A           top of page

Aaron, Gloster
Email: gloster@cub.bio.columbia.edu
Defense Date: 2-19-01
Thesis Title: Synaptic Characteristics and Short-term Synaptic Plasticity in Hippocampal CA3 Inhibitory Circuits
Thesis Lab: Marc Dichter, Neurology
Current Position: Postdoc, Yuste lab, Columbia Univ.
Current Work: The main project I'm working on is to reveal inhibitory GABAergic connections in in vitro neocortical slices with fluorescent calcium indicator dyes. In short, this technique would allow us to select a GABAergic interneuron in the cortex (the "trigger cell"), whole-cell patch-clamp it, evoke high-frequency trains of action potentials, and then see which neuron(s) around it alter their fluorescence in response to the activation. We would then patch-clamp that neuron (the "follower"), confirm that it is synaptically connected to our trigger cell, and characterize the morphologies and physiologies of these neurons and their synaptic connections. With this technique we hope to build a part of the map of the cortical microcircuit. This work is similar to the work of a previous Penn graduate (James Kozloski), and I'm in fact using his old rig for this work. See Kozloski et al., Science 293:868 for a better understanding of the methods and motivation of the work I'm describing here.
Other Information: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/faculty/yuste/

Adler, Henry
Email: adlerh@nidcd.nih.gov
Defense Date: 7-23-93
Thesis Title: Functional and Structural Changes in Chick Auditory System Following Exposure to Intense Sound
Thesis Lab: James Saunders, Otorhinolaryngology
Current Position: IRTA Postdoc Fellow, NIH/NIDCD
Current Work:
Other Information:

Aguirre, Geoffrey
Email: aguirre@neuro.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 3-11-98
Thesis Title: Neural Components of Topographical Representation
Thesis Lab: Mark D'Esposito, Neurology
Current Position: Ctr for Cognitive Neuroscience; Dept of Neurology
Current Work:
Other Information: http://ccn.upenn.edu/~aguirre

Ances, Beau
Email: bances@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 5-25-00
Thesis Title: Activation Flow Coupling in the Rat Somatosensory Cortex
Thesis Lab: John Detre, Neurology
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Andrews, Christine
Email: andrews@pharm.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 4-23-99
Thesis Title: Neurochemistry of Cocaine: The Effects of Cocaine on Extracellular Dopamine and Serotonin Levels in the Nucleus Accumbens
Thesis Lab: Irwin Lucki, Pharmacology
Current Position: Postdoc, Jim Eberwine Lab, Univ. of Penn
Current Work:
Other Information:

Arroyo, Edgardo
Email: arroyoe@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 2-4-99
Thesis Title: The Role of the Transcription Faor Tst-1/SCIP/Oct-6 During Schwann Cell Development
Thesis Lab: Steve Scherer, Neurology
Current Position: Postdoc, Steve Scherer Lab, Univ. of Penn
Current Work:
Other Information:

Astion, Michael
Email: mastion@u.washington.edu
Defense Date: 6-30-89
Thesis Title: Acid/Base Transport in Glial Cells of Necturus Optic Nerve
Thesis Lab: Brian Salzberg, Neuroscience
Current Position: Assoc. Professor, Lab Med, Univ. Washington, Seattle
Current Work: Clinical Work: Director, Reference Laboratory Services, Univ of Washington Department of Laboratory Medicine
Research work: Development and study of a trademarked line of medical education software
that is now in use in more than 2000 clinical laboratories worldwide
References:
(1) Astion, M.L., Kim, S., Nelson, A., Henderson, P., Phillips, C., Bien, C., Mandel, L., Orkand, A.R., and Fine, J.S. 1999. A two-year study of microscopic urinalysis competency using the Urinalysis-Review computer program. Clinical Chemistry. 45:757-770.
(2) Kim, S., and Astion, M.L. 2000. Patterns of image comparison using compare and contrast feature in Urinalysis-Tutor. British Journal of Educational Technology. 31:353- 362.
(3) Kim, S., Brock, D.M., Bell, J., Orkand, A., and Astion, M.L. 2001. Design implications from a usability study of GramStain-Tutor. British Journal of Educational Technology. British Journal of Educational Technology. 32:601-612.
(4) Kim, S., Schaad, D.C., Scott, C.S., Robins, L.S., and Astion, M.L. 2001. A longitudinal evaluation of an educational software program: a case study of Urinalysis-Tutor. Academic Medicine. 7 6:1136-1143.
Other Information:

Auluck, Pavan
Email: auluck@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 3-24-03
Thesis Title: Chaperone Prevention of Parkinson's Disease: Genes, Drugs, and Bugs!
Thesis Lab: Nancy Bonini, Biology
Current Position: Returned to Med School
Current Work:
Other Information:

 
B           top of page

Bailey, Christine Kokolis
Email: Christine.K.Bailey@gsk.com
Defense Date: 6-11-02
Thesis Title: Molecular Chaperone and Proteasome Involvement in the Pathogenesis of Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy
Thesis Lab: Diane Merry, Jefferson University
Current Position: Clinical Research Scientist at GlaxoSmithKline
Current Work:
Other Information:

Barton, Ellen
Email: EBAR40@aol.com
Defense Date: 6-1-00
Thesis Title: Orbital Dependency of Saccadic Eye Movements
Thesis Lab: David Sparks, Psychology
Current Position: Postdoc, David Sparks Lab, Baylor Univ.
Current Work:
Other Information:

Beenhakker, Mark
Email: beenhakk@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 3-22-04
Thesis Title: Sensory Regulation of Rhythmically-Active Motor CircuitsNeuropeptide
Thesis Lab: Michael Nusbaum, Neuroscience
Current Position: Postdoc
Current Work:
Other Information:

Belkin, Kira
Email: kbelkin@att.net
Defense Date: 12-1-92
Thesis Title: Biphasic Modulation of Aplysia Siphon Motor Neurons by a Molluscan Neuropeptide
Thesis Lab: Tom Abrams
Current Position: Freelance medical writer
Current Work: I write scientific documents, continuing medical education materials, and other technical materials for the pharmaceutical industry.
Other Information:

Berger, Sarina
Email: sberger@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 6-17-04
Thesis Title: The role of neurotrophin signaling in CNS synaptogenesis
Thesis Lab: Rita Balice-gordon, Neuroscience
Current Position: Returned to Penn Med School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Blackman, David
Email: blackman@voicenet.com
Defense Date: 2-14-92
Thesis Title: A Comparison of Feedforward and Feedback Simple Cell Models
Thesis Lab: Paul Muellar
Current Position: Motorola, Horsham, PA 19044
Current Work:
Other Information:

Blaha, Gregory
Email: blahag@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 10-8-98
Thesis Title: BDNF Administration after Traumatic Brain Injury in the Rat
Thesis Lab: Tracy McIntosh, Neurosurgery
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Blitz, Dawn
Email: dawn_blitz@hms.harvard.edu
Defense Date: 10-26-98
Thesis Title: Motor Pattern Selection from a Multifunctional Neural Network
Thesis Lab: Michael Nusbaum, Neuroscience
Current Position: Postdoc, Harvard Univ.
Current Work:
Other Information:

Bronk, Peter
Email:
Defense Date: 3-29-02
Thesis Title: Chaperones Guarding Regulated Neurotransmitter Release
Thesis Lab: Konarad Zinsmaier, Neuroscience
Current Position: Postdoc, Univ of Texas, Southwestern Med. Inst.
Current Work:
Other Information:

Butler, Amy
Email: amy_butler@mckinsey.com
Defense Date: 3-31-97
Thesis Title: Regulation of PSA-NCAM Expression in the Developing Rat Stiatum
Thesis Lab: Marie-Francoise Chesselet, Pharmacology
Current Position: Consultant, McKinsey Co., New York
Current Work: Pharmaceutical and Biotech industries
Other Information:

 
C          top of page

Calizo, Lyngine
Email: lcalizo@jhsph.edu
Defense Date: 12-4-02
Thesis Title: Estrogen-induced Synaptic Remodeling in the Ventromedial Nucleus of the Hypothalamus and Reproductive Behavior in the Female Rat
Thesis Lab: Lori Flanagan-Cato, Psychology
Current Position: Postdoc Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Dept. Environmental Health Sciences
Current Work: Investigating the effects of PCB exposure during gestation and lactation on dendrite morphology and cognition in juvenile rats
Other Information:

Calkins, David
Email: calkins@cvs.rochester.edu
Defense Date: 10-3-94
Thesis Title: Microcircuitry of M and L Cone Midget Ganglion Cell Pathways in the Primate Fovea
Thesis Lab: Peter Sterling, Neuroscience
Current Position: Assoc. Professor, Depts. of Ophthalmology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, and Neurology & the Center for Visual Sciences, U Rochester
Current Work: My laboratory focuses on two independent avenues of research. The first pursues the genetic, molecular and synaptic organization of neuronal circuits in the primate visual system and how neurochemical expression limits the performance of these circuits in visual perception. This program has evolved from the central tenet that visual perception is most efficiently served by multiple, specialized pathways from the retina to the cortex devoted to minimizing redundancy and maximizing sensitivity to specific aspects of visual information. Our strategy combines electrophysiological recordings with single-cell RT-PCR in an in vitro slice preparation, in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry with quantitative light and electron microscopy. A recent concentration in these studies is the expression of glutamate receptors and the intracellular molecules that modulate them in particular neuronal types in the primate retina. The second avenue focuses on the genes and molecules that modulate neuronal function and neuronal-glial interactions in neuro-degenerative disorders of the brain and cranial nerves. One project involves characterizing cell-signaling molecules that underlie inflammatory responses in the neocortex of transgenic mouse models of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses. Our goal is to isolate molecular events that may be common to the neurochemical cascades that lead to neuronal cell death and loss of CNS function.
Other Information: http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/gebs/faculty/david_calkins.htm
-Harvey, D.M & Calkins, D.J. (2002) Localization of kainate receptors to the presynaptic active zone of the rod photoreceptor in primate retina. (Vis. Neurosci., in press).
-Yao, P.J., Coleman, P.D. & Calkins, D.J. (2002) High-resolution localization of clathrin assembly protein AP180 in the presynaptic terminals of mammalian neurons. (J. Comp. Neurol., 447, pp: 152-162.).
-Calkins, D.J. (2001) Seeing with S cones. Prog. Retinal and Eye Research, 20, pp. 255-287.Neuron, 24, pp. 313-321.
-Calkins, D.J. (2000) The representation of cone signals in the primate retina. Journal of the Optical Society of America B., 17, pp. 597-606.
-Calkins, D.J. & Sterling, P. (1999) Evidence that circuits for spatial and opponent color vision segregate at the first retinal synapse. Neuron, 24, pp. 313-321.
-Hendry, S.H.C. & Calkins, D.J. (1998) Neuronal chemistry and functional organization in primate visual system. Trends in Neuroscience, 21, pp. 344-349.
-Calkins, D.J., Tsukamoto, Y. & Sterling, P. (1998) Microcircuitry and mosaic of a blue/yellow ganglion cell in the primate retina. Journal of Neuroscience, 18, pp. 3373-3385
-Harvey, D.M & Calkins, D.J. (2002) Localization of kainate receptors to the presynaptic active zone of the rod photoreceptor in primate retina. (Vis. Neurosci., 19, pp. 681-692).
-Sappington, R.M., Pearce, D.A. & Calkins, D.J. (2003) Optic nerve pathology in a murine model of juvenile ceroid lipofuscinosis (Batten disease). ( Inv. Opthal. Vis. Sci., In press).
-Pasternak, T, Bisley, J.& Calkins, D.J. (2003) Visual processing in the primate brain. In Handbook of Psychology, Volume 3, Biological Psychology (M. Gallagher & R. Nelson, ed.), John Wiley and Sons.
-Calkins, D.J. (2003) Linking Retinal Circuits to Color Opponency. In The Visual Neurosciences, (Leo M. Chalupa & J. Werner, eds.), MIT Press.

Cameron, David
Email: camerond@upstate.edu
Defense Date: 8-2-91
Thesis Title: Polarization Contrast Vision in a Vertebrate-Behavioral and Anatomical Support for the Double Cone Hypothesis
Thesis Lab: Edward Pugh, Ophthalmology
Current Position: Dept. of Neuroscience & Physiology, SUNY Upstate Med. Univ.
Current Work: The primary focus of research in my lab concerns the molecular and cellular mechanisms of retinal regeneration in adult vertebrates. We also study mechanisms of cellular pattern formation in the central nervous system, biophysical characteristics of photoreceptors, and retinal physiology.

Fig. 1 illustrates the outcome of an in situ assay for cellular proliferation and neurogenesis in the retina of an adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). Two weeks after a retinal injury a marker for DNA synthesis (BrdU) was introduced into the eye, and several weeks later indirect immunocytochemical techniques were used to screen the retina for cells that incorporated BrdU and expressed a cell-specific marker (in this case the putative neurotransmitter serotonin). Following injury there is a huge increase in the number of proliferative cells within the retina, and some of these proliferative cells apparently produce new retinal neurons, including cells that are immunopositive for serotonin. This study indicated that an anomalous production of new retinal neurons occurs in the injured zebrafish retina via the activity of a proliferative type(s) of stem cell. Ongoing work in the lab is aimed at identifying these stem cells, determining what genes they express during the regenerative process, and identifying the molecular "triggers" that induce these cells to produce new retinal neurons.

Fig. 2: A recent study in the lab involved using cellular and biophysical aspects of cone photoreceptors to estimate photopic sensitivity of the ERG b-wave in adult zebrafish. The results of this study are summarized in the figure, and suggest that the zebrafish retina contains at least four distinct "channels" for processing visual information that arises from cone photoreceptors. The results also indicate that relatively basic cellular and biophysical aspects of cones can be used to successfully predict physiological aspects of visual processing in the inner retina. The different processing channels are hypothesized to provide the zebrafish with different visual attributes across the visual spectrum, such as high sensitivity to luminance contrast at short wavelengths, and high sensitivity to chromatic contrast at long wavelengths. Ongoing work in the lab is aimed at combining these analyses with physiological and molecular techniques to improve our understanding of the functional status of regenerated retina, and how regenerated retina may restore visual function.
References:
(1) Cameron DA, Vafai H, White JA (1999) Analysis of dendritic arbors of native and regenerated ganglion cells in the goldfish retina. Visual Neuroscience 16, 253-262.
(2) Lem J, Krasnoperova NV, Calvert PD, Kosaras B, Cameron DA, Nicolò M, Makino CL, Sidman RL (1999) Morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes in rhodopsin knockout mice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 96, 736-741.
(3) Cameron DA, Carney LH (2000) Cell mosaic patterns in the native and
regenerated inner retina of zebrafish: Implications for retinal assembly. Journal of Comparative Neurology 416, 356-367.
(4) Cameron DA, Powers MK (2000) Morphology and visual pigment content of photoreceptors from injured goldfish retina. Visual Neuroscience 17, 623-630. (5) Cameron DA (2000) Cellular proliferation and neurogenesis in the injured retina of adult zebrafish. Visual Neuroscience 17, 789-797.
(6) Ma J-x, Znoiko S, Othersen KL, Ryan JC, Das J, Isayama T, Kono M, Oprian DD, Corson DW, Cornwall MC, Cameron DA, Makino CL, Crouch RK (2001) Green rods and blue-sensitive cones share the same visual pigment but use distinct transducins. Neuron 32, 451-461.
(7) Stenkamp DL, Powers MK, Carney LH, Cameron DA (2001) Evidence for two distinct mechanisms of neurogenesis and cellular pattern formation in regenerating goldfish retinas. Journal of Comparative Neurology 431, 363-381.
Other Information:

Cardin, Jess
Email: cardin@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 3-22-04
Thesis Title: Behavioral State-dependent Auditory Processing in the Avian Song System
Thesis Lab: Marc Schmidt, Biology
Current Positon: Postdoc, Univ of Pennsylvania in the laboratory of Diego Contreras
Other Information:

Celenza (Behling) Kathryn
Email: chang@wi.mit.edu
Defense Date: 5-23-03
Thesis Title: Characterizing the Role of Endogenous antiangiogenic Factors in Neovascular Pathology and Normal Vascular Development in the Retina
Thesis Lab: Jean Bennett, Ophthalmology
Current Positon: Returned to Penn Med School
Other Information:

Chang, Qiang
Email: chang@wi.mit.edu
Defense Date: 6-14-00
Thesis Title: The Role of Gap Junctional Coupling in Motor Neuron and Neuromuscular Junction Development
Thesis Lab: Rita Balice-Gordon, Neuroscience
Current Positon: Postdoc, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA
Other Information:

