Current Students
BIOLOGY
ERIN FLETCHER, Microbiology
Erin joined the MBRS program in June 2011. She is a microbiology major with a minor in public health, and currently conducts research in the laboratory of Dr. Kelly Doran. The Doran lab focuses on the penetration of the blood-brain barrier by bacterial pathogens, the function of surface-expressed bacterial pili in disease pathogenesis, and the identification of the bacterial factors of Group B Streptococcus that promote bacterial adherence, invasion, and inflammatory activation in the human vaginal tract. Erin's project focuses on creating genetic mutants of Group B Streptococcus in order to identify the roles different genes play in human infection. Erin's goal is to obtain a PhD in Translational Medicine and conduct research exploring the progression of human disease at an academic institution. She will graduate May 2013 with her B.S. in Microbiology.
STEVEN ESQUIVEL, Microbiology
Steven joined the MBRS program in March 2011. He started doing actual research by participating in the UBM group in September 2010. Steven is biology major with emphasis in microbiology and currently conducts research in the laboratory of Dr. Anca Segall. The Segall lab focuses on the mechanism of site specific recombination (SSR), the identification and characterization of DNA repair inhibitors, and the diversity and lifestyle of bacteriophages. Steven’s project focuses on investigating SSR by implementing a mathematical based system of ordinary differential equations. He recently presented a poster at the SDSU Student Research Symposium (SRS) and Southern California-Nevada MAA meeting and is working with Mathematician Dr. Peter Salamon under Undergraduate Biomathematics Emphasis - Group (UBM). Steven’s goal is to obtain a PhD and become an independent scientist with opportunities to present future work at international meetings and explore exciting applications in life sciences.
GENARO HERNANDEZ, Cell & Molecular Biology
Genaro Hernandez joined MBRS in the Fall of 2010. He first started his research work by participating in the SDSU Bridges to the Future Program. He is a cell and molecular biology major and an honors interdisciplinary studies minor. He conducts research in Dr. Roberta Gottlieb’s lab at the Bioscience Center working under Dr. Allen Andres‘ guidance. Here he conducts studies in biochemistry and cell biology in order to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying heart disease, autophagy, and cardioprotection. Genaro’s efforts have resulted in 3 presentations and co-authorship of a manuscript currently in review, Preconditioning Involves Selective Mitophagy Mediated by Parki and p62/SQSTM1. His current research project on the cardioprotective effects of statins, cholesterol lowering drugs, in the heart. Genaro’s goal is to obtain an MD/PhD in biomedical sciences, conduct translational research, and mentor students in the future.
NICOLE HOFFNER, Cell & Molecular Biology
Nicole joined the MBRS program in the summer of 2011 as a cellular and molecular biology major. She began her research training as an assistant in Dr. Roberta Gottlieb’s laboratory where she studied autophagy, a process of cellular degradation and recycling, in a cardiac model. She currently conducts research in Dr. Ralph Feuer’s laboratory, which focuses on coxsackievirus infection in the central nervous system (CNS). Nicole will be inspecting the ability of prior viral infection to alter the course of disease in a model of multiple sclerosis. Nicole is expected to graduate May 2013, and her ultimate goal is to conduct research and teach at a university, where she can be an active role model and enthusiastic mentor for students interested in science.
ALYSSA JIMENEZ, B.S., Microbiology,
1st Year Ph.D. Student
Alyssa Jimenez is a Microbiology major and former Bridges to the Future student who transferred from Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges. She spent the summer of 2009 conducting research at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and began her MBRS research fall of 2009. Alyssa conducts research in the bacterial pathogenesis lab of Dr. Kelly Doran. Her current project focuses on researching the asymptomatic colonization of the female reproductive tract with Group B Streptococcus (GBS). Alyssa presented at the SDSU Student Research Symposium (SRS) and was awarded the Provost Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research, spring 2010. She will also present her research, “Colonization of the Female Reproductive Tract by Group B Streptococcu, at the 2010 SACNAS conference in Anaheim, CA. Alyssa earned her B.S. in Microbiology. She was accepted at the following Ph.D. programs: U of Michigan, Washington University, St. Louis, UT Southwestern, U of Washington, Johns Hopkins. Alyssa will start her Ph.D. at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas fall 2011 in Microbiology.
CHEYNE KUROKAWA, Cell and Molecular Biology
Cheyne Kurokawa joined the MBRS program in August 2011. Cheyne is a senior, applying to Ph.D. programs in biomedical science Fall 2011. He conducts research in the laboratory of Dr. Sandy Bernstein in the Department of Biology. The Bernstein lab investigates the Molecular Genetic Analysis of Muscle Gene and Protein Function During Drosophila Development and uses the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, to explore gene expression and protein function in muscle cells. Defects in contractile proteins cause human cardiac and skeletal muscle disease. Therefore, it is useful to pursue an understanding of contractile protein function in an organism that is readily manipulated by genetic and transgenic means. Our integrative approach allows us to study muscle from the molecular level (using biochemical and biophysical assays), through the cellular level (using microscopy and fiber mechanical assays) to the level of whole organism muscle function. Cheyne co-presented the "Exploration of Expanded PolyQ-mediated Cardiac Skeletal Muscle Defects in the Drosophila Model" at the 2011 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students in St. Louis, Missouri with SDSU MARC scholar, Raul Ramos. The poster was recognized for Outstanding Undergraduate Research in the Physiology category.
JENNIFER KELIHER-VENEGAS
, Senior, Marine Biology
Jennifer has been an MBRS scholar since the fall of 2009. She is a transfer student from Southwestern College and former scholar of the Bridges to the Future and MESA programs. As a marine biology major, Jennifer conducts research in the laboratory of Dr. Nicholas Kellar at NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center. Her current research in molecular ecology is to determine the relationship of glucocorticoids with the reproductive success and population recovery of Arctic bowhead whales. During the summer of 2010, Jennifer conducted research in the Gulf of California related to the Vaquita (Phocoena sinus) through the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Program under the supervision of Dr. Sarah Mesnick and faculty from Scripps Institute of Oceanography. Jennifer’s goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in Marine Biology and become an advocate for marine conservation through research, education, and resource management. She is applying to Ph.D. programs Fall 2011.
Jennifer's Keliher-Venegas CV
SONIA MACIEJEWSKI, B.S., Microbiology,
1st Year Ph.D. Student
Sonia joined the MBRS program in May 2008. She is a biology major with an emphasis in Microbiology and is currently doing research on the coxsackie virus in Dr. Ralph Feuer's laboratory. She has also had previous research experience in Dr. Diane Smith's electrochemistry laboratory. Sonia has presented a poster at the 2008 ABRCMS conference and has given one oral presentation on her research in the Smith laboratory. She has also attended several science conferences and is currently in the process of becoming a coauthor on a manuscript. Sonia earned her B.S. in Micrbiology May 2011. She starts her Ph.D. program in Cellular and Molecular Biosciences at UC Irvine fall 2011, as part of their IMSD Program.
JOE OLLAR, B.S., Cell and Molecular Biology,
1st Year Ph.D. Student
Samuel transferred to San Diego State University in the fall of 2008 and started the MBRS program in June 2009. He is a biology major with an emphasis in cell and molecular biology and currently conducts research in the Love laboratory. The Love laboratory’s primary research emphasis is protein design and engineering. Samuel’s most recent research has been focused on identifying protein enzymes as candidates for use in bio-fuel production. Samuel’s academic goals are to complete his BS degree, then obtain a PhD in either virology or immunology and remain in academia as a tenured professor and research scientist. Joe earned his B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology May 2011. He interviewed at Albert Einstein College of Medicine Ph.D. program in Biomedical Sciences and the University of Madison-Wisconsin in Molecular Pathology. Joe will start his Ph.D. at the Univ. of Mad-Wisconsin fall 2011 in Molecular Pathology.
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KAREN SCHUERENBERG, B.S., Cell and Molecular Biology, 2nd Year Ph.D. student
Karen joined the MBRS program
May 2008. Karen conducts research in the laboratory of Dr. Tom Huxford in the Department of Chemistry. The Huxford lab uses knowledge and experience in the area of protein structure and function to determine the chemical mechanisms employed by interesting biological factors. Karen's research resulted in three presentations and she has one manuscript in progress. She finished up her MBRS appointment with her project, "Purification and expression of a viral coat protein for use in micro array cancer screening analysis." Karen earned her B.S. in molecular biology May 2009. She is a 2nd year Ph.D. program in Biochemistry at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).
JOE TORRES, B.S., Cell and Molecular Biology, 1st Year Ph.D. student
Joe started the MBRS program and began working in the lab of Dr. Roland Wolkowicz in June 2008. He majors in cell and molecular biology and will graduate in May 2011. The Wolkowicz lab researches Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). Joe uses retroviral technology to express a random peptide library in the nucleus of T-cells to search for novel antivirals for integrase and other viral proteins. Joe’s goal is to obtain a Ph.D. and continue to conduct research in the biomedical field. Joe was accepted into the following Universities: U of Massachusetts Amherst, Mayo Graduate School, U of Michigan, Joint Doctoral Program -UCSD/San Diego State University, City of Hope (Irell & Manella Graduate School). He will start his Ph.D. at the University of Mass, Amherst in Molecular and Cellular Biology.
ALEXIS ZUKOWSKI, B.S., Cell and Molecular Biology
A former Bridges to the Future participant, Alexis was accepted into the MBRS program in the Fall of 2008 upon transfer from Grossmont College. As a Biology major, emphasizing in Cell and Molecular Biology, she conducted research in the Drosophila laboratory under Dr. Greg Harris. This lab focuses on the role of sphingolipids in human diseases using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. Alexis’ MBRS independent project was “The Analysis of Ethanol Sensitivity, Tolerance, and Metabolism in Drosophila Sphingolipid Mutants”. Her future ambitions involve earning a Molecular Biology PhD, to conduct research regarding vascular anomalies, and learning something new everyday. Alexis studied abroad in Korea after earning her B.S. in Molecular Biology May 2010 and is currently applying to Ph.D. programs fall 2011 for fall 2012 entry.
Alexis Zukowski CV
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BIOENGINEERING
GABRIEL CHAIT, B.S., Bioengineering, Current Fulbright Scholar
Gabriel started the MBRS program September of 2008. He conducted interdisciplinary research analyzing the medicinal plant traditions of Peru. In the Metzger lab at SDSU he focused on the separation and characterization of compounds from known medicinal plants, collaborating with colleagues in Peru. During the summers, Gabriel traveled to Peru to participate in a large-scale effort to characterize Peru’s vast medicinal plant knowledge through ethnographic studies as well as biological assays. The study serves as a baseline of data on over 400 Peruvian medicinal plants and their preparations in order to demonstrate the importance of this knowledge that is in danger of being lost. Gabriel’s goal is to continue ethnobotanical research and obtain a Ph.D. in the Medical Anthopology field. Gabriel Chait earned his B.S. in Bioengineering and was selected for the prestigious Fulbright Scholar Program. He is currently in Northern Peru to continue his Ethnobotanical Profile research involving finding, planting, and conserving endangered species of traditionally used medicinal plants in the northern Andes. He is applying to Ph.D. programs in Medical Anthropology after his Fulbright ends for Fall 2012 entry.
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.” With this goal as a starting point, the Fulbright Program has provided almost 300,000 participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.
BIOCHEMISTRY
MARIA GUTIERREZ, B.S., Biochemistry, 1st Year Ph.D. Student, Immunology
Maria is a former Bridges to the Future student and LS-AMP scholar who transferred to San Diego State University as a Biochemistry major from San Diego City College in the fall of 2008. Maria's first MBRS placement was conducted under Dr. Ricardo Zayas in the Department of Biology. She gained significant training in Planarian Regeneration and learned the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in tissue regeneration, specifically, regeneration of the central nervous system, via a population of adult pluripotent-stem cells. Maria is currently in the laboratory of Dr. Tom Huxford, which focuses on the transcription factor NF-kappaB in Biochemistry. Her current project studies the importance of interfacial metal bridging; specifically, the use of Ca2+ in the recognition of phosphate groups in antibody:antigen complex formation in certain class 1 and class 2 anitbodies. This research plays an important role with patients sufferring from systemic lupus erythematosus and blocking of HIV-1 viral entry into T-cells via CD4 receptors, as these antibodies are highly present in these patients. Maria earned her B.S. in Chemistry/Biochemistry, May 2011. She will start her Ph.D. at the University of Louisville in Immunology fall 2011.
UZOAGU OKOWNKO, B.S.,
2nd year M.D./Ph.D student
Uzoagu A. Okonkwo joined MBRS in May 2008. Currently she is a Biochemistry major and Classics minor. She is conducting research in the Feuer lab at SDSU in viral immunology. Her research focuses on Coxsacckie virus which has been shown to cause diseases of the heart, pancreas and central nervous system. Uzoagu has participated on two projects. Her first project was the “Identification of a Cardiac Pathogen Responsible for in utero Death of a Fetus. Her current project focuses on using iCre CVB3 neurospheres labeled with green florescent protein to track the virus as the stem cells differentiate in vivo. Uzoagu earned her B.S. ini Chemistry/Biochemistry December 2009. She entered the M.D./Ph.D. program at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Medicine, Fall 2010.
CHEMISTRY
BRITTANY BARFIELD, Chemistry
Brittany Barfield joined the MBRS IMSD program August 2011. She is a chemistry major conducting resesarch in the laboratory of Dr. Thomas Cole. The Cole lab explores the development of organometallic chemistry of the transmetallation of organic groups between metals and boron compounds. Two major projects are currently being conducted: the migration of organic groups from organoboranes to metals, giving rise to new organometallic complexes based in part on groups formed using boranes and the transfer of organic groups from metals to boron, yielding new unavailable organoboranes. These projects show exceptional promise in advancing synthetic organic methodology combining the attributes of metals and organoboranes. Brittany presented "Fast Method for the Determination of Regioselectivities via 11B NMR" at the 2011 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students in St. Louis, Missouri. Brittany's poster was recognized for Outstanding Undergraduate Research in Chemistry and she was also invited to present her work at the 50th Anniversary Celebration for MARC/MBRS Programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), October 2012.
JORGE JIMENEZ, Chemistry Senior
Jorge Jimenez started the MBRS program in January 2009. A Chemistry major, and Physics and Math Minor, Jorge conducts research under Dr. Bill Tong. The Tong lab lab involves Analytical Laser Spectroscopy. The research is directed toward the application of novel nonlinear multiphoton laser spectroscopic methods in the development and understanding of new methods in laser analytical spectroscopy. Jorge has presented his research from the Tong lab at SACNAS, ABRCMS, ACS, CSUperb, and the American Biophysical Society. Jorge will conduct research at the University of Chicago, Materials Research Center (MRSEC) and the Dept. of Physics (2011). He is applying to Ph.D. programs in Chemistry fall 2011.
KARINA KANGAS, B.S., Chemistry,
1st Year Ph.D. Student, Chemistry
Karina joined the MBRS program in September 2008. She first began her research work last summer by participating in the LS-AMP program. She is a chemistry major and conducts research in the Cooksy and Smith laboratory. In the Smith laboratory she conducts studies in electrochemistry and in the Cooksy laboratory she performs computational work to better understand the electrochemistry work in the Smith lab. Karina’s contributions have resulted in 4 presentations and she is currently an author of a published paper, Synthesis and Electrochemistry of 2-Ethenyl and 2-Ethanyl Derivatives of 5-Nitroimidazole and Antimicrobial Activity against Giardia lamblia. Her current research project is, Very Strong Redox-Dependant Hydrogen Bonding between a bis-Dimethylaminophenylurea and a Cyclic Diamide. Karina's goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in chemistry. Karina earned her B.S. in Chemistry, May 2011 and was accepted into the Ph.D. programs in Chemistry at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, PIBS - Program in Biomedical Sciences and UCSD. Karina is a 1st year Ph.D. student at UCSD in Chemistry.
ALEXANDRA MENDOZA, Chemistry Senior
Alexandra was accepted into the MBRS program Spring 2011. An undergraduate senior in Dr. David Pullman's laboratory, Alexandra as already presented at the 2011 American Chemical Society (ACS) in Anaheim, CA. Her MBRS project investigates the Influence of Chloride and Fluoride Ions on the Interaction of Amino Acids with Silver Nanoparticles. Due to their optical and antimicrobial properties, silver nanoparticles are being used in an increasing number of commercial and medical applications. Since their effect on the environment and living organisms is only partially known, probing their behavior in various solution conditions is important. The goal of this work is to study the interaction of amino acids with the nanoparticles and examine the effect of salts on this interaction. Initially, we have investigated the kinetics of the aggregation of citrate-capped silver nanoparticles upon the addition of different sodium halides. The principle issue the Pullman lab addresses is whether all sodium halides behave in a similar manner or if there is a specific ion effect. The Pullman lab monitored the aggregation rate using UV-Visible spectroscopy. They also characterized the size distribution of the silver nanoparticles using transmission electron microscopy. To analyze their data, Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey and Overbeek (DLVO) theory is used. Although this theory does not distinguish between the type of halide, they find that the chloride and fluoride ions have very different onsets of aggregation. By comparing DLVO simulations to our measured aggregation rate constants, the Pullman lab finds that the different effects of the two halide ions are likely due to their effect on the nanoparticle surface charge; the chloride ion apparently replaces the citrate initially present on the nanoparticles while the fluoride ion does not. Using this information, they plan to apply our results to the study of the interaction of amino acids with the silver nanoparticles.
Alexandra is applying to Ph.D. programs in Chemistry Fall 2011. She was selected to participate in the highly competitive Graduate Preview programs at MIT, UC Berkeley, and CalTech and will earn her B.S. in Chemistry, May 2012.
