The 2016 STAR program had 21 participants, each adding to the wonderful experience of the summer session.

 

photo of HANNAH BRINKMAN

HANNAH BRINKMAN

  • Central Michigan University

STAR Mentor: Larry Layman, MD

Program Affiliation: Molecular Medicine & Neuroscience

STAR Project: Role of microRNAs in Nelf Regulation of Migratory GnRH Neurons

photo of EGIL BRUDVICK

EGIL BRUDVICK

  • Union College

STAR Mentor: Lin Mei, PhD

Program Affiliation: Molecular Medicine & Neuroscience

STAR Project: Postnatal Termination of GABA Transmission INcreases the Formation of Perineuronal Nets on Parva; bumin Interneurons

photo of ALISON BURRELL

ALISON BURRELL

  • University of South Carolina - Columbia

STAR Mentor: David Fulton, PhD

Program Affiliation: Biochemistry and Cancer Biology

STAR Project: Implementing CRISPR/Cas9 to Generate Knockout Cell Lines to Analyze Target Genes Upregulated in Pulmonary Hypertension

photo of KWANG JIN CHUNG

KWANG JIN CHUNG

  • University of Buffalo

University: University of Buffalo

STAR Mentor: Anatolij Horuzsko, PhD, MD

Program Affiliation: Biochemistry & Cancer Biology

STAR Project: Functions of TREM - 1 in Tumor Cells

photo of RAHIM HIRANI

RAHIM HIRANI

  • Hampshire College

STAR Mentor: Bal Lokeshwar, PhD

Program Affiliation: Biochemistry & Cancer Biology

STAR Project: The Regulatory role of B-Arrestin - 1 in Prostate Cancer Cell Proliferation

photo of JUSTIN HUTCHINSON

JUSTIN HUTCHINSON

  • Winthrop University

STAR Mentor: Jennifer Sullivan, PhD

Program Affiliation: Physiology

STAR Project: The Temporal Effect of DOCA - salt Hypertension on Renal Tregs in Males and Females

 

photo of CHARLOTEE KAESTNER

CHARLOTEE KAESTNER

  • East Tennessee State University

STAR Mentor: Akilkumar Pillai, PhD

Program Affiliation: Biochemistry & Cancer Biology

STAR Project: The Role of IL-23 in the Development of ASD-like Phenotype in Mice

 

photo of MOLLY LAWSON

MOLLY LAWSON

  • Georgia College &
  • State University

STAR Mentor: Vinata Lokeshwar, PhD

Program Affiliation: Biochemistry & Cancer Biology

STAR Project:  Bladder Cancer Hyaluronidase Expression and Sensitivity to Chemotherapeutics

photo of ATUL LODH

ATUL LODH

  • University of Georgia

STAR Mentor: Jan Van Riggelen, PhD

Program Affiliation: Biochemistry & Cancer Biology

STAR Project: The MYC Oncogene Controls DNMT3B Overexpression, which may be important for Tumor Proliferations in MYC-Driven T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL)

photo of PEYTON MARSHALL

PEYTON MARSHALL

  • University of Virginia

STAR Mentor: Meghan McGee-Lawrence, PhD

Program Affiliation: Cellular Biology & Anatomy

STAR Project: Pharmacological Modulation of Osteocyte Plasma Membrane Disruption (PMD) Repair Affects Cell Survival

photo of MELODY MORWITZER

MELODY MORWITZER

  • University of Nebraska - Kearny

STAR Mentor: Eric Belin de Chantemele, PhD

Program Affiliation: Physiology

STAR Project: Hypertension and Sex Specificity: Leptin Increases Salt Sensitivity in Female Mice

photo of ROHIT MUNGALA

ROHIT MUNGALA

  • University of Georgia

STAR Mentor: Patricia Schoenlein, PhD

Program Affiliation: Cellular Biology & Anatomy

STAR Project: Apparent Prosurvival Role For pJNK in Eralpha+ Breast Cancer Cells

photo of HARRY OWEN

HARRY OWEN

  • University of Georgia

STAR Mentor: Esteban Celis, PhD, MD

Program Affiliation: Biochemistry & Cancer Biology

STAR Project: Investigating Mechanisms Behing Vaccine Adjuvants for Anti-Tumor Treatments

photo of Tiffany Robinson

Tiffany Robinson

  • Western New England College

STAR Mentor: Hasan Korkaya, PhD

Program Affiliation: Biochemistry & Cancer Biology

STAR Project: Effects of Trsquinimod on S100A9 in Breast Cancer Metastasis

photo of Denerick Simpson

Denerick Simpson

  • Savannah State University

STAR Mentor: Chris Cutler, PhD

Program Affiliation: Oral Biology

STAR Project: Oral Microbiome Analysis: Murine Model of Periodontal Disease

photo of Margaret Steward

Margaret Steward

  • Regis University

STAR Mentor: Almria Vazdarjanova, PhD

Program Affiliation: Pharmacology

STAR Project: Experience-Driven Modification of Ongoing Immediate-Early Gene Transcription

photo of Yuxiao Tan

Yuxiao Tan

  • Ohio Wesleyan University

STAR Mentor: Jin-Xiong She, PhD

Program Affiliation: Genomic Medicine

STAR Project: Knockdown of GeneLC7A11 in OVCAR8 Cells Increases Susceptibility of Cells to Anti-Cancer Drugs

photo of Elizabeth Urbanski

Elizabeth Urbanski

  • Ohio Wesleyan University

STAR Mentor: Graydon Gonsalvez, PhD 

Program Affiliation: Cellular Biology & Anatomy

STAR Project: Examining the Role of FAM109 in an Undiagnosed Disease

photo of Jenice Watson

Jenice Watson

  • Freed-Hardeman University

STAR Mentor: Betty Pace, MD

Program Affiliation: Biochemistry & Cancer Biology 

STAR Project: The Effect of Salubrinal on eIL2α-ATF4 Phosphorylation Rates Correlating with Fetal Hemoglobin Induction

photo of Nicholas Weinand

Nicholas Weinand

  • University of Georgia

STAR Mentor: Zsolt Bagi, PhD, MD

Program Affiliation: Vascular Biology

STAR Project: Does Adenosine Kinase Link Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction to HFpEF