Chou, Thomas
Email: tchou@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 8-30-99
Thesis Title: A Model of Growth Factor Signaling Specificity: NGF Induced Apoptosis Versus Differentiation
Thesis Lab: Virginia Lee, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Chou-Green, Jennifer
Email: jen@5ht.com
Defense Date: 5-13-99
Thesis Title: The Role of the 5-HT1A Autoreceptor in the Neurochemical Response to Fluoxetine
Thesis Lab: Irwin Lucki, Pharmacology
Current Position: Independent Contractor, MENTORNET, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Current Work: Collaborating on ACE initiative to develop e-mentoring program materials for women in academic careers in science and engineering.
Other Information: www.mentornet.net

Chyung, Abraham
Email: chyung1@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 12-23-98
Thesis Title: Intracelular Amloid Precursor Protein Processing in NT2N Cells
Thesis Lab: Virginia Lee, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Ciali (Santarelli), Lindsey
Email: ciali@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 111-18-05
Thesis Title: Molecular and Functional Targets of Methionine Oxidation in Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels
Thesis Lab: Toshi Hoshi, Physiology
Current Position:
Current Work:
Other Information:

Ciaramitaro, Vivian
Email: vivian@salk.edu
Defense Date: 12-13-96
Thesis Title: Interactions Between Cortical and Subcortical Visual Systems and the Role of GABA in the Recovery of Visual Orienting in the Hemianopic Cat
Thesis Lab: Alan Rosenquist, Neuroscience
Current Position: Postdoc, Salk Institute in the laboratory of Geoff Boynton
Current Work:
Other Information:

Conti, Alana
Email: acc@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 4-29-03
Thesis Title: Distinct Actions of CRE-binding Transcription Factors in Antidepressant Activity and HPA Axis Regulation in the Brain
Thesis Lab: Julie Blendy, Pharmacology
Current Position: Postdoc, Julie Blendy Lab, Univ of Penn
Current Work:
Other Information:

Cooke, Ayanna N.K.
Email: acooke@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 11-28-01
Thesis Title: The Neural Basis for Sentence Comprehension: A Cognitive and Anatomic Model
Thesis Lab: Murray Grossman, Neurology
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Crumling, Mark
Email: crumling@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 6-27-02
Thesis Title: Cochlear Nerve Adaptation as an Indicator of Tall Hiar Cell Synaptic Function in the Chick
Thesis Lab: James Saunders, Otorhinolaryngology
Current Position: Postdoc, Tom Parsons Lab, Univ of Penn
Current Work:
Other Information:

Crystal, Adam
Email:
Defense Date: 11-10-04
Thesis Title: Towards Understanding the Role of Pen-2 in the Gamma-Secretase Complex
Thesis Lab: Robert Doms (Microbiology) and Virginia Lee (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)
Current Position:
Current Work:
Other Information:

Cummings, Dana
Email:
Defense Date: 3-7-96
Thesis Title: Paradoxical Facilitation of Asynchronous Neurotransmitter Release Accompanies Depression of Synchronous Release at Excitatory
Thesis Lab: Marc Dichter, Neurology
Current Position: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Pediatrics Residency
Current Work:
Other Information:

 
D           top of page

Dadvand, Laila
Email: lailadad@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 2-6-06
Thesis Title: Divergent Effect of Sleep on the Loss and Recovery of Deprived Eye Responses in the Developing Visual Cortex
Thesis Lab: Michael Stryker (Physiology, UCSF) and Marcos Frank (Neuroscience)
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Davis, James
Email: jim@reo.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 4-26-94
Thesis Title: Molecular Cloning and Characterization of an Inner Ear-specific Structural Protein
Thesis Lab:
Current Position: Postdoc, Greene Lab, Path Department, Univ. of Penn
Current Work:
Other Information:

DeBernardo, Angela
Email:
Defense Date: 6-12-96
Thesis Title: Multiple Binding Interactions of the Cell Adhesion Molecule DM-GRASP: Implications for Neurite Extension and Axonal Pathfinding
Thesis Lab: Jonathan Raper, Neuroscience
Current Position: Family leave
Current Work:
Other Information:

Delfs (Maki), Jill
Email: jill.maki@mail.verizon.net
Defense Date: 7-6-95
Thesis Title: Gene Expression and Behavior in Animal Models of Movement Disorders
Thesis Lab: Marie-Francoise Chesselet, Pharmacology
Current Position: Stay at home mom to Caroline (15 months) and Catherine (6 weeks)
Current Work:
Other Information: I spent three years as a post-doc with Gary Aston-Jones, first at Allegheny University and later at Penn. It was a productive three years which ended on a high note with a paper published in Nature (Delfs et al., Nature 2000 Jan 27;403(6768):430-4). I subsequently decided to leave academic science and pursue a career in secondary school teaching. I spent a wonderfully fulfilling two years teaching biology and chemistry at a private girls high school on the upper east side of Manhattan.

Ding, Long
Email: lding@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 5-27-03
Thesis Title: Physiological Actions of Dopamine in An Avian Basal Ganglia Nucleus Essential for Vocal Learning
Thesis Lab: David Perkel, Depts of Biology and Otolaryngology, University of Washington
Current Position: Postdoc, Okihide Hikosaka Lab, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
Current Work:
Other Information:

Druzgal, Jason
Email: druzgal@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 9-26-01
Thesis Title: Network Processes of Face Working Memory
Thesis Lab: Mark D'Esposito, Neurology
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Durmer, Jeffrey
Email: jsd@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 5-15-97
Thesis Title: Behavioral and Anatomical Studies of the Pedunculopotine Nucleus and its Role in the Visual Orienting Response in the Cat
Thesis Lab: Alan Rosenquist, Neuroscience
Current Position: Fellow in the Division of Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology and the Dept. of Neurology
Current Work:
Other Information:

 
E-G           top of page

Eisen, Marc
Email: eisenm@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 1-13-00
Thesis Title: Neurotransmitter release at the Chick Cochlear Hair Cell Afferent Synapse
Thesis Lab: James Saunders/Thomas Parsons, Otorhinolaryngology
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Fan, Jinhong
Email: jfan@cytokinetics.com
Defense Date: 9-20-94
Thesis Title: The Effects of Collapsing Factors on the Cytoskeletal Organization and Behavior of Neuronal Growth Cones
Thesis Lab: Jonathan Raper, Neuroscience
Current Position: Scientist II, Cell Technologies Cytokinetics, Inc
Current Work:
Other Information:

Farries, Michael
Email:
Defense Date: 6-11-02
Thesis Title: Organization and Electrophysiological Properties of An Avian Basal Ganglia Structure Essential for Song Learning
Thesis Lab: David Perkel, Univ of Washington
Current Position: .
Current Work:
Other Information:

FitzMaurice, Marnie
Email:
Defense Date: 9-6-02
Thesis Title: Visual Detection as Well as Visual Orienting Deficits Occur Following Inactivation of the Superior Colliculus in the Cat
Thesis Lab: Alan Rosenquist, Neuroscience
Current Position: VCA Cat Hospital of Philadelphia
Current Work:
Other Information:

Freedman, Edward
Email: Ed_Freedman@URMC.Rochester.edu
Defense Date: 5-23-96
Thesis Title: Neural Control of Eye-Head Coordination During Orienting Movements: The Role of the Primate Superior Colliculus
Thesis Lab: David Sparks, Psychology
Current Position: Assist. Professor, Neurobiology, Univ. of Rochester
Current Work:
Other Information: http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/gebs/faculty/edward_freedman.htm

Gallitano, Amelia
Email: ag439@columbia.edu
Defense Date: 4-15-97
Thesis Title: A Molecular Genetic Analysis of Head Development in the Fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster
Thesis Lab: Robert Finkelstein, Neuroscience
Current Position: Columbia Univ. Psychiatry Residency
Current Work:
Other Information:

Glimcher, Paul
Email: glimcher@cns.nyu.edu
Defense Date: 3-29-89
Thesis Title: The Neuroanatomixal Identification of Substrate for Medical Forebrain Bundle Self-stimulation
Thesis Lab: Randy Gallistel
Current Position: Assoc. Professor, Neural Science and Psychology, NYU
Current Work: http://www.cns.nyu.edu/~glimcher/RESEARCH/attention.htm
Other Information: http://www.cns.nyu.edu/~glimcher

Graves, Laurel
Email: lgraves@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 11-27-01
Thesis Title: The Role of the cAMP/PKA/CREB Signaling Pathway in Sleep and Memory
Thesis Lab: Allan Pack, Medicine and Ted Abel, Biology
Current Position: Psychiatric Resident, Hospital of the Univ of Penn
Current Work:
Other Information:

Groh, Jennifer
Email: groh@cs.dartmouth.edu
Defense Date: 11-17-93
Thesis Title: Saccades to Somatosensory Targets: Behavioral Characteristics, Motor Control, and Eye Position-dependent Somatosensory Activity in Primate SC
Thesis Lab: David Sparks, Psychology
Current Position: Asst. Professor, Dept. of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Dartmouth
Current Work: Research concerns the integration of information gathered by our different sensory systems.
References:
(1) Groh, JM. 2000. Predicting perception from population codes. Nature Neuroscience, 3(3):201-202.
(2) Born, RT, Groh, JM , Zhao, R., and Lukasewycz, S. J. 2000. Segregation of object and background motion in visual area MT: effects of microstimulation on eye movements. Neuron, 26:725-734.
(3) Groh JM, Trause, A. S., Underhill, A. M., Clark, K. R, Inati, S. 2001. Eye position influences auditory responses in primate inferior colliculus. Neuron, 29:509-518. (This article was featured on the cover of the journal).
(4) Groh, JM. 2001. Converting neural signals from place codes to rate codes. Biol. Cybern., 85:159-65.
(5) Boucher, L, Groh JM, Hughes HC. 2001. Visual latency and the mislocalization of perisaccadic stimuli. Vision Research, 41: 2631-2644.
Other Information: http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~groh/lab

Gupta, Abha
Email:
Defense Date: 7-9-99
Thesis Title: Generation of an Animal Model for Macular Degeneration
Thesis Lab: Jean Bennett, Ophthalmology
Current Position: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Pediatrics Residency
Current Work:
Other Information:

 
H-J           top of page

Harkins, Amy
Email: harkinsa@slu.edu
Defense Date: 3-8-93
Thesis Title: Resting Calcium in Frog Skeletal Muscle Fibers Estimated with the Calcium Indicators Fluo-3 and Fura Red
Thesis Lab: Steve Baylor, Physiology
Current Position: Assist. Professor, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Current Work: Regulation of synaptic transmission is a vital component of neuronal physiology from simple reflexes up to higher order brain functions. Rapid cell-to-cell communication integral to synaptic transmission is initiated by Ca2+ entry into the presynaptic terminal to activate vesicle fusion and release of neurotransmitter. Current research is focused on understanding how Ca2+ regulates the molecular machinery that underlies exocytosis of vesicles. To study Ca2+-dependent vesicle release, a variety of model cell systems are used as surrogate secretory cells. Model cells have many similarities to neurons, and provide an excellent environment to measure intracellular Ca2+, Ca2+ influx, the number of vesicles released, and the efficiency of vesicle release. Furthermore, model cells are typically more accessible for genetic manipulations and molecular approaches than most neurons. Techniques used include electrophysiological approaches to measure ionic currents and membrane capacitance, Ca2+ imaging, amperometric measurements of chemical neurotransmitter release, genetic manipulations of genomic DNA, and standard molecular biology techniques.
Projects: How do specific Ca2+ channels interact with the vesicle release proteins to evoke secretion? By taking advantage of a new model cell that lacks endogenous Ca2+ channels, different Ca2+ channel subunits can be transfected into cells and secretion measured to determine whether one Ca2+ channel subtype may be more closely coupled to secretion than another. Interestingly, there may be distinguishable differences in the biophysical properties of the Ca2+ channels to allow one subtype to be more effective in coupling to secretion than another subtype. Which protein molecule(s)acts as a Ca2+ sensor for regulated vesicle release? There are many possible candidates for the Ca2+ sensor, and these candidates can be overexpressed or knocked out by genetic manipulation, or greatly reduced by inhibiting translation of the genetic code. One candidate, synaptotagmin, is an integral vesicular protein postulated to act as the Ca2+ sensor for secretion. Like other vesicle proteins, there are many isoforms of synaptotagmin distributed throughout the nervous system and may act as functionally redundant for synaptic transmission, or conversely, may be functionally distinct from one another. It is our goal that understanding the underlying mechanisms of Ca2+-dependent vesicle release will contribute to understanding, and possibly treating, neurological disorders that result from a failure of neuronal communication.
Relevant Publications:
A. B. Harkins and A. P. Fox (1998) Activation of Nicotinic ACh Receptors Augments Calcium Channel-Mediated Exocytosis in Rat Pheochromocytoma (PC12) Cells. Journal of General Physiology. 111:257-269.
A. B. Harkins, S. Dlouhy, B. Ghetti, A. L. Cahill, L. Won, B. Heller, A. Heller, and A. P. Fox. (2000) Evidence of Elevated Intracellular Calcium Levels in Weaver Homozygote Mice. Journal of Physiology. 524:447-455.
A. B. Harkins and A. P. Fox. (2000) Activation of Purinergic Receptors by ATP Inhibits Secretion in Bovine Adrenal Chromaffin Cells. Brain Research. 885:231-239.
Other Information: http://medschool.slu.edu/pharmphys/ http://medschool.slu.edu/pharmphys/fac/frames.html

Hartley, Rebecca
Email: rebeccahartley@earthlink.net
Defense Date: 6-24-98
Thesis Title: Characterization of Human NT2N Neurons for Transplantation Therapeutics
Thesis Lab: Virginia Lee, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Current Position: Associate Director, Product Development; Acucela, Inc., Seattle, WA
Current Work: Acucela is a startup company developing a novel cell-based system for macular degeneration and glaucoma drug discovery. We opened the laboratory in December, 2002, and currently employ 6 people. I oversee all laboratory operations for the company (mainly research and development at this stage).
Other Information:

Heidary, Gena
Email: heidary@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 6-10-02
Thesis Title: Identification and Characterization of the Drosophila Tau Homologue
Thesis Lab: Mark Fortini, Genetics
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Hellman, Kevin
Email:
Defense Date: 6-18-04
Thesis Title: Sleep and Memory: Electrophysiological, Genetic and Molecular Studies
Thesis Lab: Ted Abel, Biology
Current Position:
Current Work:
Other Information:

Hickman (Ashmore), Lesley
Email: hickman@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 6-27-03
Thesis Title: Examining the Role of Timeless in the Drosophila Circadian Clock
Thesis Lab: Amita Sehgal, Neuroscience
Current Position: Postdoc, Amita Sehgal Lab, Univ. of Penn
Current Work:
Other Information:

Higley, Michael
Email: higley@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 10-28-05
Thesis Title: Neural Mechanisms of Spatiotemporal Sensory Integration in the Rat Barrel System
Thesis Lab: Diego Contrerasl, Neuroscience
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Hsu, Andrew
Email: AHsu@synaptics.com
Defense Date: 4-24-98
Thesis Title: Optimal Transfer of Form and Color Information through the Primate Retina
Thesis Lab: Peter Sterling, Neuroscience
Current Position: Technical Marketing Manager, Synaptics Company, CA
Current Work:
Other Information:

Hunter-Ensor, Melissa
Email:
Defense Date: 6-4-97
Thesis Title: Fundamental Properties of the Circadian Clock in Drosophila Melanogaster; A Molecualr, Behavioral, and Genetic Analysis
Thesis Lab: Amita Sehgal, Neuroscience
Current Position: Technology Specialist
Current Work:
Other Information:

Huse, Jason
Email: jthuse@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 12-7-01
Thesis Title: A Functional Characterization of the Alzheimer's Disease beta-Secretase
Thesis Lab: Robert Doms, Pathology
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Jacobs, Alan
Email: ajacobs@neurondoc.com
Defense Date: 4-27-95
Thesis Title: Role of Neurofilament in the Development and Regeneration of Lamprey Central Neurons
Thesis Lab: Michael Selzer, Neurology
Current Position: Medical Director, Layton Biosciences, San Francisco
Current Work:
Other Information:

Jaramillo, Angela
Email: ajaramil@princeton.edu
Defense Date: 8-23-04
Thesis Title: Characterization of the Slowpoke Ion Channel Binding Protein, Slob, in Drosophila
Thesis Lab: Irwin Levitan, Neuroscience
Current Position: Postdoc in the lab of Trudi Schupbach, Princeton University
Current Work: Genetic and molecular analysis of oogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster
Other Information:

Johnson, Brian
Email: bnj23@drexel.edu
Defense Date: 3-24-03
Thesis Title: Short-term Plasticity between Excitatory Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons
Thesis Lab: Marc Dichter, Neurology
Current Position: Postdoc, Melanie Tallent Lab, Drexel University College of Medicine
Current Work:
Other Information:

 
K           top of page

Kable, Joe
Email: kable@cns.nyu.edu
Defense Date: 6-28-04
Thesis Title: Moving Thoughts: Conceptual Representations of Action in Lateral Occipitotemporal Cortex
Thesis Lab: Anjan Chatterjee, Neurology
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Glimcher lab, NYU
Current Work: fMRI studies of decision-making
Other Information:

Kao, Yen-Hong (Harry)
Email:
Defense Date: 7-30-03
Thesis Title: Matching Neural Morphology to Molecular Expression
Thesis Lab: Peter Sterling, Neuroscience
Current Position:
Current Work:
Other Information:

Kapadia, Mitesh
Email: mitesh@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 9-14-99
Thesis Title: Lateral Interactions in Primary Visual Cortex and their Role in Perception
Thesis Lab: Gilbert/Palmer, Neuroscience
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Kaplan, Michael
Email: mkap@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 6-27-01
Thesis Title: Mechanisms of Short-term Plasticity in Inhibitory and Excitatory Hippocampal Neurons
Thesis Lab: Marc Dichter, Neurology
Current Position: Postdoc, Ted Abel Lab, Univ. of Penn
Current Work:
Other Information:

Kim, John
Email: kim_j@A1.TCH.HARVARD.EDU
Defense Date: 4-28-93
Thesis Title: Linker Substitution Mutational Analysis of the HIV-1 LTR
Thesis Lab: Francisco Gonzalez, Neurology
Current Position: Pediatrics Resident, Children's Hospital, Boston
Current Work:
Other Information:

Kirby, Lynn
Email: kirby@email.chop.edu
Defense Date: 4-2-97
Thesis Title: Neurochemistry of Stress: the Effects of Stressors on Central Serotonergic Neuroendocrine and Behavioral Responses
Thesis Lab: Irwin Lucki, Pharmacology
Current Position: Postdoc, Rita Valentino Lab, Children's Hospital of Phila
Current Work:
Other Information:

Kirkland, Kyle
Email: kirkland@mulab.physiol.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 9-18-98
Thesis Title: Models of Cortical Feedback and its Role in Synchronizing the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus
Thesis Lab: George Gerstein, Neuroscience
Current Position: Postdoc, Diego Contreras Lab, Univ. of Penn
Current Work:
Other Information:

Kisley, Lori
Email: lori.kisley@uchsc.edu
Defense Date: 5-3-99
Thesis Title: Estrogen Regulation of Angiotensin II-induced Water Intake in the Female Rat
Thesis Lab: Steve Fluharty, Animal Biology, Univ. of Penn Vet School
Current Position: Assist. Res. Professor, Sch. of Pharmacy, Univ. of Colorado Hlth. Sci. Ctr.
Current Work: Preclinical work in mice testing various drugs (COX-2 inhibitors) as potential chemopreventive agents for lung cancer.
Other Information:

Kisley, Michael
Email: mkisley@uccs.edu
Defense Date: 2-4-00
Thesis Title: Dynamic Organization of Neuronal Populations in Neocortex
Thesis Lab: George Gerstein, Neuroscience
Current Position: Assist.Professor, Dept of Psychology, Univ. of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Current Work: : I use non-invasive neurophysiological measures to study human brain function, from infancy to senescence. Most recently I’ve become interested in how sensory processing changes during healthy and pathological aging, and the implication this has for daily functioning. I also teach graduate and undergraduate courses, mostly on neuroscience-related topics. I continue to collaborate with researchers in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center on the physiological basis of sensory- and attentional-processing dysfunction associated with schizophrenia.
Other Information: http://web.uccs.edu/psychology/

Kleppner, Sofie
Email: SKleppner@titanpharm.com
Defense Date: 10-16-96
Thesis Title: In Vivo and In Vitro Characteristics of Human Neuronal Cells Derived from the Teratocarcinoma Cell Line NT2
Thesis Lab: Virginia Lee, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Current Position: Manager, Technology Development, Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080
Current Work:
Other Information:

Koppel, Adam
Email: Adam_Koppel@mckinsey.com
Defense Date: 9-17-97
Thesis Title: How Do the Collapsin/Semaphorin Family Members Bind their Receptor(s)?
Thesis Lab: Jonathan Raper, Neuroscience
Current Position: Consultant, McKinsey Company
Current Work:
Other Information:

Kozloski, James
Email: jk820@columbia.edu
Defense Date: 12-16-98
Thesis Title: Timing of Action Potentials and the Construction of a Representation of Periodicity for Temporal Feature Extraction in a Vertebrate Auditory System
Thesis Lab: Jud Crawford, Psychology
Current Position: Postdoc, Biology Department, Columbia Univ.
Current Work:
Other Information:

Kreiss, Deb
Email:
Defense Date: 4-9-93
Thesis Title: Regulation of Serotonin Release by 5-HT 1A Autoreceptors
Thesis Lab: Irwin Lucki, Pharmacology
Current Position:
Current Work:
Other Information:

Kumar, Sanjay
Email: sskumar@leland.stanford.edu
Defense Date: 8-28-97
Thesis Title: Intracellular Mechanisms Underlying Modulation of Synaptic Efficacy at First-Order Sensory Synapses
Thesis Lab: Donald Faber
Current Position: Postdoc, Stanford Univ.
Current Work:
Other Information:

 
L           top of page

Lee, Edward
Email: edwardl@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 12-22-03
Thesis Title: Identification of A- Species That Contribute to The Pathologic and Behavioral Manifestations of Alzheimer's Disease
Thesis Lab: Virginia Lee, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Li, Yuebing
Email: yuebingli@hotmail.com
Defense Date: 5-5-98
Thesis Title: The Identification of Orthodenticle-interacting Genes in Drosophila Melanogaster
Thesis Lab: Robert Finkelstein, Neuroscience
Current Position: Resident, Univ. of Cleveland Med School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Lien, Marcus
Email: marcuslien@yahoo.com
Defense Date: 8-24-98
Thesis Title: Characterization of p53 in Human Neuroblastoma Cells Halazonetis
Thesis Lab: Athanassios Halazonetis, Wistar
Current Position: Radiology Resident, Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA I finished an internship year at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Current Work: My scientific work has ceased since starting residency. I hope to pursue a career in either Interventional Radiology or Neuroradiology, and may pursue my research interests in the future if the right opportunity arises.
Other Information:

Lifshitz, Jonathan
Email: jlifshit@vcu.edu
Defense Date: 5-10-02
Thesis Title: Pathologic Alterations in Mitochondrial Populations Following Experimental Brain Injury
Thesis Lab: Tracy McIntosh, Neurosurgery
Current Position: Postdoc, Virginia Commonwealth University
Current Work:
Other Information:

Liu, David
Email: liudm@ndmc1.ndmctsgh.edu.ts
Defense Date: 2-6-95
Thesis Title: Cortical and Subcortical Plasticity of the Rat Vibrissal Representation Following Chronic Subtotal Deafferentation
Thesis Lab: Peter Hand, Vet School
Current Position: Postdoc, Dept. of Pharmacology, Nat. Def. Univ., Taipei
Current Work:
Other Information:

Loboda, Andrey
Email:
Defense Date: 10-24-00
Thesis Title: Selectivity and Gating of Shaker Potassium Channels
Thesis Lab: Clay Armstrong, Physiology
Current Position: Postdoc, Showe Lab, Wistar
Current Work:
Other Information:

Luo, Minmin
Email: luo@neuro.duke.edu
Defense Date: 12-9-99
Thesis Lab: David Perkel, Neuroscience
Current Position: Postdoc, Dept. of Neurobiology, Duke Univ.
Current Work:
Other Information:

Lurie, Diana
Email: lurie@selway.umt.edu
Defense Date: 11-14-89
Thesis Title: The Cellular Environment during Axonal Regeneration in the Sea Lamprey Spinal Cord
Thesis Lab: Michael Selzer, Neurology
Current Position: Associate Professor of Neuropharmacology, Univ. of Montana
Current Work:
Other Information:

 
M           top of page

Maki (Fitzsimonds), Reiko
Email: reiko.fitzsimonds@yale.edu
Defense Date: 4-24-95
Thesis Title: Modulation of Synaptic Transmission by Metabotrophic Glutamate Receptors in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons
Thesis Lab: Marc Dichter, Neurology
Current Position: Asst. Professor, Yale Univ.
Current Work:
Other Information:

Marciano, Paolo
Email: marciano@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 6-18-02
Thesis Title: Differential Gene Expression in the Mouse Hippocampus Following Controlled Cortical Impact Brain Injury
Thesis Lab: Tracy McIntosh, Neurosurgery and James Eberwine, Pharmacology
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

