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Contact Information
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Adams, Bryn ~ Ph.D. Student
Bryn Adams received her BS in Biology at UNC
Charlotte. She has worked with Dr. James Oliver
on the survival of Helicobacter pylori in
the natural environment and is currently working
under Dr. Helene Hilger on a joint project
with Dr. Oliver to develop a methanotroph
embedded "biotarp" to mitigate methane emissions
from active landfill sites.
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Dr.
James Oliver/Hilger
Lab: (704) 687-2581
CARC 270
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Bagwe, Rita ~ Ph.D. Student
Rita recieved her B.S in Zoology and her M.S in
Animal Physiology from University of Mumbai.At
present she is working on Role of Nitric Oxidein
oyster Crassostrea virginica under the guidance
of Dr.Sokolova.
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Dr.
Inna Sokolova
Lab: (704) 687-8523
Woodward 367 |
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Bariar, Bhawana ~ Ph.D. Student
Bhawana received her M.S. in Molecular and Human
Genetics from Banaras Hindu University, India.
She graduated with an M.S. in Biology from
Georgia Tech in Fall 2007. Her Master’s thesis
at Georgia Tech focused on the effects of the
components of the Get (Golgi-to-ER Traffic)
pathway on prion propagation in yeast. She
joined the Ph.D. program at UNCC in Spring 2008.
Currently, she is doing a research rotation in
Dr. Christine Richardson’s laboratory
investigating chromosomal rearrangements common
to leukemias.
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Dr.
Christine Richardson
Lab:
(704) 687-8549
Woodward
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Bowen, Robert ~ Ph.D. Student
Bob received his B.S. in Physical Geography from
Northern Michigan University and M.S. in Geographic
Information Science from the University of Minnesota
– Twin Cities in 2002 and 2004. He returned to
Northern Michigan University and completed a M.S. in
Exercise Science (emphasis in Physiology). During
his second M.S., his research focused on the
biomechanical and physiological aspects of
cross-country skiing and cycling performance.
Currently, Bob is working on his Ph.D. in
Biology/Kinesiology and researching in the area of
exercise genomics using a mouse model.
Specifically, he is evaluating the use of in
silico data analysis techniques to identify the
locations of genes involved in exercise endurance
regulation.
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Kinesiology
Dr. Tim Lightfoot
(704) 687-4692
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Daneshvar, Kaveh ~ Ph.D. Student
Kaveh received his B.S. in
biology from University of Tehran (2004) and his
M.S. in biochemistry from Razi University, IRAN
(2007). He joined the PhD program in fall 2007. At
present, he is doing lab rotation before starting
his doctoral research. His first rotation was in Dr.
Julie Goodliffe's laboratory and his research was on
the molecular mechanism of gene repression by "Myc".
Currently, Kaveh is doing his second lab rotation in
Dr. Laura Schrum's laboratory investigating the
expression of aquaporin in hepatic stellate cell (HSC).
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Dr.
Laura Schrum
Lab: (704) 687-8529
Woodwrd 475
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Froelich, Brett ~
Master's Student
Brett earned
his BS in Biology with a concentration in
Microbiology at UNCC. He is continuing research
in Dr. Oliver’s lab that he started as an
undergraduate. Brett is studying the estuarine
bacterium
Vibrio vulnificus, a human pathogen.
His areas of focus are the molecular and
physiological mechanisms of virulence in
V. vulnificus,
specifically phase variation of the
polysaccharide capsule, and the link between
mannitol fermentation and the ability to
colonize human blood. |
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Dr.
James Oliver
Lab: (704) 687-8517
Woodward
361 |
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Hicks-Little, Charlie ~ Ph.D. Student
Charlie received her B.S and M.S. degrees in
Athletic Training/Sports Medicine from East
Stroudsburg University, PA in 2002. In 2003 she
worked as a certified athletic trainer for a
professional rugby team in her home country England.
She then returned to East Stroudsburg University to
join the sports medicine faculty for a semester
before starting her PhD at Indiana State University.
However, after completing her first year at ISU she
transferred into the PhD program in Biology here at
UNCC as her advisor Dr Mitch Cordova took the
position of Chair of the Kinesiology Dept. Charlie
is now working in the Biodynamics Research
Laboratory investigating the sensorimotor and
neuromuscular effects of osteoarthritis of the knee.
By investigating the proprioceptive ability of
osteoarthritis patients we aspire to change
therapeutic paradigms in the rehabilitation of this
degenerative disease affecting such a large
population worldwide.
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Kinesiology
Dr. Mitchell Cordova
(704) 687-3176
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Keller, James ~ Ph.D. Student
Jim received his BS degree in Biology
from the University of Evansville and his MS in
Biology from UNC Charlotte. He is now pursuing his
PhD in Biology under the guidance of Dr. Leamy. He
is studying the effects of a toxin
(2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin or TCDD) on
tooth and bone development in inbred strains of mice
in order to assess genetic differences in
sensitivity to TCDD.
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Dr.