ANDREA RODRIGUEZ, B.S, Chemistry,
2nd Year Ph.D. Student
Andrea was accepted to the MBRS program in Fall 2009. She is also a Ronald E. McNair scholar. She majored in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry. Andrea conducted research under Dr. Grotjahn, an organic chemist. She worked on two research projects and her projects resulted in four presentations. Andrea's senior project was “Optimized Nanoparticle Vaccines for Prostate Cancer.” Andrea went directly to a Ph.D. in Medicinal/Organic Chemistry and her future career goal is to become a professor. Andrea started the Chemistry Ph.D. program at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Fall 2010.
OCTAVIO ROMO-FEWELL, B.S., Biochemistry,
1st year Ph.D. student, University
of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Pharmaceutical Science
Octavio Romo-Fewell is an undergraduate senior majoring in chemistry with
an emphasis in biochemistry, and completing a minor in biology with an
emphasis in cell and molecular biology at San Diego State University
(SDSU). Octavio has participated in other SDSU programs such as the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority
Participation (LSAMP), the McNair Scholars, the Minority Access to Research
Careers (MARC) honors program and the UCSD STARS summer research program. Last summer, Octavio completed a summer research program sponsored by
the NSF-LSAMP-REU program at Mahidol University at Bangkok, Thailand. The
research involved in this laboratory was the isolation and
characterization of bioactive compounds from a native plant of Thailand.
Octavio became a scholar of the Minority Biomedical Research Support /
Initiative for Minority Student Development (MBRS/IMSD) honors program in
Fall 2009. His research involves protein design in the laboratory of Dr. John J. Love. Octavio earned his B.S. in Biochemistry May 2011. He was accepted into the following Ph.D. programs: Loyola U Chicago, Washington State U, U of Colorado Denver, Johns Hopkins U (MS), New York Medical College, Albany Medical Center. Octavio will start his Ph.D. in Phamaceutical Sciences at the University of Chapal Hill, North Carolina. After his Ph.D. he plans to teach and conduct resesarch and continue to mentor others to pursue a higher education.
ASHLEY WARREN, Chemistry Senior
Ashley was selected into MBRS June 2009. She is a transfer student from Cuyamaca College and a summer 2008 SDSU Bridges to the Future program participant. She is a Chemistry major with emphasis in Biochemistry and conducts research in the Tong Laboratory at SDSU. Ashley's project involves Early Detection of Diseases Using Ultrasensitive Multi-Photon Laser Methods. Nonlinear multi-photon laser wave-mixing spectroscopy is presented as a highly sensitive absorption-based detection method for a wide range of biomedical applications including early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Laser wave mixing offers inherent advantages over other optical methods including parts-per-quadrillion or zeptomole level detection sensitivity, small probe volumes, small sample requirements, compact portable detector designs, and high spatial resolution that is suitable for analysis of proteins in single cells. Through her research in Professor Tong’s Laser Lab, she learned to build and optimize sophisticated laser and optical systems for the analyses of a wide range of analytes. Currently, she is optimizing a detection method for characteristic biomarkers of AD and HIV that will allow the detection of AD and HIV-related proteins without having to tag the proteins before analysis. Ashley has presented her work at SACNAS, ABRCMS, ACS, and NOBCCce. Summer 2011 Ashley will conduct research at the Integrated Optics for Undergraduates (IOU) Summer Undergraduate Research Program sponsored by the National Science Foundation's CIAN Research Center at the University of Arizona (2011). She will apply to Ph.D. programs in Chemistry fall 2011. Her future plans include to conduct research and contribute to the improvement of underserved peoples emotionally, spiritually and physically with her scientific skill set.
JEAN WERLE, B.S, Chemistry
Jean started the MBRS program in June 2008. She was a transfer student from Cabrillo College. As a chemistry major she conducted research in the Bennett laboratory. The Bennett laboratory works on developing a synthetic route for making quantum dots, to be used as biomedical imaging agents. Jean’s contributions resulted in 3 presentations and she is currently an author on one manuscript in progress. Her MBRS research project was, "The Biomedical Imaging Potential of Colloidal Indium Nitride Quantum Dots." Jean earned her B.S., May 2009 and was accepted into Ph.D. programs in Chemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of California, Santa Cruz.
