Alumni
Alumni
Elizabeth Gonye, Ph.D., March 2024 (Bayliss Lab)
Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
“Understanding the role of GPCR-mediated pH sensitivity in hypercapnic breathing regulation at the retrotrapezoid nucleus”
Yuntian Guan, Ph.D., January 2024 (Yan Lab)
Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Blacksburg, VA
“Ulk1-mediated Mitophagy in Exercise-induced Adaptations in the Heart and Skeletal Muscle”
Gregory Busey, Ph.D., December 2023 (Desai Lab)
Continuing Medical School Training, UVA Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
“Combating Inflammation By Targeting TRPM7”
Catherine Doyle, Ph.D., December 2023 (Desai Lab)
Continuing Medical School Training, UVA Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
“TRPM7 and Intracellular Compartments: Channel Function in Enveloped Viral Entry ”
E. Blair Towers, Ph.D., November 2023 (Lynch Lab)
Continuing Medical School Training, UVA Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
“Biological Sex And Ovarian Hormones Matter In Addiction”
Jessica Hatter, Ph.D., May 2023 (Scott Lab)
Clinical Trials Proposal Writer, Medpace, Cincinnati, OH
“Neuronal regulation of impulsivity and metabolic adaptation”
Andrew Heindel, Ph.D., April 2023 (Hsu Lab) Senior Scientist, Analytical Chemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY
“Developing a Chemical Proteomics Platform for Capturing and Liganding RNA-Binding Activity in Cells”
Merci Best, Ph.D., April 2023 (Bloom Lab)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
“Breaking Barriers: A Quantitative Analysis of Axon Initial Segment Damage in Neurodegenerative Diseases”
Anders Nelson, Ph.D., April 2023 (Saucerman Lab)
Senior Computational Biologist, Oncology Data Science, AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA
“Phenotypic Screen Data Integration Infers Regulators of Fibroblasts”
Clint Upchurch, Ph.D., February 2023 (Leitinger Lab)
Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
“Targeting oxidized phospholipids by AAV-mediated gene therapy in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease”
Philip Seegren, Ph.D., December 2022 (Desai Lab)
Research Associate, Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
“Mitochondrial Ca2+ Signaling in Inflammation and Innate Immunity”
Binita Rajbanshi, Ph.D., November 2022 (Bloom Lab)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
“Localization and functional role of TaupT217”
Claire Ruddiman, Ph.D., August 2022 (Isakson Lab)
Scientist II, Baebies, Durham, NC
“Myoendothelial junction heterogeneity and pathways of vasodilation”
Tatianna Coverdell, Ph.D., August 2022 (Abbott/Campbell Lab)
Clinical Chemistry Fellow, Laboratory Medicine,
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
“Genetic, Anatomical, and Functional Analysis of Nucleus Ambiguous Neurons Controlling Digestive and Cardiorespiratory Functions”
Scott Yeudall, Ph.D., August 2022 (Leitinger Lab)
Continuing Medical School Training, UVA Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
“Regulation of Macrophage Function through Control of Lipid and Glucose Metabolism: Roles in Inflammation and Redox Homeostasis”
Mitch Granade, Ph.D., August 2022 (Harris Lab)
Postdoctoral Fellow, Internal Medicine Research Unit,
Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA
“Adenosine Regulation of Adipose Tissue Lipid Metabolism”
Matteo Ottolini, Ph.D., December 2021 (Sonkusare Lab)
Senior Medical Science Liaison, Genitourinary Oncology,
Bayer, Charlottesville, VA
“Endothelial TRPV4 channel signaling in blood pressure “regulation”
Adam Borne, Ph.D., June 2021 (Hsu Lab)
Computational Biologist, VantAI, Boston, MA
“Computational and Chemical Proteomic Strategies for Deconvoluting Inhibitor and Drug Mode of Action”
Adishesh K. Narahari, MD, Ph.D., March 2021 (Bayliss Lab)
Surgery Resident,
University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
“ATP and Large Signaling Metabolites Flux Through Caspase-activated Pannexin 1 Channels”
Brittany A. Martinez, Ph.D., May 2021 (Bland Lab)
Senior Scientist, Biomarker Lab, PPD, Richmond, VA
“Innate immune Signaling In Drosophila Melanogaster Shifts Lipid Metabolism To Support Immune Function”
Katelyn Ahern, Ph.D., December 2020 (Harris Lab)
Associate Consultant, Global Scientific Communications, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN
“Oxidized Neutral Lipid Lipolysis as a Novel Regulator of Insulin Signaling”
