Current Graduate Students

2016 Incoming Graduate Student Class 1st Row: Shoichi Tachiyama, Zoe Dimond, Rhea Abisado, Sarah Mullinax, Haeyoung Kim, Reshma Bhattacharya 2nd Row: Kevin Tyner, Rik Dhar, David Ingham, Snehal Mahadik, Priyanka Goyal 3rd Row: Joan Klages, Erica Keffeler, Sanjana Sundararajan, Latavia Hill
	Name: Rhea G. Abisado Advisor: Josephine Chandler Email: rabisado@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biology (major in Microbiology) - University of the Phillipines Los Baños (2007), M.S. in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology - University of the Philippines Los Baños (2011) Hometown: Sorsogon, Philippines Research Interests: Microbiology
	Name: Haifa Alhadyian Advisor: Rob Ward Email: haifaalhadyian@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Zoology - College of Science, University of Dammam (2012), M.A. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology - Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas (2016) Hometown: Dammam, Saudi Arabia Research Interests: Genetics, cell biology, and developmental biology
	Name: Hikmat Al Hashimi Advisor: Matthew Buechner Email: hikmat@ku.edu Educational Background: Bachelor’s Degree in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering - Jordan University of Science and Technology (2005), Master’s Degree in Biotechnology - Northumbria University (2007) Hometown: Baghdad, Iraq and Irbid, Jordan Research Interests: Biological tube structures can be found in many organs in our body, such as the nephrons of the kidney and the blood vessels. We are interested in studying the properties of these biological tube structures, specifically, the mechanism by which a tube maintains its diameter and length. In our research, we use the Caenorhabditis elegans excretory canal as a model of the tube structure. Our research group identified genes that play a role in maintaining the tube structure of the canal, the exc genes. I am studying exc-2 using genetic approaches to understand its function in the cell.
	Name: Nan Bai Advisor: Eric Deeds Email: n206b214@ku.edu Educational Background: M.S. in Biology - Illinois Institute of Technology (2014) Hometown: China Research Interests: Microbiology and Cancer Biology
	Name: Anuja Bhatta Advisor: Steve Benedict Email: a751b166@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - University of New Orleans (2012) Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal Research Interests: T cell Biology
	Name: Reshma Bhattacharya Advisor: Berl Oakley and Chris Gamblin Educational Background: B.Tech. in Biotechnology - West Bengal University of Technology (2015) Hometown: West Bengal, India Research Interests: Molecular Biology and Immunology
	Name: Molly Birrer Advisor: Brian Ackley Email: mbirrer@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI (2014) Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana Research Interests: Genetics and Cancer Biology
	Name: Bryce Blankenfeld Advisor: Chris Gamblin Email: brblankenfeld@ku.edu Educational Background: B.A. in Psychology - University of Minnesota Morris (2014) Hometown: Bemidji, Minnesota Research Interests: Understanding the role of the microtubule associated tau protein in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies
	Name: Alex Bowman Advisor: Mark Richter Email: abowman@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biochemistry - University of Kansas (2013) Hometown: Medicine Lodge, Kansas Research Interests: Structure/function of ATP Synthase, structure/function of E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Parkin
	Name: Amritangshu Chakravarty Advisor: Roberto De Guzman Email: a718c558@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biochemistry - University of Calcutta (2009), M.S. in Biochemistry - University of Calcutta (2011) Hometown: Kolkata, India Research Interests: Structural Biology, Mechanisms of Neurodegenerative Diseases
	Name: Thelma Chiremba Advisor: Kristi Neufeld Email: tchiremba@ku.edu Educational Background: B.A. in Biological Chemistry with minor in Neuroscience - Grinnell College, Iowa (2014) Hometown: Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe Research Interests: Cellular/Molecular/Cancer Biology
	Name: Dwight Deay Advisor: Mark RIchter Educational Background: B.S. in Biochemistry - University of Kansas (2008) Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa Research Interests: ATP synthase structure/function, Design and optimization of flavin containing oxidase enzymes for biosensor applications Awards/Honors: NIGMS Biotechnology Training Grant
	Name: Rik Dhar Advisor: Joanna Slusky Email: rdhar@ku.edu Educational Background: B.Tech. in Biotechnology - Heritage Institute of Technology, India (2013); M.Tech in Biotechnology - National Institute of Technology-Rourkela, India (2015) Hometown: Kolkata, India Research Interests: Cancer Biology and Biochemistry
	Name: Zoe Dimond Advisor: Scott Hefty Educational Background: B.S in Biology, Chemistry minor - Oregon State University (2014) Hometown: Portland, Oregon Research Interests: Using whole genome sequencing and genetics to explore mechanisms in infectious disease
	Name: Amanda Dunbar Advisor: Steve Benedict Email: a223d891@ku.edu Educational Background: B.A. in Biology and Biochemistry - University of Minnesota-Morris (2011) Hometown: Rochester, Minnesota Research Interests: T cell biology and the development of autoimmunity Awards/Honors: Morris Scholar
	Name: Stacie Eliades-Becker Advisor: Erik Lundquist Email: seliades@ku.edu Educational Background: B.A. in Biochemistry – Smith College, Northampton, MA (2002) Hometown: Muncie, Indiana Research Interests: Adapting and improving upon current Next Gen Sequencing methodologies to better serve livestock and aquaculture breeding programs.
