CMB Alumni

(since 1996 program inception)

2012

Raha Allaei Been, PhD
Advisor: Dr. David Largaespada
Thesis: Maternal Dietary Folic Acid Deficiency Protects Against Medulloblastoma Formation in a Mouse Model of Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome.
Subsequent Position: Senior Research Engineer, 3M Skin & Wound Care Division

Miranda Bauer, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Kent Reed
Thesis: BG Gene Structure, Genetic Variation and Expression in the Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) Major Histocompatibility Complex
Subsequent Position: Head of Research at Blue Zones

Mary Boyce, PhD
Advisors: Dr. Troy Trumble and Dr. Bruce Walcheck
Thesis: Longitudinal evaluation of biochemical markers in a non-terminal animal model of post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

Aric Frantz, PhD
Advisors: Dr. Jaime Modiano and Dr. Tim O'Brien
Thesis: Comparative and molecular approaches to improve identification, classification, and therapeutic options in cancer.
Subseqent Position: Returning to DVM program to complete dual DVM/PhD.

Elise Lamont, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Srinand Sreevatsan
Thesis: Survival strategies of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in a variety of microenvironments
Subsequent Position: Postdoctoral Scientist in Dr. Sreevatsan's lab.

Ting Lei, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Yinduo Ji
Thesis: Characterization of a novel essential protein Gcp of Staphylococcus aureus.
Subsequent Position: Postdoctoral Scientist in Dr. Ji's lab.

Chunmei Long, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Bruce Walcheck
Thesis: Role of leukocyte ADAM17 in regulating neutrophil recruitment during sepsis

2011

Seth Baker, MS
Advisor: Dr. Scott Dee
Thesis: Evaluation of Potential Risk Factors for Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome Virus Transmission
Subsequent Position: Integra Group

Claudia Fernandez, MS
Advisor: Dr. Tim Johnson
Thesis: Transcriptional Regulation of Echerichia coli Modulated by Multi-drug Resistance IncA/C Plasmid

Preethi Haran, MS
Advisor: Dr. Srinand Sreevatsan
Thesis: Isolation and Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus from Bulk Tank Milk from Minnesota Dairy Farms

Juan Li, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Michael Murtaugh
Thesis: Structural and functional characterization of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus N-Glycans
Subsequent Position: Postdoc in lab of Dr. Grant Jensen, Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology

Mary Mauzy, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Mark Rutherford
Thesis: Expression Profiling within the in vitro Infection of Cryptosporidium
Subsequent Position: Biostatistics consultant, Colorado Springs, CO

Sara Shepard, MS
Advisor: Dr. Tim Johnson
Thesis: Phylogenetic and Genomic Characterization of Porcine Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
Subsequent Position: 3rd year DVM student at U of M

2010

Kari Ekenstedt, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Jim Mickelson
Thesis: Genetic Basis of Canine Neurological and Neuromuscular Diseases
Subsequent Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Animal and Food Science, UW-River Falls

Harish Janagama, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Srinand Sreevatsan
Thesis: Strain Dependent Variations in Iron Metabolism of mycrobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis
Subsequent Position: Post-Doctoral laboratory position at Texas A&M University researching mycrobacterium marinum

Rebecca LaRue, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Ruben Harris
Thesis: Dynamics of the Mammalian APOBEC3 locus and the Relationship Between Mammalian APOBEC3 and Lentiviral Vif Proteins
Subsequent Position: Post-doc, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics Department, U of MN

Margaret McNulty, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Cathy Carlson
Thesis: Histological Assessment of Osteoarthritis Lesions in Mice
Subsequent Position: Post-doctoral/instructor position at Rush University, Chicago

Tamene Melkamu, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Scott O'Grady
Thesis: Toll-like Receptor Interactions and Their Contribution to Airway Inflammation
Subsequent Position: Research Associate at the Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, U of M