Dorian A Rosen, Ph.D., May 2019 (Gaultier Lab)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Laboratory of R. Luke Wiseman, PhD,
The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, La Jolla, CA
“Sigma-1 Receptor and the Control of Inflammation”
Michael Schappe, Ph.D., May 2019 (Desai Lab)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Laboratory of Stephen Liberles, PhD,
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
“Characterization of the Chanzyme TRPM7 in Macrophages”
Alexander Keller, Ph.D., May 2019 (Isakson Lab)
Project Leader, Boston Consulting Group, Bethesda, MD
“Mechanisms of Arterial Dilation in Exercise Hyperemia”
Leon DeLalio, Ph.D., December 2018 (Isakson Lab)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Laboratory of Sean Stocker PhD, Renal-electrolyte Division,
Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
“Regulation of Blood Pressure Homeostasis by Pannexin 1 Channels”
Vlad Serbulea, Ph.D., May 2018 (Leitinger Lab)
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
“Control of Macrophage Metabolism by Oxidized Phospholipids: Implications in Obesity-Associated Adipose Tissue Inflammation”
Kelley McQueeney, Ph.D., May 2018 (Lazo Lab)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Toney Letai’s Lab, Dan-Farber Cancer Institue/
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
“The Role of PTP4A3 Phosphatase in Microvascular Endothelial and Tumor Cells”
Sarah Gray, Ph.D., August 2017 (E. Barrett Lab)
Scientist II, Translational Science, Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA
“Unraveling Insulin Transport Across the Brain Endothelium”
Salome (Boroda) Alpert, Ph.D., May 2017 (Harris lab)
Medical Science Liaison, Takeda Oncology, Boston, MA
“Repositioning of Ritanserin for the Inhibition of DGKα and the Role of the Polybasic Domain in the Phosphoregulation of Lipins 1 and 3”
Jonathan Joy-Gaba, Ph.D., December 2016 (Scott lab)
Digital Media Coordinator, Mind & Life Institute, Charlottesville, VA
“Sphingosine Kinase 1-dependent Regulation of Smooth Muscle Phenotype”
Zeinab Chitforoushzadeh, Ph.D., August 2016 (Janes Lab)
Associate Scientist, Bioanalytical Department, Celerion, Lincoln Nebraska
“GATA6 Crosstalk between Insulin Signaling and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha-induced Gene Expression”
Janelle Weaver, M.D. (May 2018), Ph.D., May 2016 (Bayliss Lab)
Family Physician, Charlottesville, VA
“Pannexin 1 Channel Regulation and Function: Relevance to Both Normal Physiology and Disease”
Samantha Adamson, M.D. (May 2017), Ph.D., Aug. 2015 (Leitinger Lab)
Medical Student, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA
“Pannexin 1 and Adipose Tissue”
Marin Healy, Ph.D., Aug. 2015 (Hoehn Lab)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, David E. James Lab, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Molecular Bioscience,
University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
“The role of acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity in normal liver metabolism and pathophysiology in the context of obesity and cancer”
Evan Taddeo, Ph.D., Aug. 2015 (Hoehn lab)
Postdoctoral Fellow, Orian Shirihai Lab, University of California (UCLA)
“Discovery of novel mechanisms in skeletal muscle and liver underlying the regulation of blood glucose homeostasis”
Garrett Mullins, Ph.D., May 2015 (Harris Lab)
Senior Director, Elli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN
“Catecholamine-Induced Lipolysis Inhibits Glucose Uptake and Causes mTOR Complex Dissociation in Adipocytes”
Brandon Kenwood, Ph.D., Dec. 2014 (Hoehn Lab)
Analytical Biochemist, Division of Newborn Screening, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
“Identification and Design of a Novel Family of Mitochondrial Protonophores for Bioenergetics Analysis and the Treatment of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury”
Sarah Breevoort, M.D. (May 2017), Ph.D., Aug. 2014 (Schulman Lab)
Resident Physician, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
“The Role of Liver X Receptors in Reverse Cholesterol Transport and Atherosclerosis”
James Eaton, Ph.D., Aug. 2014 (Harris Lab)
Patent Counsel, AstraZeneca, Washington, DC
“Mechanistic Insight into Phosphoregulation of the Lipin Family”
Emily Moser, Ph.D., Aug. 2014 (Braciale Lab)
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Florida.
