Greg Digby
Dr. Greg Digby worked in Dr. Nevin Lambert's lab. His project focused on understanding
how effectors (such as ion channels and adenylyl cyclases) are selectively activated
by certain G protein combinations. Greg graduated in 2008. He went on to become a
Postdoctoral Fellow in Dr. Jeff Conn's lab at Vanderbilt University where he studied
M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors-with goal of improving therapy in CNS disorders
such as Alzheimer's Diseases and Parkinson's diseases. Greg received a very competitive
F32 Postdoctoral Fellowship Award from the NIH to support his postdoctoral research.
At present, Greg is a Dentist at Spanish Trail Dentistry in Pensacola, FL. He received his degree from the College of Dentistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Graduate Advisor:
Nevin Lambert, PhD
Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology
Mark Witcher
Dr. Mark Witcher studied ultra structural synaptic changes associated with human epilepsy.
Mark graduated from the University of Georgia with a BS in 1997 and a MS in 2000 in
Ecology. He was an MD/PhD student in Neuroscience. Mark graduated from Augusta University
in 2009. He received the PhD degree "With Distinction", a honor achieved by only
10% of Augusta University graduates. He also received the prestigious John F. Beard
Award for compassionate care ($25,000 award). He completed an Internship at Emory
University Medical School and Residency Program in Neurosurgery at Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest, NC.
At present, Mark is a physician at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, VA.
Graduate Advisor:
Kristen Harris, PhD and Darrell Brann, PhD
Kin Lai (Annie) Ting
Dr. Kin Lai (Annie) Ting studied how neurotrophic factors induce and stabilize CNS synapse formation. Her particular interest is the role of neuregulin-1 in CNS synapse development in interneurons. Annie graduated from University of Science and Technology (Hong Kong) with a BS (2003) and MS (2005) in Biology.
At present Annie is a Postdoc at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Graduate Advisor:
Lin Mei, PhD
IMMAG
Nagendran Muthusamy
Dr. Nagendran Muthusamy studied purification and proteomic analysis of dopamine receptor
interacting complex. Nagendran graduated from The American College with a BS in Microbiology/Immunology
in 2000 and received his MS in Biotechnology in 2002 from the University of Madras.
Nagendran
At present Nagendran is a Postdoc at North Carolina State University
Graduate Advisor:
Clare Bergson, PhD
Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology
Tharkika Nagendran
Dr. Tharkika Nagendran graduated with a BSc in Zoology from University of Madras, Meenakshi College for Women, Chennai, India in 2000 and a MSc in Biotechnology in 2002.
At present Tharkika is a Postdoc at North Carolina State University
Graduate Advisor:
Lori Redmond, PhD
Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology
William C. Risher
Dr. William C. Risher looked at the role of dendritic filopodia in spine formation and synaptogenesis in developing hippocampus from an ultrastructural perspective. Chris graduated from Clemson University with a BS in Biology in 2003.
At present, Chris is an Asst. Professor, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences at Marshall University
Graduate Advisor:
Sergei Kirov, PhD
Brain and Behavior Discovery Institute
Melissa Laird
Dr. Melissa Laird investigated the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of traumatic brain injury. She graduated from McGill University with a B.S. in Physiology in 2002 and holds a M.S. in Exercise Physiology from Florida State University (2006).
At present, Melissa is a Navy Physiologist at the Navy Medical Research Center.
Graduate Advisor:
Krishnan Dhandapani, PhD
Department of Neurosurgery
Kou Qin
Dr. Kou Qin worked on the protein-protein interaction between G-Protein Coupled Receptor and G-Protein in living cells by taking advantage of confocal microscopy, patch clamping technique and other molecular biology techniques.; He graduated from Huazhong University of Science; Technology (HUST, Wuhan, China.) in 2006 with a B.E. in Biomedical Engineering.
At present, Kou is a Postdoc at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.
Graduate Advisor:
Nevin Lambert, PhD
Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology
Limor Raz
Dr. Limor Raz investigated the mechanisms of estrogen signaling in the female rat's brain as well as exploring estrogen's neuroprotective role in an ischemic stroke model. She graduated from Columbus State University (Columbus, GA.) in 2005 with a B.S. in Pre-med. Biology.
At present Limor is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico.
Graduate Advisor:
Darrell Brann, PhD
IMMAG
Elsie Yenfen Wong Spingath
Dr. Elsie Yenfen Wong Spingath studied how singe cells in the primary visual cortex change after learning to discriminate objects. Elsie graduated from Emmanuel College with a BS in Pre-Professional Studies in 2003.
