Alumni


View Alumni Outcomes information on career paths for recent BGS PhD graduates.


2023 Graduates

Name Current Position Thesis Advisor Thesis Topic
Luke Izzo   Kathryn Wellen Investigating the role of ACLY and acetyl-CoA metabolism in hepatocellula carcinoma
Alexandra Perlegos   Nancy Bonini Impact of dynamic RNA modification m6A during various types of cellular stress
Marisa Egan Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Pennsylvania Katie Barott Investigating the molecular basis for human NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome recognition of Salmonella Typhimurium
Alexander Smith   Joseph Zackular Characterizing the Molecular Mechanisms of Pathogen-Microbiota Interactions During Clostridium difficile Infection
Ioana Soaita   Zoltan Arany Investigating the impact of diabetic metabolic dysfunction ont eh vascular epigenetic landscape

2022 Graduates

Name Current Position Thesis Advisor Thesis Topic
Emily Fabyanic Spark Therapeutics Inc., Senior Genomic Scientist Hao Wu / Zhaolan Zhou Interpreting cell identity and state through utilization of single-cell transcriptomics/epigenomics
Nina Montoya Program Manager, Life Sciences, The New York Academy of Sciences Joseph St. Geme III Investigating molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis and immune evasion in the pediatric pathogen Kingella kingae
Natasha Lopes Fischer Postdoctoral Fellow, Regeneron Sunny Shin Innate immunity against the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii

 

2021 Graduates

Name Current Position Thesis Advisor Thesis Topic
Jason Godfrey Scientific Editor, Cell Press Celeste Simon Elucidating the mechanism of V(D)J recombination feedback inhibition and its role in preventing oncogenic translocations in lymphocytes
Ananth Srinivasan Senior Life Science Specialist, L.E.K Consulting Nancy Bonini Characterizing the role of the gut-brain axis within the context of aging Alzheimer's disease
Jennifer Shah Senior Bioinformatician, Conception Karin Eisinger Investigating epigenetic mechanisms of soft tissue sarcomagenesis
Jessica Bermudez Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company Matt Good Engineering an optogenetic platform using cell-like system to probe cytokinesis signaling in vitro
Jennifer Aleman Science Grant Writer, College of New Jersey Maya Capelson Uncovering a role for nucleoporin Megator in a novel nuclear scaffold structure
Julie Heffler Postdoctoral Researcher, Cornell University Ben Prosser Mechanotransduction in the heart
Sarah Marie Borst Account Manager, STEMCELL Technologies Paul Gadue Investigating the mechanism of familial thrombocytopenia resulting from ETV6 or RUNX1 mono-allelic mutations

 

2020 Graduates

Name

Current Position

Thesis Advisor

Thesis Topic

Linh Le Associate Medical Director, Healthcare Consultancy Group Michael Marks Investigating the role of VPS33A and HOPS complex in melanosome biogenesis and function
Michael Neinast Postdoctoral Researcher, Princeton University Zolton Arany Mapping the metabolic fate of branched-chain amino acids in health and insulin resistance
Rebecca Windmueller Senior Scientist, Garuda Therapeutics Ed Morrisey Investigating the role of Yap in regulation of cytokinesis in a mouse model of adult cardiomyocyte proliferation
Alison Cote Senior Computational Fellow, Altius Institute for Biomedical Sciences Arjun Raj Combined RNA FISH and expansion microscopy allows visualization of nanoscale structure in regions of densly packed RNA

 

2019 Graduates

Name Current Position Thesis Advisor Thesis Topic
Katy Ong Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California Berkeley Steve DiNardo Multiple Feedback Mechanisms Fine-Tune RHO Signaling to Regulate Morphogenetic Outcomes
Adrian Rivera Reyes Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning Advisor, USAID Karin Eisinger Deregulation of the Hippo Pathway Suppresses Differentiation and Promotes Sarcomagenesis
Valeria Reyes Ruiz Postdoctoral Fellow, Vanderbilt University Sunny Shin Detection of bacterial ligands by the human NAIIP Inflammasome
Camille Syrett Senior Consultant, Clarion Montserrat Anguera New Mechanisms of X-Chromosome Inactivation Contribute to the Female Bias of Lupus
Jamie DeNizio Associate Director, Verve Therapeutics Rahul Kohli Nucleobase, Nucleoside, and Neighboring Nucleotides: Intrinsic Preferences for TET Enzyme-Mediated Oxidation of 5-Methylcytosine
Kelly Dunlevy   Todd Ridkey RAC regulators in melanoma
Colleen Harrington Research Scientist II, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard Andre Thomas-Tikhonenko Investigating anti-GSK3 adjuvant therapy for Myc-driven p53 mutant B-cell lymphoma
Frances Taschuk Expert Scientist, Vector Biology, GSK Sara Cherry The TIP60 complex and the DNA damage response in alphavirus infection
Francesca Tuazon Founder, Sustained Discovery Non-profit Mary Mullins The molecular mechanisms of BMP morphogen gradient formation in the developing zebrafish embryo