“Immune Mechanisms in Control of Lung Inflammation Injury after Influenza A Virus Infection”
Dylan Kennedy, Ph.D., Dec. 2013 (Yeager Lab)
Life Sciences Consultant, L.E.K Consulting, South Orange, NY
“Molecular Mechanisms of Adenosine A1 Receptor Allosteric Enhancers”
Jessica (Geisler) Bisceglia, Ph.D., May 2013 (Li Lab)
Technical Sales Specialist, Incucyte Live Cell Imaging and Analytical, New York Metropolitan Area
“Physiological Role of Vesicular Nucleotide Transporter in Regulating Pancreatic Beta Cell Function”
Katie Barletta, M.D. (May 2014), Ph.D., May 2012 (Mehrad and Linden Labs)
Medical Director, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Parsippany, NJ
“The Role of Adenosine A2B Receptors in the Leukocyte Response to Lung Injury and Infection”
Amanda (Gellett) Seward, Ph.D., May 2012 (Lynch Lab)
Associate Director, Global Scientific Communications, Sanofi Genzyme, Indianapolis, IN
“Characterization of Lipid Kinases Involved in the Synthesis of Alkyl Lysophosphatidic Acid”
Julia (Lemmon) Halterman, Ph.D., May 2012 (Wamhoff Lab)
Assistant Professor of Biomedicine, Biology Department, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA
“NFAT5-dependent Regulation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Modulation and Atherosclerosis”
Joanna (Sandilos) Rega, Ph.D., May 2012 (Bayliss Lab)
Director, Scientific Publications (Global Medical Affairs), Radius Health, Inc., Ambler, PA
“Mechanisms for Pannexin 1 Channel Modulation & Gating”
Perry Kennedy, Ph.D., Aug. 2011 (Lynch Lab)
Senior Manager, GU Oncology Field Medical at Pfizer, Kansas City, MI
“Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Characterization of a Sphingosine 1-phosphate Receptor Antagonist Prodrug”
Brooks Brodrick, M.D. (May 2013), Ph.D., May 2011 (Cohn Lab)
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Psychiatry, University of Texas, Southwestern
“Implications of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor-3 Signaling in Intestinal Epithelial Cells”
Faraaz Chekeni, M.D. (May 2012), Ph.D., Dec. 2010 (Ravichandran Lab)
Pediatrician, Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group, Palo Alto, CA
“Pannexin 1 Channels Mediate Find-me Signal Release and Selective Plasma Membrane Permeability During Apoptosis”
Reiesha Robbins, M.D. (May 2013), Ph.D., Dec. 2010 (Mirmira Lab)
Obstetrician/Gynecologist, OB/GYN, Healthy Woman OBGYN, Freehold, NJ
“Mechanisms of Islet Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus”
Alison (Roland) Sivak, Ph.D., Dec. 2010 (Moenter Lab)
Postdoctural Research Associate, Kash Lab, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
“Metabolic Regulation of Fertility: An Emerging Role for AMP-activated Protein Kinase in the Control of Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Neuron Function”
Michal Fortuna, Ph.D., Aug. 2010 (Guyenet Lab)
Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow, Hulsmann lab, Department of Neurophysiology, University of Göettingen, Germany
“Role of the RTN Neurons in the Control of Breathing”
Jeffrey Sturek, M.D. (May 2012), Ph.D., Aug. 2010 (Catherine “Lynn” Hedrick’s lab)
Assistant Professor, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA
“A Novel Role for ABCG1 in Pancreatic p Cell Function”
Laura (Johnson) Stephan, Ph.D., May 2010 (Hedrick Lab)
Lecturer, Biology Department, Belmont University, Nashville, TN
“Role of the G2A Receptor and LXR Phosphorylation in Hepatic Cholesterol Homeostasis”
Allison (Wojcik) Armstrong, Ph.D., Dec. 2009 (Hedrick Lab)
Executive Director, Rare Diseases Program, HemoShear, Charlottesville, VA
“An Emerging Role for Sterols in the Regulation of the Immune System”
Melissa (Hatley) Nagelin, Ph.D., Dec. 2009 (Hedrick Lab)
