Meet the 2017-18 Fellows
Bryan Gutierrez
RiSE Scholar: Summer 16
Undergraduate Studies: Pacific Lutheran University
Program: Ph.D. in Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Enver Cagri Izgu
Ph.D. Research Topic: Bryan is most interested in compounds that can be used as controlled release of monomers from drug polymer conjugates which are triggered in the body by heat or water stimulus.
Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, Organic Chemistry, January 2021, Lipids in Health and Disease Symposium Poster Award, November 2019
Current status in graduate program/Expected graduation: PhD Completed, March 2023
Lorne Joseph
RiSE Scholar: Summer 16
Undergraduate Studies: University of the Virgin Islands
Program: Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Lisa C. Klein
Ph.D. Research Topic: Investigation of High Proton Conductivity Materials at Modest Temperatures
Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: Lorne’s work, (L. Joseph and L. C. Klein, “Phenyl-modified phosphosilicate gels for proton conductivity”, J. Sol-Gel Science & Tech., 2021) is to be submitted for publication. She is also this years recipient of the Roger Ackermann Fellowship for Outstanding Graduate Students in Materials Science & Engineering 2021
Current status: PhD defended and graduated, June 2022
Advice for prospective graduate students: One of the main reasons I decided to attend graduate school was in part to the amazing research/mentor experience that I had at Rutgers during my final summer as an undergrad. I received great advice from the support group (my mentors: Dr. Klein/Dr. Erenrich, the people that I met during the Rise and the friends that I have come to make since starting my program) and their guidance has made and continues to make this journey an amazing for me. One piece of advice to the prospective students would be to make the most of your experiences and to take every opportunity available to you. Remain persistent, and when you get discouraged remember how far you have come.
Yanira Gonzalez-Rodriguez
RiSE Scholar: Summer 16
Undergraduate Studies:
Program: Ph.D. in Molecular Biosciences
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Bunting
Ph.D. Research Topic: Yanira is interested in Genes and factors that control neuronal migration, specifically the role of topoisomerase II beta in cell migration. Her lab focuses on DNA repair, specifically studying genes/proteins that regulate DNA damage repair choices by using mouse genetics.
Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: Yanira was awarded the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research (NJCCR) fellowship which will be funding her project, “Regulation of DNA Repair and Cell Cycle Checkpoints by BRCA1 and BLM.”
Current status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Ph.D Student
Advice for prospective graduate students:
Alvin A. Crespo Bellido
RiSE Scholar: Summer 16
Undergraduate Studies:
Program: Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Siobain Duffy
Ph.D. Research Topic: The influence of genetic recombination on the evolutionary dynamics of plant viruses.
Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: Alvin received a 2019 NSF GRF Honorable mention and was a 2020 HHMI Gilliam Fellowship for Advanced Study recipient.
He recently published his work on the contribution of genetic recombination to speciation in a group of viruses that severely constrain cassava production throughout Africa and Asia: Crespo-Bellido, A., Hoyer, J. S., Dubey, D., Jeannot, R. B., & Duffy, S. (2021). Interspecies recombination has driven the macroevolution of cassava mosaic begomoviruses. Journal of Virology, JVI-00541.
Current status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Ph.D. candidate expecting to graduate in 2023
Advice for prospective graduate students: Alvin’s advice for prospective students is: Research can be tedious and time-consuming, but it should never consume all your time. Your health, both mental and physical, is always the priority; strive for work-life balance. Explore the different Graduate Student Associations and pursue interests outside of research.
Kelsey Gwynne
RiSE Scholar: Summer 16
Undergraduate Studies:
Program: Materials and Science Engineering - graduated May 2020. Masters in Business and Science (MBS) - graduated October 2020
Thesis Advisor: Deirdre O'Carroll
Ph.D. Research Topic: Ph-OLEDS
Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: N/A
Current status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Graduated from the MBS program in October 2020 and the Materials and Science Engineering Masters in May 2020
Advice for prospective graduate students: Take advantage of networking opportunities! Reach out to other professors and learn about their work/labs and talk to other students/graduate students at Rutgers. RU is a very supportive community, and many people will want to help you. You'll learn even more during the summer if you expand your network.
Caroline Wood
RiSE/Cellular Bioengineering REU Scholar: Summer 16
Undergraduate Studies: The College of New Jersey
Program: Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering
Thesis Advisor:
Ph.D. Research Topic:
Support post-Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: NIH Rutgers Biotechnology Training Fellow,
Current status in graduate program: PhD completed, January 2023