McCampbell, Alex
Email: AMCCAMPBELL@Partners.org
Defense Date: 4-20-01
Thesis Title: Transcriptional Coactivator Dysfunction in Models of Polyglutamine Disease
Thesis Lab: Kenneth Fischbeck, NIH
Current Position: Postdoc, Brown Lab, Massachusetts General Hospital
Current Work: The primary focus of my work is the creation of a mouse model for adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN). AMN is a late-onset neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in ABCD1 gene. The ABCD1 protein is expressed in peroxisomes, and loss of ABCD1 causes accumulation of very-long chain fatty acids (VLCFA). How VLCFA accumulation leads to axonal degeneration is one of the central mysteries of the disease.
References:
(1)McCampbell, A, Taye, A. A., Whitty, L., Penney, E. Fischbeck, K. H.Deacetylase inhibitors inhibit polyglutamine toxicity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Dec 18; 98(26) 15179-15184.
(2)Steffan JS, Bodai L, Pallos J, Poelman M, McCampbell A, Apostol BL, Kazantsev A, Schmidt E, Zhu YZ, Greenwald M, Kurokawa R, Housman DE, Jackson GR, Marsh JL, Thompson LM. Histone deacetylase inhibitors arrest polyglutamine-dependent neurodegeneration in Drosophila. Nature. 2001 Oct 18;413(6857):739-43.
(3)McCampbell, A., Taylor, J. P., Addis, A. A., Robitschek, J., Li, M., Walcott, J., Merry, D., Paulson, H., Chai, Y., Sobue, G., Fischbeck, K. H. (2000) CREB-binding protein sequestration by expanded polyglutamine. Human Molecular Genetics. 9(14):2197-2202.
Other Information:

McLaughlin, Beth Ann
Email: BethAnn.McLaughlin@vanderbilt.edu
Defense Date: 9-30-97
Thesis Title: Striatal Vulnerability to Mitochondrial Inhibition
Thesis Lab: Marie-Francoise Chesselet, Pharmacology
Current Position: Assist. Professor, Dept. of Neurology, Vanderbilt Brain Institute
Faculty Director of Community and Special Projects, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center
Current Work:
Other Information: http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/neurology/faculty/mclaughlin.htm

McManus, Matthew
Email: mmcmanus@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 6-02-03
Thesis Title: Inhibitory Interneuron Migration: Implications in Development and Disease
Thesis Lab: Jeff Golden, CHOP Pediatrics
Current Position: Returned to Penn Med School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Menschik, Elliot
Email: elliot.menschik.gr99@alumni.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 4-19-99
Thesis Title: Cholinergic Neuromodulation in Hippocampal Function and Disease: From Single-cell iophysics to Network Simulations
Thesis Lab: Leif Finkel, Bioengineering
Current Position: Own business
Current Work:
Other Information:

Merrick, Sandra
Email: s.merrick@cerep.com
Defense Date: 9-26-95
Thesis Title: Phosphatase Regulation of Tau Phosphorylation and Microtubule Stabilization with Implications in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease
Thesis Lab: Virginia Lee, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Current Position: Scientist, Cerep, Inc., Redmond, WA 98052
Current Work: We provide reagents and consulting for arthritis research including inflammation and autoimmune diseases. I am developing new products to assist in diagnosis and potentially treatment for various autoimmune diseases.
Other Information:

Mitchell, Kendall
Email: kjlmit@aol.com
Defense Date: 11-21-01
Thesis Title: Correlation between Superoxide Dismutase Expression and Protection in Selected Models of Injury
Thesis Lab: Frank Welsh, Neurosurgery
Current Position: Postdoc, Pain & Neurosensory Mechanism Branch, Division of Intramural Research, Natl Inst of Dental & Craniofacial Research, NIH, Bethesda
Current Work:
Other Information:

Moody, Kathy
Email: kmoody@acspr1.acs.brockport.edu
Defense Date: 5-1-92
Thesis Title: Peripheral Mechanisms of Facilitated Mating in Female Rats: An Integrated Model of the Neuroendocr
Thesis Lab: Norman Adler, Psychology
Current Position: Asst. Professor, Biology, SUNY, Brockport
Current Work:
Other Information:

Myers, Edie
mail: edith.myers@yale.edu
Defense Date: 7-3-03
Thesis Title: Clock-controlled Eclosion: How the Circadian System Regulates Adult Hatching in the Fruitfly Drosophila Melanogaster
Thesis Lab: Dr. Amita Sehgal, Neuroscience
Current Position: Postdoc, Michael Koelle lab, Yale, Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry
Current Work:
Other Information:

 
N-P          top of page

Nasrallah, Ilya
Email: nasralla@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 2-5-04
Thesis Title: Cellular Consequences of Mutations in the Mouse Homologs of the Human Lissencephaly Genes LIS1 and ARX
Thesis Lab: Jeff Golden, Neuroscience CHOP
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Nafziger, John
Email: jnafziger@sarnoff.com
Defense Date: 4-23-01
Thesis Title: Mechanisms of Contour Integration in Primary Visual Cortex
Thesis Lab: Larry Palmer, Neuroscience
Current Position: Consultant, Sarnoff Corp., Princeton
Current Work:
Other Information:

Nguyen, Thao
Email: nguyent@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 6-18-02
Thesis Title: Exploring How Structure Supports Function in Voltage Dependent Channels
Thesis Lab: Robert Barchi, Provost, and Richard Horn, Physiology - Jefferson University
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Nichols, Jamie
Email: jnichols@braunconsult.com
Defense Date: 12-14-95
Thesis Title: Toward an Improved Control-theoretic Metaphor for the Saccadic System
Thesis Lab: David Sparks, Psychology
Current Position: Consultant, Braun
Current Work:
Other Information:

Nobel, Kim
Email:
Defense Date: 1-20-05
Thesis Title: Socioeconomic Status Modulates Cognition-Achievement and Brain-Behavior Relationships
Thesis Lab: Martha Farah
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Olson, Andrew
Email: AndrewO@axon.com
Defense Date: 4-20-92
Thesis Title: Diffusion of Fluorescent Cyclic GMP Analogs in Rod Outer Segments of the Tiger Salamander: Consequences for Phototransduction
Thesis Lab: Edward Pugh, Ophthalmology
Current Position: Product Line Manager, Axon Instruments
Current Work: High-Throughput Cellular Imaging
Other Information: http://www.axon.com/

Panzer, Jessica
Email:
Defense Date: 1-25-05
Thesis Title: Neuromuscular Synaptogenesis in Wild Type and Mutant Zebrafish
Thesis Lab: Rita Balice-Gordon, Neuroscience
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Parsons, Tom
Email: parsons@cahp2.nbc
Defense Date: 6-30-89
Thesis Title: Optical Monitoring of the Electrcal Activity of Neuronal Ensembles Constructed from Identified Invertebrate Cells
Thesis Lab: Brian Salzberg, Neuroscience
Current Position: Asst. Professor, Swine Med, Univ. Penn Vet School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Perri, Marie
Email:
Defense Date: 5-31-91
Thesis Title: Spatial Distribution and Kinetics of the Light-Sensitive Current in Isolated Photoreceptor Outer Segments Dialyzed with a cGMP or GTP
Thesis Lab: Edward Pugh, Ophthalmology
Current Position:
Current Work:
Other Information:

Phillips, Joanna
Email: phillipj@u.washington.edu
Defense Date: 12-21-00
Thesis Title: Viral Determinants of Murine Coronavirus-induced Encephalomyelitis
Thesis Lab: Susan Weiss, Microbiology
Current Position: Residency in Anatomic Pathology, Univ. of Washington
Current Work:
Other Information:

Pizarro Vidal, Ivonne
Email: vidal@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 5-6-04
Thesis Title: Cell Proliferation in the Lamprey CNS: Response to Spinal Cord Transection
Thesis Lab: Michael Selzer, Neurology
Current Position: Postdoc, Univ of Pennsylvania in the lab of Youhai Chen
Current Work:
Other Information:

Pleasure, Sam
Email: samuelp@itsa.ucsf.edu
Defense Date: 2-28-92
Thesis Title: The Multi-phoshorylation Repeat of Human NF-M Examined in Human Neurons Generated From Retinoic Acid Treated Ntera-2 Cells
Thesis Lab: Virginia Lee, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Current Position: Asist. Professor & Robert B. & Elinor Aird Endowed Chair, Dept. of Neurology, UCSF
Current Work:
Other Information: http://itsa.ucsf.edu/~nddl/

Price, Michelle
Email: michelle_l_price@yahoo.com
Defense Date: 8-3-00
Thesis Title: Corticotropin-releasing Factor Modulation of Serotonin Release: Neurochemical & Behavioral Studies in the Rat
Thesis Lab: Irwin Lucki, Pharmacology
Current Position: Manager, Regulatory Affairs for Impax Laboratories in Hayward, CA
Current Work:
Other Information:

Raible, David
Email: draible@u.washington.edu
Defense Date: 11-10-89
Thesis Title: Regulation of Oligodendrocyte Differentiation by Cyclic AMP
Thesis Lab: Art McMorris, Wistar
Current Position: Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Biological Structure, Univ. of Washington, Seattle
Current Work: My lab is interested in how, during embryonic development, cells of the nervous system acquire their specific fates, so that they display the distinct characteristics necessary for their proper function. We have been examining how neural crest cells make cell fate choices in the zebrafish embryo, an emerging vertebrate developmental system with distinct advantages for cellular, molecular and genetic study. The neural crest generates the neurons and glia of the peripheral nervous system, as well as pigment cells and craniofacial cartilages. We are interested in how environmental factors such as wnts and BMPs are involved in specifying these cell fates. We have also performed a genetic screen to identify genes involved in the specification of particular lineages. We have identified mutations affecting the development of dorsal root ganglia, the enteric nervous system, jaw cartilages and pigment cells. Our overall goal is to determine how these genes regulate differentiation into specific cell types, identify upstream factors regulating their expression and the downstream effectors that confer specific cell characteristics.
References:
(1) Dorsky, R.I., Moon, R.T. and Raible, D.W. (1998). Control of neural crest fate by the Wnt signalling pathway. Nature, 396: 370-373.
(2) Lister, J.A., Robertson, C.P., Lepage, T., Johnson, S.L. and Raible, D.W. (1999). nacre encodes a zebrafish microphthalmia-related protein that regulates neural crest-derived pigment cell fate. Development 126: 3757-3767.
(3) Dorsky, R.I., Raible, D.W. and Moon, R.T. (2000). Direct regulation of nacre, a zebrafish MITF homologue required for pigment cell formation, by the Wnt pathway. Genes Devel. 14:158-162.
(4) Raible, D.W. and Kruse, G.J. (2000). Organization and development of the lateral line system in embryonic zebrafish. J. Comp. Neurol., 421: 189-198.
(5) Shepherd, I.T., Beattie, C.E. and Raible D.W. (2001). Functional analysis of Zebrafish GDNF. Dev. Biol., 231:420-435.
(6) Lister, J.A., Close, J. and Raible, D.W. (2001). Duplicate mitf genes in zebrafish: complementary expression and conservation of melanogenic potential. Dev. Biol., 237: 333-344.
Other Information:

Rangel, Yolanda
Email: yrangel@newssun.med.miami.edu
Defense Date: 3-29-01
Thesis Title: The Effect of Cortical Spreading Depression on the Expression of Neuroprotective Genes
Thesis Lab: Frank Welsh, Neurosurgery
Current Position: Postdoc, Univ. of Miami
Current Work:
Other Information:

Renzi, Michael
Email: mrenzi@prius.jnj.com
Defense Date: 10-18-00
Thesis Title:
Thesis Lab: Jonathan Raper, Neuroscience
Current Position: Associate, Johnson & Johnson
Current Work:
Other Information:

Rinaman, Linda

Email: Rinaman@pitt.edu
Defense Date: 5-17-89
Thesis Title: Analysis of Central Connections Implicated in Vagal Sensorimotor Integration and the Control of Gastric Function
Thesis Lab: Rich Miselis, Animal Biology
Current Position: Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Neuroscience, Univ. of Pittsburgh
Current Work: Current CV
Other Information: website: www.pitt.edu/~neurosci/rinaman.html

Roc, Anne
Email:
Defense Date: 1-30-06
Thesis Title: Neuroimaging Human Motor Function: Task Performance and Pathophysiology
Thesis Lab: John Detre, Neurology
Current Position:
Current Work:
Other Information:

Rogers, Robert
Email: rfr@mail.dbi.tju.edu
Defense Date: 6-20-95
Thesis Title: The Baroreceptor Vagal Reflex: A Look Inside the Black Box
Thesis Lab: James Schwaber, Dupont
Current Position: Research Assist Professor, Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University
Current Work: I am interested in learning how networks of neurons and systems comprised of neuronal networks perform computations that are required to support the organism's life. I have used the mammalian cardiorespiratory control networks as my primary model system. This system has its core components in the caudal medulla oblongata, and is a true multiple-input/multiple-output system that provides homeodynamic control of cardiovascular and respiratory performance. In order to investigate how the nervous system accomplishes this complex task, I employ a variety of experimental and theoretical approaches.
Other Information: please see my web site at: http://www.dbi.tju.edu/~rfr/

Rowe, Mickey
Email: rowe@psych.uscb.edu
Defense Date: 7-21-95
Thesis Title: Double Cone as the Basis for Polarization Vision in Vertebrates
Thesis Lab: Edward Pugh, Ophthalmology
Current Position: Postdoc, UC Santa Barbara
Current Work:
Other Information:

 
S           top of page

Sadalge (Kreibich), Arati
Email: sadalge@alum.mit.edu
Defense Date: 8-25-05
Thesis Title: The Role of CREB in Mediating Stress Induced Cocaine Reward and Reinstatement
Thesis Lab: Julie Blendy, Pharmacology
Current Position: Postdoc, Valentino Lab, Univ of Penn
Current Work:
Other Information:

Schrater, Paul
Email: schrater@umn.edu
Defense Date: 6-12-98
Thesis Title: Local Motion Detection: Comparison of Human and Model Observers
Thesis Lab: David Knill, Psychology
Current Position: Assist. Professor, Psychology & Computer Science, Univ. of Minnesota,
Current Work:
1) Develop predictive models of human behavior, including visual performance, human planning and guiding reaches with and without visual information, and the integration of visual, haptic, auditory and motor information during the perception-action cycle.
2) Use pattern recognition methods that include Bayesian (Belief) Networks, Dynamic Markov Decision Networks, Pattern Theory, etc. to construct normative (optimal) solutions to perception & action problems faced by humans, with the goals of quantifying the information available to a human agent and generating working active vision solutions to computer vision problems.
3) Develop an integrated haptic (touch) and visual Virtual Reality Laboratory to explore questions about how humans use visual and haptic information to perform tasks like reaching and grasping a slippery object in motion.
Other Information: http://vision.psych.umn.edu
Yuille, A., Fang, F., Schrater, P., & Kersten, D. (2003). Human and Ideal Observers for the detection of Image Curves. Submitted to 9th International Conference on Computer Vision.
Sundareswara,R & Schrater, P.R. (2003) Extensible Point Location Algorithm. IEEE Computer Socieity International Conference on Geometric Modelling & Graphics, submitted.
Schrater, P.R. (2003). Bayesian data fusion and credit assignment in vision and fMRI data analysis, To appear: Proceedings of 2003 IS&T/SPIE International Symposium on Electronic Imaging, January 22-25, 2003 Santa Clara, California.(pdf)
Schrater, P.R. (2002). Rapid visual adaptation to haptic feedback. Nature Neuroscience, (to be submitted).
Murray, Scott, O., Kersten, D., Olshausen, B., Schrater, P., and Woods, D. (2002) Shape perception reduces activity in human primary visual cortex. Proc. Nat¹l Acad. Sci., November 12, 2002, vol. 99 u no. 23, pp. 15164­15169.(pdf)
Carlson, Thomas A., Schrater, P.R., and He, Sheng (2002). Patterns of activation in the categorical representation of objects: A new perspective in functional imaging analysis. To Appear: Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience.(pdf preprint)
Shekhar, S., Schrater, P.R., Vatsavai, R., Wu, W., and Chawla, S. (2002). Spatial Contextual Classification and Prediction Models for Mining Geospatial Data. To appear in: IEEE Transactions on Multimedia and Multimedia Databases.(pdf)

Shelat, Suresh
Email: suresh@alum.mit.edu
Defense Date: 3-5-98
Thesis Title: Adrenal Steroid Regulation of Central Angiotensin II Receptors
Thesis Lab: Steve Fluharty, Animal Biology, Univ. of Penn Vet School
Current Position: Resident, Clinical Pathology, Univ of Penn
Current Work:
Other Information:

Sims, Karen Davis
Email: kedavis@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 10-5-99
Thesis Title: Regulation of the Activity and Cell Surface Expression of the Neuronal Gultamate Transporter EAAC1 by Multiple Signaling Pathways
Thesis Lab: Michael Robinson, Pharmacology
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Sirois, David
Email: ds62@nyu.edu
Defense Date: 7-26-93
Thesis Title:Variable Somatosensory Cortical Representation of the Rat Vibrissae Following Short-Term Intracortical Electrical Microstimulation
Thesis Lab: Peter Hand, Penn Vet Sch
Current Position: Professor & Chair, Dept. of Oral Med; Assoc. Professor Neurology, NYU
Current Work: Human quantitative central & peripheral neurophysiology related to persistent nerve injury pain.
Other Information:

Skovronsky, Daniel
Email: skodanm@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 1-17-00
Thesis Title:
Thesis Lab: Virginia Lee, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Current Position: President and CEO of Avid Radiopharmaceuticals
Current Work:
Other Information:

Sobel, Eric
Email:
Defense Date: 11-20-89
Thesis Title: Distance Perception by Motion Parallax in the Locust
Thesis Lab: Randy Gallistel
Current Position:
Current Work:
Other Information:

Song, Wei
Email: wsong@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 5-13-04
Thesis Title: Dissecting the neuronal functions of two Drosophila GPCRs, Methuselah and dCIRL
Thesis Lab: Konrad Zinsmaier
Current Position: Postdoc
Current Work:
Other Information:

Sperber, Brian
Email: BRSperber@aol.com
Defense Date: 6-27-00
Thesis Title: The Role of Fyn Tryosine Kinase in Oligodendrocyte Development and Myelination
Thesis Lab: Art McMorris, Wistar
Current Position: Intern, Internal Medicine, Univ of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE
Current Work:
Other Information:

Stanwood, Gregg
Email: gregg.stanwood@vanderbilt.edu
Defense Date: 10-7-97
Thesis Title: Localization and Differential Regulation of Dopamine D2 and D3 Receptors
Thesis Lab: Paul McGonigle, Pharmacology
Current Position: Res. Assist. Prof., Dept. of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Brain Institute
Current Work:
Other Information: http://medschool1.mc.vanderbilt.edu/brain_institute/php_files/faculty_blurbs.php?ID=10818

Stolzenburg, Ethan
Email:
Defense Date: 7-25-97
Thesis Title: Expression and Regulation of Epithelial Antibiotic Peptides
Thesis Lab: Michael Zasloff
Current Position: Univ. Chicago Med School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Su, Henry
Email: hesu@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 3-29-02
Thesis Title: Output from the Central Clock Controlling Drosophila Circadian Behavior
Thesis Lab: Amita Sehgal, Neuroscience
Current Position: Returned to Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Suzuki, Aae
Email: suzuki@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 6-25-03
Thesis Title: Mechanisms of Auditory Feature Selectivity in the Sonic Fish Midbrain
Thesis Lab: Dr. John Crawford, Psychology
Current Position:
Current Work:
Other Information:

 
T           top of page

Tallent, Melanie
Email: tallent@drexel.edu
Defense Date: 4-26-95
Thesis Title: Physiological Characterization of Somatostatin and Opioid Receptor Subtypes
Thesis Lab: Terry Reisine, Pharmacology
Current Position: Assistant Prof, Drexel Univ College of Med, Dept Pharmacology/Physiology
Current Work:
Other Information: http://www.drexel.edu/med/pharmacology_physiology/deptsite/faculty/tallent.htm

Tsai, Jean
Email: jct@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 12-18-01
Thesis Title: MHV Spike Structure and Neuropathogenesis: Contributions of the Receptor-binding Domain and the Heptad Repeat Region
Thesis Lab: Susan Weiss, Microbiology
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Tseng, Henry
Email: htseng@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 3-13-01
Thesis Title: Selective Effects of Platelet-derived Growth Factor in the Hippocampus
Thesis Lab: Marc Dichter, Neurology
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

 
U-Z           top of page

Ware, Jeffrey
Email: jeffreyware@netscape.net
Defense Date: 12-2-93
Thesis Title: Tissue Plasminogen Activator in the Central Nervous System
Thesis Lab: Randy Pittman, Pharmacology
Current Position: Department of Radiation Oncology, Kennedy Lab, U Penn
Current Work: There are three basic parts to my work:
1. We are planning and performing experiments at Brookhaven National Laboratories, investigating the effects of HZE particles (high atomic number, high energy) on cells and animals and developing countermeasures for these effects. This is NASA funded work being done in preparation for the manned mission to Mars.
2. We are working with a venture capitolist (EJ Financial) and a clinical research organization (Cato Research) to bootstrap a Phase II clinical trial investigating the effects of Bowman-Birk Inhibitor Concentrate in patients with Ulcerative Colitis. Planned begin date is 10/1/2003
3. I am performing work contracted from the National Cancer Institute cloning sublines of well characterized cancer cell lines for future chemopreventive and molecular studies.
Other Information:

Waters, Carrie
Email: cwalters@vcu.edu
Defense Date: 7-14-04
Thesis Title: The Role of the Transcription Factor CREB in the Rewarding Properties of Drugs of Abuse
Thesis Lab: Julie Blendy, Pharmacology
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University
Current Work:
Other Information:

Wen, Hua
Email: hwen@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 7-23-02
Thesis Title: KCNQ Channels: Interaction with Calmodulin and Functional Study in
Drosophila
Thesis Lab: Irwin Levitan, Neuroscience
Current Position: Postdoc, Irwin Levitan Lab, Univ of Penn
Current Work:
Other Information:

Wenniger, Julia
Email: Jwenniger@princeton.com
Defense Date: 9-28-99
Thesis Title: Analysis of Cysteine String Protein Interacting Proteins Hsc4 & Syntaxin
Thesis Lab: Konrad Zinsmaier, Neuroscience
Current Position: Associate, Princeton Consultants
Current Work:
Other Information:

Wexler, Tamara
Email: wexlert@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 4-22-03
Thesis Title: Kallmann's Syndrome: Olfactory and GnRH Migration
Thesis Lab: Susan Wray, NIH
Current Position: Resident, Mass General
Current Work:
Other Information:

Wiemelt, Anthony
Email: anthony_wiemelt@merck.com
Defense Date: 3-6-00
Thesis Title: The Role of Cyclic AMP in Oligodendrocyte Differentiation
Thesis Lab: Art McMorris, Wistar
Current Position: Associate Director, Department of Project Management, Merck and Co, Inc.
Current Work: In my current position, I coordinate the drug development efforts across multiple
functional areas (Basic Research, Safety Assessment, Drug Metabolism, Clinical Pharmacology and Neuroscience Research, Regulatory Affairs, Marketing) on neuroscience and anti-infective (antibiotic/antifungal) programs.
Other Information:

Wilent, Bryan
Email:
Defense Date: 1-20-05
Thesis Title: Cellular Mechanisms of Stimulus Feature Selectivity in the Rat Barrel Cortex In Vivo
Thesis Lab: Diego Contreras, Neuroscience
Current Position:
Current Work:
Other Information:

Wine (Lee), Lara
Email: lwine@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 1-19-06
Thesis Title: The Role of Signaling through BMP Type I Receptors in Central Nervous System Development
Thesis Lab: Bryan Crenshaw, Otorhinolaryngology (CHOP)
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Wolfe, Jonathan
Email: jonathan@supergroups.com
Defense Date: 12-12-95
Thesis Title: Temporal Diversity in the Cat Lateral Geniculate Nucleus
Thesis Lab: Larry Palmer, Neuroscience
Current Position:
Current Work:
Other Information:

Zaghloul, Kareem A.
Email: zaghloul@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 12-4-01
Thesis Title: A Silicon Implementation of a Novel Model for Retinal Processing
Thesis Lab: Kwabena Boahen, Bioengineering
Current Position: Returned to Penn Medical School
Current Work:
Other Information:

Zarahn, Eric
Email: ez84@columbia.edu
Defense Date: 11-18-97
Thesis Title: Studies of the Neural substrates of Spatial Working Memory with BOLD FMRI
Thesis Lab: Mark D'Esposito, Neurology
Current Position: Assist. Professor, Clinical Psychiatry, Columbia Univ.
Current Work:
Other Information:

Zhang, Lingli
Email:
Defense Date: 2-15-05
Thesis Title: Regulation of Chloride Homeostasis and GABAergic Transmission by Cation-chloride Cotransporters in Retina
Thesis Lab: Peter Sterling and Noga Vardi, Neuroscience
Current Position:
Current Work:
Other Information:

Zhang, Qi
Email: qi2@mail.med.upenn.edu
Defense Date: 4-9-04
Thesis Title: Exocytosis Mediates Ca2+-dependent Glutamate from Astrocytes
Thesis Lab: Phil Haydon
Current Position: Postdoc, Stanford Univ., laboratory of Dr. Richard W. Tsien
Current Work:
Other Information: