
Western Kentucky University
Major: Biology
Project: Regulation of Myocardial Fatty Acid Oxidation by the Cardiomyocyte Circadian Clock: Potential Role of Biotinylation
Mentor: Martin Young (meyoung@uab.edu)

Wani, Mashhood
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Project: Physiological estrogens exert opposing effects on heart rate in zebrafish embryos
Mentor: Dan Gorelick (danielg@uab.edu)


SIBS-UPS - Undergraduate Pathology Scholars 2015

Bolus, Daniel
Tulane University
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Project: Effect of Heat-Shock Stress on Cell Proliferation and Differentiation of Myoblasts in vitro
Mentor: Raj Soorappan (rajnsr@uab.edu)

Hudaib, Sami
Georgia Gwinnett College
Major: Biochemistry
Project: Multiple Myeloma Immune System Evasion and Bone microenvironment manipulation due to varying expressions of Runx2 in Murine Models
Mentor: Yang Yang (yangyang@uab.edu)

Lena, Umme
Mount Holyoke College
Major: Biology and English
Project: Examination of diurnal rhythms in alcoholic metabolism enzymes of mice with altered circadian clocks
Mentor: Shannon Bailey (sbailey@uab.edu)

Milligan, Emily
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Major: Neuroscience
Project: Investigating the Regulation of αsyn Clearance by αGal A in Parkinson Disease
Mentor: John Shacka (shacka@uab.edu)

Williams, Austin
Birmingham Southern College
Major: Chemistry
Project: Investigation of Hemoglobin Degradation and Subsequent Heme Release Mechanisms by Oxidative Stress Using Spectral Deconvolution
Mentor: Rakesh Patel (rakeshp@uab.edu)

Andrew Aristorenas
Christian Brothers University
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Project: Diabetes attenuates circadian clock output in the mouse heart
Mentor: Martin Young (meyoung@uab.edu)

Patrick Blackmon
University of Alabama
Major: Biology
Project: Methuosis: an intoxication cell death pathway to target deadly glioblastomas
Mentor: Kevin A. Roth (karoth@uab.edu)

Austin Clark
University of West Florida
Major: Biology/Pre-Professional
Project: Diet, exercise or both for improving obesity measures in children: a meta-analysis
Mentor: David Allison (dallison@uab.edu)

Steven Cochrun
Hendrix College
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Project: Adherent-invasive E. coli (AIED, LF82) potently activates inflammatory signals in blood monocytes, but not intestinal macrophages in normal subjects
Mentors: Philip Smith (pdsmith@uab.edu) and Lesley Smythies (lesmy@uab.edu)

Rebecca Crowther
Rowan University
Major: Biological Sciences
Project: Post-transcriptional regulation of CCK2 by HuR in a mouse model of spinal cord injury
Mentor: Peter King (pking@uab.edu)

Charlene Farmer
Judson College
Major: Biology and Chemistry
Project: Differential impact of various fluorescent protein tagging on the subcellular localization of planar cell polarity protein Vangl2
Mentor: Jianbo Wang (j18wang@uab.edu)

Brett Habermehl
American University
Major: Biology
Project: Genetic buffering of RNR2, the catalytic protein of the small subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, in S. cerevisiae
Mentor: John Hartman (jhartman@uab.edu)

Riley Jay
Wake Forest University
Major: Biology
Project: Exploring the tole of G9a in hippocampus-dependent fear memory consolidation
Mentor: Farah Lubin (flubin@uab.edu)

Erin Katz
Brown University
Major: Biochemistry
Proejct: Independent effects of early life stress and aggression trait on cardiovascular function
Mentor: Ilan Kerman (kerman@uab.edu)

Breanna Lee
James Madison University
Major: Biology
Project: Regulation of neural and neural crest development by HP1-y
Mentor: Chenbei Chang (cchang@uab.edu)

Felicia Lombardi
Emory University
Major: Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology
Project: The developing serotonin system in rats that are susceptible vs resistant to the negative effects of early-life antidepressant exposure
Mentor: Sarah Clinton (clintons@uab.edu)
Madeline McGrath
Eckerd College
Major: Biology
Project: Vascular smooth muscle ferritin deletion as a model for metabolic syndrome
Mentors: James George (jgeorge@uab.edu) and Anupam Agarwal (agarwal@uab.edu)

Matthew McCay
University of Alabama
Major: Chemical Engineering
Project: Effects of osteoarthritis on muscle inflammation susceptibility in total knee arthroplasty patients
Mentor: Marcas Bamman (mbamman@uab.edu)

Andrew Merrill
Thomas Moore College
Major: Biology
Project: A structual and functional analysis of cryptosporidium parvum pyruvate kinase
Mentor: Debasish Chattopadhyay (debasish@uab.edu)

David Osula
Samford University
Major: Biochemistry
Project: Localization of cGMP-gated cation channel b subunit in mouse retina
Mentor: Steve Pittler (pittler@uab.edu)

Melissa Parrish
Lipscomb University
Major: Molecular Biology
Project: Hearing and language outcome of cochlear implant patients with cytomegalovirus in the perilymph
Mentor: Shannon Ross (sacton@uab.edu)

Meredith Barefield
University of Southern Mississippi
Major: Biochemistry
Project: Differential susceptibility of HPV positive and negative head and neck cancers to EGFR and PARP inhibition
Mentor: Shih-Hsin (Eddy) Yang(eyang@uab.edu)

Susanna Basappa
University of San Francisco
Major: Biochemistry
Project: The Effects of Heparin Aerosol on Chlorine Induced Lung Injury
Mentor: Sadis Matalon (sadis@uab.edu)

Sheila Bhavsar
University of Georgia
Major: Biology
Project: LRRK2 Role in Neuroinflammation Associated with Parkinson's Disease
Mentor: Andrew West (abwest@uab.edu)

Yu-Rei (Raymond) Chang
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Major: Biological Sciences
Project: Down-regulation of TNF-related signaling is associated with greater resistance training-induced muscle regrowth among atrophied older adults
Mentor: Marcas Bamman (mbamman@uab.edu)

Erin Feeney
Oakland University
Major: Biology
Project: MARCKS as a Promoter of Cellular Senescence in Glioblastoma
Mentor: Chris Willey (cwilley@uab.edu)

Stacey Harrison
Cornell College
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Project: Investigating alternative mechanisms of translation initiation induced by flaviviral infection
Mentor: Sunnie Thompson (sunnie@uab.edu)

Valentine Nwachukwu
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Project: Small peptides as treatments for Alzheimer’s disease
Mentor: Inga Kadisha (ikadisha@uab.edu)

Louis Porreca
University of Scranton
Major: Neuroscience
Project: The Combinatorial Effects of AT-101, Tamoxifen, and Temozolomide on Glioblastoma Multiforme
Mentor: Kevin Roth (karoth@uab.edu)

Matthew Ratti
Rutgers University
Major: Biology
Project: Effects of Diprotin A and Anti-CD122 on Bone Marrow Engraftment Efficiency in Humanized Cooley’s Anemia Mice in the Absence of Cyto-Reductive Conditioning
Mentor: Tom Ryan (trayan@uab.edu)

Alexa Sughroue
Beloit College
Major: Biochemistry and Spanish
Project: Regulation of breast cancer metastasis by SIN3A
Mentor: Doug Hurst (dhurst@uab.edu)

Billy Joe (B.J.) Ammons, Jr.
Lurleen B. Wallace Community College
Major: Biomedical Science
Project: The Cardiomyocyte Circadian Clock Directly Regulates β-Hydroxybutarate Dehydrogenase Activity
Mentor: Martin Young (meyoung@uab.edu)

Margaret Apperson
The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
Major: Chemistry
Project: The Role of Langerhans Cells in Carcinogenesis of the Skin
Mentor: Laura Timares (timares@uab.edu)

Rebecca Duron
Auburn University
Double Major: microbiology and German
Project: Identifying the Pathway by which Glucose Induces Cardiomyocyte TXNIP Expression
Mentor: Anath Shalev (shalev@uab.edu)

Morgan Jackson
Villanova University
Major: Biology, Spanish minor
Project: Vitamin E Supplementation as a Strategy for Preventing Nosocomial Infections
Mentor: Karen Iles (kiles@uab.edu)

