Alumni – IMSD | Rutgers School of Graduate Studies

Alvin Crespo, PhD
Program: Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources
Mentor: Sioban Duffy, Ph.D.
Research Project: Evolutionary Dynamics of ssDNA Viruses
Current position: Evolutionary Virologist
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvin-crespo-bellido-64345bb7/

Angelica Maria Barreto-Galvez, PhD
Program: Cell and Developmental Biology
Mentor: Advaitha Madireddy, Ph.D.
Research Project: Mechanism Driving Genomic Instability Of ATLL
Current position: Eagleton Institute of Politics Fellow
https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelica-maria-barreto-galvez-19b0b112a/

Alyssa Carrillo, MS
Program: Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (Molecular Biosciences)
Mentor: Kim Thamatrakoln, PhD
Department: Marine and Coastal Sciences
Current position: Environmental advocacy non-profit.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-carrillo-05a4a21b7/

Stephania Guzman, PhD
Program: Cell and Developmental Biology (Molecular Biosciences)
Mentor: Moshmi Bhattcharya, Ph.D.
Research Project: Role of kisspeptin in hepatocellular carcinoma
Current position: MIH Leadership Development Program at Eli Lilly and Company
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephania-guzman-diaz-bc-mslcert-phd-76a4aa68/

Grace Ibitamuno, PhD
Program: Public Health - M.D./Ph.D. Candidate
Mentor: Thomas Mackie, Ph.D., MPH
Department: Health Behavior, Society and Policy
School: SPH
Research Project: Autism Screening In An Underserved Population

Sandra Tetteh, PhD
Program: Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology
Mentor: Loren Runnels, Ph.D.
Research Project: Role of TRPM7 In Magnesium Transport And Its Impact On Cancer Cell Growth And Metastasis
Current position: Post-doctoral fellow, Rutgers

Khea Wolff, PhD
Program: Plant Biology
Mentor: Ilya Raskin, Ph.D.
Department: Department of Plant Biology
Research Project: Bioactivity of isothiocyanate-rich morning seed extract

2022 Graduate Alumni

Emily C. Kelly-Castro, Ph.D.
IMSD Fellow
Mentor: Huaye Zhang
Thesis Project: The role of Par1c/MARK1 in synaptic development and cognitive function in mice
Current: Visiting Professor at Lewis & Clark College

Talia M. Planas, Ph.D.
IMSD Associate
Mentor: Cheryl Dreyfus
Thesis Project: The effects of the metabotrophic agonist, CHPG, in mouse models of brain demyelination
Current:

Laina Locket, Ph.D.
IMSD Associate
Mentor: Henry John-Alder, Ph.D.
Thesis Project: Swimming in troubled waters: Ambient Levels of Common Pollutants have Little Effect on the Regional Distribution and Swimming Behavior of Two New Jersey Anurans.
Current: STEM Teaching Specialist, George Mason University, VA

2021 Graduate Alumni
William Morales-Medina, Ph.D. IMSD Associate Mentor: Nicole Fahrenfeld Thesis Project: Biofilms in Engineered Water Systems Current: Research and Development Scientist at American Water Company, NJ
Edgar Ferrer-Gonzalez, Ph.D. IMSD Associate Mentor: Daniel Pilch Thesis Project: Insight into FtsZ inhibitor and their use against antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens Current: Scientist, Host-Microbiome, Reckitt Benckiser Company, NJ

2020 Graduate Alumni
Alejandra Laureano, Ph.D. Mentor: Kelvin Kwan Thesis Project: The Role Of Transcriptional Elements During Inner Ear Neuronal Development Current: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School
Gabriel Villegas, Ph.D. Mentor: Isaac Edery Thesis Project: Biochemical And Functional Analysis of DAYWAKE, A Novel Wake-Sleep Regulator In Drosophila Melanogaster Current: Assistant Teaching Professor, Dept of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers-SAS

2019 Graduate Alumni
Kumar, Tiger, M.S. Mentor: Maureen Barr Thesis Project: Endogenous gab-28 Is Present in CEMs, RnBs, HOB, And Additional Neurons In The Head Current: Research Associate II-Analytical Scientist at Catalent

2018 Graduate Alumni
Deanna De Vore, Ph.D. Mentor: Maureen Barr Thesis Project: Extracellular Matrix Regulates Morphogenesis And Function of Ciliated Sensory Organs Current: Science/Biology Teacher. Passaic County Technical Institute, New Jersey
Olufunmilola (Funmi) Ibironke, Ph.D. Mentor: Stephan Schwander Thesis Project: Air Pollution Particulate Matter Effects On Adaptive Human Anti-mycobacterial Immunity Current: (we are trying to find where she is)
Julia Bolanle Olayanju, Ph.D. Mentor: Bing Xia Thesis Project: Understanding The Anti-cancer Activity Of Moringa Isothiocyanates In Breast Cancer Cells Current: MPH student, TH Chan School of Public Health, Harvard
Christina Ramirez, Ph.D. Mentor: Ah-Ng (Tony) Kong Thesis Project: Epigenetic Regulation of NRF2 And Ursolic Acid in Skin Carcinogenesis Current: Associate Director, Clinical Research Scientist, Insmed Inc

