2016 GSBS Slideshow

COMMENCEMENT
The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
2016

PLATFORM PARTY
• Dr. Reto Asmis, Grand Marshall and Senior Associate Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
• Dr. William Henrich, President, The University of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio
• Dr. David Weiss, Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
• Retired USAA CEO and President Major General Joe Robles Jr., Commencement Speaker
• Dr. Byron Hepburn, Associate Vice President and Director of Military Health Institute
• Dr. M. Lynn Crismon, Dean, College Of Pharmacy, UT-Austin
• Dr. Francisco González-Scarano, Dean, School of Medicine and Vice President for Medical Affairs
• Dr. William Dodge, Dean, School of Dentistry
• Dr. David Shelledy, Dean, School of Health Professions
• Dr. Eileen Breslin, Dean, School of Nursing
• Dr. Andrea Giuffrida, Vice President for Research
• Dr. Jacqueline Mok, Vice President for Academic Faculty and Student Affairs
• Dr. Nicquet Blake, Associate Dean, Admissions and Student Affairs, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
• Dr. Birgit Glass, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Dentistry
• Dr. Sara Gill, Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs, School of Nursing
• Dr. José Cavazos, Assistant Dean for the M.D./Ph.D. Program
• Dr. Teresa Evans, Director, Office of Career Development, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

JANE SHEN-GUNTHER
Graduate Student Remarks

GENERAL JOE ROBLES JR.,
Commencement Address

Presenting the
Graduating Class

Master of Science
Class of 2016

Shahad Abudawood
Master of Science in Dental Science
Dissertation Title: A Comparative Study of Fluoride Release and
Re-release from Various Aesthetic Restorative Materials: An in Vitro
Study.
Research Interests: Pediatric Dentistry, Dental Materials, Molar-
inscisor Hypomineralization.
Notable Awards: Best poster presentation for clinical fellow
category. IIMS/CTSA 6th Annual Frontiers Translational Science
Research Day.
Shahad will be practicing pediatric dentistry in her homeland,
Saudi Arabia.
Mentor Name: Kevin Donly, D.D.S., M.S.

Shelrethia O’ Shay Battle-Siatita
Dissertation Title: Development of a Novel
Antimicrobial Dental Resin Root Surface Treatment for
Compromised Open Flap Debridement Patients
Research Interests: Periodontal Regeneration
Shelrethia will be teaching periodontics in the United States Air
Force AEGD-1 program at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
Mentor Name: Kyumin Whang, B.S., M.S., Ph.D.

Maria Danet Lapiz Bluhm
Master of Science in Clinical Investigation
Dissertation Title: Optimization of Salivary Collection Protocol
for Biomarker Research
Research Interests: Stress, Mental Health, Biomarkers, Health
of Vulnerable Populations
Notable Awards: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse
Faculty Scholars Program, Clinical and Translational Science
Award (CTSA)/Institute of Integration of Medicine and Science
KL2 Award, Nursing Advisory Council Award, CTSA/IIMS Pilot
Grant
Danet will continue her role as faculty at the School of Nursing.
Mentor Name: Carrie Jo Braden, Ph.D., RN, FAAN

Alessandra Chacon
Dissertation Title: Control Mechanisms of Growth in
the Cranial Base
Research Interests: Orthodontics
Alessandra and her husband, Ryan Reyes, are now expecting their
first child. Following the completion of her residency, she plans to
start a practice alongside her husband in Laredo, Texas.
Mentor Name: Peter Gakunga, D.D.S., M.S. Ph.D.

Jane Chadwick
Dissertation Title: Clinical and Radiographic
Evaluation of Demineralized Freeze-Dried Bone Allograft
Versus Platelet-Rich Fibrin for the Treatment of
Periodontal Intrabony Defects in Humans
Research Interests: Periodontal Regeneration
Jane will enter private practice in North Carolina.
Mentor Name: Brian Mealey, D.D.S., M.S.

Tsung-pei Chen
Master of Science in Cellular and Structural Biology
Dissertation Title: The Role of Caspase-2 in
Ischemic Stroke
Research Interests: Neurology
Tsung-pei plans to work in the pharmaceutical industry.
Mentor Name: James D. Lechleiter, Ph.D.