Larry Leamy
Lab: (704) 687-8671
Woodward 361
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Kleinfehn, Amy ~ Ph.D. Student
Amy
Kleinfehn recieved her BS in Biology at Saint Mary's
College with a minor in Secondary Education in 2004.
She taught high school biology for one year at Myers
Park High School in Charlotte before returning to
graduate school. Currently she is working on her
Ph.D. in biology and researching the area of
exercise genomics by using siRNA technology to
validate relationships between genetics and exercise
endurance using a mouse model.
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Kinesiology
Dr. Tim Lightfoot
(704) 687-4692
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Kwok, Willson ~ Ph.D. Student
Willson Kwok received a B.A. in Chemistry and
Japanese with distinction and a B.S. in Biology with
high honors (2000) from the University of Hawaii at
Manoa. He also completed his Master in Business
Administration from the University of North Carolina
at Charlotte (2003). Willson is currently
performing his doctoral studies in the laboratory of
Dr. Clemens investigating the role of caveolin in
the regulation of sinusoidal microcirculation in the
liver. He is interested in the understanding of how
caveolin interacts and helps to regulate the
intracellular signaling pathways that involve
endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) under
normal as well as stress conditions. Dr. Kwok is a
recipient of the AAAS/Science Program for Excellence
in Science (2007) and his focus in academic success
has been recognized by the Chancellor's List (2005),
United Who's Who Executive (2004), National Dean's
List (1996 - 2002), USAA All-American Scholar
Collegiate Award (1999), and Who's Who List (1996).
Willson was awarded membership in Phi Beta Kappa
(2000), Delta Epsilon Iota (1999), Golden Key
(1997), Phi Theta Kappa (1996), and Alpha Kappa Psi
(1996). He is devoted to education and social
networking, receiving a fellowship from the National
Science Foundation (2004 n- 2006) and currently acts
as the vice president of Phi Beta Delta. Willson
aims to complete these studies and graduate with a
Ph.D. in Fall 2008.
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Dr.
Mark Clemens
Lab: (704) 687-8675
Woodward 463
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Lakner, Ashley~ Ph.D. Student
Ashley Lakner
received her BS in Biology from James Madison
University, as well as minors in Chemistry and
Political Science. Ashley is a doctoral student in
the lab of Dr. Laura Schrum. Ashley is currently
investigating the role of aquaporins in hepatic
stellate cells (HSCs) and their putative functions
during liver fibrosis. Ashley is also the Secretary
of the Graduate and Professional Student Government
(GPSG).
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Dr.
James Oliver
Lab: (704) 687-8517
Woodward
361 |
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Mattocks, Adrian
~ Ph.D. Student
Adrian
Mattocks received a B.A. in Philosophy (2000) and a
B.S. in Biology (2003) from the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte. Adrian is currently
performing his doctoral studies in the laboratory of
Dr. McKillop investing the mechanisms that regulate
the normal and abnormal expression of aquaporin
proteins during the process of normal liver cell (hepatocyte)
transformation to the tumorigenic state and how
these proteins affect the rate at which
liver tumors (hepatocellular
carcinomas) progress. Dr Mattocks aims to
complete these studies and graduate with a Ph.D. in
Spring 2009
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Dr.
Iain McKillop
Lab: (704) 687-8509
Woodward 461
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Moore, Cathy ~ Ph.D. Student
Cathy Moore received her BE in Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt
University in 2002. Cathy has worked as a
technician at Tulane’s Center for Gene Therapy
(2000-2002), the Department of Cancer Biology at
Vanderbilt University (2002-2003), and the
Department of Biology at UNC-Charlotte (2003-2004).
Cathy is a doctoral student in Dr. Laura Schrum’s
laboratory investigating the molecular mechanisms
regulating hepatic stellate cell (HSC) contraction
under normal and fibrotic conditions. Cathy is also
the Vice-President of the Graduate and Professional
Student Government (GPSG).
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Dr.
Laura Schrum
Lab: (704) 687-8529
Woodwrd 475
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Moore, Judy ~ Ph.D.
Student
Judy received her BA degree in Biology from Rice
University in Houston, Texas, and her M.Ed. from the
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She is
planning to complete her MS degree in the summer or
fall of 2006. Judy is conducting her research in
Chris Yengo’s lab, where she is iPnvestigating
autophosphorylation of myosin 3A by its unique
N-terminal kinase domain and its regulatory role in
the molecule’s function.
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Dr.
Chris Yengo
Lab: (704) 687-8515
Woodward 471 |
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Oakes, Judy ~ Ph.D. Student
Judy received her B.S. in Biology and B.A. in
Psychology from the University of North Carolina at
Charlotte. Judy is investigating the use of soybean
plants as an efficient expression system for the
production of edible vaccines and other
soybean-based pharmaceuticals. She is currently
examining the mucosal and systemic immune response
following oral administration of a soybean vaccine
to prevent diarrheal disease.
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Dr.
Ken Bost
Lab: (704) 687-8678
Woodward 377
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Powell, Rebecca ~
Ph.D. Student
Rebecca graduated
from Independence High School in Charlotte in
2001. She went on to receive her B.S . in
Biology from NC State University, as well as
minors in Genetics and French. Rebecca is
currently conducting research in the lab of Dr.