Andrew Petzold, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Stephen Ekker
Thesis: Development of the Larval Zebrafish as a Genetic Model for the Nicotine Response
Subsequent Position: Student-based faculty member at University of Minnesota, Rochester

Katie Schiller, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Scott O'Grady
Thesis: Regulation of Airway Epithelial Cell Migration by CFTR
Subsequent Position: Post-Doctoral position with Dr. David Ingbar in pulmonary medicine at the U of M 

Shoko Toma, MS
Advisor: Dr. John Ohlfest
Thesis: Effect of Oxygen on Tumor Cell Vaccine
Subsequent Position:

2009

Lee Chaves, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Kent Reed
Thesis: The Major Histocompatibility Complex of the Turkey
Subsequent Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, National Jewish Health, Division of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Denver, CO

JJ Hong, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Pam Skinner
Thesis: Early localized SIV-specific CD8 T cells response to pathogenic SIV is correlated with successful SIV vaccine
Subsequent Position: Post-doc at Emory University and the Yerkes National Primate Research Center

Joseph Jude, PhD
Advisor: Drs. Mathur Kannan and Tim Walseth
Thesis: Regulation of CD38 Expresssion in Human Airway Smooth Muscle (HASM) Cells
Subsequent Position: Post-doc position in Mathur Kannan's lab, U of MN

Katherine Krieser, MS
Advisor: Dr. Catherine St. Hill
Thesis: : Regulation of tumor cell expression of the carbohydrate epitope sialyl Lewis X in the tumor microenvironment: Implications for metastasis.
Subsequent Position:

Terri Mattila, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Pam Skinner
Thesis: The Role of HIV- and SIV-specific CD8+ T cells in the Establishment of Persistent HIV and SIV Infections
Subsequent Position: Teaching position at Northwestern College, St. Paul, MN

Kristelle Mendoza, MS
Advisor: Dr. Kent Reed
Thesis: Functional Genomics of Round Heart (RH) Disease in the Turkey
Subsequent Position: Assistant scientist and lab manager in the Reed lab, U of MN

Amy Treeful, MS
Advisor: Drs. Kent Reed and Jim Mickelson
Thesis: Comparative Whole Chromosome Paint Analysis of Feline Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Subsequent Position: Product Support Specialist, Genetix Corp

2008

Geoff Hirsch, MS
Advisor: Dr. Michael Murtaugh
Thesis: Characterization of novel porcine EST sequences in the jejunal Peyer's patch
Current Position: Employed by Source MDx, Boulder, CO

Juan Li, MS
Advisor: Dr. Michael Murtaugh
Thesis: Characterization of Serum Neutralizing Activity in Porcine Anti-PRRSV Immunity
Subsequent Position: Continuing PhD studies at U of M

Jin Liu, MS, DVM, PhD
Advisors: Drs. Mark Rutherford and Mitchell Abrahamsen
Thesis: Cryptosporidium parvum modulation of apoptotic pathways in human intestinal epithelial cell
Subsequent Position: Postdoctoral research scientist, Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA
Current Position: Shanghai National Veterinary Research Institute, China

Trasida Ployngam, PhD
Advisor: Dr. John Collister
Thesis: Role of the median preoptic nucleus in chronic blood pressure regulation by angiotensin II
Subsequent Position: Instructor in the Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.

2007

Bit Na Kang, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Mathur Kannan
Thesis: Regulation of CD38 in Airway Mycocytes
Subsequent Position: Post-doc in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, U of M

Shidong Ma, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Mitch Abrahamsen
Thesis: Expression and Regulation of IL-22 by Bovine Peripheral Blood gamma/delta T Cells
Subsequent Position: Post-doc at the U of WI-Madison Medical School

Cristina Marques, PhD
Advisor: Dr. James Lokensgard
Thesis: Microglia-mediated Immune Responses During the Development of Herpes Encephalitis
Subsequent Position: Post-doc research fellow at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, OH
Current Position: Research Teaching Professional, Hiram College