Tanu Patel
University of California-Berkeley
Major: Cognitive science, Neuroscience Emphasis
Project: GSK3β inhibition protects healthy cells by repairing irradiation-induced DNA damage
Mentor: Shih-Hsin (Eddie) Yang (eyang@uab.edu)

Lindy Pence
Wofford College
Major: Biology
Project: Inhibition of the mTOR/PI3K Pathways to Enhance Sensitivity of Ovarian Cancer Cells to Chemotherapy Treatment
Mentor: Charles (Chip) Landen (clanden@uab.edu)

Rachael Sarrett
Samford University
Major: Premed/Psychology
Project: Making New Photoreceptors from Retinal Pigment Epithelium
Mentor: Timothy Kraft (twkraft@uab.edu)

Samantha Scanlon
Harding University
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular biology, Minor in Spanish
Project: Investigation of the Mechanism of Regulation of Proliferation and Radiation Sensitivity by the MARCKS protein in Glioma Cells
Mentor: John Jarboe, MD/PhD Student Mentor (jjarbo1@uab.edu)
Mentor: Christopher Willey, Faculty Mentor (cwilley@uab.edu)

Paige Souder
Samford University
Major: Biochemistry
Project: The Role of ERK Phosphorylation in BQCA-mediated LTD in CA1 hippocampal neurons
Mentor: Robert Mans, Postdoc Mentor (rmans@uab.edu)
Mentor: Lori McMahon, Faculty Mentor (mcmahon@uab.edu)

Carly Twarog
Pittsburg State University
Major: Biology
Project: Extra-ribosomal Functions of RPS25
Mentor: Sunnie Thompson (sunnie@uab.edu)

Emily Courtman
Auburn University
Major: Pre-med/Biology
Project: Changes in Transforming Growth Factor β Signaling and Activation with Stretching of Mouse Lung Epithelial Cells
Mentor: Namasivayma Ambalavan (nambalavanan@peds.uab.edu)

BreeOna Ebrecht
Northern Michigan University
Major: Pre-Med/Psychology
Project: A Yeast Model for Development of CF Therapeutics
Publication: Holly EN, Ebrecht B, Prus AJ. The neurotensin-1 receptor agonist PD149163 inhibits conditioned avoidance responding without producing catalepsy in rats. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2011 Jan 27.
Mentor: John Hartman (jhartman@uab.edu)

Josh Freda
Virginia Tech
Major: Biology, Minor in Spanish & Chemistry
Project: Analysis of Hypothalamic Feeding Circuits in Response to Induced Loss of Primary Cilium in Adult Mice: ISH Characterization of NPY, POMC, AgRP and MCH mRNA
Mentor: Robert Kesterson (kesterso@uab.edu)

Rebecca Garrett
Liberty University
Major: Molecular Biology
Project: Novel Mechanisms for the Treatment of Breast Cancer: In Vitro and In Vivo Models
Mentor: Boris Pasche (Boris.Pasche@ccc.uab.edu)

Meredith Hubbard
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Major: Molecular Biology
Project: Determining the Presence and Localization of Septin2 and Tulp1 in Rod Cells
Mentor: Alecia Gross agross@uab.edu

Andrea Loes
Arizona State University
Major: Microbiology
Project: Characterization of the Periplasmic Ferric Binding Protein of Mycobacterium smegmatis
Mentor: Michael Niederweis (mnieder@uab.edu)

QueenDenise Okeke
Columbia University
Major: Psychology/Statistics
Project: The Effects of Green Tea Component, EGCG, on Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells
Trygve Tollefsbol (trygve@uab.edu)

Jeremy Sheppard
Georgia Institute of Technology
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Project: Engineered Polycaprolactone and Cellulose Substrates for MCF-7 F-108 Co-cultures
Joel Berry (jlberry@uab.edu)

Aneesh Tyle
Vanderbilt University
Major: Biomedical Science
Project: 5-Hydroxytryptamine 1B Receptor (5-HT1B) Expression in the Human Caudal Brainstem in Major Depression
Mentor: Ilan Kerman (kerman@uab.edu)