Kelly Janis
janiskel@msu.edu

Jayme Mancini
mancini7@pilot.msu.edu

Woo Moon is a fourth year D.O. Ph.D. sudent in the Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Woo received his B.S. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from MSU with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. He is a graduate of the Honors College and Lyman Briggs and winner of the MSU Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Department Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. Woo was awarded a prestigious fellowship from the Van Andel Research Institute for 2003-04. As an undergraduate researcher, Woo carried out research on the transcription factor IIE, a subunit of protein for eukaryotic transcription, in the laboratory of Dr. Zachary Burton. Woo continues to work in the laboratory of Dr. Burton, who is his major professor. He is investigating the effects of the hepatitis antigen on the human RNA polymerase II elongation mechanism. Woo and his wife, Erica Scheller, a student at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, live in Stockbridge.

Christine Dugan
duganchr@msu.edu

Christine Dugan is a fourth year D.O. Ph.D. student in the Cell & Molecular Biology Program.  She is a graduate of Dickson College in Carlisle, PA, where she received a B.S. in Physics. Christine received an M.S. in Biological Sciences at Rutgers University, where she was a graduate assistant in the Cellular & Molecular Biodynamics Program. After receiving her Master's Degree Christine worked as a Research Specialist at the Center for Gene Therapy at Tulane Health Science Center in New Orleans and also in the Cancer Center at Tulane. Christine's major professors are Dr. Robert Roth and Dr. Patricia Ganey.

 

Eric Marrotte is a sixth year D.O. Ph.D. student and he is in his 4th year of graduate study in the Cell & Molecular Biology Program, Eric is a transfer student from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine and has completed the first two years of medical school. Eric has an M.S. degree in Cell Biology from the University of Connecticut . He is carrying out research under the direction of his major professor, Dr. Alex Chen, Associate Professor, Dept. of Pharmacology & Toxicology, investigating the mechanisms underlying the dysfunction of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in diabetes. Eric Marrotte was awarded a pre-doctoral fellowship for two years from the American Heart Association. The AHA provides funding for stipends and supplies. Eric married Carol Hooper in June 2006.

Yanny Lau
lauyanny@msu.edu

Stacie Demel is a fourth year student in the D.O. Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience. She received a B.S. in Biology from Penn State University. She worked as an Associate Technician at Smith Kline Beecham and carried out research at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. Stacie is carrying out research under the direction of her major professor, Dr. James Galligan, Professor in the Dept. of Pharmacology & Toxicology. She is examining the prejunctional inhibition of sympathetic neuroeffector transmission by tempol in mesenteric veins of doca-salt rats. Stacie was awarded funding for two years from the American Heart Association.  The AHA provides funding for stipends and supplies.

schaube2@msu.edu

Steve Proper is a 2nd year student in the D.O. Ph.D. Program in the Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Steven graduated from Kettering University with a B.S. in Environmental Chemistry in December 2005. He was admitted to the D.O. Ph.D. Program in 2006.  Dr. John LaPres is his major professor.  At Kettering, Steven carried out research from 2003-2005 as an ORISE Fellow at NIOSH.  He had varied research experiences ranging from immunotoxicology to cancer biology to gas phase chemistry. In particular, Steve's undergraduate thesis research in the laboratory of Dr. Ray Wells, a research chemist at NIOSH's Exposure Assessment Branch, focused on the gas-phase chemistry of compounds commonly found in indoor cleaning products and how that may relate to occupational exposures.

Larua McCabe, Ph.D. Assoicate Professor, Dept. of Physiology

prinsen@msu.edu

Joseph Prinsen is a 2nd year D.O. Ph.D. student in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology.   Joe's major professor is Bari Olivier, D.V.M. Joe is carrying out research on arrythmogenesis under the direction of Dr. Olivier. He graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Biology. He is a certified New York State Paramedic and Emergency Medical Technician. At RIT, Joe worked under the direction Dr. Nancy Wanek for 4 years pursuing research in developmental biology primarily using the mouse as an animal model. Following graduation, Joe began investigating the incidence of atrial fibrillation in the elderly population under the direction of Dr. Robert Caldwell, Surgical Clerkship Director at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. Unrecognized and untreated atrial fibrillation is known to be a significant risk factor for the development of ischemic strokes.

Andrea C. Bozoki, M.D.

Assistant Profesor, Dept. of Radiology & Dept. of Neurology

korolevi@msu.edu

Igor Korolev is a 2nd year D.O Ph.D. student in the Neuroscience Program. His major professor is Andrea Bozoki, M.D., Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Radiology and the Dept. of Neurology. Igor graduated from Brandeis University receiving a B.S. in Neuroscience. During his freshman and sophomore years at Brandeis University, Igor collaborated on a study designed to address how people integrate landmark and layout information during spatial navigation. From 2005 to 2006, Igor carried out research as a research associate and research coordinator under the direction of Dr. Michael Kahana in the Computational Memory Lab (CML) at the University of Pennsylvania, which investigates human memory in healthy volunteers and patients with refractory epilepsy. His research focused on spatial navigation, using a virtual reality paradigm known as “Yellow Cab." In this theory, participants explore computer-generated towns, search for passengers, and deliver them to locations occupied by landmarks. Igor is an author on a paper in Cognition that describes the “taxicab theory”. Igor was awarded the distinguished MSU University Enriched Fellowship for his first and fifth years as a D.O. Ph.D. student. This fellowship is awarded to new MSU graduate students with rich and unique experiences and backgrounds. Igor, who was born in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, which is situated on the Dnieper River in East-Central Ukraine, moved to the United States in 1994 and is a U.S. citizen.

