SUPER-Grad Fellows 2019-20

Emmanuel (Manny) Alvarez

RISE Scholar: Summer 17

Program: Ph.D. in Neuroscience

Undergraduate Studies: 

Thesis Advisor: Dr. Anna Konova

Ph.D. Research Topic: Quantifying the formation and maintenance of optimistic beliefs in opioid use disorder

Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: 

• TRACC-RU Fellow 
• University of Michigan fMRI fellow 
• Primm-Singleton Scholar at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence 
• Alvarez E, E, Pujji S, D, Dinzeo T, J: Cognitive Failures and the Role of Emotion in Dimensional Schizotypy: A Replication and Extension. Psychopathology 2021. doi: 10.1159/000517795

Current status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Ph.D. student 

Advice for prospective graduate students: “Rutgers is vast and built on collaboration. Whatever you may be interested in, Rutgers has the lab to support it. Just ask around!”

 

Zachary Finkel

RISE Scholar: Summer 18

Program: Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering

Undergraduate Studies: Rowan University 

Thesis Advisor: Dr. Li Cai

Ph.D. Research Topic: Safety and Efficacy Study of Gsx1 for Spinal Cord Injury

Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments:

• Finkel Z, Cai L. Diversity of adult neural stem and progenitor cells in physiology and disease. Cells. 2021. (Review Article)
• Patel M, Li Y, Anderson J, Castro-Pedrido S, Skinner R, Lei S, Finkel Z, Rodriguez B, Esteban F, Lee KB, Lyu YL, Cai L. Gsx1 promotes locomotor functional recovery after spinal cord injury. Mol Ther. 2021 Aug 4;29(8):2469-2482. doi: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.04.027. Epub 2021 Apr 23. PMID: 33895323.
• Finkel Z, Cai L. Linking Traumatic Brain Injury, Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells, a chapter in The Neuroscience of Traumatic Brain Injury. Elsevier. 2021. (Book Chapter)
• Patel M, Anderson J, Lei S, Finkel Z, Rodriguez B, Esteban F, Risman R, Li Y, Lee KB, Lyu YL, Cai L. Nkx6.1 enhances neural stem cell activation and attenuates glial scar formation and neuroinflammation in the adult injured spinal cord. Exp Neurol. 2021 Jul 31:113826. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113826. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34343529.

Current status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Ph.D. student / Spring 2025 

Advice for prospective graduate students: Find a project you’re excited about and a lab you’re comfortable in!

 

Dr. Robert Green-Warren

RISE Scholar: Summer 18

Program: Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Undergraduate Studies: Eastern Michigan University 

Thesis Advisor: Prof. Jonathan P. Singer

Ph.D. Research Topic: Robert's research focuses on the synthesis of ZnO for nanoimprinting metal onto polymeric surfaces with applications to flexible electronics.

Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: *pending

Current status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Graduated with Ph.D. 

Advice for prospective graduate students:  *pending

 

Zakiyah Henry

RISE Scholar: Summer 18

Program: Ph.D. in the Joint Graduate Program in Toxicology

Undergraduate Studies: Winston-Salem State University 

Thesis Advisor: Dr. Grace Guo

Ph.D. Research Topic: The 'tissue-specific function of Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) in the presence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).'

Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: Zakiyah is also an IMSD Graduate Scholar and recently received an RO1 Diversity Supplement from the NIH-NIGMS.

Current status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Ph.D. student 

Advice for prospective graduate students: Wherever you plan to spend a chunk of your life, be sure that it feels like home and that you are comfortable!" Zakiyah can truly say that she is happy and "at-home" here at Rutgers!

 

Stephen Mut

RISE Scholar: Summer 18

Program: Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering

RISE/Cellular Bioengineering REU  Scholar: Summer 18

Program: Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering

Undergraduate Studies: Colorado School of Mines 

Thesis Advisor: Dr. Maribel Vazquez

Ph.D. Research Topic: Stephen’s research focuses on the development of organotypic culture systems to study therapies for retinal regeneration

Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments:

• Funding Support: Stephen is currently an R&D Research Intern and fellow at Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Publications:
  • Mut, S. R., & Vazquez, M. (2021). Commentary: Organ Cultures for Retinal Diseases. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 15.
  • Vazquez, M., Pena, J. S., & Mut, S. (2020). An Ex Vivo Eye Facsimile System (EVES) to evaluate transplantation strategies for cell replacement therapy. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 61(7), 795-795.

Current status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Ph.D. student 

Advice for prospective graduate students: Make timely and lofty goals each day to excel your project, and never be afraid to ask for additional help from your advisor and thesis committee members if you need.

 

Joshua (J) Randolph

RISE Scholar: Summer 18

Program: Ph.D. in Women's and Gender Studies

Undergraduate Studies: Beliot College 

Thesis Advisor: *pending

Ph.D. Research Topic:  J has several research interests that they wish to pursue, though issues of identity as they relate to language, popular culture, and current trends and fads are a consistent interest. More specifically, J has been continuing research from Beloit College on the use of queer astrology and occultism in contrast to queer/ed organized religion (with emphasis on the Abrahamic religions).

Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: *pending

Current status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Graduated with Masters

Advice for prospective graduate students: *pending