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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
ROSANNAE CHHOUK
Rosannae started the MBRS/IMSD program in September 2011. Rosannae is a double major in Environmental Science and Sociology. Rosannae is currently matched with Dr. Richard Gersberg in the SDSU Graduate School of Public Health. The Gersberg lab focuses on several research projects which include: 1) Constructed wetlands for wastewater and stormwater treatment, including the removal of emerging contaminants such as pharmaceutical compounds, 2) Restoration and pollutant remediation (including selenium) of the Salton Sea, CA, 3) Pathogens and indicators in water, and human health risk assessment for drinking and/or bathing in contaminated waters, 4) Aquatic toxicity testing and ecological risk assessment for contaminants in water and sediments, including the aquatic toxicity of remnant cigarette butts in the environment and the role of pyrethroid pesticides in stream sediment toxicity, 5) Transboundary water pollution concerns for the U.S. -Mexico border, including the Tijuana River and New River watersheds, 6) Bioremediation of toxic organic compounds in groundwaters and sediments, and 7) Nutrient cycling and the cultural eutrophication of bays, lagoons and estuaries. Rosannae will earn her B.S. in Enironmental Science and B.A. in Sociology, May 2013. She will apply to Ph.D. programs in Environmental Healh Science and Public Health Programs.
MATHEMATICS/STATISTICS
LEMMA GAROMA., B.S., STATISTICS,
2nd Year Ph.D. Student
Lemma transferred from Grossmont College to San Diego State University (SDSU) in the fall, 2007 to major in Statistics. He was accepted into the MBRS program in May, 2008. Lemma conducted research under the supervision of Prof. Chii-Dean Lin at the SDSU Statistical Consulting Center. Prof. Chii-Dean Lin’s research interests are spatial statistics, longitudinal data analysis and statistical modeling in clinical trials. Lemma’s research interest is, “Statistical Analysis of DNA Microarray Data.” Lemma earned his B.S. August 2010 in Statistics. He was accepted into the following Ph.D. programs:
University of Pittsburgh and the University of Texas Health Science Center in Biostatistics. Lemma is a 3rd year Ph.D. student at the Univ. of Texas Health Science Center and is an NIH T32 pre-doctoral training grant recipient. His goal is to obtain a Ph.D in Biostatistics and work as a researcher in academia or national research centers.
PHYSICS
DANIELLE DOUGHTY, B.S., PHYSICS
M.S. Student, Optical Science
Danielle was accepted into the MBRS Program Fall 2010. As the first Physics female undergraduate, Danielle conducted research with Dr. Matt Anderson in the Department of Physics. Danielle's senior thesis project was the experimental creation of the Devils Vortex Lens (DVL). This new kind of vortex lens contains a radial phase distribution that is determined by a fractal. The fractal is characterized by the Cantor Function, otherwise known as the "Devil's Staircase". The effect of using this fractal radially causes the vortex to come to a series of multiple focuses. The number of foci is dependent upon the step of the fractal in use to create the grating. The Anderson lab examines the foci and their locations and comparing it to the theory we have calculated. Through Danielle's research with Dr. Anderson, she learned to use Coherent Optics, which is a scripting program used to create the phase gratings being used on the Spatial Light Modulator (SLM). She also learned how to use GIMP, a Linex program, to allow quantifying the data as the beam is propagating down the optical table; thus, providing an easier comparison not only what the foci look like theoretically and their placement, but also how fast they are coming into a focus and compare it to calculated theory. The Anderson lab looks at the S(3) of the Cantor Function with a wavelength of 800nm and have successfully compared it to theory with some amazing results. Their next step is to look at other wavelengths and higher orders of the fractal. This research is significant because a normal vortex will come down to one single focus and then keep propagating out while the DVL will come down to several foci before and after its main focus. This aspect of the DVL allows for the creation of 3D arrays of vortex traps that can be used for florescence microscopy at multiple depths. Also, because this is a vortex there is the added effect of edge sharpening that occurs as well. Danielle earned her B.S. in Physics May 2011. She is a M.S.student in Optical Science at the University of Arizona, Tucson.
PSYCHOLOGY
ELSA FARIAS, B.A., Psychology,
MPH/MSW student, SDSU
Elsa started the MBRS program in September 2008. She transferred from SDSU Imperial Valley Campus. She was a Psyhcology major and conducted research with Dr. Castaneda. Dr. Castaneda's laboratory conducts studies in marital dissatisfaction and factors related with it, including depression and anxiety. Elsa's contribution resulted in 3 presentations and she is currently working as a coauthor in the development of a manuscript. Elsa is a current Masters student in the SDSU Graduate School of Public Health (MPH) program and is working on a second Masters in Social Work (MSW). Elsa's goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and in the future, conduct research, teach in academia, and work one on one with people suffering from mental disorders.
CHRIS FOWLER., B.A., Psychology,
2nd year Ph.D. student
Chris Fowler entered the MBRS program in 2008. A Psychology major with an emphasis in Clinical Psychology and Statistics, Chris studies the formation of stereotyping and prejudice in groups and the implications for information processing at the Stigma and Emotions (STEM) laboratory with Dr. Melody Sadler. Chris is the founder and director of the SDSU Research Assistant Application Program (RAAP). His current research project is, "The Social Stigma of Schizophrenia from the Layperson Perspective." His contributions have resulted in 9 presentations, and he is an author on 3 manuscripts in progress. Chris earned his B.A., in Psychology, May 2010 and is a first year Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.
Chris Fowler's Curriculum Vitae
MIGUEL MARTIN DEL CAMPO, B.A., Psychology,
M.A. Student, Psychology, SDSU
Miguel began the MBRS program in Spring 2008. He is a psychology major who plans to obtain a Ph. D. in Clinical Psychology. He is currently conducting research in the Lifespan Human Senses Laboratory under Dr. Claire Murphy. The Lifespan Human Senses Laboratory conducts research investigating the effects of Alzheimer’s disease on olfaction abilities. Miguel recently presented his research at the 2009 Student Research Symposium on olfaction thresholds and odor memory and how they are affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Miguel is a 2nd year Masters student in the SDSU Department of Psychology, expected May 2012.
NERI MARTINEZ, B.A., Psychology,
M.A. Student, Psychology, SDSU
Neri started the MBRS program in September 2008. He is also a Ronald E. McNair Baccalaureate scholar, a member of Psi Chi (Psychology Honors Society), SACNAS (Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in the Sciences) and served as the co-chair for M.E.Ch.A de SDSU. Neri is currently working with Drs. Emilio Ulloa and Audrey Hokoda in the Teen Relationship Violence Lab. His contributions have resulted in over 5 presentations and he is currently an author on one manuscript in progress. Neri is a first year Masters student in psychology at SDSU. His goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and to conduct research among underrepresented groups.
OMAR MAXIMO, Psychology
Omar Maximo joined the MBRS program in March 2011. Omar is a psychology major with an interest in cognitive neuroscience and currently works under the supervision of Dr. Axel Müller at the Brain Development Imaging Laboratory (BDIL). The BDIL focuses on how the brain develops, and the functional organizational changes that occur throughout childhood and adolescents, especially when these developments are impaired by developmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The BDIL employs a technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which consists of large magnets to safely take images of the brain while a participant performs a specific task. fMRI is then combined with structural MRI to provide a high-resolution image of the anatomy of the brain. Other methods such as functional connectivity MRI (fcMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) are employed to examine network organization and integrity. Omar’s project involves examining psychophysiological changes (heart rate and respiration) in ASD and typically developing adolescents during resting state and task conditions. Omar’s future goals are to obtain a Ph.D. in psychology, conduct research, and teach in academia. With these goals, he aims to encourage students from disadvantaged and underrepresented populations to pursue a higher education, and be more involved in research. Omar is expected to graduate in May 2013.
ANNA-MICHELLE McSORLEY, Psychology
Anna-Michelle McSorley is currently a member of the Community Outreach Research Team at The Rebecca and John Moores UCSD Cancer Center, as a student volunteer. Working under the direction of Dr. Vanessa Malcarne, she primarily participates in projects investigating health disparities in disadvantaged and underrepresented populations. Anna-Michelle contributes to various partnership projects between San Diego State University and University of California, San Diego, including the Breast Cancer Clinical Trial Education Program funded by the California Breast Cancer Research Program. This program aims to educate Hispanic and African-American women about clinical trials and emphasizes the importance of minority participation. She recently presented a research project entitled “Parental Influence on Health Locus of Control Beliefs in Children” at the Western Psychological Association conference in Los Angeles. This project investigates how parents impact health beliefs in their children. She is applying to Ph.D. programs in Clinical Psychology fall 2011.