Molly McCue, DVM, PhD
Advisors: Drs. James Mickelson and Stephanie Valberg
Thesis: The Prevalence and Genetic Basis of Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy
Subsequent Position: Post-doc in Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota

Jessica Meehan, MS
Advisor: Dr. John Collister
Thesis: CNS Sites and Pathways Activated by Angiotensin II: Role of the Subfornical Organ and its Interaction with Downstream Sites
Subsequent Position:

Zhenya Ni, DVM, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Bruce Walcheck
Thesis: Characterization of a Subdivision of Skin Honing T Cells Based on P-Selectin Binding
Subsequent Position: Postdoctoral Associate, University of Minnesota, Dr. Dan Kaufman's lab

Erik Olson, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Cathy Carlson
Thesis: Naturally Occuring and Surgically Induced Animal Models of Osteoarthritis
Subsequent Position: Assistant Clinical Professor, Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, U of M

Zhiming Ouyang, PhD
Advisor: Dr. Richard Isaacson
Thesis: Studies on Function and Regulation of a Novel Gene Cluster Associated with Iron Transport in Escherichia coli
Subsequent Position:  Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School

Cholowat Pacharinsak, PhD
Advisors: Drs. Al Beitz and Donald Simone
Thesis: The Role of NK-1 Receptors in the Rostral Ventromedial Medulla in Hyperalgesia Produced by Intraplantar Injection of Capsaicin
Subsequent Position: Faculty at Stanford University School of Medicine

2006

Thamotharampillai Dileepan, PhD
Advisors: Sam Maheswaran and Mathur Kannan
Thesis: Defining the molecular basis of species specific susceptibility to RTX toxins from Mannheimia haemolytica and Aggregatibacter (Actinnobacillus) actinomycetemcomitans
Subsequent Position: Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Microbiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota.

Patricia Dranchak, PhD
Advisor: Jim Mickelson
Thesis: Mapping the Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyosis Gene in Thoroughbred Horses
Subsequent Position: Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Institute for Genetic Medicine, University of Southern California

Michael Hendel, PhD
Advisor: John Collister
Thesis: Chronic Effects of Angiotensin II at the Subfornical Organ-A Central Integration Site of Cardiovascular Homeostasis
Current Position: Medical School at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine

Polly Mattila, PhD
Advisor: Bruce Walcheck
Thesis: Mechanisms Involved in the Regulation of L-selectin Function
Current Position: Postdoc (Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Fellowship recipient), PI is Dr. Ora Weisz, University of Pittsburgh

Prasad Ratna, MS
Advisor: Michael Murtaugh
Thesis: Characterization of B-cell Responses to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSv) Infection in Pigs
Current Position: PhD student with Rafi Ahmed, Emory University

2005

Lisa Herron-Olson, PhD
Advisor: Vivek Kapur
Thesis: Molecular Correlates of Host-Specific Adaptation of Staphylococcus aureus Associated with Bovine Mastitis and Human Toxic Shock Syndrome
Subsequent position: Research Associate, Syntiron, Minneapolis, MN

Rebecca LaRue, MS
Advisor: Moses Njenga
Thesis: Molecular Characterization of Xenozoonotic Picornaviruses
Subsequent Position: Ph.D. program in Molecular and Comparative Biosciences, University of Minnesota

2004

Erin Annandale, MS
Advisors: Stephanie Valberg and James Mickelson
Thesis: Glucose Transport Mechanisms and Purine Necleotide Metabolism in Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy
Subsequent position: Research Associate, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology

Mary Baddorf, MS
Advisor: Al Bietz
Thesis: The Use of Microarrays and Real-time RT-PCR to Analyze Changes in Spinal Cord Gene Expression in a Mouse Model of Cancer Pain
Subsequent Position: Research Associate, R & D Systems, Minneapolis, MN

