Our QCB training program now features 21 current students in training in 17 different QCB trainer laboratories, working toward Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Cell, Molecular, and Cancer Biology.
Kristen Alanis
My research focuses on understanding and mimicking cellular communication through ion channels.
Fun Fact: I have run two half marathons.
Degree Program: Chemistry
Lab: Baker
Undergrad Institution: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Julie Button
My research focuses on studying the role of electrostatic interactions during alphavirus nucleocapsid assembly.
Fun Fact: I played flute for 9 years.
Degree Program: Biochemistry
Lab: Mukhopadhyay
Undergrad Institution: WVU
Emily Erdmann
My research focuses on the role of ADARs (Adenosine Deaminases that Act on RNA) and Adenosine-to-Inosine RNA editing in the germline of C. elegans.
Fun Fact: I love cooking and baking.
Degree Program: Biology
Lab: Hundley
Undergrad Institution: Illinois Wesleyan University
Rachel Fadler
My research focuses on developing effective strategies to create functional molecules and materials based on phosphate recognition.
Fun Fact: I play the flute in the Southern Indiana Wind Ensemble.
Degree Program: Chemistry
Lab: Flood
Undergrad Institution: Kalamazoo College
Abigail Garrett
My research focuses on the intersection of metabolism and cell wall synthesis in Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Fun Fact: I have climbed Mt. Fuji and have danced for 20+ years.
Degree Program: Microbiology
Lab: Winkler
Undergrad Institution: Bucknell University
Jessie Gudorf
My research focuses on the synthesis of a small molecule library to aid in computational modeling for drug design.
Fun Fact: I love dogs.
Degree Program: Chemistry
Lab: VanNieuwenhze
Undergrad Institution: University of Southern Indiana
Kelly Hartsough
My research focuses on polyploid contributions to genome instability.
Fun Fact: I have been running track for 10 years and now do marathons.
Degree Program: Cell, Molecular, and Cancer Biology
Lab: Walczak
Undergrad Institution: Penn State
JB Holmes
My research focuses on simulations of light-matter interactions with bio-inspired, self-assembled nanostructures and ultrafast spectroscopy.
Fun Fact: Before attending grad school, I worked as a choreographer/instructor at a competitive dance studio in Houston, TX (Masters the Upper Level) and set pieces for many professional dance companies/teams around the nation.
Degree Program: Physics (Biophysics track)
Lab: Dragnea
Undergraduate Institution: Houston Baptist University
Matthew Jordan
My research focuses on investigating metallochaperones in s. aureus.
Fun Fact: I am a nephew of both Michael Jordan and J. Cole.
Degree Program: Biochemistry
Lab: Giedroc
Undergrad Institution: Manchester University
Mallory Kern
My research focuses on automated solution phase synthesis.
Fun Fact: I'm a proud cat mom.
Degree Program: Chemistry
Lab: Pohl
Undergrad Institution: Lycoming College
Ria Kidner
My research focuses on cell signaling mechanisms in the unicellular protozoan Capsaspora owczarzaki and its link to the parasitic disease schistosomiasis.
Fun Fact: I love rock hounding and lapidary.
Degree Program: Chemistry
Lab: Gerdt
Undergrad Institution: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Lily Klapper
My research focuses on the synthesis of biologically relevant molecules.
Fun Fact: I've played ice hockey since I was 4 years old.
Degree Program: Chemistry
Lab: VanNieuwenhze
Undergrad Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Brigham Pope
My research focuses on creating optical traps inside microfluidic devices and using them for bio-particle trapping, sorting, and directing. We hypothesize that we can create these optical traps using extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) through subwavelength apertures in a metal film.
Fun Fact: I love to cook for my wife and daughter. It's like chemistry I can eat. I grew up watching cooking shows that focus on the science behind food and cooking. So if this Ph.D. doesn't work out, look for me on Iron Chef.
Degree Program: Chemistry
Lab: Jacobson
Undergrad Institution: Brigham Young University
Stephen Ratvasky
My research focuses on the development of anticancer metallodrugs capable of spatiotemporally controlled therapeutic radical generation. Piggybacking triggerable ligand-based radical generation with metal-based antitumor reactivity has the potential to give metallodrugs with higher potency that can be administered at lower doses than those currently used in the clinic."
Fun Fact: I have three pet rats, two of which are named after a pair of Nobel prize-winning organic chemists famous for exploring cycloaddition reactions. Can you guess who?
Degree Program: Inorganic Chemistry
Lab: Zaleski
Undergraduate Institution: Duquesne University
Francis Roushar
My research focuses on understading the molecular basis for membrane protein misfolding diseases.
Fun Fact: As an undergrad I worked for 2 competing coffee shops.
Degree Program: Chemical Biology
Lab: Schlebach
Undergrad Institution: University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Liam Scott
My research focuses on protein superstructure design and analysis, with focuses in physical virology and biophotonics.
Fun Fact: I have a pet gecko.
Degree Program: Biochemistry
Lab: Dragnea
Undergrad Institution: Montana State University
Ekaterina Selivanovitch
My research focuses on the development of nanotechnology using virus-like particles.
Fun Fact: I do not like ice cream.
Degree Program: Chemistry
Lab: Douglas
Undergrad Institution: St. Francis College, St. John's University
Brady Strittmatter
My research focus is the role of oncogene ERG in prostate cancer
Fun Fact: I am a member of the Biology/Biochemistry intramural basketball team - The BioBallers
Degree Program: Biochemistry
Lab: Hollenhorst Laboratory
Undergrad Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Brenna Walsh
My research focuses on understanding sulfide homeostasis and regulation in human pathogen enterococcus faecalis
Fun Fact: I was a dancer for 15 years.
Degree Program: Chemical Biology
Lab: Giedroc
Undergrad Institution: James Madison University
Yasmine Zubi
My research focuses on engineering and characterizing artificial metalloenzymes.
Fun Fact: I've played French Horn for over 10 years.
Degree Program: Chemistry
Lab: Lewis
Undergrad Institution: University of Virginia