Scientific Review Officer, Division of Extramural Research Activities (DERA), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Bethesda, MD
“Role of 12/15-lipoxygenase in Macrophage ATP-binding Cassette Transporter G1 Expression and Function”
Carmella Evans Molina, Ph.D., Aug. 2009
Associate Professor and Director, Pediatric Diabetes Program, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research,
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
“The Little Engine That Couldn’t: The β Cell in Type 2 Diabetes”
Tye Deering, Ph.D., Dec. 2008 (Mirmira Lab)
Senior Scientist, Kester Laboratory, Pharmacology Department, University of Virginia (UVa), Charlottesville, VA
“The Methyltransferase SET7/9 Maintains Transcription and Euchromatin Structure at Islet-enriched Genes and Can Enhance Insulin Secretion”
Srilatha Raghuram, Ph.D., Dec. 2008 (Rastinejad Lab)
Managing Editor, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Elsevier, Cambridge, MA
“Structural and Functional Characterization of Orphan Nuclear Receptors”
Daniella Babu, Ph.D., May 2008 (Mirmira Lab)
Scientific Team Leader, Complete HealthVizion, McCann Health Medical Communications, Southport, CT
“Cooperative Mechanism of Pdx1 and Beta2/NeuroD1 Function at the Insulin Gene”
Emily (Fox) Wearne, Ph.D., Aug. 2008 (Shupnik Lab)
Pharmacologist, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Washington, DC
“Estrogen Receptor α and STAT5b Crosstalk: Implications for Estrogen-Stimulated Breast Cancer Proliferation”
April (Inyard) Alexandrow, Ph.D., May 2008 (Barrett Lab)
Operations Research Analyst & Facilitative Leader, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Washington, DC
“Low-frequency Muscle Contraction Increases Microvascular Blood Volume in Normal and Insulin Resistant States”
Carol (Rivera-Lopez) Galvis, Ph.D., May 2008 (Lynch Lab)
Acting Pharm/Tox Team Leader, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Washington, DC
“The Role of Lysophosphatidic Acid (LPA) in Angiogenesis and Tumor Development”
Jeremy Mauldin, Ph.D., Jan. 2008 (Hedrick Lab)
Senior Director of Business Development, Cardiovascular and Neuroscience Transactions, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ
“Macrophage ABCG1 Expression and Regulation in Type 2 Diabetes”
Allison (Berg) Aiello, Ph.D., May 2007 (Bayliss Lab)
Senior Principle Scientist, studying Rare Neurological Diseases, Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA
“Background and Receptor-Modulated Ion Channels in Cholinergic Neurons”
Seth DePuy, Ph.D., May 2007 (P. Barrett Lab)
Postdoctoral Scientist, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN
“The Regulation of T-Type Calcium Channels by G Protein βγ Dimers”
Christopher Capaldo, Ph.D., Aug. 2006 (Macara Lab)
Instructor, Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
“Characterization of Polarity Protein Function During Apical-Basal Polarization in MDCK Cells”
Josh Francis, Ph.D., Jan. 2006 (Mirmira Lab)
Research Scientist II, Gritstone Oncology, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA
“The Role of Chromatin and Coactivators in the Regulation of the Insulin Gene by the Homeodomain Factor Pdx-1”
Courtney Lappas, Ph.D., May 2006 (Linden Lab)
Associate Professor of Biology, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA
“The Modulation of CD4+ T Lymphocyte Activity by Adenosine A2A Receptor Activation”
Sangderk Lee, Ph.D., May 2006 (K. Lynch Lab)
Assistant Professor, Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Pharmacology & Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
“The Characterization of the Mammalian and Arachnid Lysophospholipase D Enzyme”
David Taylor, Ph.D., May 2006 (Mirmira Lab)
Assistant Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PA
“Mechanisms of Nkx6.1 Governing b Cell Development and Function”