Graduate Advisor:
David Blake, PhD
Brain and Behavior Discovery Institute
Donald J. (DJ) Kimbler
Donald J. (DJ) Kimbler studied the role of P2x7 receptors in traumatic brain injury pathology. His mentor for the doctoral degree was Dr. Krishnan Dhandapani, Department of Neurosurgery. Dr. Kimbler is a major in the U.S. Army, and will assume the position of Director, Anesthesiology Program at Eisenhower U.S. Army Hospital at Ft. Gordon.
Graduate Advisory:
Krishnan Dhandapani, PhD
Department of Neurosurgery
Junko Ariga
Dr. Junko Ariga studied the cellular and molecular mechanisms of retinal bipolar cell regeneration in Zebrafish. She graduated in Spring 2012. Her graduate advisor was Dr. Jeff Mumm in the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy. Junko received her BS degree from Augusta State University. Junko has accepted a Scientist position at GlaxoSmithKline in Japan.
Graduate Advisor:
Jeff Mumm, PhD
Cellular Biology & Anatomy
Rebecca Nalloor
Rebecca Nalloor investigated how emotional memory is encoded and processed by the brain. She graduated Summer 2012. Dr. Nalloor is currently a postdoc at Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA.
Graduate Advisor:
Almira Vazdarjanova, PhD
Center for Synapses and Cognitive Center Neuroscience
Christina Wilson
Christina Wilson interests included cognitive deficits associated with neuropsychiatric disorders as well as the development of novel drugs designed to enhance cognition. Her project focused on evaluating a variable prenatal stress rodent model as a valid drug discovery platform for schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders, with an emphasis on cognition. Christina began her post doc in November 2012 at the University of Maryland, Department of Psychiatry in Dr. James Koenig's lab.
Graduate Advisor:
Alvin Terry, PhD
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Jeremy Sword
Jeremy Sword worked in Dr. Kirov's lab using 2 photon microscopy to look at the morphological changes in neurons after ischemic insult, such as stroke and traumatic brain injury. Jeremy is currently a Captain in the US Navy serving a tour overseas.
Graduate Advisor:
Sergei Kirov
Neurosurgery
Kristy Howell
Kristy Howell is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and is supported by a T32 Training Grant post doctoral fellowship award.
Graduate Advisor:
Anilkumar Pillai, PhD
Psychiatry
Stephanie Jacobs
Stephanie Jacobs was doing a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Joe Tsien at Augusta University.
Graduate Advisor:
Joe Tsien, PhD
BBDI
Arnab Barik
Arnab Barik studied zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a tool to perform a mutational screen and identify novel molecular players in Neuromuscular Junction development. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Lin Mei at Augusta University.
Graduate Advisor:
Lin Mei, PhD
Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine
Ryan Bates
Ryan Bates was interested in studying the molecular mechanisms involved in schizophrenia
pathophysiology. My project focuses on determining the function of novel genes implicated
in schizophrenia using patient samples and statistical analyses. He is now enrolled
in medical school at Mercer University, Savannah, GA. is now enrolled in medical school
at Mercer University, Savannah, GA.
Graduate Advisor:
Lin Mei, PhD
Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine
Richard Fessler
Richard Fessler examined the secondary injury processes of inflammation that contribute to functional loss after spinal cord injury. I use a mouse model of spinal cord injury to identify potential therapeutic targets and to test potential therapeutic agents. He is now a 1st year medical student at the University of Cincinnati Medical School.
Graduate Advisor:
Krishnan Dhandipani, PhD
Neurosurgery
Tien-hung Lan
Tien-hung Lan studied the G protein coupled receptors(GPCRs) which constitute one of the largest human gene family. GPCRs are accepted to self-associate as dimers or oligomers. It is thought that these GPCR dimers or oligomers remain intact as traffic in living cells. However, the stability of oligomers has not been extensively studied. Taking Beta2 Adrenergic receptor as a model, we try to determine the stability of class A GPCRs and the functional relevance of the dimer formation. He is currently a post doc in the laboratory of Dr. Nevin Lambert.
Graduate Advisor:
Nevin Lambert, PhD
Pharmacology
Erin Scott
Erin Scott was studying the effect of long-term estrogen deprivation on the female hippocampus, particularly in the event of cerebral ischemia. Her project focused on pathways of estrogen neuroprotection that are disrupted following surgical menopause or reproductive senescence and the effectiveness of postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy in the prevention of neurodegenerative disease. Dr. Scott is now a 3rd year Medical Student at Augusta University.
Graduate Advisor:
Darrell Brann, PhD
Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine
Erin currently has a Faculty Appointment at Univ. of Rochester Medical Center, Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Anupama Sathyamurthy
Anupama Sathyamurthy investigated the role of Neuregulin-1 and ErbBs in synaptic plasticity.
She graduated in 2014. She is currently a postdoc in the lab of Dr. Lin Mei.
Graduate Advisor:
Lin Mei, PhD
Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine
Anu is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at National Institutes of Health
Jonathan Bean
Jonathan Bean focused on combining molecular and genetic techniques with behavioral
assays to study the basis of cognition and abnormalities in cognition found in psychiatric
disorders. He graduated in 2015 and is a postdoc in the Department of Pharmacology
at the University of Washington.
Graduate Advisor:
Lin Mei, PhD
Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine
Currently, Jonathan is a Postdoctoral Associate at Baylor College of Medicine
David White
David White was trained in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology receiving a B.Sc. from Pennsylvania State University. He is investigating the potential role of immune cells in zebrafish retinal regeneration, while contributing to a large scale genetic screen to identify/characterize mutants deficient in rod photoreceptor regeneration.
Graduate Advisor:
Jeff Mumm, PhD
Cellular Biology & Anatomy
Dwight Figueiredo
Dwight Figueiredo research is in neurodevelopment and molecular cellular neurosciences.
Graduate Advisor:
Lin Mei, PhD
Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine
Dwight is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Amanca Crider
Graduate Advisor:
Anil Pillai, PhD
Psychiatry
Amanda is currently a Biology Instructor at Savannah Technical College.
Tong Luo
Tong Luo is interested in the trafficking of GluN2C subunit of NMDA receptors. He is investigating the function of NMDA receptor in oligodendrocyte cells.
Graduate Advisor:
Bo-shiun Chen, PhD
Neurology
Thiri Lin
Graduate Advisor:
Lin Mei, PhD
Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine
Thiri is currently a Postdoctoral Associate at Duke University School of Medicine.
Merry Ma
Merry Studied The role, regulation and potential therapeutic targeting of NADPH oxidase in traumatic brain injury.
Graduate Advisor: Darrell Brann, PhD - Dept. of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine
Merry is currently a resident in the Urology Department at Augusta University
Indrani Poddar
Graduate Advisor: Alvin Terry, PhD - Dept. of Pharmacology & Toxicology
Roshni Thakkar
Roshni studied the role of Neural and Astrocyte derived estrogen in brain physiology and pathology.
Graduate Advisor: Darrell Brann, PhD - Dept. of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine
After obtaining her PhD from AU, Roshni became a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Univ. of Tennessee Medical Center, Dec. 2017-July 2019. She is currently employed as Research Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine.
Becca Ward
Becca studied the contribution of neurovascular dysfunction in diabetic cognitive impairment and worsend stroke outcome.
Graduate Advisor: Adviye Ergul,PhD - Dept. of Physiology & Endocrinology
Becca is currently employed as a Medical Writer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Kai Zhao
Kai studied Molecular downstream of LRP4-MuSK signaling which is important for neuromuscular junction development.
Graduate Advisor: Lin Mei, PhD - Dept. of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine
Molly Braun
Currently, Molly is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Kirkegaard Lab at Stanford University.
Graduate Advisor: Kris Dhandapani, PhD - Dept. of Neurosurgery, Augusta University
Yujiao Lu
Graduate Advisor: Darrell W. Brann, PhD - Dept. of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Augusta University
Yujiao is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Dhandapani Lab, Dept. of Neurosurgery, Augusta University.
Katelyn Alverson
Graduate Advisor: Kris Dhandapani, PhD - Dept. of Neurosurgery, Augusta University
Xing Fang
Xing Fang studied the role of hypothalamic POMC and AgRP neurons in chronic unpredictable stress models of depression.
Graduate Advisor: Xinyun Lu, PhD - Dept. of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Augusta University
Xing is currently a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Southern California.
Wonjo Jang
Graduate Advisor: Nevin Lambert, PhD
Research: G protein-couples receptor signaling in living cells.
Jacob Kumro
Graduate Advisor: David Blake, PhD
Research: Jake studies Alzheimer's disease using deep brain stimulation as a potential treatment.
Marissa Seamon
Graduate Advisor: Chandramohan Wakade
Research: Marissa studies the benefits of niacin supplementation for Parkinson's Disease patients.
CD9 labeled extracellular vesicles isolated from Parkinson's Disease patient plasma.
Luodan Yang
Graduate Advisor: Quanguang Zhang, PhD
Research: Luodan studies the effect of photobiomodulation on neurodegenerative disease.