	Name: Christian Gomez Advisor: Kristi Neufeld Email: cgomez-2@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - Washburn University (2013) Hometown: Topeka, Kansas Research Interests: The role of APC in cancer biology and differentiation
	Name: Elizabeth Grotemeyer Advisor: Eric Deeds Email: egrotemeyer1@gmail.com Educational Background: B.S. in Biochemistry, B.S in Mathematics - California State University, Dominguez Hills (2014) Hometown: Orangevale, California
	Name: Mahekta Gujar Advisor: Erik Lundquist Email: mahekta@gmail.com Educational Background: B.S. in Microbiology - University of Pune (2008), M.S. in Microbiology - University of Pune (2010) Hometown: Pune, India Research Interests: Early developmental process of neuronal cell migration in Caenorhabditis elegans
	Name: Yuxiao Guo Advisor: Liang Xu Email: yxguo@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - Wuhan University, China (2011) Hometown: Beijing, China Research Interests: Cancer associated long-noncoding RNAs
	Name: Kelly Harrison Advisor: Scott Hefty Email: kelly.harrison@ku.edu Educational Background: B.A. in Biology - Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio (2010) Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida Research Interests: Immunology and Vaccine Development Awards/Honors: 2nd place, Graduate Student Poster Competition, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Annual Research Symposium, Oklahoma State University 2014; 2nd place, Graduate Student Poster Competition, Oklahoma State University Annual Research Symposium, 2014; 2nd place, Graduate Student Poster Competition, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Student Association Annual Symposium, Oklahoma State University 2013
	Name: Dianarys Hernandez-Aquino Advisor: Stuart Macdonald Email: dianarys.hernandez@gmail.com Educational Background: B.S. in Microbiology - University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo (2014) Hometown: San Sebastian, Puerto Rico Research Interests: Cellular and molecular biology, Protein-protein interactions, Biochemistry, Developmental biology and Microbiology
	Name: Latavia Hill Advisor: Susan Egan Email: lataviahill@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - Philander Smith College (2016) Hometown: Chicago, Illinois Research Interests: Microbiology, Bacteria-host interactions and pathogenesis, Microbial Ecology
	Name: Kara Hinshaw Advisor: Josephine Chandler Email: k699h433@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biology with minor in Chemistry - Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri (2012) Hometown: Ankeny, Iowa Research Interests: Our group is interested in a type of cell-cell communication called quorum sensing that plays a vital role for some bacteria during interspecies competition. My research seeks to identify novel quorum sensing-controlled antibiotics and antibiotic resistance mechanisms and to understand how quorum sensing control of these genes is important for bacterial competition. Awards/Honors: Graduated Summa Cum Laude, NIH Training Grant in Dynamic Aspects of Chemical Biology
	Name: David Ingham Advisor: Chris Gamblin Email: inghamd002@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - Missouri Southern State University (2016) Hometown: Leeds, England Research Interests: The normal function of the tau protein is to associate and stabilize microtubules within the neuronal cytoskeleton. However, hyperphosphorylation of tau can dissociate from microtubules and lead to the formation of tau aggregates forming pathological structures such as neurofibrillary tangles and paired helical filaments. These structures have been identified in multiple neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. I am interested in how small compounds can be used to not only inhibit the formation of these pathological structures, but also cause the disassembly of aggregates that have already formed.
	Name: Anupama Kante Advisor: Eric Deeds Email: anupama.kante@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biotechnology - University of Pune (2008), M.S. in Biotechnology - Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune (2010) Hometown: Pune, India Research Interests: The proteasome is a protease complex that irreversibly degrades proteins and is crucial to a number of cellular functions. The proteasome is active only when its sub units are fully assembled. I am studying the assembly pathways employed by this molecule in order to form an active complex.