James Oliver. Her research focuses on the
Quorum Sensing-regulated expression of virulence
genes in the marine pathogen, Vibrio
vulnificus.
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Dr.
Ken Bost
Lab:
(704) 687-8678
Woodward
377 |
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Rettew, Jennifer ~
Ph.D. Student
Jennifer received her BS in Biology
from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2003. She completed her MS
in Biology at UNC Charlotte in 2006 studying the
breeding biology of Ospreys on Martha's Vineyard.
Currently, she is working on her PhD in Dr. Ian
Marriott's lab studying the sexual dimorphism of
immune responses. Specifically, her work includes
examining the effects of estrogen and testosterone
on the mechanisms by which innate immune cells
perceive microbial pathogens.
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Dr.
Ian Marriott
Lab: (704) 687-8507
Woodward 375
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Sahraei, Mahnaz
~
Ph.D. Student
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Dr.
Ian Marriott
Lab: (704) 687-8507
Woodward
375
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Sendi, Hossein ~
Ph.D. Student
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Dr.
Clemens and Dr.
Bonkovsky
Lab: (704) 687-8675
Woodward 463
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Shah, Nirav ~
Ph.D. Student
I received my B.S. Degree in Biotechnology and my
M.S. degree in Bioinformatics from Sardar Patel
University. I completed my dissertation in
Microbiology at IARI, New Delhi India. I am
currently doing my first lab rotation with Dr. Julie
Goodliffe. We are checking the role of Myc gene
repression, using Drosophila as model organism.
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Dr.
Julie Goodliffe
Lab: (704) 687-8669
Woodward 371
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Somayaji, Shankari ~ Ph.D. Student
I have a
Masters in Chemistry from India. I am pursuing my
Ph.D in Dr. Michael Hudson's lab.My research focuses
on enhancing the interaction of osteoblasts
(bone-forming cells) with biomaterials, using dead
S. aureus. To address this, I will evaluate
attachment, adhesion, proliferation and
differentiation of osteoblasts, both in the presence
and absence of dead bacteria, on titanium alloy
films that will serve as the biomaterial. Finally, I
will extend these in vitro studies to an in vivo
model and utilize S. aureus-coated implants. The
attachment of these implants to bone as well as the
bone-implant interface will be investigated in these
studies. The outcome of all of the above studies
will help evaluate if S. aureus, a bone pathogen,
could be potentially utilized to facilitate a
productive osseointegration between bone-associated
biomaterials and osteoblasts. |
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Dr.
Michael Hudson
Lab: (704) 687-8695
Woodward 375
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Sterka, David
~ Ph.D. Student
David received his
B.S. in Biology from UNC-Chapel Hill. After 2 years
working in a research lab investigating lung
transplant rejection, he decided to pursue a M.S. in
Biology at UNC-Charlotte which eventually turned
into pursuing a PhD. His current studies involve the
investigation of inflammatory mechanisms in the CNS
following bacterial and viral infection. This study
focuses on the role of pattern recognition receptors
expressed by resident glial cells within the CNS.
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Dr.
Ian Marriott
Lab: (704) 687-8507
Woodward 375 |
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Thompson, Kyle ~ Ph.D. Student
Kyle Thompson attended Pennsylvania
State University before transferring to the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte where he
received his BS in Biology in 1999. He worked as a
licensed representative at the Vanguard Group while
taking graduate courses at UNCC as
post-baccalaureate. He entered the
Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Fall 2003. Kyle is
a doctoral student in Dr. Laura Schrum's laboratory
investigating the molecular mechanisms of
alcohol-induced liver fibrosis. Specifically, his
project includes examining the effects of S-adenosyl-L-methionine
(SAMe) on collagen regulation in hepatic stellate
cells and its use as a therapeutic intervention for
the prevention and treatment in alcoholic liver
disease.
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Dr.
Laura Schrum
Lab: (704) 687-8529
Woodward
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Warner, Elizabeth ~
Ph.D. Student
Liza received her BS in Biology with a minor in
Chemistry from Wingate University in 2004 and joined
the Oliver lab as a master’s student the same year.
After two years of study and research she opted to
switch to the PhD program where she currently is
studying small RNAs and differential gene regulation
in two genotypes of Vibrio vulnificus with
emphasis on the mechanisms of virulence.
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Dr.
James Oliver
Lab: (704) 687-8517
Woodward 365 |
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Zhoby, Rana ~ Ph.D. Student
Rana Zohby received her BS in Biochemistry from the
Lebanese University in Lebanon in 2001 and her
Master’s degree in Chemistry from UNC-Charlotte
where she worked under the guidance of Dr. John M
Risley to study the hydratase activity and the
kinetics of β-N acetylglucosaminyl-L-asparagine
analogues of human glycosylasparaginase. In 2005
Rana joined the PhD program in Biology at UNCC and
she is still working under the supervision of Dr.
Risley at the Chemistry department where she
continues her mechanistic studies on
glycosylasparaginase.
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Chemistry
Dr.
John Risley
Lab: (704) 687-4844
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