NIP Trainees

Congratulations to Summer Kathol. She received the Dr Zofia Zukowska Award for Excellence in Thesis Research yesterday at the Convocation Ceremony. Summer is a PhD candidate in the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience and a previous NIP fellow. She is doing her thesis research in Dr Italo Mocchetti’s lab.

NIP Trainees 2018-2019 Academic Year

Lorenzo Bozzelli: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Katherine Conant, MD
Thesis Research: The role of MMPs and PNNs in HAND.

Deran Erdengiz: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Kathy Maguire-Zeiss, PhD
Thesis Research: Synuclein directly regulates L-type VGCC activity and function in dopaminergic neurons.

Cameron McKay: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Guinevere Eden, D.Phil.
Thesis Research: Developmental dyslexia and hippocampal volume.

Mondona McCann: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Kathy Maguire-Zeiss, PhD
Thesis Research: Polychlorinated biphenyls and synuclein as a ‘dual hit’ model of astrocytic dysfunction.

Laya Rajan: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Chandan Vaidya, PhD
Thesis Research: Neuroplasticity due to obesity in the developing brain. 

Stephanie Sloley: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Mark Burns, PhD
Thesis Research: Identifying changes in hippocampal synaptic plasticity following repetitive mild traumatic brain injury.

Recent NIP Trainees

Kaela Singleton: Predoctoral Trainee  (NIH F99 Awarded)
Mentor: Maria Donoghue, PhD and Elena Silva, PhD
Thesis Research: Mechanisms of regulation and function of Sox 11 in frog and mouse. 

Erin Wenzel: Predoctoral Trainee (NRSA Awarded)
Mentor: Italo Mocchetti, PhD
Thesis Research: Intracellular mechanisms of HIV-1 envelope protein neurotoxicity.

Brittany Aguilar: (Thesis defended)
Mentors: Patrick Forcelli, PhD and Ludise Malkova, PhD
Thesis Research: Investigating contributions of intermediate and deep layers of superior colliculus to defensive and emotional behaviors.

Carrie Leonard: (Thesis defended)
Mentor: Maria Donoghue, PhD
Thesis Research: EphA7 regulates dendritic morphology and postnatal synapse formation in cerebral cortex. 

Lanier Heyburn: (Thesis defended)
Mentors: Brent Harris, MD, PhD and Charbel Moussa, MBBS, PhD
Thesis Research: Effect of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on TDP-43 localization.

Ted Turesky: (Thesis defended)
Mentor: Guinevere Eden
Thesis Research: Neural development and degeneration: An fMRI study on the motor system in children, young adults, and old adults. 

Megan Allen: (Thesis defended)
Mentors: Katherine Conant, MD and Kathy Maguire-Zeiss, PhD
Thesis Research: MMP-1 Mediated PAR-1 Signaling and Fragile X Syndrome. 

Kelly Chamberlain (Thesis defended)
Mentor: Jeffrey Huang, PhD
Thesis Research: Oligodendrocyte Regulation of Neuronal Energy Metabolism and  ATP Buffering.

Amanda DiBattista (awarded an F31 NRSA; Thesis defended)
Mentor: Bill Rebeck, PhD
Thesis Research: Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Gene APOE Predicts Molecular Differences in the Absence of Disease. 

Summer Kahol (awarded an F31 NRSA; Thesis defended)
Mentor: Italo  Mocchetti, PhD
Thesis Research:  Investigating Mitochondrial Dynamic Impairment by HIV Viral  Protein Tat and the Protective Capacity of Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP).

Gustavo Rodriguez (awarded an F31 NRSA; Thesis defended)
Mentor: Bill Rebeck, PhD
Thesis Research: Effect of APOE Genotype on Glial Activation in a Mouse Model  of Amyloid Deposition.

Carissa Winland Berger (awarded an F31 NRSA; Thesis defended)
Co-Mentors:  Kathy Maguire-Zeiss, PhD and Stefano Vicini, PhD
Thesis Research:  The Effect of Inflammation on Striatal Circuitry. 

Teal Connor (PhD Granted): Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Bill Rebeck, PhD
Thesis Research: The Intracellular Domains Required for ApoER2’s Effect on  Dendritic Spine Density. 

Michael Smirnov (PhD Granted): Predoctoral Trainee
Mentors: Jeffrey Urbach, PhD and  Herb Geller, PhD
Thesis Research: Structural and Mechanical Influence on Growth Cone Guidance  and Axonal Regeneration. 

Patricia Washington (PhD Granted): Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Mark Burns, PhD
Thesis Research: The Role of Amyloid-Beta After Traumatic Brain Injury: Injury Mediator or Marker? 

Charisse Winston (PhD Granted): Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Mark Burns, PhD
Thesis Research: The Effect of APOE Genotype on Neuronal Remodeling Caused  by Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

NIP Trainees Prior to 2012 (predoctoral and postdoctoral, in alphabetical order):

Mary O. Adedoyin, Ph.D.: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. Neale / Dr. Vicini
Thesis Research: The Role of N-acetylaspartylglutamate in the Amygdala.

Liza Q. Bundesen, Ph.D. : Predoctoral Trainee (Ph.D. awarded December, 2003)
Co-Mentors: Dr. Barbara Bregman and Dr. Larry Kromer
Thesis Research: :Â Ephrins and Eph Receptors Participate in Spinal Cord Development and Adult Injury Responses.

Kimberly R. Byrnes, Ph.D. : Postdoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. Alan Faden
Thesis Research: Role of Microglial Related Inflammation in the Spinal Cord Response to Injury. Gregory S. Emch, Ph.D. : Predoctoral Trainee
Co-mentors: Dr. Jean Wrathall and Dr. Stefano Vicini
Postdoctoral Research:Â Synaptic function after SCI.

Craig Dietrich, Ph.D : Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. Martin Morad
Thesis Research: Protons as Transmitters in Synaptic Signaling.

Andrew E. Emery, Ph.D.: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. J. Wroblewski
Thesis Research: Neuroprotective mechanisms of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1

Ivy V. Estabrooke, Ph.D. : Predoctoral Trainee (PhD awarded November, 2005)
Co-mentors: Dr. Paul Aisen and Dr. Michael Ullman
Thesis Research: Neuropharmacological Approaches to the Recovery of Language after Neural Insult.

Jae K. Lee, Ph.D. : Predoctoral Trainee (PhD awarded October, 2005)
Mentor: Dr. Jean Wrathall
Thesis Research: Alterations in the Hoffman-Reflex After Spinal Cord Injury.

Judith M. Lytle, PhD : Predoctoral Trainee (PhD awarded May, 2007)
Mentor: Dr. Jean R. Wrathall and Dr. Vittorio Gallo
Thesis Research: Electrophysiological Characterization and Transcriptional Control of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells in the Acutely Injured Spinal Cord .

John G. Partridge, Ph.D. : Postdoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. Stefano Vicini
Postdoctoral Research: Excitatory Neurotransmission in Mouse Striatum: The role of NMDA and trkB receptors.

Esther Magnuson, Ph.D.: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. Huntsman / Dr. Vicini
Thesis Research: Inhibitory control of cortical interneurons in mouse somato-sensory cortex

Sakura S. Minami, Ph.D.: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. Rebeck / Dr. Matsuoka
Thesis Research: The role of Fyn in the pathogenic processes of Alzheimer’s disease

Ahdeah Pajoohesh-Gangi, Ph.D.: Postdoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. Faden
Thesis Research: Cell Cycle Regulation after Spinal Cord Injury in Mice mouse model of contusive SCI.

Bridget N. Queenan, Ph.D.: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentors: Dr. Daniel Pak and Dr. Stefano Vicini
Thesis Research: Synapse- and Cell-specific Plasticity in the Hippocampus

William J. Rosoff Ph.D. : Postdoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. Geoffrey Goodhill
Postdoctoral Research: Mechanisms of Axonal Gradient detection. Lauren E. Ullrich: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. Friedman / Dr. Turner
Thesis Research: Neural structures underlying recognition memory in mild cognitive impairment

Jill Turner, PhD. : Predoctoral Trainee (PhD awarded June 2006)
Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Kellar
Thesis Research: Nicotinic Receptors in the Rat Cerebellum

Matthew T. Whittaker, Ph.D.: Postdoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. J. Wrathall
Thesis Research: The role of NG2 cells in recovery from spinal cord injury in a mouse model of contusive SCI.

Brian S. Wolff, Ph.D.: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. J. Wu
Thesis Research: Activation and plasticity of neocortical neuronal populations induced by alternating electrical fields