Thomas Chilton
Dissertation Title: Examination of Variations in the
Azygos Venous System
Research Interests: Anatomy
Thomas would like to thank his family and friends for their
continued support and making this all possible.
Mentor Name: Omid Rahimi, Ph.D.

Melinda Chiu
Master of Science in Dental Hygiene
Mentor Name: Melanie V. Taverna, MSDH, RDH
Dissertation Title: Texas Dental Hygienists’ Attitude
About a Childhood Abuse Question on a Standard Health
History: A Pilot Study
Research Interests: Understanding Healthcare
Providers Attitude about a Childhood Abuse Question
within a Standard Form
Melinda’s future plans include research, clinical practice, and a
doctorate degree.

Leah Chodroff
Master of Science in Clinical Investigation and
Translational Science
Dissertation Title: The Efficacy of Image Enhancement
Tools in The Diagnosis of Root Fractures
Research Interests: Cancer Pain
Leah will be returning to her general surgery residency at The
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Mentor Name: Kenneth Hargreaves, D.D.S., Ph.D.

Ruth Conn
Master of Science in Dental Hygiene
Dissertation Title: Comparison of Two Manual
Toothbrushes in Effectiveness of Plaque Removal: A Pilot
Study
Research Interests: Oral Health, Pediatric Dental
Hygiene and Student Self-Assessment
Ruth is an assistant professor in the Department of Periodontics
and Dental Hygiene at the School of Dentistry at The University of
Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
Mentor Name: Emelda Hernandez, RDH, M.S.

Saba Ghazal
Dissertation Title: Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes
up to 12 Months of 3.3 mm and 4.1 mm Diameter
Zirconium Alloy Implants with a Chemically Modified
Hydrophilic Surface; A Randomized, Controlled, Multi-
Center Clinical Trial
Research Interests: Periodontics and Implantology
Saba will be involved in teaching and clinical research in
periodontics at The University of Texas Health Science Center at
San Antonio.
Mentor Name: Guy Huynh-Ba, D.D.S., M.S.

Evan Grodin
Thesis Title: A Comparative, Randomized, Prospective,
Clinical Study to Evaluate the Facial Bone and Esthetic
Outcome of Buccal Augmentation Bone Grafting
Techniques in Early (Type 2) Implant Placement
Research Interests: Periodontics and Prosthodontics
Evan will enter private practice in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mentor Name: David Cochran, D.D.S., Ph.D.

Minire Hasi-Zogaj
Dissertation Title: A Review of 18p Deletions
Research Interests: Chromosome 18 Abnormalities
“Mimi” will continue working at the Chromosome 18 Clinical
Research Center at The University of Texas Health Science Center
at San Antonio.
Mentor Name: Jannine Cody, Ph.D.

Blake Hoedebecke
Thesis Title: A Novel Oxirane/Acrylate Restorative
System with Multifunctional Acrylate
Research Interests: Periodontics
Blake will serve as a periodontist with the United States Air Force
and will be stationed at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado
Springs, Colorado.
Mentor Name: H. Ralph Rawls, Ph.D.

Martina Parrone
Dissertation Title: CBCT Image Optimization to Detect
Root Fractures in Endodontically Treated Teeth: An In
vitro Study
Research Interests: Communication between dental
professionals and fractures
Martina will be teaching Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology at the
University of Maryland School of Dentistry.
Mentor Name: Marcel Noujeim, D.D.S., M.S.

Ryan Reyes
Thesis Title: The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in
Desmocranial Growth
Research Interests: Orthodontics, Craniofacial Growth and
Development
Ryan will be starting an orthodontics practice in Laredo, Texas
alongside his wife Alessandra, who is also graduating today with
her Master’s. They are expecting their first child in September!
Mentor Name: Peter T. Gakunga, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D.

Paul Russell
Thesis Title: The Development of a Quality Assurance
Protocol for CBCT Machines within UTHSCSA School of
Dentistry
Research Interests: Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology
Paul is currently active duty Navy and his new duty station will be
in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Mentor Name: S. Thomas Deahl II, D.D.S., M.S.