2017 Graduate Alumni
Melvili Cintron Cotto, Ph.D. Mentor: Nancy Woychik Thesis Project: Functional Analysis Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis VapC Toxins Current: Junior Director, Clinical Microbiology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Lizahira Rodriguez-Colon, Ph.D. Mentor: Shridar Ganesan Thesis Project: A Role For G9a Methyltransferase In The DNA Response Signal Current: Clinical Scientist at ExecuPharm, on assignment to Merck

2016 Graduate Alumni
Christal Lewis, Ph.D. Mentor: Helmut Zarbl Thesis Project: A Transgenerational Study of Exposure To Zeranol, A Dietary Contaminant With Potent Estrogenic Activity Current: Toxicologist, Avon
Eileen Oni, Ph.D. Mentor: Ronald P. Hart Thesis Project: Bioinformatic Analysis Of DNA Methylation In Neural Progenitor Cell Models Of Alcohol Abuse Current: Health Science Policy Analyst, National Institutes of Health
Eva Rubio-Marrero, Ph.D. Mentor: Davide Comoletti Thesis Project: Structural And Functional Studies of CASPR2, A Molecular Approach Of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Current: Senior Scientist, Bristol Myers Squibb

2015 Graduate Alumni
*Adenrele Akintobi, Ph.D.* Mentor: Barth Grant Thesis Project: Functional Characterization of C. elegans F-BAR protein SDPN-1 Current: PRAT Fellow, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH
*Kristina Hernandez, Ph.D.* Mentor: Bonnie Firestein Thesis Project: The Role of NOS1AP, Aschizophrenia Susceptibility Gene, In The Regulation Of Dendrite Branching, Dendritic Spine Formation, And Actin Dynamics Current: Assistant Scientific Director, MediTech Media
*Leonardo Valdivieso-Torres, Ph.D.* Mentor: Monica Roth Thesis Project: Isolation And Characterization Of Retargeted Feline Leukemia Virus Envelope Proteins And Isolations Of Host Factors Involve In Envelope Specific Entry Current: International Sales Manager at USA Scientific

*2014 was a banner year for the number of IMSD trainees who completed their degrees or moved on with further training or initial positions.*
Allen Alcivar, Ph.D. Mentor: Bin Xia Thesis Project: BRCA2 and PALB2 In Cellular Stress Response Current: Senior Scientist at Bristol-Myers Squibb
Judith Canabal, Ph.D. Mentor: Sunita Kramer Thesis Project: Analysis of Two Distinct Functions of the Roundabout 2 Receptor During Drosophila Cardiac Assembly
Andrew Hoffmann, M.S. Mentor: Michael Verzi Thesis Project: Enteroid Culture And Its Impact On Stem Cell And Cancer Research
*Tiffany King, Ph.D.* Mentor: Sunita Kramer Thesis Project: The Cytoskeletal Regulator Enabled Mediates Proper Cardiac Fusion During the Final Stages of Drosophila Dorsal Vessel Formation Current: Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Frank Macabenta, Ph.D. Mentor: Sunita Kramer Thesis Project: Investigating the Coordinated Expression and Function of the Netrin-Frazzled Signaling Pathway During Drosophila Dorsal Vessel Formation Current: Postdoctoral Research Scholar at Caltech
Adriana Martin, Ph.D. Mentor: William Welsh Thesis Project: Biophysical Characterization Of Novel Amphiphilic Macromolecules: Modeling Membrane Interactions Current: Fellow, Cardiovascular Disease, University of Arizona
Letzibeth Mendez-Rivera, M.S. Mentor: Steven Brill Thesis Project: The SLX5 Paradox: Expression Of A Sumo-Targeted Ubiquitin Ligase Generates Toxic Poly-Sumo Chains In Yeast Current: Laboratory Manager, US Military HIV Research Program
Winder Perez, Ph.D. Mentor: Terri Goss Kinzy Thesis Project: Mutations in Eukaryotic Translation Elongation Factor 1A that alter Protein Synthesis & Actin Bundling Current: Staff Microbiologist, Stryker
Maryann (Poku) Obiorah, Ph.D. Mentor: Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom Thesis Project: Developmental Vulnerability Of The Rat Hippocampus to Methylmercury (MEHG) Current: Associate Scientific Director at Vaniam Group
Felicia Smith, Ph.D. Mentor: Robin Davis Thesis Project: The Role of Neurotrophins In Regulating Spiral Ganglion Morphology Current: Clinical Coordinator, Epilepsy (Neurology Dept), Univ of Florida Health System, Jacksonville FL
Connan Vaca, Ph.D. Mentor: Ramsey Foty Thesis Project: Fibronectin Matrix- Mediated Inhibition of Tumor Cell Dispersal

IMSD Alumni

IMSD Alumni