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Environmental Medicine Faculty Tox Phd Program Faculty
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Program in Toxicology


Recent Toxicology Ph.D. Graduates


2008
Na Li, Ph.D.
Tianjin University, B. S. 2002
Advisor: Ned Ballatori, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Mechanism and Significance of the
Interactions between the Two Subunits of the Organic Solute and Steroid Transporter, Ostα-Ostβ.
Heather Ferguson, Ph.D.
St. Lawrence University, B.S. 2001
Advisor: Patricia Sime, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: PPAYγ ligands have potent anti-fibrotic activity:
Mechanisms of action and implications for therapy of pulmonary fibrosis.
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Rochester
Suzanne M. Krance-Hevery, Ph.D.
Juniata College, B.S. 2002
Advisor: Ned Ballatori, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Glutathione Homeostasis during Terminal BR>Human Leukemia-60 Cell (HL-60) Differentiation.


2007
Erik K. Rushton, Ph.D.
Tufts University, B.S. 1998
Advisor: Jacob Finkelstein, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Nanoparticle Toxicity and Oxidative Stress Assessed through Pulmonary Cell Models.
Current Position: Toxicologist, ExxonMobil
Rosemarie Marchan, Ph.D.
N. Carolina Central University, B.S. 2002
Advisor: Ned Ballatori, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Role of the Multidrug
Resistance-Associated Glutathione Transport During Apoptosis.
Current Position: Postdoctoral Student, Dortmund, Germany
Julian Castaneda, Ph.D.
University of Florida, B.S/B.A. 2002
Advisor: David Pearce, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Characterization of
the Humoral Autoimmune Response in Batten Disease and the Cln3-/- Murine Model.
Current Position: Veterinary Student, Cornell University
Sean C. Gehen, Ph.D.
Brigham Young University, B.S. 2002
Advisor: Michael O’Reilly, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Novel Mechanisms of Cell Cycle Checkpoint Activation and Maintenance in Hyperoxia.
Current Position: Senior Toxicologist at Dow Agro Sciences.
John P. Norman, Ph.D.
SUNY-Fredonia, B.S. 2002
Advisor: Harris Gelbard, M.D.
Thesis Title: The HIV-1 Neurotoxin Tat Rapidly Induces
the Unfolded Protein Response and Mitochondrial Hyperpolarization:
A Unifying Mechanism for Neuropathogenesis and Treatment
Current Position: Juris Doctoral Candidate at Yeshiva University School of Law
Peter F. Vitiello, Ph.D.
Lafayette College, B.S. 2002
Advisor:Michael O’Reilly, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: P21 Regulation of Cell Survival and Death
in Response to Hyperoxic Stress
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Rochester
Zhihui (Gerald) Zhong, Ph.D.
Nanjing University, B.S. 1999, M.S. 2001
Advisor: Berislav Zlokovic, M.D.
Thesis Title: Neurovascular and Neuronal Protective
Activities of Protein S and Activated Protein C in Models
of Acute or Chronic Disorders of the Nervous System
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Rochester


2006
Tara L. Arndt, Ph.D.
University of Washington, B.S. & B.A. 2001
Advisor: Patricia Rodier, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Eyeblink Conditioning in Autism and Fetal Valproate Syndrome
Current Position: MD/PhD Program at the University of Rochester School of Medicine
David G. Farrer, Ph.D.
Brigham Young University, B.S. 2001
Advisor: Michael McCabe, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Target Cells and Key Mediators in Lead-Induced Immune Modulation
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at Oregon State University
Yu (Agnes) Luo, Ph.D.
Nanjing University, M.S. 1999
Advisor: Howard Federoff, M.D., Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Function and Mechanisms of Nurr1
in the Midbrain Dopaminergic System
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania
Geniece McCollum-Lehmann, Ph.D.
St. John Fisher College, B.A. 1998
Advisor: Michael McCabe, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Function and Mechanisms of Nurr1 in
the Midbrain Dopaminergic System
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Rochester


2005
Pheona Radcliffe, Ph.D.
Boston University, B.A. 1992
Advisor: William Tank, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: The Transcriptional Regulation of Tyrosine Hydroxylase Gene Expression in Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at CIIT Centers for Health Research
Elizabeth P. Ryan, Ph.D.
Bowling Green State University, B.S. 1996
Advisor: Richard Phipps, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: B Lymphocyte Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2:
Implications for Humoral Immunity and Cancer
Current Position: Research Assistant Professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine
Carissa R. Filbrandt Childs, Ph.D.
Eckerd College, B.S. 1999
Advisor: Thomas Gasiewicz, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: The Blood Brain Barrier as a Target of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
Toxicity Mediated by the Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor
Current Position: Law Student at SUNY Buffalo Law School
Russell Garrett, Ph.D.
Univ. of SW Louisiana, B.S. 1997
Advisor: Tom Gasiewicz, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: A Role of the Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor in Hematopoietic Precursors: Consequences to the Knockout Phenotype and 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin Exposure
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Pennsylvania
Donna Wai Ling Lee, Ph.D.
UC Santa Cruz, B.A. 1999
Advisor: Lisa Opanashuk, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: PCB Neurotoxicity: Oxidative Stress
as a Mechanism for Neurodegeneration and Compromised Behavioral Function
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at the Buck Institute
David M. Lehmann, Ph.D.
Colorado State University, B.S. 2000
Advisor: Harold Smith, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Role of Phosphorylation of Apobec-1 Complementation Factor, ACF, in Ethanol-stimulation of ApoB mRNA Editing
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Rochester
Jason M. Roper, Ph.D.
Western Michigan University, B.S. 1997
Advisor: Michael O’Reilly, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: The Response of Alveolar Type II Epithelial Cells
to Oxidative Stress from Hyperoxia
Current Position: Staff Toxicologist at WIL Research Laboratories
Madhuri Singal, Ph.D.
SUNY-Syracuse, B.S. 1998
Advisor: Jacob Finkelstein, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Mechanism of Aerosil200
Particulate Induced Inflammatory Gene Expression in Alveolar Epithelial Cells
Current Position: Manager, Respiratory Sciences Program, Research Institute for Fragrance Materials
Mary A. Williamson, Ph.D.
Stony Brook University, B.S. 1996
Advisor: Lisa Opanashuk, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor Expression
in Cerebellar Granule Neurons: Implications for Development and Neurotoxicity
Current Position: Assistant Professor & Director of Clinical Laboratory Outreach at Boston University


2004
Christine Hammond, Ph.D.
Allegheny College, B.S. 1998
Advisor: Ned Ballatori, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Mechanisms and Physiological Significance of
Glutathione Export During Apoptosis
Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Rochester
Christopher Helt, Ph.D.
Penn State University, B.S. 1997
Advisor: Michael O’Reilly, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Activation and Role of the p53/p21
Pathway during Hyperoxic Stress
Current Position: Senior Research Scientist at Colgate-Palmolive Company
Gary Minsavage, Ph.D.
Kings College, B.S. 1999
Advisor: Tom Gasiewicz, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Identification and Characterization of Phosphorylated Sites
that are Required for Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor
(AhR) DNA Binding and Transactivation
Current Position: Senior Toxicologist at ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences
Christine Palermo, Ph.D.
SUNY Geneseo, B.S. 1999
Advisor: Tom Gasiewicz, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Identification and Mechanism of Action
of Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor Inhibitors in Green Tea Extract
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at Tulane University
Amber Wyman, Ph.D.
University of Washington, B.S. 1998
Advisor:Tom Gasiewicz, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Identification and cCharacterization of
Murine Bone Marrow Cellular Targets for
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)
Current Position: Biology Instructor at Finger Lakes Community College


2003
Ruth Reeves, Ph.D.
University Massachusetts, Amherst, B.S. 1996
Advisor: Deborah Cory-Slechta, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Mechanisms of TriadimefonÐinduced Behavioral
Sensitization and Neurotoxicity in Adult and Developmental Mouse Models
Current Position: Safety Pharmacologist at Sepracor, Inc.
Tenea Watson, Ph.D.
Mary Baldwin College, B.S. 1998
Advisor: Jacob Finkelstein, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: An Immunoregulatory Role for Clara Cell Secretory Protein
Current Position: Research Scientist at Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Junguo Zhou, Ph.D.
W. China University of Medicine, B.S. 1993
Advisor: Tom Gasiewicz, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Mechanistic Studies of Species- and Gene-specific Activities of the Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR)
Current Position: Senior Regulatory Toxicologist at Bayer CropScience


2002
Kyong Hong, Ph.D.
University of California Ð Davis, B.S. 1996
Advisor: Barry Stripp, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Cell Lineage Relationships within Conducting Airway Epithelium
Current Position: Scientist at SONY Corporation
Thomas K. Lee, Ph.D.
University of Rochester, B.S. 1995
Advisor: Ned Ballatori, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Role of Glutathione in Hepatic Transport of Xenobiotics
Current Position: Pathology Resident at Johns Hopkins University Hospital
Raymond C. Rancourt, Ph.D.
Cook College, B.S. 1990
Advisors: Peter Keng, Ph.D. / Michael O’Reilly, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Characterization of the Growth, Arrest and Toxicity in Lung Epithelial Cells Exposed to Hyperoxia
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at National Jewish Medical Center
Huei-Ju Ting, Ph.D.
National Taiwan University, B.S. 1993
Advisor: Chawnshang Chang, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: The Cloning and Characterization of Androgen Receptor Coregulators, Supervillin and Gelsolin
Current Position:Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Rochester


2001
Kevin J. French, Ph.D.
Lehigh University, B.S. 1996
Advisor: Barry Goldstein, M.D.
Thesis Title: Cytochrome P450cam as a Biocatalyst:
Studies on the Benign Synthesis of 2-ethylhexanoic Acid
Current Position: Senior Research Scientist at Apogee Biotechnology Co.
Larry J. Jolievette, Ph.D.
Southern University, B.S. 1995
Advisor: M. W. Anders, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Computational Modeling of the
Microsomal Glutathione Transferase-I-catalyzed Reaction
of Glutathione with Halogenated Alkenes
Current Position: Head Investigator at GlaxoSmithKline
Francis G. Murante, Ph.D.
St. John Fisher, B.S. 1981
Advisor: Tom Gasiewicz, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Characterization of Alterations to Hematopoietic
Stem Cells by TCDD
Current Position: Scientist at Vaccinex
Daniel A. Nazarenko, Ph.D.
University of Scranton, B.S. 1994
Advisor: Tom Gasiewicz, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Determination of the Developmental Expression
and Activation of the Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor in TCDD-responsive
LacZ Transgenic Mice
Current Position: Associate Director at Fulcrum
Pharmaceutical Developments Inc.
Elizabeth A. Lipscomb Nazarenko, Ph.D.
Wittenberg University, B.A. 1993
Advisor: Robert Freeman, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: The Role of SM-20 in Neuronal Cell Death
Current Position:Staff Toxicologist at Integrated Laboratory Systems
Patrick D. Sarmiere, Ph.D.
Ithaca College, B.A. 1996
Advisor: Robert Freeman, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: The Role of SM-20 in Neuronal Cell Death
Current Position:Staff Toxicologist at Integrated Laboratory Systems


2000
Dawn Clifton, Ph.D.
Northeast Missouri State University, B.S. 1995
Advisor: Lee Ann Sporn, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Host Cell Responses to Infection with the
Obligate Intracellular Parasite Rickettsia rickettsii
Current Position:Scientist, National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Steven D. Dertinger, Ph.D.
Rochester Institute of Technology, B.S. 1998
Advisor: Thomas Gasiewicz, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: : Influence of Aryl hydrocarbon-mediated Events on the Genotoxicity of Cigarette Smoke Constituents
Current Position: Director of Research at Litron Laboratories
Gregory Mango, Ph.D.
University of Rochester, B.A. 1994
Advisor: Barry Stripp, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Role of Clara Cells in Prevention of Oxidant-induced
Lung Injury: Importance of Clara Cell Secretory Protein
Current Position: Criminalist at Oklahoma State Bureau
of Investigation Central Laboratory
Sang-ki Park, Ph.D.
Seoul National University, M.S. 1992
Advisor: Tom Gasiewicz, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: : Role of Phosphorylation in Proper DNA Binding
Conformation and Transactivation of Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor
Current Position: Assistant Professor at St. Johns University
Penelope A. Rice, Ph.D.
Florida State University, M.S. 1993
Advisor: Susan Stevens, Ph.D.
Thesis Title: Modulation of Bacterial Infections by the Sympathetic Nervous System
Current Position: Toxicologist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Revised July 28, 2008 (vgl & gbi)