Nilam Soni
Master of Science in Clinical Investigation and
Translational Science
Thesis Title: Use of Ultrasound Guidance for Central Venous
Catheterization (US-CVC): A National Survey of Intensivists &
Hospitalists
Research Interests: Point-Of-Care Ultrasonography
Notable Awards: 2015 British Medical Association President’s
Choice Book Award; Young Investigator Award, World Federation
of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine
Nilam will continue as faculty in the Department of Medicine at The
Mentor Name: Marcos Restrepo, M.D., M.Sc

Santosh Timilsina
Thesis Title: EZH2 Promotes Breast Cancer Growth and
Progression by Negatively Regulating Hsa-miR-486-5p
Expression and it’s Tumor Suppressive Function
Research Interests: Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology
Santosh will be working as a research assistant.
Mentor Name: Manjeet K. Rao, Ph.D.

Shiva Toghyani
Thesis Title: The Effect of Image Resolution and
Compression on Fractal Analysis of the Periapical Bone
Research Interests: Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology
Shiva will be working as an assistant professor of Oral and
Maxillofacial Radiology at The University of Louisville.
Mentor Name: Marcel Noujeim, D.D.S., M.S.

Andrew Verrett
Thesis Title: Epidermal Growth Factor and Bone
Morphogenetic Protein 2 Interactions in Oral Squamous
Cell Carcinoma
Notable Awards: John F. Prichard Research Award
Finalist
Andrew will be stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in
Anchorage, Alaska.
Mentor Name: Cara Gonzales, D.D.S., Ph.D.

Christopher Walker
Thesis Title: Evaluation of Healing in Molar Sites with
and without Ridge Preservation
Research Interests: Bone and Tissue Grafting in
Dentistry
Christopher will be starting his own private practice of
periodontics in San Antonio, Texas.
Mentor Name: Guy Huynh-Ba, D.D.S., M.S.

Jeremiah Whetman
Thesis Title: Effect of Healing Time on New Bone
Formation Following Tooth Extraction and Ridge
Preservation with Demineralized Freeze-Dried Bone
Allograft
Research Interests: Periodontics, Dental Implants
Notable Awards: John F. Prichard Research Finalist
Jeremiah will be joining AZPerio in June of this year in Gilbert, Arizona.
Mentor Name: Brian L. Mealey, D.D.S., M.S.

Marjorie Molina Wilkins
Research Interests: Cardiology – Diabetes and
Cardiovascular Disease
Notable Awards: American Diabetes Association
Research Travel Award 2012
Marjorie is the clinical director at Schnitzler Cardiovascular
Consultants/San Antonio Wellness Institute and Research
Director of Mercury Medical L.L.C.
Mentor Name: Michael Lichtenstein, M.D., M.Sc. | Ralph DeFronzo, M.D.

Erin Wyrick
Dissertation Title: Genes Expressed in the Junctional
Epithelium During Development
Notable Awards: John F. Prichard Research Award
Erin will be a periodontist for the United States Air Force at
Kadena Air Force Base, Japan.
Mentor Name: Yong-Hee Chun, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D

Doctor of Pharmacy
Class of 2016

Stefan Allen
Doctor of Pharmacy
Research Interests: Pharmacogenomic Testing and
Adverse Drug Events
Notable Awards: SGA student awards for
Research/Scholarship and Leadership, TSHP award for
best Pharm.D. student abstract/poster presentation
Stefan will begin a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with the UT
College of Pharmacy in the Pharmacotherapy Division in San
Antonio.

Stephanie Hufnagel
Doctor of Pharmacy
Research Interests: Theranostics related to tumor
targeting through external stimuli and nanoparticle
engineering
Notable Awards: Phi Lambda Sigma American
Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education First Year
Graduate Student Fellow
Stephanie will pursue a Ph.D. at The University of Texas at
Austin College of Pharmacy in the Department of
Pharmaceutics under Dr. Zhengrong Cui.