	Name: Erica Keffeler Advisor: Lynn Hancock Email: ekeffeler@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biotechnology - Missouri Western State University (2016) Hometown: Lenexa, Kansas Research Interests: Microbiology, Immunology
	Name: Nikola Kenjic Advisor: Audrey Lamb Email: nkenjic@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Chemistry - University of Florida (2009), M.S in Biochemistry - University of Arizona (2014) Hometown: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Research Interests: Enzyme kinetics, Protein purification and biochemical, structural characterization of their function
	Name: Jittasak (Jake) Khowsathit Advisor: Eric Deeds Email: jkhow@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biochemistry - Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok (2011) Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand Research Interests: Computational Protein Design
	Name: Joan Klages Advisor: Susan Egan Email: jklages@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - Austin Peay State University (2016) Hometown: Oak Ridge, Tennessee Research Interests: Microbiology and Immunology
	Name: Jennifer Klaus Advisor: Josephine Chandler Email: jennklaus@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. and M.S. in Biology - Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS (2011 and 2014) Hometown: Hays, Kansas Research Interests: Our group is interested in a type of cell-to-cell signaling in bacteria called quorum sensing, which is important for many bacteria to compete and survive in different environments including the host. My research seeks to understand how quorum sensing promotes survival of the gram-negative opportunistic human lung pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei. Awards/Honors: 2014 K-INBRE Award of Excellence for poster presentation; 2013 Outstanding GTA Award, Fort Hays State University Graduate School, 2015 Chemical Biology 21st Annual Symposium Pre-orals Graduate Researcher Poster Presentation Award
	Name: Meagan Kurland Advisor: Brian Ackley Email: meagankurland@gmail.com Hometown: Etters, Pennsylvania Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA (2015) Research Interests: Development and Cellular Biology, Immunology
	Name: Scott LaBrie Advisor: Scott Hefty Email: scottlabrie@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Environmental Science - Haskell Indian Nations University (2014) Hometown: Sacramento, California
	Name: Vi Leitenberger Advisor: Brian Ackley Email: leitenberger170221@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biochemistry - Newman University, Wichita (2009) Hometown: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Research Interests: My thesis project focused on signals that regulate the anterior-posterior axon outgrowth guidance of the C elegans D-type GABAergic motorneurons. Preliminary loss of function analyses have shown that the planar cell polarity protein FMI-1/Flamingo, components of Wnt signaling pathway, and Notch signaling function in three parallel pathway to regulate A/P axon guidance. We also uncover a role for dynactin complex in determining D-type GABAergic motorneurons patterning. I am currently analyzing the genetic interactions, if any, among FMI-1, Notch, Wnt, and dynactin to understand more about these pathways.
	Name: Lingfei Liang Advisor: Liang Tang Email: luphy0320@hotmail.com Educational Background: B.S. in Bioengineering - Beijing Institute of Technology (2013) Hometown: Shandong, China Research Interests: Study the structure and assembly of macromolecules from viruses so as to understand the DNA-packaging or other process in these viruses
	Name: Snehal Mahadik Advisor: Erik Lundquist Email: snehal@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biotechnology - Ruia College, Mumbai (2010), M.S. in Bioanalytical Sciences - Ruia College, Mumbai (2012) Hometown: Mumbai, India Research Interests: Developmental neurobiology and cell biology
	Name: Nicole Massa Advisor: Lynn Hancock Email: nmassa2015@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Molecular Biology and Math - Florida Institute of Technology (2014)
	Name: Jeff McFarlane Advisor: Audrey Lamb Email: jeffmcfarlane@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - Sterling College, Kansas (1997), M.S. in Education - Park University, Parkville, MO (2003) Research Interests: Protein structure and function
	Name: Megan McKinney Advisor: Scott Hefty Email: mem2015@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - University of West Georgia (2015) Research Interests: Anything in microbiology really interests me. I also find viral immunology, understanding the body's response to infection, fascinating and enjoyable.
	Name: Sarah Mullinax Advisor: Rob Unckless Educational Background: B.A. in Biology, B.A. in Spanish - Wartburg College, Waverly, IA (2016) Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas Research Interests: Microbiology and Immunology
	Name: Yamini Mutreja Advisor: Chris Gamblin Email: yamini@ku.edu Educational Background: Bachelor of Pharmacy - Kurukshetra University (2009), M.S. in Medicinal Chemistry - Virginia Commonwealth University (2011) Hometown: Karnal, India Research Interests: I am interested in understanding the role of protein tau involved in Alzheimer’s disease and various other tauopathies using in vitro biochemistry and cell culture model system. Awards/Honors: Mabel A. Woodyard Fellowship in Neurodegenerative Disorders (2013-2015)
	Name: Vaishnavi Nagarajan Advisor: Lisa Timmons Email: v612n423@ku.edu Educational Background: B.Tech. in Biotechnology - Vellore Institute Technology, India (2010) Hometown: Chennai, India Research Interests: Biomolecules & mechanisms in molecular biology.