Andy Amalfitano, D.O., Ph.D., Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Endowed Chair Professor, Dept. of Microbiol. & Molecular Genetics, Dept, of Pediatrics

vosstyle@msu.edu

Tyler Voss is a 2nd year D.O. - Ph.D. student in the Cell & Molecular Biology Program . His major professor is Dr. Andy Amalfitnao. Tyler received a B.S. degree in Biotechnology from Ferris State University. Tyler’s research experiences include a five month internship in the Madison Wisconsin VA Hospital Allergy Lab and also working as a research technician for Novagen and Third Wave Technologies in Madison. Tyler also worked as a research technician for Cathie G. Miller, Ph.D., Director for the Gayle Halperin Kahn Laboratory of Viral Onco-Therapeutics at the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center, Department of Neurosurgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Tyler’s research at Henry Ford focused on engineering oncolytic herpesviruses (OHV) for brain tumor therapy. 

kousayou@msu.edu

Youssef Kousa is a 1st year D.O. Ph.D. student in the Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Youssef was awarded the MSU University Distinguisged Fellowship for his first and fifth years as a D.O. Ph.D. student. MSU awards this fellowship to new MSU graduate students to recognize their academic achievement, demonstrated leadership potential, and contribution to a diverse educational community. A Kean University alumnus, Youssef graduated summa cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. He also received a Master of Sciences degree in biotechnology from Kean University. He was president of the Class of 2005, assistant to the vice-president for Institutional Advancement, ambassador to Kean University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and served on many of the University's committees. In the summer of 2005 Youssef Kousa went to Liaoning Province, China, to became the first Kean student to conduct international research. With Dr. Xiaobo Yu, Youssef analyzed Chinese fossil fishes, studied cultural effects on the acceptance of evolutionary theory, investigated the scientific method as it pertains to the natural sciences, and successfully excavated a 125-million year old fossil fish. He was an Intern with the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation, Clinton Global Initiative. This organization addresses Global Warming, Religious Reconciliation, Global Public Health, and World Poverty. For his Masters Degree in Biotechnology, under the direction of Dr. Raymond Sullivan, Youssef investigated microsymbionts, in order to understand the interchange with host plants. He carried out an analysis of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana to discover a model symbiotic, non-pathogenic plant-microbe interaction to complete a survey of the plant's natural endophyte interactions.

John Goudreau, D.O. Ph.D.
Assitant Professor, Dept. of Neurology & Opthalmology & Dept. of Pharmacology & Toxicology & Neuroscience Program

simkinst@msu.edu

Tyrell Simkins is a 1st year D.O. Ph.D. student in the Neuroscience Program. Tyrell received a Bachelor's Degree in Biology from Boise State University. He became interested in research at Utah State University when he was selected to be an assistant in the laboratory of Dr. Steven Aust, a professor formerly from MSU in the Department of Biochemistry. In Dr. Aust's laboratory, Tyrell examined amino acids in ferritin and designed mutants of recombinant human ferritin in order to study ferroxidase activity. Data produced by Tyrell contributed to a graduate student's Ph.D. thesis. Tyrell transferred from Utah State University to Boise State University and quickly found a research opportunity there in the laboratory of Dr. Cheryl Jorcyk in the Department of Biology. He carried out research on a highly significant project to determine whether oncostatin M (OSM)-signaling plays a significant role in colorectal cancer progression. The preliminary data obtained was used by Dr. Jorcyk as the basis for an NIH grant proposal. Tyrell and his wife, Jensie and daughter, Lucie live in East Lansing.

liuchyon@msu.edu

Joyce Chyong-jy Liu is a 1st year D.O. Ph.D student in the Genetics Program. Joyce earned a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry with academic honors from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA degree from Texas Tech University. Joyce, who is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, has been pursuing research for more than fours years. As an undergradaute at the University of Texas she carried out research on methods for constructing expanded porphyrin compounds. While pursuing an MBA at Texas Tech Joyce decided to pursue some research on the side and worked in the laboratory of Dr. Johannes Everse. Her research there involved the examination of peroxidase enzymes and whether they played a key role in the neurodegerative processes in Parkinson's Diesase. Her results produced two posters, one which came in first place at the Howard Hughes Medical Instuitute Research week at Texas Tech University. In 2006 Joyce joined the laboratory of Dr. Xuelian Luo at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Joyce carried out studies on Mad2 spindle checkpoint proteins utilizing X-ray crystallography.

quirogad@msu.edu

Dionisa Quiroga is a 1st year D.O. Ph.D. student in the Cell & Molecular Biology Program. She graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Physiology. Dionisia was a McNair SROP Scholar as an undergraduate and carried out research in the laboratory of Professor Uhal of Physiology testing an evaluating knockdown strategies at reducing or abrogating ACE-2 activity in cultured mouse lung epithelia cells. Dr. Uhal's laboratory is a cell biology lab studying cell death in pulmonary fibrosis. Dionisia participated in the MSU Study Aboard Program traveling to Australia focusing on studying the delivery of health care there.

taylo366@msu.edu

Andrew Taylor is a 1st year student in the D.O. Ph.D. Program and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Philosophy and Bioethics.  Andrew has many interests related to the philosophy of medicine which include: bioethics, metaphysics (personal identity and material constitution), philosophy of the mind (especially consciousness), and philosophy of science. He graduated from Michigan State University with Bachelor's degrees in Zoology and Philosophy. Andrew carried out research under the direction of Dr. Fred Dyer, Chairperson and Professor of Zoology. The work in Dr. Dyer's lab is focused on the mechanisms, ecology, and evolution of animal behavior. The primary emphasis is on visually guided behavior in honey bees and the complex decision-making in other organisms including humans. Andrew is from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where his parents reside.