Scott Karpowicz
Doctor of Pharmacy
Research Interests: Hospital Pharmacy Operations,
Informatics, Hematology/Oncology
Notable Awards: Metroplex Society of Health-System
Pharmacists Scholarship, Alan and Nancy Hamm Endowed
Presidential Scholarship in Pharmacy, Phi Lambda Sigma
Pharmacy Leadership Society
After graduation, Scott will be completing a two year, health
system pharmacy administration residency at Vanderbilt
University Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.
Mentor: Tony Dasher, Pharm.D.

Gentry Kuehn
Doctor of Pharmacy
Pharmacy Involvement: San Antonio Student
Pharmacists Association, Kappa Epsilon, American
Pharmacists Association, National Community
Pharmacists Association
Previous Education: B.A. in Business Administration;
M.S. in Health and Kinesiology
Gentry will be working in the community/retail pharmacy
setting.

Diana Loffgren
Doctor of Pharmacy
Clinical and Research Interests: Psychiatry and
Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy
Extracurricular: Diana continues to serve in the US
Navy Reserves Medical Service Corps as a Lieutenant
Commander
Diana will be completing a PGY 1 pharmacy residency at
the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System in Temple,
Texas.

Sarah McDaniel
Doctor of Pharmacy
Leadership and Involvement: San Antonio Student
Pharmacists Association President, Phi Delta Chi
Scholarship Chair, Pharmacy Council New Student
Interview Chair
Awards and Honors: Alumni Endowment Scholarship,
Josefine Lesvia Falcon Scholarship, Clinical Skills
Competition Finalist
Sarah will be completing a postgraduate residency at
Methodist Hospital and Methodist Children’s Hospital of
South Texas at San Antonio.

Doctor of Philosophy
Class of 2016

David Aguilar
Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology
Dissertation Title: Effects of Endogenous and Exogenous
Cannabinoids on Animal Models of Schizophrenia
Research Interests: Schizophrenia, THC,
Electrophysiology
Notable Awards: F31 Fellowship Award MH105166
Dave will be continue his research on schizophrenia as a
postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Robert McCarley’s lab at Harvard
University.
Mentor Name: Daniel Lodge, Ph.D.

Damon Cárdenas
Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering
Dissertation Title: Baseline and Functional Magnetic
Resonance Imaging of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment in Rats
Research Interests: Signal and Image Processing, Biomedical
Devices, Medical Diagnostics
Notable Awards: Sloan Scholar, Beldon Scholar, NIH
supplement awardee, MBRS-RISE Fellow
Damon is currently a research scientist and engineer with Brain
Sentinel. At Brain Sentinel, he is helping to develop novel
algorithms for seizure detection, classification, and semiology using
sEMG.
Mentor Name: Timothy Q. Duong, Ph.D.

Divya Chakravarthy
Doctor of Philosophy in Cellular and Structural Biology
Dissertation Title: Palmatine in Pancreatic Stellate Cell
and Cancer Cell Interaction
Research Interests: Pancreatic Cancer
Notable Awards: Young Investigator Award-American
Association of Indian Scientists in Cancer Research-2013
Divya enjoyed learning about the drug discovery process and
challenges in cancer treatment.
Mentor Name: Addanki Pratap Kumar, Ph.D.

Alison Doyungan Clark
Dissertation Title: Mediator Kinase Module is a Transducer
of Oncogenic Wnt/β-catenin Signaling
Research Interests: Cell/Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology,
Signal Transduction
Notable Awards: COSTAR T32 Training Grant, Dean’s
Excellence Award, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Travel Award, Greg Treibs Memorial Scholarship
Alison is excited to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship in the lab of
Dr. Susan Mooberry at The University of Texas Health Science
Center at San Antonio.
Mentor Name: Thomas G. Boyer, Ph.D

Yilun Deng
Doctor of Philosophy in Cellular Structural Biology
Dissertation Title: Function of the Transmembrane
Protein 127 Tumor Suppressor Gene in the Endosome and
Lysosome
Research Interests: Cancer Biology
Yilun will be a postdoctoral research fellow in the lab of Dr.
Patricia Dahia at The University of Texas Health Science Center at
San Antonio.
Mentor Name: Patricia Dahia, M.D., Ph.D.

Amanda Galán-Davila
Dissertation Title: The Role of a Novel APPL1 Isoform in
Adiponectin Signaling and Liver Metabolism
Research Interests: Molecular Biology, Signal
Transduction, Metabolism, Type 2 Diabetes
Notable Awards: Joe H. Ward Jr. and Bettie B. Ward Award
for Excellence in the Study of the Biology of Aging (UTHSCSA)
and F31 Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Fellowship (NIH/NIDDK)
Amanda will begin her postdoctoral position in June.
Mentor Name: Lily Q. Dong, Ph.D.

Ryan Gilley
Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology
Dissertation Title: Streptococcus Pneumoniae Kills
Cardiomyocytes During Myocardial Invasion Via a New
Cell Death Mechanism: Caspase-Associated Necroptosis
Research Interests: Microbial pathogenesis, Host-
pathogen interactions, Cell death mechanisms
Ryan plans to pursue a postdoctoral position with Dr. William J.
Kaiser in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at The
Mentor Name: Carlos J. Orihuela, Ph.D.

Aparna Gorthi
Dissertation Title: BRCA1, R-loops and Recombination
Defects in Ewing Sarcoma
Research Interests: Cancer Biology, DNA Damage Response
and Repair
Notable Awards: Edward Rennels Memorial Award, Greehey
Fellowship, CPRIT Training Grant, Translational Science
Training Across Disciplines Award
Aparna is pursuing a postdoctoral fellowship at the Greehey
Children's Cancer Research Institute at The University of Texas
Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Mentor Name: Alexander J.R. Bishop, D.Phil

Kelly Grimes
Doctor of Philosophy in Physiology
Dissertation Title: Sustained and Protected Cardiac Form and
Function in the Naked Mole-rat, the Longest-lived Rodent
Research Interests: Cardiac Aging and Stress Resistance
Notable Awards:
• Scholarship for Excellence in Women’s Health
• Translational Science Training Award
• Student Data Blitz Winner American Aging Association
• Gerontological Society of America Travel Award
• Barshop T32 Training Grant Predoctoral Fellow
Kelly is now a postdoctoral fellow at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical
Center in the lab of Dr. Jeffery Molkentin.
Mentor Name: Rochelle Buffenstein, Ph.D.

Nisha Hariharan
Dissertation Title: The Role of Obesity in Bladder Cancer
Research Interests: Cancer Biology, Tumor Immunology
Notable Awards: Young Investigator Award, AAISCR, 2014
Nisha enjoyed working on translational research, grant
applications, attending conferences, the Office of Career
Development workshops, and the friendly student life at The
Mentor Name: Robin J Leach, Ph.D. | Teresa Johnson-Pais, Ph.D.

Ya-Ting Hsu
Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Medicine
Dissertation Title: Roles of EpCAM in Endometrial
Cancer Progression
Research Interests: Epigenetics, Endometrial Cancer
Notable Awards: CPRIT Pre-doctoral Training
Fellowship
Ya-Ting will continue her research in breast cancer at The
Mentor Name: Tim Hui-Ming Huang, Ph.D.

Mariam Ishaque
Doctor of Philosophy in Radiological Sciences
Dissertation Title: Investigation of Pediatric Anoxic
Brain Injury with Nonfatal Drowning Using MRI
Research Interests: Brain Mapping
Notable Awards: Translational Science Training TL1
Award
Mariam is in the M.D./ Ph.D program and will complete her final
two years of medical school at The University of Texas Health
Science Center San Antonio School of Medicine.
Mentor Name: Peter T. Fox, M.D.

Blaine Jacobs
Dissertation Title: Delta Opioid Receptor - Kappa
Opioid Receptor (DOR-KOR) Heteromers in Peripheral
Pain-Sensing Neurons: Novel Targets for Improved Pain
Pharmacotherapy?
Research Interests: Migraine Pathophysiology
Notable Awards: The Council for Excellence in
Women’s Health Scholarship
Blaine is currently working as a postdoctoral research associate
for Drs. Gregory Dussor and Theodore Price at The University of
Texas at Dallas.
Mentor Name: Kelly A. Berg, Ph.D.

Rohit Jadhav
Dissertation Title: Identifying Cancer-Type-Specific DNA
Methylomes using Computational and Experimental
Approaches.
Research Interests: Bioinformatics, Epigenetics, Cancer
Research
Notable Awards: CPRIT Pre-doctoral Fellowship
Rohit will work as postdoctoral fellow at The University of Texas
Health Science Center at San Antonio before pursuing career
opportunities in the field of bioinformatics.
Mentor Name: Tim Hui Ming Huang, Ph.D. | Victor X. Jin, Ph.D.

Saul Jaime
Dissertation Title: Investigating the Role of Local Field
Potentials on the Resting State Functional Magnetic
Resonance Imaging Signal
Research Interests: Brain Function
Notable Awards: Pre-doctoral Intramural Research
Training Award, NIH
Saul is finalizing a postdoctoral fellowship at The University of
Texas-Austin.
Mentor Name: José E. Cavazos, M.D., Ph.D.

Ines-Ana Jurkovic
Dissertation Title: Novel Approach to Lung
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy Plan Evaluation and
Delivery
Research Interests: Stereotactic Body Radiation
Therapy, Radiation Biology, Imaging
Ines-Ana plans to continue doing research in all aspects of
radiation therapy combined with clinical work.
Mentor Name: Nikos Papanikolaou, Ph.D.

Karl Li
Dissertation Title: Quantifying Default Mode Network
Connectivity for Biomarker Generation Using Structural
Equation Modeling
Research Interests: Modeling Neural Networks
Notable Awards: Travel honorarium to teach at
University of Shenzhen, China
Karl will be returning to third year medical school to continue his
M.D./Ph.D. training.
Mentor Name: Peter Fox, M.D.

Miljenko Markovic
Dissertation Title: Evaluation of Detectors for the
Small Field Measurements Used for Clinical
Radiation Dosimetry
Research Interests: Small Field Dosimetry
Miljenko plans to continue doing research in small field
dosimetry combined with clinical work.
Mentor Name: Sotirios Stathakis, Ph.D. | Nikos Papanikolaou, Ph.D.

David Melton
Dissertation Title: miRNA Regulation of Macrophage
Polarization
Research Interests: Inflammation and Tissue
Regeneration
Notable Awards: Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Individual
Predoctoral M.D./Ph.D. Fellowship (F30)
David is an M.D./Ph.D. student. He will be pursuing a Neurology
clinical residency and a fellowship in Neuroimmunology.
Mentor Name: Paula K. Shireman, M.D., M.S.

Rosa Mino-Zambrano
Dissertation Title: Neuron-glial Interactions and the Role
of a Novel Microtubule-Associated Protein in the
Development and Maintenance of the Drosophila Nervous
System
Research Interests: Glia, Axon Guidance, and Cytoskeleton
Notable Awards: Physiology Travel Grant
Rosa will be taking a postdoctoral position to extend her knowledge and
skills in biomedical research focused on cellular and developmental
biology.
Mentor Name: Manzoor A. Bhat, M.S., Ph.D.

Megan Moerke
Dissertation Title: Pharmacological Mechanisms Underlying
the Behavioral Effects of Direct- and Indirect- Acting Nicotinic
Agonists in Rhesus Monkeys
Research Interests: Behavioral Pharmacology, Drug
Addiction
Notable Achievements: Invited symposium speaker for
Experimental Biology, 2016
Megan is pursuing postdoctoral appointments in the field of drug
addiction and continuing to focus on behavior in non-human
primates.
Mentor Name: Lance R. McMahon, Ph.D.

Noel Montgomery
Dissertation Title: Model of Electric Conductivity of
White Matter Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data
Research Interests: Bioelectromagnetics
Noel will be researching biological effects of radio
frequency and microwave exposure at the Air Force
Research Laboratory at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Mentor Name: Jack Lancaster, Ph.D.

Neelam Mukherjee
Dissertation Title: Deregulation of NF-κB by SETD6
in Bladder Cancer
Research Interests: Bladder Cancer Biology,
Epigenetics, Immunology
Notable Awards: GSBS Travel Award
Neelam has joined the lab of Dr. Robert Svatek as a postdoctoral
fellow in the Department of Urology at the University of Texas
Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Mentor Name: Rita Ghosh, Ph.D.

Claudia Oglivie
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science
Dissertation Title: Older Hispanic Women with
Health Care Provider Diagnosed Osteoarthritis:
Experience & Perception of Culturally Competent
Care
Research Interests: Minority Research
Claudia is waiting to hear confirmation on a job offer.
Mentor Name: Kay Avant, Ph.D.

Jennifer Parrott
Dissertation Title: Inflammation-Induced Depressive-
Like Behaviors: Influence of Kynurenine Metabolism and
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic factor
Research Interests: Inflammation and Depression
Notable Awards: NRSA (F31) and TST Fellowship
Jennifer will be a postdoctoral scholar in the laboratory of Dr.
Jacqueline Crawley at the MIND Institute at The University of
California Davis Health System in Sacramento, California.
Mentor Name: Jason C. O’Connor, Ph.D.

Erika Ripley
Dissertation Title: Quantitative Mitochondrial Dynamics
in Skeletal Muscle of Type 2 Diabetes Subjects using 31-
Phosphorus Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Research Interests: Type 2 Diabetes mellitus
Notable Awards: Julio C. Palmaz Endowment for
Excellence in Radiology Research – Academic Grant.
Steunebrink Scholarship.
Erika will be joining a clinical diagnostic medical physics consulting
practice in the Dallas Fort Worth area.
Mentor Name: Geoffrey Clarke, Ph.D.

Andrew Robles
Dissertation Title: Identification of Lead Molecules for the
Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes
from Natural Sources
Research Interests: Natural Products, Drug Discovery,
Molecular Pharmacology, Breast Cancer, Pediatric Solid Tumors
Notable Awards: 2016 Graduate Student of the Year,
Department of Pharmacology
Andrew will be conducting research as a postdoctoral fellow in Dr.
Susan Mooberry’s laboratory at The University of Texas Health
Science Center at San Antonio.
Mentor Name: Susan L. Mooberry, Ph.D.

Caleb Roth
Dissertation Title: The Role of Nanosecond Electric
Pulse-Induced Mechanical Stress in Cellular Nanoporation
Research Interests: Probe Beam Deflection, Acoustic
Pressure Transients
Notable Awards: Palmaz Travel Award 2014
Caleb will be working as a civilian with the Air Force Research
Laboratories, 711th HPW, Radiofrequency Bioeffects Branch at Joint
Base San Antonio at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Mentor Name: Randolph D. Glickman Ph.D.

Anastasia Rugel
Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology
Dissertation Title: Characterization of Schistosome
Sulfotransferase and its Interactions with Oxamniquine
Derived Anti-Schistosomal Drugs
Research Interests: Schistosomiasis, Drug Development,
Parasitology, Translational Science
Notable Awards: TST TL1 Scholar, UTHSCSA
Department of Microbiology Student of the Year, 3 Travel
Awards, 10+ 1st Place poster/oral presentations
Anastasia will be pursuing a commission with The United States Army.
Mentor Name: Philip T. LoVerde, Ph.D.

Jane Shen-Gunther
Doctor of Philosophy in Translational Science
Dissertation Title: Next-Gen Pap Smear: HPV Genotyping
and Epigenetic Profiling of Cervical Cytology for Biomarker
Discovery
Research Interests: Human Papillomavirus, Viral Evolution,
Epigenetics, Molecular Oncology
Notable Awards: 2014 Frontiers of Translational Science
Research Award
Jane will continue to serve as chief of the Dept. of Clinical
Investigation and practice Gynecology Oncology at Brooke Army
Medical Center.
Mentor Name: Tim Hui-Ming Huang, Ph.D.

Mi Young Son
Dissertation Title: 1,4-Benzoquinone Causes
Chromosome and Replication Fork Instability through
Type 1 Topoisomerase Inhibition that is Suppressed by
Double Strand Break Repair and Fanconi Anemia
Pathway
Research Interests: DNA Repair and Replication
As a postdoctoral fellow, Mi Young will work on multiple projects
including the analysis of essential proteins on replication fork in
Dr. Paul Hasty’s lab at The University of Texas Health Science
Center at San Antonio.
Mentor Name: E. Paul Hasty, Ph.D.

Dennis Stanley
Dissertation Title: Characterization and Evaluation of Ionizing and Non-
ionizing Imaging Systems Used in State of the Art Image-Guided Radiation
Therapy Techniques
Research Interests: Quality Assurance, Surface Image-Guided Radiation
Therapy, Stereotactic Radiation delivery
Notable Awards: Julio C. Palmaz Endowment for Excellence in Radiology
Research, Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas(CPRIT)
predoctoral Fellowship
Dennis has been accepted into a residency in therapy medical physics with the
Department of Radiation Oncology at the Cancer Therapy Research Center at
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Mentor Name: Alonso N. Gutierrez, Ph.D.

Sina Tavakoli
Dissertation Title: Metabolic Divergence of Polarized Macrophages:
Implications for Non-Invasive Imaging of Vessel Wall Inflammation
Research Interests: Molecular Imaging of Vascular Diseases
Notable Awards: RSNA Research Resident Grant (2011); RSNA
Editorial Fellowship (2013); Radiology Editor’s Recognition Award for
Reviewing with Distinction (2015); Julio Palmaz Academic Awards &
Pilot Grants (2013 & 2015); Filed Patent (Method to Non-Invasively
Detect Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaques & Arterial Aneurysm, 2016)
Sina will be a cardiothoracic radiology fellow & acting instructor at
University of Washington, Seattle, starting July 2016.
Mentor Name: Reto Asmis, Ph.D.

Yash Tiwari
Dissertation Title: MRI of Blood Brain Barrier Integrity
and Hemorrhagic Transformation in Ischemic Stroke
Research Interests: MRI, Neurological Disorders
Notable Awards: ISMRM Summa Cum Laude, Valero
Research Scholar
Yash will continue to work in research and development of novel
neuroimaging biomarkers for neurological diseases.
Mentor Name: Timothy Duong, Ph.D.

Sonal Tonapi
Doctor of Philosophy in Cellular & Structural Biology
Dissertation Title: Consequences of Endogenous Stress
with Deficiencies in the DNA Damage Response Pathway
Research Interests: DNA Damage Repair, Cancer
Biology
Notable Awards: Dean’s Excellence Award,
NCI T32 Pre Doctoral Training Award
Sonal has recently started her postdoctoral research at Caris Life
Sciences in Phoenix, Arizona.
Mentor Name: Alexander J. R. Bishop, D.Phil.

Wenrui Ye
Dissertation Title: The Impact of Maternal Malnutrition
on the Central Serotonin System: Increased Risk for Mood
Dysregulation
Research Interests: Environmental and Genetic Factors
that Determine Brain Function and Behavior
Wenrui will continue her scientific training in human diagnostic
genetics at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Mentor Name: Julie G. Hensler, Ph.D.

Huiyoung (Jimmy) Yun
Dissertation Title: Estrogen Receptor Beta and COBRA1
in Prostate Cancer: Friend or Foe?
Research Interests: Therapeutic Approach in Cancer
Notable Awards: Fulbright Award
Huiyoung will be working as a postdoctoral fellow in Pediatric
Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard
University.
Mentor Name: Addanki Pratap Kumar, Ph.D.

Jessica Zavadil
Dissertation Title: New Therapeutics For Hepatocellular
Carcinoma Using The C3HeB/FeJ Mouse Model
Research Interests: Cancer Therapeutics, Mouse Modeling of
Cancer
Notable Awards: CPRIT Predoctoral Fellowship George W.
Brackenridge M.D./Ph.D. Endowed Scholarship
Jessica is an M.D./Ph.D. student. She will return to medical school to
complete her final two years towards her medical degree at the
University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio.
Mentor Name: Christi A. Walter, Ph.D.

Wei Zhou
Dissertation Title: MRI of the Visual Pathway in
Glaucoma
Research Interests: Diagnostic Imaging, MRI,
Medical Physics
Notable Awards: Julio Palmaz Endowment Research
Award, 1st Prize of Poster in 2015 SWAAPM
Wei will be working as an imaging physics resident at the Mayo
Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Mentor Name: Timothy Q. Duong, Ph.D.

CONGRATULATIONS
Class of 2016!

2016 GSBS Slideshow

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2016 GSBS Slideshow