 

2018 Graduates

Name

Current Position Thesis Advisor

Thesis Topic

Erica Boetefuer Head of Biology, Chip Diagnostics Inc. Hua-Ying Fan Examining targeting of Cockayne syndrome protein B (CSB) to chromatin in response to oxidative stress
Mara Olenick Health Science Policy Analyst, NIH Erika Holzbaur Regulation of cytoplasmic dynein by Hook adaptor proteins
Glennis Logsdon Assistant Professor of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania Ben Black Molecular Requirements for the Epigenetic Establishment of Centromeres

 

2017 Graduates 

Name

Current Position

Thesis Advisor Thesis Topic
Stellar Hur Scientific Lead, Loxo Oncology Inc. Marisa Bartolomei Developing Models to Investigate Mechanisms of Genomic Imprinting
Sima Patel Associate Scientific Director, Abbvie Dimitry Gabrilovich A Unique Pattern of PMN-MDSC Migration in Cancer
Lee Vandiver Scientist II, Computational Biology, Arrakis Therapeutics Inc. Brian Gregory Killing the Messenger: Exploring Novel Triggers for Messenger RNA Decay in Eukaryotes
Ruby O'Lexy Cortes Director of Research, Coriell Institute for Medical Research Kim Gallagher The Regulation of Intercellular Signaling in Plant Roots in Response to Heavy Metal Stress
Kelsey Speer Assistant Teaching Professor, University of New England Peter Klein Investigating the In Vivo Role of WNT Acylation

 

2016 Graduates

Name Current Position Thesis Advisor Thesis Topic
Haig Aghajanian Co-Founder and VP of Research, Capstan Therapeutics Jonathan Epstein Semaphorin 3D Signaling in Cardiovascular Development
Mary Jane Drake Veterinarian, Muddy Creek Veterinary Service Paul Bates Uncovering Bunyavirus - Host Interactions
Rianne Esquivel Associate Director, Clinical Biomarker Lead, GSK Mechthild Pohlschroder Haloferax VolcanII Strategies to regulate Type IV Dependent Adhesion and Microcolony Formation
Brian Johnson Postdoctoral Researcher, Stanford School of Medicine Zhaolan Zhou Contextual Insights Into the Rett Syndrome Transcriptome
Charlie Mo Assistant Professor of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison Rahul Kohli Make Antibiotics Great Again: Combating Drug Resistance by Targeting LexA, A Regulator of Bacterial Evolution
Christopher Yarosh Senior Manager, Research Strategy, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Kristen Lynch The Regulation of PSF Activity in T Cells by TRAP 150 and GSK3

 

2015 Graduates

Name Current Position Thesis Advisor Thesis Topic
Alan Copenhaver Principal Scientist, Takeda Oncology Sunny Shin Complementary Immune Roles for Infected and Uninfected Cells During Legionella pneumophila Infection
Amy Demicco Senior Translational Pharmacologist II, Exelixis Craig Bassing Context-Dependent Gene Expression Programs Promote Lymphocyte Development and Function and Supress Transformation
Benjamin Ediger Associate, McDermott Will & Emery Doris Stoffers LDB1-Mediated Comlexes: A Transcriptional Paradigm That Establishes and Maintains Pancreatic Endocrine Cell Identities
Brian Lauderback Field Application Scientist, STEMCELL Technologies David Feldser p53-dependent Tumor Immunosurveillence
Claire O'Leary Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison Paula Oliver Ubiquitylation Regulates CD4+ T Cell Activation and Effector Differentiation to Shape the Immune Response
Melinda Snitow Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Pennsylvania Edward Morrisey The Roles of EZH2 in Lung Development

 

2014 Graduates

Name Current Position Thesis Advisor Thesis Topic
Maria De Obaldia Senior Scientist, Kingdom Supercultures Avinash Bhandoola T-Lineage Specification and Commitment Requires Constraint of Myeloid Gene Expression Programs by HES1
Dawson Gerhardt Senior Scientist, Novartis Warren Pear/ Nancy Speck Role of the Notch1 TAD in Embryonic Development and Hematopoiesis
Christopher Furcht Associate Director, Bristol Meyers Squibb Matthew Lazzara Differential Activation of ERK in Lung Cancer Cells
Carolyn Gray-Rupp Middle School Science Teacher, Friends Select School Michael May Mechanisms of Non-Canonical NF-kappaB Regulation
Rachel Kadzik Staff Scientist, University of Chicago Edward Morrisey Epithelial Cell Shape Changes During Lung Branching Morphogenesis: The Role of Wnt/Fzd2 Signaling in Directing New Branch Formation
Ariel Lefkovith Manager, Translational Biomarker Operations, Foghorn Therapeutics Inc.  Michael Marks SLC45A2: a Melanosomal Membrane Protein Sorted to Melanosomes by a Cytoplasmic Trosine-based Sorting Motif
Nancy Maas Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania Alan Diehl A Chemical-Genetic Screen for Identifying Substrates of the ER Kinase PERK
Vera Mucaj Chief Scientific Officer,  Datavant Celeste Simon Proliferation and Survival Mechanisms in Soft Tissue Sarcoma and Glioblastoma Tumors
Allison Rosenberg Business Development Coordinator, Powered Research, LLC Michael Granato Cellular Interactions During Motor Nerve Regeneration
Zhewei Shen Senior Genomics Scientist, Auransa Inc.  Ben Stanger A Study of the Hippo Pathway/YAP Biology and its Functions in Proliferation Control
Meredith Wilson Postoctoral Fellow, Carnegie Institute for Science Erika Holzbaur-Howland Microtubule Motors Drive Nuclear Dynamics and Positioning in Developing Skeletal Muscles Cells

 

2013 Graduates

Name Current Position Thesis Advisor Thesis Topic
Burton Barnett Associate Director, Prometheus Biosciences Inc John Wherry/Steven Reiner Asymmetric B Cell Division in the Germinal Center Reaction
Sarah Clark Assistant Professor, University of Colorado at Denver Jeffrey Weiser Evasion of Host Recognition by Phase Variation in Haemophilus Influenza
Emily McMillan Research Lab Manager, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Amin Ghabrial Tip Cell Selection in the Drosophila Tracea
Elizabeth Morton Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Washington Samuel Todd Lamitina Regulation and Dynamic Behavior of the Heat Shock Transcription Factor HSF-1 in C Elegans
Allison Zajac Scientist III, Genentech Erika Hozbaur/Michael Ostap Local Cytoskeletal and Organelle Interactions Impact Molecular Motor-Driven Early Endosomal Trafficking

 

2012 Graduates

Name Current Position Thesis Advisor Thesis Topic
Alexander Brown Staff Scientist, Synthego Corporation Douglas Epstein Determining the role of Hedgehog signaling in establishing ventral otic identity and cochlear duct outgrowth
Jennine Dawicki McKenna Senior Research Investigator, University of Pennsylvania Michael Ostap Investigating the Role of Microtubes in GLUT4 Vesicle Trafficking and the Kinetics of Membrane Attachment by the Myosin Myo1c
Michael O'Donnell Assistant Professor, Yale University Greg Bashaw Signal Transduction Mechanisms in Commisural Axon Guidance: The Role of Intracellular Tyrosine Kinases in Netrin-DCC/Frazzled Axon Attraction
Jamie Weaver Principal Writer, Ashfield MedComms Marisa Bartolomei Interrelated Roles of Repressive Chromatin Modifiers in Genomic Imprinting
Jason Wojcechowskyj Director of Vaccines, ExcepGen Robert Doms HIV-Induced Cellular Reprogramming: Insights from Phosphoproteomics

 

2011 Graduates

Name Current Position Thesis Advisor Thesis Topic
Brenna Brady Practice Leader, Merative Craig Bassing Regulation of TCRBeta Accessibility and AlphaBeta T Cell Development in Response to V(D)J Recombination Mediated Signals
Kara Coleman Project Director, Pew Charitable Trusts Roger Greenberg Uncovering the Role of the BRCA1-RAP80 Complex in Cancer Susceptibility and DNA Repair
Dustin Hancks Assistant Professor of Immunology, UT Southwestern School of Medicine Haig Kazazian Hominid-Specific SVA Elements: Genomic Impact and Insights into L1-Mediated Retrotransposition
Hestia Mellert Vice President of Product Development, Adela S. McMahon    Regulation P53-Mediated Apoptosis by Modulating DNA-Binding Domain Acetylation
Leah Sabin Executive Director, Regeneron Sara Cherry The Role of RNA Silencing in Drosophila Antiviral Immunity
Keri Sanborn - Sheehan Director of Communications and Project Managemet, Olaris Inc Jordan Orange Role and Regulation of Myosin IIA in Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity
Anand Sitaram Assistant Professor of Biology, Stonehill College Michael Marks Mechanisms of Sorting and Trafficking for Melanosome Biogenesis as Revealed by Studies of the Human Pigment Cell Protein OCA2
Esther Naomi Twery Senior Research Communication Partner, Research Square Jonathan Raper SDF1 Antagonism of Axonal Repellents Requires Multiple G Protein Components and an ADAM Metalloprotease
Brenda Watt Service and Support Manager for NA, Refeyn Michael Marks Dissecting the PMEL Amyloid: An Example of Functional Vs. Pathological Amyloid

 

2010 Graduates

Name Current Position Thesis Advisor Thesis Topic
Bart Anderson Senior Director, Novel Modalities, GrĂ¼nenthal Group Drew Weissman Nucleoside Modifications Supress RNA Activation of Cytoplasmic RNA Sensors
Beth Burke Vice President, Scientific Services, PPM Advisory Group Martin Peter Carroll Effects of the BCR-ABL Oncogene on DNA Damage and Repair
Gina DeNicola Interim Chair, Department of Metabolism and Physiology, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute David Tuveson K-Ras Oncogene-Induced Ros Detoxification Promotes Tumorigenesis
Joseph Francica Associate Director, AstraZeneca Paul Bates A Study of the Ebola Virus Glycoprotein: Disruption of Host Surface Protein Function and Evasion of Immune Responses
Natasha Girgis Associate Director, Cue Biopharma Stuart Isaacs A Role for the Vaccinia Virus Complement Control Protein in Modulation of Innate and Adaptive Immunity During Infection
Lauren Hirao Clinical R&D Lead, GSK David Weiner Enhancement of Immune Responses to DNA Vaccines
Kelly Howell Director, SMA Foundation Meera Sundaram EOR-2 is an Obligate Binding Partner of the BTB-Zinc Finger Protein and Putative ERK Target EOR-1
Michelle Kinder Director Translational Sciences, Incyte Pharmaceuticals Inc. Ellen Pure Fatty Acid Metabolism Mediated by 12/15-Lipoxygenase in a Novel Regulator of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Function and Myelopoiesis
Karla Leavens Pediatric Endocrinologist, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Morris Birnbaum The Role of AKT2 in Hepatic Lipid Metabolism
Lamorris Loftin Director of Strategic Planning, UNC Health Ronald Collman Regulation of CCR5 Use on Primary CD4+ Lymphocytes by R5X4 HIV-1
Soyoung Oh Principal Scientist, Cancer Immunology, Genentech Inc.  Andrew Caton The Effect of T Cell Receptor Specificity on CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cell Function in an Autoimmune Setting
Lashon Pringle Vice President, Scientific Communications, Vaniam Group Margaret Chou Molecular Functions of the TRE17/Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 6 (USP6) Oncogene: A Novel Activator of NF-Kappa B
Keshet Ronen Assistant Professor, University of Washington Frederic Bushman Lentiviral Integration Site Targeting: Host Determinants and Consequences
Jennifer Skirkanich Senior Lecturer, Bryn Mawr College Peter Klein The Role of preMBT Transcription in Xenopus Development
Jasmine Smith Senior Expert Medical Writer, Novartis Pharmaceuticals John Diehl Evidence for G-Quadruplex-Based Telomere Capping and the Presence of GQuadruplex DNA Genome-wide in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae
Katie Stiles Assistant Professor of Research, Cornell University Medical Campus (Weill) Roselyn Eisenberg/Gary Cohen Simplex Virus Glycoprotein D Induced Receptor Internalization: Implications for Virus Entry and Immune Modulation
Melanie Vishnu Senior Scientific Director, SciMentum Stephen Liebhaber The RNA Protein alphaCP2 is a Novel Trans Factor Involved in Mediating Cytoplasmic Polyadenylation

 

