Biology at JMU - Alumni news

Our alumni may be the biggest untapped resource for the Biology Department. Would you like to become more involved? Do you generate opportunities for students to serve as interns or potential employees? Would you like to come speak to current students about your work and/or experiences? Do you have any equipment that you could donate to the Department? Are you interested in recruitment of students from your area to attend JMU? If the answer to any of these question is "Yes", we would like to hear from you. Please describe how you would like to be involved in the space on the Alumni News Submission Form and we will contact you. We also need you to support the Department with monetary contributions. Thank you!

Names in red have been posted since January 1, 2008

1970s

Robert Dulay ('75), lives in the Philippines. He is a former governor of the province of La Union, a deputy director of the Philippine Carabao Center (Carabao is a species of water buffalo of the Philippines), regional director of the Department of Agrarian Reform, and is now the Philippine director of Asiapura Mining Corporation of Singapore. (posted 10/16/05)

Henri Weems (M.S. '72), hweems07@gmail.com, retired after more than 30 years of federal service in medical research. "During completion of masters degree at JMU, I worked as a clinical chemist at the Alexandria Health Dept. In addition to clinical assays, was responsible for setting up electrophoresis and drug testing methods. Relocated in 1972 to G.W. Univ. Med. School, Dept. of Medicine, Hematology Research Lab. to study the pathophysiology of sickle cell anemia using EM, light microscopic, and chemical methods. In 1978 accepted a position in the Pharmacology Dept, of DODs newly formed medical school, Uniformed Services Univ. of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, MD. During the next 15 years investigated metabolism studies in the activation of chemical carcinogens by liver microsomal enzyme systems. This involved utilization of HPLC, GC-MS, and spectroscopic methods to elucidate metabolic pathways. In 1992 I shifted focus to molecular biology of drug opiate receptors and their interactions. These types of studies utilize radioisotope binding assays, PAGE and agarose gels, Western blotting, tissue culture, antibody techniques, PCR, and expression of fusion proteins in E. coli. Over the years this research has resulted in over 50 publications. Now looking for the next great adventure. (posted 1/08)

Louise Wilkins-Haug ('76) is the Division Director for Maternal Fetal Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital at Harvard, MA. She received a Ph.D. from the Medical College of VA in genetics, an M.D. from Stanford, an OB/Gyn residency in Colorado, and a MFM fellowship in Boston, MA. She is also the director for the Fetal Medicine Center. (posted 11/18/05)

1980s

Mary Cleary ('87), mmcleary@scripps.edu, is a Research Assistant III at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA. "I graduated and became a (Board of Registry) Medical Technologist and worked at U Va hospital for a couple of year in the Immunology Dept. Then I got the urge to move to California. I began working in San Diego clinically (after getting a CA license), but began being interested in working the less structured research environment. San Diego is full of terrific Institutions and BioTech companies. I worked in both industry and academia in a variety of capacities. I prefer academia and I have been at TSRI for 9 years mostly working on autoimmunity especially relating to juvenille diabetes." (posted 9/26/07)

Mark Dertzbaugh ('82), mark.dertzbaugh@us.army.mil, is the Chief of Business Plans and Programs at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). He is responsible for planning and management of the institutes $85 million research program including strategic planning, program and portfolio management, business development, and technology transfer. Mark serves as the institute champion of organizational transformation and as the Secretary of the USAMRIID Portfolio Management and Information Technology Governance Committees. Before taking his current position Mark worked in various capacities for USAMRIID on projects to develop vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics for biological threat agents including plague and anthrax. (posted 9/15/06)

Gary Harton ('87) is currently the Laboratory Director of the Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)/ Endocrinology Laboratories at Genetics & IVF Institute (GIVF) in Fairfax, VA. Gary is also the Director of Administration for the Infertility practice at GIVF. "The PGD laboratory performs genetic testing on early human embryos prior to implantation for inherited genetic and chromosomal diseases and the Endocrinology laboratory aids our Infertility practice by measuring various hormone levels during in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. As Director of Administration for the Infertility practice, I am responsible for the day-to-day management of care for our patients preparing for or currently undergoing infertility treatment using Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) like IVF." (posted 11/4/05)