	Name: Matthew Ochs Advisor: Erik Lundquist Email: matthew.ochs@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - Hope College, Holland, MI (2015) Hometown: Township, Michigan Research Interests: Virology and Developmental Biology
	Name: Nootan Pandey Advisor: Yoshiaki Azuma Email: n070p188@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biotechnology and Chemistry - VBS Purvanchal University, India (2006), M.S. in Microbiology - MITS University, India (2009) Hometown: Varanasi, UP, India Research Interests: Cancer Biology and Virology
	Name: Vitoria Paolillo Advisor: Berl Oakley Email: v136p507@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - Northwest Missouri State University (2012) Hometown: St. Joseph, Missouri Research Interests: Molecular Biology and Genetics
	Name: Taybor Parker Advisor: Kristi Neufeld Email: parkertw@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - University of Missouri (2013) Hometown: Joplin, Missouri Research Interests: Translational medicine, epigenetics, colorectal cancer, and the gut microbiome
	Name: Srivatsan Parthasarathy Advisor: Lynn Hancock Email: s679p149@ku.edu Educational Background: B.Tech. in Biotechnology - Vellore Institute of Technology, India (2010) Hometown: Chennai, India Research Interests: Signal transduction pathways, cell cycle and genetic recombination
	Name: Aaron Rudeen Advisor: Kristi Neufeld Email: aaron.rudeen@gmail.com Educational Background: B.A. in Biology and B.A. in Chemistry - Bethel College, Kansas (2013) Hometown: Osage City, Kansas Research Interests: Cancer Biology, Protein Purification Awards/Honors: NIH Biotechnology Training Grant (2015-2017), H.P. Cady Award (2015)
	Name: Sudeep Shakya Advisor: Lisa Timmons Email: s404s173@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biotechnology - Kathmandu University (2008), Professional Science Master's in Biotechnology - University of Northern Iowa (2010)
	Name: Katelyn Soules Advisor: Scott Hefty Email: ksoules@ku.edu Educational Background: B.A. in Human Biology - University of Kansas (2014) Hometown: Lawrence, Kansas Research Interests: Immunology and Microbiology
	Name: Sanjana Sundararajan Advisor: Yoshiaki Azuma Email: sanjana.sundar95@ku.edu Educational Background: B.Tech. in Biotechnology - Anna University, Chennai, India (2016) Hometown: Chennai, India Research Interests: Genetics and Cancer Biology
	Name: Shoichi Tachiyama Advisor: Bill Picking Email: s818t598@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences - Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan (2012), License to Practice Pharmacy (granted in Japan, 2012) Hometown: Tokyo, Japan Research Interests: The mechanism of the infection to develop antibiotics in terms of biochemistry and pharmaceuticals
	Name: Victoria Vande Griend Advisor: Yoshiaki Azuma Email: vav365@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - University of Missouri (2015) Hometown: Marshfield, Missouri Research Interests: Genetics, Neurobiology and Cancer Biology
	Name: Andy Wolfe Advisor: Kristi Neufeld Email: andyrwolfe@hotmail.com Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - Sterling College, Kansas (2005), M.S. in Biology with concentration in Microbial/Cellular Biology - Emporia State University (2008) Hometown: Augusta, Kansas Research Interests: Cancer Biology, Cell Signaling Pathways
	Name: Sanjay Yadava Advisor: Roberto De Guzman Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - Newman University, Wichita (2010)
	Name: Zhe Yang Advisor: Matthew Buechner Email: z594y005@ku.edu Educational Background: B.S. in Bioengineering - China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing; Institution of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Science (2012) Hometown: Jinan, China Research Interests: Excretory canal of C. elegans
2015 Graduate Student Class 1^st Row: Victoria Vande Griend, Molly Birrer, Stacie Eliades-Becker, Megan McKinney 2^nd Row: Elizabeth Grotemeyer, Meagan Kurland, Katelyn Soules 3^rd Row: Taybor Parker, Jeff McFarlane, Nicole Massa, Scott LaBrie 4^th Row: Dianarys Hernandez-Aquino, Amritangshu Chakravarty, Srivatsan Parthasarathy, Matthew Ochs, Alex Bowman, Reid McLean
2014 Graduate Student Class 1^st Row: Jennifer Klaus,Nan Bai,Haifa Alhadyian, Anupama Kante, Sikta Patnaik 2^nd Row: Thelma Chiremba, Jin Niu 3^rd Row: Robert Wilkerson, Bryce Blankenfeld, Kelly Harrison, Nootan Pandey 4^th Row: Nikola Kenjic, Aaron Bart, Sudeep Shakya, Olivia Arizmendi
2013 Graduate Student Class 1st Row: Erin Suderman, Kara Hinshaw 2nd Row: Yuxiao Guo, Anuja Bhatta, Lingfei Liang, Sanjay Yadava 3rd Row: Christian Gomez, Luke Wenger, Zhe Yang, Dwight Deay

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Current Graduate Students