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2018 Entering Graduate Student Class
1st Row: Ayotunde Paul Ikujuni, Sahida Afroz, Jennifer Amrein, Kelsey Ferguson, Catherine Kerr
2nd Row: Qi Zhang, Wendy Aquino Nunez, Kent Mulkey
3rd Row: Nicholas Wagner, Sutton Stegman, Parker Sperstad
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Rhea Abisado
Advisor: Josie Chandler
Email: rabisado@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Biology (Microbiology major) - University of the Phillippines Los Baños (2007), M.S. in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology - University of the Phillippines Los Baños (2011)
Hometown: Sorsogon, Phillippines
Research Interests: Quorum sensing regulation of antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
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Sahida Afroz
Advisor: Rotation Student
Email: sahida.afroz@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Zoology - University of Dhaka (2014), M.S. in Zoology (Fisheries) - University of Dhaka (2015)
Hometown: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Research Interests: Microbial pathogenesis and cancer biology
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Sydney Alexander
Advisor: Rotation Student
Email: sydneyanne@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - Rockhurst University (2015)
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
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Haifa Alhadyian
Advisor: Rob Ward
Email: haifaalhadyian@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Zoology - College of Sciences-Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (2012), M.A. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology - KU (2016)
Hometown: Dammam City, Saudi Arabia
Research Interests: Cell, Developmental Biology, and Genetics
Award/Honors: 2018 Outstanding International Woman Student Award (Emily Taylor Center-KU), 2017 K-INBRE Award of Excellence-Poster Presentation, 2016 Molecular Biosciences Travel Award, 2013-2016 King Abdullah Scholarship for Outstanding Academic Achievement
Leadership Roles: Early Career Scientist-Communication and Outreach Subcommittee, Genetics Society of America
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Jennifer Amrein
Advisor: Rotation Student
Email: jamrein@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Biology/Microbiology - University of Southern Mississippi (1994)
Hometown: Topeka, Kansas
Research Interests: Neuroscience, Immunology, and the intestinal microbiome as they relate to autism spectrum disorder and autoimmunity
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Wendy Aquino Nunez
Advisor: Rotation Student
Email: waquinon@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology - University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras (2015), M.S. in Integrative Biology - Kennesaw State University (2018)
Hometown: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Research Interests: Neuroscience, Genetics, Development, Cell and Molecular biology, Bioinformatic, Nervous system development, neurodegeneration and regeneration
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Nan Bai
Advisor: Eric Deeds
Email: Nan.Bai@fccc.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - Peking University (2012), M.S. in Biology - Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago (2014)
Hometown: Zhengzhou, China
Research Interests: Musashi inhibitors, PROTAC-based inhibitors
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Srishti Baid
Advisor: Scott Hefty
Email: srishtib@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Microbiology - University of Calcutta (2013), M.S. in Medical Biotechnology - Manipal University (2015)
Hometown: Kolkata, India
Research Interests: Infectious Diseases and Microbial Pathogenesis, Immunology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Oindrila De
Advisor: Robert Ward
Email: oindrila_de31@ku.edu
Educational Background:B.S. in Biotechnology - Ramnarain Ruia College - University of Mumbai (2014), M.S. in Biotechnology - St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Mumbai (2016)
Hometown: Mumbai, India
Research Interests: Cell, Developmental Biology, and Genetics
Leadership Roles: Graduate Mentor for BIOL 420 STEM Professional Development Jayhawks Breaking Barriers 2018
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Kelsey Ferguson
Advisor: Rotation Student
Email: kelsferg9@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics - Kansas State University (2018)
Hometown: Topeka, Kansas
Research Interests: Neurobiology, Biochemistry, and Developmental Biology
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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
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Priyanka Goyal
Advisor: Mark Richter
Email: pgoyal@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.Tech. in Biotechnology - Heritage Institute of Technology, India (2013), M.Tech. in Biotechnology - Heritage Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India (2015)
Hometown: Kolkata, India
Research Interests: Biochemistry and Neuroscience
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Victoria Hassebroek
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
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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: Xenobiotic resistance in natural and lab populations, Copy Number Variations (CNVs), and genetic mapping
Leadership Roles: SACNAS KU Graduate Chapter President and Founder, KS DNA Day Co-Coordinator, 2017-2019
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Latavia Hill
Advisor: Susan Egan
Email: lataviahill@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - Philander Smith College (2016)
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Research Interests: AraC transcriptional activators are found in seventy percent of sequenced bacterial genomes and control the expression of genes involved in stress response, metabolism, and virulence. Our lab studies RhaR and RhaS. These two proteins activate the expression of the E. coli L-rhamnose regulon in the presence of their effector, L-rhamnose.
Awards/Honors: NIH Chemical Biology Trainee, ASM Microbe 2018 Travel Awardee, ASM Research Capstone Education Fellow
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Ayotunde Paul Ikujuni
Advisor: Rotation Student
Email: apikujuni@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Biochemistry - University of Lagos (2014), M.S. in Biochemistry - University of Lagos (2017)
Hometown: Ilutitun, Ondo, Nigeria
Research Interests: Molecular/Cell Biology: Identifying molecular targets for gene expression regulation to improve human medicine
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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.
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Shivani JagannathanMurali
Advisor: Mizuki Azuma
Email: shivani_jm@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.Engineering in Biotechnology - PES Institute of Technology (2016)
Hometown: Bangalore, India
Research Interests: Molecular and cellular biology, Cancer biology
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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.
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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
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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
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Catherine Kerr
Advisor: Rotation Student
Email: catkerr@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - University of Wyoming (2018)
Hometown: Casper, Wyoming
Research Interests: Microbiology
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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
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Haeyoung Kim
Advisor: Mizuki Azuma
Email: kyh426@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Biological Science - Incheon National University (2013), M.S. in Life Science - Incheon National University (2015)
Hometown: Incheon, South Korea
Research Interests: Cellular/Molecular/Cancer Biology
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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
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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
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Pratik Koirala
Advisor: Josephine Chandler
Email: pratikkoirala@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.Tech. in Biotechnology - Asian Institute of Technology and Management, Purbanchal University (2016)
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
Research Interests: Microbiology and Immunology
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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
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Scott LaBrie
Advisor: Scott Hefty
Email: scottlabrie@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Environmental Science - Haskell Indian Nations University (2014)
Hometown: Sacramento, California
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Cindy Ly
Advisor: David Davido
Email: cly724@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Chemistry (Biochemistry concentration) - Florida International University (2016)
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Research Interests: My research focuses on understanding virus-host interactions in the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) life cycle. HSV-1 is a common human pathogen infecting about 80% of the world’s population. The virus establishes a life-long latency in neuronal cells and upon activation can cause a variety of diseases such as cold sores, ocular infections, and encephalitis. One major area of interest is to delineate mechanisms by which a major viral regulatory factor, ICP0, destabilizes host cell proteins while contributing to viral replication and pathogenesis. Another part of my thesis will focus on identifying novel compounds that impair HSV-1 growth.
Awards/Honors: 2018 NIH Chemical Biology Trainee, 2018 Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett Woman Mentoring Woman at KU Recipient ,2017 KU University Graduate Fellow, Ronald E. McNair Fellow
Leadership Roles: Women in STEMM Program Chair, KS DNA Day Co-Coordinator, MB GSO Outreach Coordinator
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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
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Jeff Mcfarlane
Advisor: Audrey Lamb
Email: jeffmcfarlane@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - Sterling College, Kansas (1997), M.A. in Education - Park University, Parkville, MO (2003)
Research Interests: Protein structure and function
Awards/Honors: NIH Chemical Biology Trainee (2016-2018), American Heart Association Pre-doctoral Fellow (2018-2020)
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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.
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Kent Mulkey
Advisor: Rob Unckless
Email: kmulkey@ku.edu
Educational Backgrouund: B.A. in Biology - Doane College, Nebraska (1980), M.S. in Veterinary Science - University of Nebraska (1987)
Hometown: Eudora, Kansas
Research Interests: Virology, immunology, and cell biology
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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
Awards/Honors: Madison & Lila Self Graduate Fellow
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Srivatsan Parthasarathy
Advisor: Lynn Hancock
Email: spartha@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.Tech. in Biotechnology - Vellore Institute of Technology, India (2010), M.S. in Biochemistry - Colorado State University (2014)
Hometown: Chennai, India
Research Interests: Bacterial signal transduction pathways, Microbial pathogenesis and infection mechanisms
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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)
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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)
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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
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Parker Sperstad
Advisor: Rotation Student
Email: p151s403@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Biochemistry - Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI (2018)
Hometown: Essexville, Michigan
Research Interests: Proteins
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Sutton Stegman
Advisor: Lisa Timmons
Email: steg88@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - University of Kansas (2013)
Hometown: Wichita, Kansas
Research Interests: Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, Neurobiology, and Genetics
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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
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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
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Nicholas Wagner
Advisor: Rotation Student
Email: wagner.j.nicholas@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Biology - Washburn University, Topeka, KS (2017)
Hometown: Norwalk, California
Research Interests: Cell senescence and DNA repair
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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
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Qi Zhang
Advisor: Liang Xu
Email: q643z135@ku.edu
Educational Background: B.S. in Biotechnology - Shandong University (2015), M.S. in Natural Science (Marine Biology) - Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2018)
Hometown: Shandong Province, China
Research Interests: Molecular therapy targeting cancer and cancer stem cells, via novel nanovectors and rational drug design.
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2017 Graduate Student Class
1st Row: Joe Panushka, Sydney Alexander Muck, Srishti Baid, Oindrila De, Cory Jenkinson
2nd Row: Pratik Koirala, Cindy Ly, Shivani JagannathanMurali
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2016 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 |
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2015 Graduate Student Class
1st Row: Victoria Vande Griend, Molly Birrer, Stacie Eliades-Becker, Megan McKinney
2nd Row: Elizabeth Grotemeyer, Meagan Kurland, Katelyn Soules
3rd Row: Taybor Parker, Jeff McFarlane, Nicole Massa, Scott LaBrie
4th Row: Dianarys Hernandez-Aquino, Amritangshu Chakravarty, Srivatsan Parthasarathy, Matthew Ochs, Alex Bowman, Reid McLean
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2014 Graduate Student Class
1st Row: Jennifer Klaus,Nan Bai,Haifa Alhadyian, Anupama Kante, Sikta Patnaik
2nd Row: Thelma Chiremba, Jin Niu
3rd Row: Robert Wilkerson, Bryce Blankenfeld, Kelly Harrison, Nootan Pandey
4th Row: Nikola Kenjic, Aaron Bart, Sudeep Shakya, Olivia Arizmendi
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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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