2009 Graduates

Name Current Position Thesis Advisor Thesis Topic
Shelby Blythe Assistant Professor, Northwestern University Peter Klein Transcriptional Poising Prior to the Midblastula Transition Underlies Dorsal Cell Fate Specification by the WNT/Beta-Catenin
Michelle Castelletto Project Scientist, UCLA James Lok Role of the Forkhead Transcription Factor, FKTF-1, in the Development of Strongyloides Stercoralis
Lisa Chang-Warner VP Business Strategy, Whole Woman's Health LLC Daniel Kessler Transcriptional and Translational Control of Zebrafish Mesodermal Development
Kathryn Claiborn Senior Scientific Editor, Gladstone Institutes Doris Stoffers The Role of Ubiquitin Ligase Adaptor Protein in Glucose Homeostasis and Beta Cell Mass
Rachel Kaletsky Research Associate, Princeton University Paul Bates Host Cell Factors Involved in Ebola Virus Entry and Spread
Ryan King Senior Medical Strategist, PRECISIONscientia Harvey Michael Friedman Galectin-3, Glycoprotein C, and the Innate Immune Response to Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1
Helen McGraw Lazear Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Harvey Michael Friedman The Roles of Glycoprotein E, Glycoprotein I, and US9 in Neuronal Spread of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1
Gladys Varela Associate Professor, Inter American University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla Rexford Ahima Regulation of Hepatic Trigliceride Metabolism by Adipose Differentiation-Related Protein

 

2008 Graduates

Name Current Position Thesis Advisor Thesis Topic
Justin DiAngelo Associate Professor, Penn State Berks Morris Birnbaum The Regulation of Metabolism in Drosophila Melanogaster
Catherine Gleason Associate Director, Circle Pharma Inc Morris Birnbaum Integration of Growth Factor and Nutrient Signaling in the Regulation of Cellular and Organismal Growth
Brian Hannah CEO & Founder, pH Botanicals Gary Cohen Cloning of a HSV-1 Glycoprotein ECtoplasmic Domain Deletion
Michelle Hickey Hartsough Senior Editor, American Association for Cancer Research Celeste Simon Roles of the Proteins Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 and -2 (HIF-1 and HIF-2) and von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) in tumorigenesis
Ansel Hsiao Assistant Professor, University of California Riverside Jun Zhu Regulation of Anti-Virulence Factors During Vibrio Cholerae
Justin Kosak Biologist, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Allen Diehl Ability of H2AX to Supress Tumors in Mammary Tumorigenesis
Shawn Little Scientist III, The University of Alabama Mary Mullins The Emergence of Embryonic Dorsal-Ventral Pattern Through the Interactions of BMP Ligands with their Receptors and Modulators
Ingrid Lund Principal, Member Insights, Health Management Academy Amy Brooks-Kayal

Regulation of the GAMBa Receptor a1 Subunit in an Animal Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Nazzy Pakpour Senior Scientist I, Novozymes Phillip Scott Role of IL-12 in Maintaining Memory
Jill See Associate Director, Medical Publications, Sage Therapeutics Judith Grinspan The Role of BMP Signaling in Glial Development in the CNS
Meredith Shaffer Assistant Director for Policy and Communication, NIH/NIAID Janis Burkhardt Cell Biology, Transport, and Cytoskeleton
Diana Shineman Director for Scientific Affairs, Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation Virginia Man-Yee Lee Oxidative Stress in Alzheimer's Disease
James Soper Senior Principal Research Scientist, Abbvie Inc. Virginia Man-Yee Lee Characterization of Alpha-Synuclein-induced Vesicular Accumulation in a Yeast Model of Parkinson's Disease
Craig Stone Senior Medical Writer, Medtronic Inc.  Meera Sundaram Regulation of Ras Signaling via the KSR Scaffolding Protein in C. elegans

 

2007 Graduates

Name Current Position Thesis Advisor Thesis Topic
Natalie Bezman Senior Director, Oncology Project team Leadership, Pfizer Gary Koretzky Signaling Pathways in Platelets and Their Roles in vivo models of Thrombosis
Carolyn Clark Senior Scientist, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations Robert Vonderheide The Dynamics of Immunosurveillance in Pancreatic Cancer from Inception to Invasion and Metastasis
Vida Markovitz-Landau Adjunct Professor, Touro College Michael Pack Developmental Biology
Anastasia Wyce Scientific Director, GlaxoSmithKline Fellow Shelley Berger Histone H2B Deubiquitylation and Transcriptional Control in the Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

 

2006 Graduates

Name Current Position Thesis Advisor Thesis Topic
Kelly Covello Head of Medical, Mirati Therapeutics Celeste Simon Identification of unique HIF-alpha Function in Tumorigenesis and Development

 

2005 Graduates

Name Current Position Thesis Advisor Thesis Topic
Wojciech Jankowski Assistant Public Defender, Luzerne County Office of the Public Defender    
Erika Pearce Professor of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University Hao Shen Development of CD8 T Cell Responses