ROSEMARY MEZA, Psychology
Rosemary Meza started the MBRS program in July, 2009. She is a psychology major and biology minor. Currently, Rosemary conducted research in the Developmental Laboratory of Language and Cognition with Dr. Judy Reilly. She assisted with two different research projects and presented one of them at the Student Research Symposium which won a Provost Award in 2010. Her current project is with Dr. Pamela Moses investigating the Diffusion Tensor MRI Analysis of Cerebral White Matter Development After Perinatal Brain Injury. A perinatal stroke is a stroke that occurs in the last trimester or first month after birth. The stroke often results in lesions in the brain. In an adult, a stroke often leaves irreversible damage to the structure of the brain as well as a person’s behavior and ability to function. However, the developing brain is highly plastic and has the ability to reorganize itself. Currently, the Moses Lab is utilizing MRI-based Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) to assess the integrity of white matter bundles in individuals who has suffered a perinatal stoke. The purpose of this study is to understand the principles of plasticity after there has been obvious injury. Rosemary has been involved in creating scripts and processing the data, analyzing it in SPSS, and interpreting the results. This project has led to 2 poster presentations at the San Diego State University Student Research Symposium (Provost Award winner 2011) and the California Cognitive Science Conference. Rosemary is currently analyzing additional measures derived from DTI to better understand the state of the underlying white matter following a perinatal stroke. Rosemary plans to obtain a Ph.D. in Developmental Neuropsychology and is applying to Ph.D. programs fall 2011.
HAFSA MOHAMED, B.A., Psychology
Hafsa started the MBRS program in June 2009 as a transfer student from the San Diego Mesa College Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program. As a psychology major, she conducts research in the Intergroup Relations Lab under Dr. Thierry Devos where issues related to social identity, stereotypes, and prejudice are being investigated. Hafsa completed her honors thesis on Implicit Multiculturalism. This research focuses on issues related to social identity, stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination. The Devos lab explores how attitudes and beliefs about self and social groups operate outside of conscious awareness or control. For example, some of our work reveals that ethnic minorities (African, Asian, Latino or Native Americans) are implicitly conceived of as being less American than White/European Americans. Hafsa's project looked at how multiculturalism can help mitigate this robust American = White effect. Hafsa worked with Dr. Devos for the past three years, and during the time, learned a great deal about experimental design, running various analyses and writing research papers. Hafsa's research has earned the following honors: University Honors Program, 2009-2011; Dean’s List, Semester Honors: Fall 2009—Summer 2010 Honors Program, San Diego Mesa College; NIH/NIGMS Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program San Diego Mesa College; Dean’s List (2008—2009), San Diego Mesa College 2008 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) Outstanding Psychology Poster Presentation Award; Academic Achievement in Psychology, Awarded by the Committee of Psychology Teachers as Community Colleges of the APA; University Honors Program Honors Thesis; 2011 Parker Award for the Outstanding Undergraduate Paper, SDSU Department of Psychology. Hafsa will apply to Ph.D. programs in Social Psychology fall 2011 for fall 2012 entry.
DANITA WYNES, B.A., Psychology,
M.A. Student, Psychology, SDSU
Danita joined the MBRS program in June 2009. She is a Psychology major and conducts research at the San Diego site of the Longitudinal Studies in Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN). LONGSCAN is a consortium of prospective research studies focused on the etiology of child maltreatment and its impact on the developmental process. Danita’s contributions have resulted in 2 posters and she is currently an author on one manuscript in progress. Danita’s goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and in the future, conduct research in the development of aggression and teach in academia. She is a current Masters student in the SDSU Department of Psychology under the mentorship of Dr. Emilio Ulloa.
ROBERTO ZAMORA, B.A., Psychology,
1st Year Ph.D. student, Clinical Psychology
Roberto started the MBRS program in June 2008. He earned his B.A. in psychology May 2011 and conducted research in the Life-Span Human Senses laboratory under Dr. Claire Murphy. The Life-Span laboratory conducts studies on the latencies and amplitudes of olfactory event-related potentials in aging and how they may be used as a promising assessment tool for Alzheimer’s disease. Roberto's project contributed to an NIH-funded project on event-related brain potentials (ERP). The aim is to use olfactory ERPs to discriminate persons who do and do not have the Apolipoprotein E4 allele, which is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Having mastered the protocol, Roberto learned electrode cap placement and monitoring of the program that records the event-related potentials during encoding and retrieval of odor memories in a recognition memory task. Running more than 20 participants, his research contributions resulted in the second authorship on a poster at the American Psychological Association Conference in August. In November of 2010, he was first author on a poster presentation on ERPs in older adults at the Society for Neuroscience meeting here in San Diego. Roberto also presented a portion of this work as an oral presentation at the Quantitative Training for Underrepresented Groups at the University of San Diego in August 2010, as well as contributed to a manuscript based on the SFN presentation: Adiposity measures predict olfactory processing speed in older adult carriers of the ApoE e4 allele (under review at Clinical Neurophysiology). Roberto will start his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, fall 2011. His goal is to pursue a faculty position, teach, conduct research and encourage others to pursue a higher education and a career in psychology.