Laurie Brewer, PhD
Advisor: Moses Njenga
Thesis: Risk Posed By Porcine Encephalomyocarditis Virus in Xenotransplantation
Subsequent Position: Veterinarian at Brewer Veterinary Clinic in Brewer, Maine

Deepak Deshpande, PhD
Advisor: Mathur Kannan
Thesis: Role of CD38/cADPR Mediated Calcium Signaling in Airway Smooth Muscle Hyperresponsiveness
Subsequent position: Post-Doctoral Scientist, Bowman-Grey School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Wake Forest, North Carolina
Current position:Assistant Professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Laura Eikmeier, PhD
Advisor: Alvin Beitz
Thesis: The Contribution of Sex Hormones and Tumor-derived Algogens to the Development of Mechanical Hyperalgesia in a Mouse Model of Cancer Pain
Subsequent Position: Resident in pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota

Kendra Hyland, PhD
Advisor: Michael Murtaugh
Thesis: Innate Immune Response of Porcine Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue to Salmonella enterica serovar Choleraesuis Infection
Science and Engineering Research Semester (SERS) Fellow at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington. 1997–1999
Subsequent position: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Microbiology, University of Minnesota

Nicole (London) Hoft, PhD
Advisor: Yang Da
Thesis: Statistical Theory and Methods for Mapping Gender Affected Genes and QTL
Subsequent position: Assistant Professor, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
Current position: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado-Boulder

Humphrey Lwamba, MS
Advisor: Moses Njenga
Thesis: Antigenic Characterization and Full-Genome Sequence Analysis of Avian Metapneumovirus

Praveen Thumbikat, PhD
Advisor: Sam Maheswaran
Thesis: Characterization of the Mannheimia Haemolytica Leukotoxin - Receptor Interaction and its Molecular Consequences
Subsequent Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Urology, Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois

Tara Nahey, PhD
Advisor: James Mickelson
Thesis: Biochemical and Molecular Basis for Inherited Muscle Disease in the Horse
Subsequent position: Surgical Research Scientist, Medtronic, Brooklyn Center, MN

Zhengguo Xiao, PhD
Advisor: Michael Murtaugh
Thesis: Mechanism of Control of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) Infection in Pigs
Subsequent Position: Post-Doctoral Trainee, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
 

2003

Antoinette Bennaars, MS
Advisor: Michael Murtaugh
Thesis: Cloning and Expression of Porcine Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor
Subsequent position: Research Scientist, R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Benedict Green, PhD
Advisor: David Brown
Thesis: Neuropharmacology of Host Defense in the Porcine Intestine
Subsequent Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska
Current Position: Research pharmacologist, USDA-ARS, Logan, UT

Kimberley Ham, PhD
Advisor: Cathy Carlson
Thesis: Estrogen replacement therapy and osteoarthritits in cynomolgus monkeys
Current Position: Study Director, Integra Group

So-Yeong Lee, PhD
Advisor: Scott O'Grady
Thesis: P2Y Receptor Regulation of Ion Channel Function in Xenopus Oocytes
Subsequent Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea

Monica Roberts, PhD
Advisor: James Mickelson
Thesis: Mapping Neurological and Neuromuscular Disease Genes in Dogs
Subsequent Position: Post-Doctoral Research Scientist, Jackson Laboratories, Bar Harbor, Maine

DeWayne Townsend, PhD
Advisor: David Brown
Thesis: Characterization of delta opioid receptors in the porcine intestine
Subsequent Position: Post-Doctoral Research Scientist, Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, University of Minnesota

Tom White, PhD
Advisor: Mathur Kannan
Thesis: Regulation of Intracellular Calcium in Porcine Airway Smooth Muscle
Subsequent Position: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

Laurie Yunker, MS
Advisor: Laura Mauro
Thesis: Spatial and temporal expression of the receptor tyrosine phosphatase, Osteotesticular Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, during skeletogenesis
Subsequent Position: Junior Scientist, Animal Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul

2002

Barbara May, PhD
Advisor: Vivek Kapur
Thesis: Comprehensive genetic analysis of an avian isolate of Pasteurella multocida
Subsequent Position: Professor, Biology Department, St. John's University/College of St. Benedict, Minnesota

2001

Samithamby Jeyaseelan, PhD
Advisor: Sam Maheswaran
Thesis: Molecular basis for cellular and species specificity of Pasteurella haemolytica leukotoxin
Subsequent Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Yale University School of Medicine
Current Position: Associate Professor, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, Louisiana State University

Chang (Charlie) Liu, PhD
Advisor: Mitch Abrahamsen
Thesis: Identification and characterization of Cryptosporidium parvum telomeric DNA sequences, telomerase, and a single-stranded telomeric binding protein
Subsequent position: Senior System Analyst, GlaxoSmithKline Inc.
Current position: Faculty, School of Medicine, University of Hong Kong

James Wellehan, MS
Advisor: Vivek Kapur
Thesis: Mycoplasma infections of wild passerine birds in Minnesota
Subsequent Position: Avian/Exotics/Wildlife Intern, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario

Shishan Yuan, PhD
Advisor: Michael Murtaugh, Kay Faaberg
Thesis: RNA recombination in porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus
Subsequent Position: Department Head, Department of Swine Infectious Disease, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS

2000

Arshud Dar, PhD
Advisor: Vivek Kapur
Thesis: Molecular characterization of a novel avian pneumovirus
Subsequent Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Cancer Care and Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, Winnipeg, Cananda

Linnea R. Lentz, PhD
Advisor: Esther Gallant
Thesis: The cellular basis for recurrent exertional rhabdomyoloysis in Thoroughbred horses
Subsequent Position: Veterinary Surgeon, Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota

1999

John Collister, PhD
Advisor: John Osborn
Thesis: Angiotensin IIneural interactions in cardiovascular control
Subsequent Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota
Current Position: Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota

Shih-Ling Hsuan, PhD
Advisor: Sam Maheswaran
Thesis: Molecular characterization of Pasteurella haemolytica leukotoxin-receptor interaction
Subsequent Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Washington, School of Medicine
Current Position: Associate Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Vaccinology, Taiwan University, Taiwan, China

Tracey Papenfuss, MS
Advisor: Tom Molitor
Thesis: Development and Application of a Fluorogenic RT-PCR Taqman Assay to Detect Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus in Porcine Tissue Samples
Current Position: Assistant Professor,Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University

Xuexian Zhang, PhD
Advisor: Mark Rutherford
Thesis: Molecular response of alveolar macrophages to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection
Subsequent Position: Scientist, Veterans Administration, Minneapolis, MN
Current Position: Research scientist, Protatek International, Inc., St. Paul, MN

1998

Arindam Bhattacharjee, PhD
Advisor: Mark Rutherford
Thesis: Mechanisms of dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver injury
Subsequent Position: Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Dana Farber Cancer Center, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
Current Position: Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc., Santa Clara, CA

Dennis Foss, PhD
Advisor: Michael Murtaugh
Thesis: Mucosal adjuvanticity of cholera toxin in swine
Subsequent Position: Scientist, Pfizer Central Research, Groton, CT

Rhonda Miller, PhD
Advisor: Sam Maheswaran, Mitch Abrahamsen
Thesis: Characterization of bovine IL-8 expression in alveoloar macrophages
Subsequent Position: Scientist 11, Schering-Plough Animal Health Corporation

1997

Susan L. Giovengo, PhD
Advisor: Alice Larson
Thesis: Kainic Acid-Induced Hyperalgesia in the Mouse
Subsequent Position: Research Scientist, The Proctor and Gamble Company, Mason, Ohio
Current Position: Manager, Professional Relations, P & G Pet Care, Proctor and Gamble Company