David Larson ('85), LighthouseLars@hotmail.com, is a dentist in Harrisburg, PA. David attended Dental school at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, MD, and graduated with honors in 1989. After serving in the US Navy for a little over 6 years he hired as an associate for 1 year and opened up a practice in May 1996. "My office is just outside of Hershey, PA and I live in Harrisburg. We have 3 children who seem to keep up continually busy."
(posted 10/25/05)

William Turner II ('80), turner51@verizon.net, is a dentist in Craddockville, VA. (posted 10/21/05)

Jim Voeller ('82), jvoeller@cox.net. "I am a patent attorney in Fairfax, Virginia. After graduating JMU, I obtained a MS degree in Molecular Biology from the Univ. of Maryland. I then worked as a microbiologist at the National Institute of Health, and as a research associate at the Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown University. Next, I decided to pursue a law career and obtained a JD from George Mason Law School. I currently handle all types of Intellectual Property matters, but concentrate primarily in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device patent law, and drug regulatory affairs. Although I still miss my pipettes, I love working on cutting edge technology with brilliant inventors." (posted 10/25/07)

1990 - 1995

Alison Buchan ('94), abuchan@utk.edu, is an Assistant Professor at University of Tennessee. "After graduating I went to the University of Georgia's Department of Microbiology where I received a M.S. degree with Dr. Robert Hodson. I then continued my studies at UGA, but in a different department-Marine Sciences. I received my Ph.D. in 2001 under the advisement of Dr. Mary Ann Moran. In 2003, I moved to the laboratory of Dr. L. Nicholas Ornston at Yale University as an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow in Microbial Biology. In February 2005, I became a faculty member in the Department of Microbiology at UT and am currently in the process of setting up my own lab." (posted 10/5/05)

Tom Buckley ('94), tom_buckley@alumni.jmu.edu, is a Research Assistant Professor at Utah State University. Tom received a Ph.D. from Utah State University then did postdocs at Australian National University and Utah State. "I've been doing research in functional plant ecology, with a heavily theoretical and mathematical perspective. My Ph.D. focused on stomatal water relations. Since then I've worked on scaling gas exchange models and measurements between scales where mechanisms are well-described (e.g., chloroplast to leaf) to larger scales useful for predicting vegetation response to climate change (stand, community, landscape level). I have also been modeling tree function and growth on the basis of optimality theory." (posted 10/12/05)

Aimee Escueta ('93), aescueta@aol.com, is an attorney with the firm Higgs, Fletcher & Mack in San Diego, CA. "After graduating JMU, I moved out to San Diego and worked a bit in a few labs. I completed a Masters in Public Health, Health Services Administration in 1998. That same year, I moved to Chapel Hill, NC to work on my Ph.D. in Health Policy and Administration. I ended up completing my course work and comps and taking a long break before working on my dissertation in order to go to law school. I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law in 2003. I
practiced law for a few years in Denver, CO, then moved to San Diego in the fall of 2006. I currently practice in all areas of health law, but mainly medical malpractice defense litigation. I'm also trying to (finally) work on my dissertation in the hopes of finally completing my Ph.D." (posted 12/12/06)

Jim Irre ('90), jeirre@adelphia.net. "After graduation I began work with McCarthy & Associates in Upper Marlboro, MD. I have been employed as a Wetlands Biologist identifying wetlands subject to regulation under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. In 1991 I received certification by Maryland as a qualified professional in the field of forest assessment. In 1998 I opened an office for McCarthy in Virginia and currently supervise that operation. I have received certification, from the Society of Wetland Scientists as a Professional Wetland Scientist, and from Virginia as a Professional Wetland Delineator. My wife, of 19 years, and I have two children. The oldest will be ready to be a Duke in '08 and the youngest in '10." (posted 10/17/05)

Allison (Schweisguth) Johnson ('94), aajohnson@vcu.edu, is the assistant director of the Center for the Study of Biology Complexity, and coordinator of an HHMI program in systems biology at VCU. "I got a MS in Plant Physiology at Texas A&M University with Mary Rumpho, and a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Texas with Ken Johnson. I did a postdoc with Yves Pommier at the NCI researching HIV-1 integrase - drug design, enzymology, pharmacology. My husband is Ethan Johnson, who also graduated JMU in 1994. We have two daughters and we moved to Richmond in 2006." (posted 9/27/07)

Andrew Logan ('94), andylogan25@msn.com, received a PhD in environmental engineering in 2002. He then worked and lived in Norway as an NSF postdoc for 2.5 years. Andy recently accepted a position at an environmental engineering firm in Denver, Colorado. (posted 10/26/05)

Kimberly (Gourley) Poole (BS '94, MS '99), is putting her biology degrees to new uses. "After completing my BS degree I worked as a veterinary technician for several years before returning to the JMU for a Master's degree in biology. I then taught as an instructor for both the Biology Department and for CISAT. I'm home now, with two daughters, whom I plan to home school. I have taken up both gardening and beekeeping during my unemployment, however, so perhaps I can claim to be an "applied" biologist!" (posted 3/5/07)

Kim-Sue Tudor ('90), kimsuetudor@yahoo.com, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota. After completing her degree in Biology & Medical Technology, Kim-Sue completed her medical technology certification at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, then earned a Ph.D. in Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine at the University of Cincinnati. She completed two post-doctoral fellowships in Oklahoma City, OK and Seattle, WA, then joined the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the University of Minnesota--Twin Cities campus. She teaches undergraduates in transfusion medicine and clinical immunology and conducts research on the development of blood cells using mouse models of hematopoiesis. (posted 10/3/05)

1996 - 1997

Linda Bruett ('96), lbruett@comcast.net, works for Novartis in Cambridge, MA. "Following JMU I received my Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Cellular & Molecular Biology from Johns Hopkins University in 2001. I then moved to the Boston area for a job at a small biotechnology company. Most recently I am employed at Novartis in Cambridge, MA where I am a research project manager in the Developmental & Molecular Pathways department." Linda adds, "Novartis
offers an excellent summer internship program, and I would love to help the JMU biology students have an opportunity to take advantage of this opportunity." (posted 11/7/05)

Laura Davis ('97), 143ldavis@cox.net, works as a Day Treatment Clinician for the city of Virginia Beach. "I went to graduate school for Psychology and I am currently holding a job in that field, however, I am using my entomology concentration in working with honey bees. I am a hobbyist beekeeper. It's very fascinating and rewarding!" (posted 10/16/05)

Joy Ferrante ('97), joyferrante@yahoo.com, works for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in west Africa.
"I have been an environmental educator and outreach instructor for various different organizations since JMU, taking me to many states across the US, Costa Rica, and now to the Republic of Congo, Central Africa. WCS works with local people and logging companies in rural Northern Congo to encourage the protection of its rainforest and unique wildlife, such as gorillas, chimpanzees, and elephants. The education team teaches in schools, at adult meetings, and with pygmy groups, semi-nomads that have lived with the forest for years and years." (posted 3/30/06)

Sarah (Billups) Goldstein ('96), sarahbillups@yahoo.com, earned a M.S. in Environmental Studies from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1998 and began working as an environmental scientist for SAIC (in McLean, VA). "I specialize in climate change/global warming issues--specifically, carbon sequestration and forestry related topics. However, I am currently working limited hours as I had a baby last year--a daughter named Catherine Sophia. I married fellow JMU alum Dave Goldstein in 2001." (posted 10/18/05)

Chris Gough ('97), gough.21@osu.edu, received a Ph.D. in forest science from Virginia Tech in 2003. "I am currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Ohio State University studying carbon cycling in forests of the upper Great Lakes region. My research is conducted at the University of Michigan Biological Station, where I spend summers collecting data and mentoring undergraduate researchers. I am married to another JMU biology alumnus, Meghan Zimmerman ('97)." (posted 11/3/05)

Kendell (Jenkins) Ryan ('97), kendelljryan@gmail.com. "I received a Master's in Biology from the College of William & Mary in 2001, with a focus on Ornithology. Currently, I work for the Va. Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries in the Wildlife Diversity Division. As a GIS specialist I map habitat for imperiled species, work with internet mapping services and customize mobile applications for wildlife disease surveillance." (posted 10/25/07)

Megan McCoy ('97), mccoy_megan@hotmail.com, is a genetic councilor in Southern California. "After graduating from JMU I worked a year as a lab tech at the Genetics and IVF Institute in Fairfax, VA. Then I attended Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY and obtained my MS in Human Genetics, specifically in their Genetic Counseling training program. I graduated in 2000 and then moved to LA where I began working as a genetic counselor for Alfigen/The Genetics Institute. After 3 years, we were bought by Genzyme Genetics and I continue to work for that company as a genetic counselor." (posted 11/3/05)

Joseph Mettenburg ('97), jmmetty@gmail.com, joined the Medical Scientist Training Program at UVA and received my Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and will receive my MD in May 2006. "My research focused on the interactions of beta-amyloid peptide with alpha-2-macroglobulin in the context of Alzheimer Disease. I will be moving to St. Louis for a radiology research residency at Washington University." (posted 4/24/06)

Daniel Weiss ('96) completed an M.S. and an M.D. from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in 2004 and is currently completing an emergency medicine residency at Drexel College on Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. (posted 8/10/05)

1998 - 1999

Jason Caldwell ('99), jason-caldwell@uiowa.edu, received a Ph.D. in December 2006 from the University of Iowa for his thesis entitled "Characterization of Chordotonal Dysfunction in Drosophila melanogaster". "I will be leaving the lab of Dr. Daniel Eberl in the University of Iowa Department of Biological Sciences and starting my post-doctoral research at Duke University in the Department of Anesthesiology in the lab of Dr. Dan Tracey. I will be studying the molecular mechanism of pain sensation in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster." (posted 5/4/07)

Kerry (Owens) Cresawn ('98), cresawnk@dom.pitt.edu, received her PhD in 2004 from the University of Florida in Molecular Genetics studying gene replacement therapies for the treatment of lysosomal storage diseases. "I am currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pittsburgh studying protein trafficking in polarized epithelial cells. I am married to JMU biology graduate Steve Cresawn ('96) and we have two daughters, Abbie and Lily." (posted 6/12/06)

Preston Garcia ('99), preston.garcia@uconn.edu, worked for two years in the Biology Department at The College of William and Mary as a Senior Laboratory Specialist where he did research in six different labs. Preston is now a Ph.D. student in the Molecular and Cell Biology Department at the University of Connecticut where he works with Sinorhizobium meliloti studying the genes involved in catabolite repression. (posted 9/30/05)

Christian Loch ('98), cloch@fhcrc.org, received a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and is currently working on biomarker discovery at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA, as an ACS post-doctoral fellow. (posted 10/4/05)

Shawn Motyka ('98), smotyka@jhmi.edu, is currently a post-doc at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. "After graduating from JMU I spent a year in a pre-doctoral research program at the NIH. I then moved on to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine where I recently received a PhD from the Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology program. I am now beginning the task of finding employment in the biotech industry." (posted 1/4/06)

Anne-Marie (Hanson) Thonning Skou ('98), magnolias7@yahoo.com, is a Research Assistant at The Royal
Veterinary and Agricultural University in Copenhagen, Denmark. She earned an M.Sc. in Horticulture from VA Tech. and plans to continue her graduate studies in Denmark on the distribution of Ilex aquifolium. (posted 10/14/05)

2000-2002

Amanda Anderson ('00), amanda.anderson.678@gmail.com, is a Naturopathic physician and home-birth midwife. After graduating from the National College of Natural Medicine, a 4-yr accredited naturopathic medical school, she is opening a family practice in Portland, OR. (posted 3/9/07)

Suzanne Aivano ('02) saivano@harrisonburg.k12.vav.us, teaches chemistry at Harrisonburg High School. "Since graduating from JMU, I have been teaching science at the secondary level. In my first year, I taught biology at Goochland County High School. I was excited to return back to Harrisonburg upon receiving a job offer at the city high school. Currently I teach chemistry to mostly 11th grade students at the new high school." (posted 10/21/05)

Allison Bowden ('02), aabowden@vt.edu, graduated from veterinary school at Virginia Tech, and recently joined Old Dominion Animal Hospital in Charlottesville, VA. "I will be concentrating on small animal internal medicine and surgery." (posted 4/29/07)

Kelly (Poliquin) Doroshenk (BS '00), poliquin@wsu.edu, received a P.D. in Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics from the University of Maryland in May of 2006. "I currently am a postdoc in Dr. Tom Okita's lab at Washington State University working on rice storage protein transport and localization. I am married to another JMU
alumni, John Doroshenk ('00). (posted 1/24/07)

Mary Lolis Garcia-Cazarin (M.S. '00), garciacazari@uthscsa.edu. "After receiving my M.S. from the Department of Biology at JMU, I continued my graduate studies at the University of Kentucky Department of Pharmacology where I obtained my Ph.D. in May 2006. I am currently a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Cellular and Structural Biology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. I am doing research in the fields of diabetes and obesity in the laboratory of Dr. Lily Q. Dong." (posted 10/20/06)

Karin Hamilton ('02), katkarn101@hotmail.com, is in her 4th year of veterinary school at Tufts University. "Upon graduation in May 2006, I'll finally be a vet as well as a captain in the Army (via a scholarship for vet school). I have done a few research projects on internal parasites and tuberculosis in elephants in Nepal and Zimbabwe." (posted 12/04/05)

Brian Henry ('02), henrybl@vcu.edu, is currently enrolled in the MD/PhD program at VCU. "My research is in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and is focused on the design and characterization of novel anticoagulants." (posted 10/28/05)

Joseph Hughes ('00), hughesja@vcu.edu, is a medical student at the Medical College of Virginia graduating in May 2006. He plans to enter a radiology residency following graduation. (posted 10/26/05)

Justin McDonough ('00) is a PhD student in the Microbiology and Immunology Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "My work focuses on studying the mechanisms of protein export and the identification of exported virulence factors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. I hope to finish sometime next year." (posted 10/31/05)

Matthew Merrill ('02), merrill@engr.psu.edu, is a Postdoc in Civil & Environmental Engineering at Penn State University "After majoring in Biology and acquiring biochemistry and chemistry minors at JMU, I moved on to Florida State University's Dept. of Chem. & Biochem. I began a collaborative project with the Mechanical Engineering Dept. developing water electrolysis catalysts. I used biology to design new catalysts which can convert water to hydrogen fuel and oxygen with > 99 % ideal efficiency and developed a method to use electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to measure the potential energy surface of electron transfer barriers. This work was supported by the Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center. After obtaining a Ph.D., I am presently studying how protonated electrolytes preferentially donate protons over hydronium ions to hydrogen evolution and oxygen reduction reactions. (posted 3/5/08)

Georgina Owusu-Asiedu ('02), ginaoa@gmail.com, worked at the NIH/NCI for a year and then started medical school at VCU in the fall of 2003. "I will start residency in Pediatrics at UNC-Chapel Hill this summer and hopefully will do a fellowship in Pediatric Emergency." (posted 4/30/07)

Elizabeth (Karle) Pierce ('02), emp34@case.edu, has taken a postdoctoral position with the new director of bone marrow transplantation here at Case Western Reserve. "I will be studying Idiopathic Pneumonia Syndrome, a side effect of bone marrow transplant." (posted 7/19/07)

Tatiana Robinson ('02) is at Colorado State University where she is working on a M.S. in epidemiology. (posted 9/6/06)

Andrew Rula ('01), arula@lca.com, received a Doctor of Optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN in 2006. "I am currently working for an eye surgery center in Chesapeake, VA doing preoperative and postoperative eyecare. I am living in Virginia Beach." (posted 10/30/07)

Jennifer Tripp ('02), jat9s@virginia.edu, is currently a 4th year medical student at UVA SOM. "This fall I will be applying to residency programs in General Surgery. Since graduating from JMU in 2002, I have been involved in Cardiovascular, Infectious Disease, Neonatology, and Cardiothoracic Surgery research projects. I had the opportunity to present orally at the IDSA 2006 conference in Toronto and won the Edward H. Kass award for my project 'Septic Shock Survival Enhanced Through Therapeutic Use of Anthrax Lethal Toxin.' " (posted 4/27/07)

Travis Wheeling ('02), traviswheeling@bellsouth.net, received a Masters of Public Health from Emory University and is now working as an Infectious Disease Epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. (posted 9/29/05)

2003

Sean Barron ('03), sbarron@med.unc.edu, is a second year doctoral student at UNC-Chapel Hill. "I came in through the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences program and recently joined the Neurobiology Curriculum in the lab of Dr. Robert Rosenberg. A short synopsis of my research interests can be found at: http://www.med.unc.edu/neurobiology/students.htm. Jut click on my name." (posted 10/6/06)

Robert Griffith ('03), rgriffith@mdpd.com, earned a Master of Science degree in Forensic Science from Florida International University in Miami, FL, and then conducted research in an analytical chemistry laboratory at Florida International University through the International Forensic Research Institute. He presented his research at numerous conferences both in the United States and abroad and is now employed by the Miami-Dade Police Department as a Criminalist in the Forensic Biology section of the Crime Laboratory Bureau. (posted 10/28/05)

Sabrina Harshbarger ('03), harshbsk2004@yahoo.com. "After graduating from JMU (go Duuukes!!!), I attended and graduated from the ODU Medical Laboratory Sciences program with a second BS in medical technology. I graduated in December 2006 and just passed my ASCP board certification for med techs. I hope to get into physician's assistant school soon..." (posted 7/19/07)

Jacqueline McCarthy ('03), jacgmac@yahoo.com, works for Estee Lauder and is pursuing a Master's degree. "For almost 1 year I worked in the microbiology lab in the R&D center of Estee Lauder Companies. Now for more than 2 and a half years I have been at Estee working in the Active ingredient and Natural Products lab. I do natural plant extractions and source other natural (and synthetic) biologically active raw materials for our formulations. I have been working full time and going to school part time. I am almost done with my Master's thesis on the topical applications for wound healing. I plan to attend physician assistant school next year. (posted 8/2/06)

Melinda Peters ('03), mdpeters2@gmail.com. "After graduating from JMU, I attended graduate school at North Carolina State University and recieved my Masters in Botany in 2005. I am now working in the herbarium at Harvard University." (posted 11/27/07)

Hsin-I Russell (M.S. '03), hcrussell@gmail.com. "After successfully defending my master's thesis at JMU, I completed law school in Philadelphia and graduated in December of 2004. Then, I went to Bethel, Alaska with my husband, Phillip for 5 months where I worked as an intern at the oldest law firm in town doing legal work for many Native Alaskan clients. I just took the bar exam and am looking for employment as a patent attorney in the DC area." (posted 10/27/05)

Kitrina Wargo ('03), kitrinawargo@gmail.com, graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2007. "I am currently working as an associate veterinarian at Mallard Point Veterinary Clinic & Surgical Center in a southwest suburb of Chicago. Wayne Journell (2002 JMU grad) proposed to me at JMU on New Years 2007. We plan to get married in Northern Virginia in June 2008! (posted 8/13/07)

2004

Jonathan Coulter ('04), jcoulte4@jhmi.edu, is a Sr. lab technician at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. (posted 9/15/05)

Casey Dagnall ('04), dagnallc@mail.nih.gov, is a researcher at the National Institutes of Health. "After graduating from JMU I took a job at the Core Genotyping Facility within the NIH/NCI, doing sequencing and genotyping of single-nucleotide polymorphisms relating to various cancers. I'm also attending George Washington
University, getting my M.S. in Forensic Molecular Biology." (posted 1/5/06)

John (Jack) Horigan ('04), john.horigan@gmail.com, completed an M.A. in Philosophy and Social Policy at The American University (Washington, DC) in May of '06. "I thought I should update my info, it's been a while since I was with NRH. I'm now working for MedStar Research Institute, which is a member of the MedStar Health organization (with 8 hospitals in the DC/Baltimore Area). I manage one of three IRBs within the institute. The institute has several hundred ongoing clinical research projects. I also started teaching as an adjunct instructor at the Nothern Virginia Community College - teaching Biomedical Ethics, primarily to nursing students." (posted 5/5/08)

Dante Ricci ('04 CSD), dantericci@gmail.com, is in a graduate student at Princeton University. "After graduating from JMU in 2004, I took a postbaccalaureate position at the NIH, after which I began a PhD program in Molecular Biology at Princeton University. My current research involves identifying the genetic determinants of cognitive maintenance and learning behavior in C. elegans. I would never have thought twice about a career in science without the help and guidance of JMU Biology faculty and those in affiliated departments, particularly Roshna Wunderlich and Brenda Seal (CSD). Go Dukes!" (posted 1/13/05)

James Sides ('04) will start a M.S. program at Georgetown University in Biohazardous threat agents and emerging infectious diseases. (posted 7/28/05)

Elaine Sunderlin ('04), elaine.sunderlin@jefferson.edu, is in her second year of an M.D. program at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. "I received a clinical preceptor scholarship from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) last summer. I saw patients and conducted clinical research which is to be presented at the ACR's national meeting in November 2006 in Washington, D.C." (posted 3/15/06)

Lindy Thibodeaux ('04), thibodlk@hotmail.com, is currently working towards s master's degree in marine biology at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. "My project involves assessing how bacterial exposure affects the respiratory processes in the Atlantic blue crab during resting conditions and during locomotor activity and recovery." (posted 3/17/06)

Jamie VanDevander ('04) is a sixth grade science teacher at General John Stricker Middle School in Baltimore County, Maryland. "I had no intentions of teaching, having graduated from JMU with a Biology degree in May 2004. In August, 2004, I was offered a full-time teaching position and I am currently pursuing a masters in education at Towson University." (posted 10/17/05)

J. Keith Whalen (M.S. '04), fishbiologist@hotmail.com, is a Forest Fisheries Biologist on the Ozark/St. Francis National Forest in Arkansas. He has administrative responsibility for the aquatics program on the Forest and is working on a plan to guide how the Forest is managed over the next 10 years. Keith also teaches the aquatic/hydrology section of the USDA Forest Service class on "Fire Effects" and helps monitor the effects of the hurricanes in North Carolina in 2004. (posted 9/23/05)

2005

Amir Abyaneh ('05), abyaneag@yahoo.com, was recently accepted into the Optometry program at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry for the fall of 2006. "I have been working at Hydrogeologic Inc. since graduation dealing with government contracted research experiments concerning environmental cleanup." (posted 12/16/05)

Seth Coffman (M.S. '05) accepted a position with the USDA Forest Service in Blacksburg, VA. He will be heading a project studying fish passage issues in the Southeast U.S. (posted 7/28/05)

Ashley (Crawford) Elliott ('05), crawfoae@gmail.com, worked for a year at Cato Research, Inc., a contract R&D company in North Carolina. "My husband and I moved back to Virginia and I am currently working at Thomas Dale High School in Chesterfield County as a high school Biology and Chemistry teacher." (posted 12/17/07)

Christin Donnelly ('05), christindonnelly@hotmail.com, is in Medical School at the University of Maryland. "I was a Biology and Chemistry teacher at Winters Mill High School in Westminster, Maryland for 2 years and now I am a first year medical student." (posted 1/3/08)

Ashley Godwin ('05), aeg9f@virginia.edu, took a year off after graduating and worked for Foxhall Internists in Washington, D.C. as their Bone Density Technician. In August 2006 she started her first year of medical school at UVA. (posted 9/11/06)

Matt Grespin ('05), matthew.grespin@gmail.com, attended the College of William and Mary and earned an MS in biology in 2007. "My thesis work was dealing with nuclear transport of a transcription factor called thyroid hormone receptor. I am currently teaching part-time as an adjunct at Temple University and am going back to school again in the Fall for a Masters of Public Health in Environmental Epidemiology. Go Dukes!" (posted 2/27/08)

Jen Jackson ('05), jacksojl05@hotmail.com, lives in Oregon where she completed an internship monitoring the breeding success of Spotted Owls and Marbled Murreletts in the Coast Range. "Currently I am working in a wonderful vegetarian restaurant, saving money to take classes in permaculture and natural building and plan on coming home for Mountain Justice Summer." (posted 12/28/05)

Melissa Pantalo ('05), pantalmc@evms.edu, is currently enrolled in the PA program at Eastern Virginia Medical School. (posted 1/5/06)

Nick Pullen ('05), pullenna@vcu.edu, is a Ph.D. student at the VCU School of Medicine (MCV) in the Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology. "The laboratory I have chosen for interest in dissertation research deals primarily with Parkinson's Disease models (my interest thanks to Dr. Rife!) and brain tumors, namely GBM. My experience at JMU has afforded me the opportunities of starting my doctoral work at the University medical center in downtown Richmond as well as the nearby Richmond/Southeast Parkinson's Research Education and Clinical Center (PADRECC) at Hunter Holmes McGuire Veteran's Association Medical Center. My primary goal is to one day teach in a nice science department medical, liberal arts college, or something like JMU." (posted 8/30/05)

2006

Jenifer Banning ('06) worked for two years as a research technician in Dr. Reid Harris' lab at JMU. "I will begin my doctoral work at Virginia Tech as a Cunningham Fellow studying amphibian ecology, conservation, and disease ecology. (posted 4/19/08)

Jennifer Brennan ('06), jenchem1@gmail.com, is a graduate student in Avian Sciences at the University of California at Davis. "I am currently isolating and identifying potentially novel estrogenic compounds (novel phytoestrogens) from seed extracts of certain invasive weeds using an estrogen bioassay combined with
analytical chemistry techniques. Estrogenic compounds can influence reproductive success of different organisms as well as affect growth of reproductive carcinoma cells." (posted 12/28/07)

Leah Carpenter ('06), carpenter.ld@gmail.com, is employed as a research assistant with the National Institutes of Health. (posted 10/10/06)

Lisa Delluomo ('06), delluolm@gmail.com, worked after graduation at University of Maryland Medical Center in the pathology lab on a CDC-funded study about rapid HIV tests. "I volunteered in an HIV clinic, enrolling people into my study, and collecting their blood and oral fluid samples. I tested the samples back at the lab, as well as received and tested HIV samples from clinics all over the country. After a year, I enrolled in Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2007, and anticipate graduating in 2011!" (posted 8/13/07)

Lindsey (Dean) Hamilton ('06), lnhamilt@gmail.com, is currently working at NASA headquarters in Washington D.C., as a research assistant. "I am responsible for researching experiments and projects conducted by all NASA centers around the country and rewriting their research so that a lay person can understand the research. I am currently working with a team on a document that will go to Congress and the President that describes NASA's accomplishments for the FY 2006, how the budget was spent and future goals for each of the many parts of NASA." (posted 9/15/06)

Gurpreet Mann ('06), mann.gurpreet@gmail.com, just finished her first year in the Forensic Sciences program at GWU. "My concentration is in Forensic Molecular Biology so I am constantly using my undergraduate background in Biology during my Masters studies. This summer I will be working in D.C. as well as participating in an internship at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory in Rockville, Maryland." (posted 5/29/07)

Sarah Shahmoradian ('06), s.shahmorad@gmail.com, is a Ph.D. student at the Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX) in the Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics. "I am really grateful for the excellent student-focused education I received at JMU and the dedicated professors, especially Dr. Gabriele who cultivated my interest in neurobiology research and patiently gave me room for creativity!" (posted 6/12/06)

Erika Tribett ('06), tribetel@jmu.edu, plans to either attend medical school or volunteer for Americorps. (posted 5/9/06)

Gene Wong ('06), wonggw@sco.edu, is attending Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN. (posted 10/20/06)

2007

Christina Adams ('07), adamscx@gmail.com, works at Quest Diagnostics located in Chantilly, VA. "I work in the cytogenetics department where we are taught to analyze chromosomes. In the first year they train us in a one-of-a-kind program that very few labs offer in the US. We are taught the whole process that goes into the chromosome analysis, including the preparation, tissue culture and slide prep, and of course the analysis. There are ten of us in this program that receive one-on-one training in an intimate setting. We are taught to analyze bloods, amnios, bone marrows, products of conception, etc. Whereas other techs read cases that are only bloods or amnios, we are taught to read everything. Part of the year also includes lab rotations with tissue culture and FISH. This coming year, we will all have the opportunity to take the national exam and become certified with a specialty in cytogenetics. And of course, working in an ever-changing environment keeps you on your toes. I enjoy working with the new technologies and for the directors and a company who are the leaders in cytogenetics." (posted 3/14/08)

Emily Andre ('07), emilyandre@gmail.com, is a Research Technician at the University of Virginia. "I am working in a mass spectrometry lab with four other people, and four different mass spectrometers, and we analyze gel and solution samples from investigators who send us samples and want to know what a certain protein is that they have come across in their research. The lab is part of the UVA health system so a lot of our work comes from researchers within the school, but we also do a fair amount of business for other investigators around the country and for international labs as well." (posted 10/8/07)