Bios

Current Students

 

BIOLOGY

REY AYON, Zoology, Wildlife Biology & Animal Behavior
MBRS Mentor:  Rulon W. Clark, Ph.D.

 Rey joined the MBRS program in January 2012 as a biology major with an emphasis in zoology, and currently works in the Laboratory of Animal Behavior and Conservation with Dr. Rulon Clark. The Clark Lab focuses on squamate and small mammal ecology, and Rey’s current area of investigation focuses on levels of activation and sustainment of sympathetic nervous system arousal in California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) in response to in situ presentations of various visual and olfactory stimuli; including live tethered snakes, snake models, and novel, decontextualized objects. Rey’s goal is to obtain his Ph.D. and continue his research in the hopes of augmenting the current understanding of the modular, rattlesnake-ground squirrel predator-prey system, and apply its usage as a model for analyzing the physiological and behavioral consequences of predator recognition and deterrence in natural ecological systems. Aside from wildlife biology, Rey enjoys playing guitar and performing with his band at musical venues throughout San Diego. He will graduate from San Diego State University with his B.S. in Zoology and will begin applying for Ph.D. programs in Fall 2013.

 

 

ERIKA GARCIA, Biology/Zoology
MBRS Mentor:  Marshal Hedin, Ph.D.

Erika joined the MBRS/IMSD program in February 2012 as a Biology with an emphasis in Zoology major. Her research experience began in the summer of 2011 as a Ronald E. McNair scholar in collaboration with postdoctoral student, Axel Schönhofer, Ph.D. in Dr. Marshal Hedin’s lab. The Hedin lab focuses on arachnid evolution, systematics, and conservation with particular emphasis on mygalomorph (e.g. trap-door spiders, tarantulas, and kin) spiders and Harvestmen (Opiliones). Erika’s current research with Harvestmen aims to discover cryptic diversity in the Family Phalangodidae, more specifically within the genus Bishopella. The genus of Bishopella currently includes three described species, but studies indicate that this taxon includes many (at least 11) well-supported, genetically divergent lineages, perhaps representing distinct species. Using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Technology and the Exon-Primed Intron-Crossing (EPIC) research approach, the main goal is to identify molecular markers that can specifically enable to resolve shallow phylogenetic divergence within Bishopella. Erika’s goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in the Zoological sciences, particularly focusing on terrestrial arthropod biology. She aspires to contribute significantly to the scientific field with the intention of spreading awareness of the importance of conserving animal habitats and biological diversity.

 

 

  EFREN REYES, Biology
MBRS Mentor: Kelly Doran, Ph.D.

Efren joined the MBRS program in December 2012. He is a biology major with an honors minor in interdisciplinary studies and conducts research in the laboratory of Dr. Kelly Doran, where the main interest is bacterial pathogens associated with Central Nervous System disease. Specifically, the Doran Lab focuses on the mechanisms by which bacteria penetrate the blood brain barrier to cause meningitis and seeks to identify gene and gene products associated with cellular invasion and characterize host innate immune response to infection.  Efren’s project seeks to examine the effect of Group B streptococcus infection on the expression and distribution of the ZO-1 protein, the primary regulatory protein of tight junction formation in the BBB, as well as identify important bacterial factors responsible for BBB breakdown.  Efren will apply to PhD programs in Fall 2013 and hopes to work at an academic institution, where he will be able to combine his passions for research and mentoring.

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 ALICIA ZAMUDIO, Biology
MBRS Mentor: Ralph Feuer, Ph.D.

Alicia joined the MBRS IMSD program in April 2012. She is fascinated by the human brain and is double-majoring in psychology and biology.  She is currently conducting research in the laboratory of Dr. Ralph Feuer.  This laboratory is interested in looking at the effects that a previous coxsackievirus infection can have on the central nervous system of the host that survives it. Her project is specifically looking at a transgenic mouse model for Alzheimer’s disease to determine if a persistent infection can alter the course of this disease. The purpose of this project is to gain insight on the interaction between enteroviruses and neurodegenerative diseases. Thanks to the help of this program and her mentor, Alicia has been able to present her research at a national conference and on campus on multiple occasions. Since she joined the program, she has been recognized with a scholarship, a research scholar award and a presentation award. Alicia will be applying for Summer research programs this Spring to expand her research experience. In the future, she wants to obtain a Ph.D. in Neuroscience to apply her knowledge in biology and psychology and to further research on neurological diseases from an interdisciplinary perspective. Her ultimate goal is to become a university professor and inspire students to learn about the human brain. Summer 2013 Research: MIT Summer Research Program in Biology and Neuroscience

 

CHEMISTRY

 

JERRELL TISNADO, Biochemistry
MBRS Mentor: Carl Carrano, Ph.D

Jerrell joined the MBRS program in May 2012 as a chemistry major with an emphasis in biochemistry.  His adolescent-age interest in the sciences came from his affinity for the traditional white lab coat—and to this day he thinks it looks pretty cool.  Jerrell developed a deeper appreciation for the sciences over time, particularly during his junior year as an undergraduate intern at Prometheus Labs, a biotechnology company, where Jerrell entered into his first research position.  Here he participated in cancer research focused on further developing proprietary cancer diagnostics instrumentation aimed at identifying various cancer cell phenotypes.  Jerrell’s work at Prometheus earned him a competitive scholarship from the Biotech Employee Development Coalition (BEDC) who recognize and support San Diego County students who have demonstrated academic and workplace excellence.  Currently, Jerrell is continuing to build his research experience at SDSU in a bioinorganic laboratory with Dr. Carl Carrano, Chair of chemistry department.  This project is investigating the effects that an increasingly acidic ocean has upon the iron uptake (and storage and control) by a variety of algal-associated marine bacteria.  Insight regarding this interaction is important given the critical role that iron plays as an essential marine micronutrient at all trophic levels. Jerrell intends to graduate from SDSU with a B.S. in BioChemistry with ACS certification and will begin applying for Ph.D. programs in Fall 2013. Summer 2013 Research: Harvard University

 

 

AARON WARD, Biochemistry
MBRS Mentor: Tom Huxford, Ph.D

Aaron joined the MBRS program in June 2012. He is biochemistry major and is currently doing research in Dr. Huxford’s lab. Dr. Huxford’s research focuses on the NF-kappaB signal transduction pathway, particularly the structure and function of the IkappaB Kinase complex. Aaron is currently investigating cation binding characteristics of a murine antibody. Aaron’s goal is to earn a PhD. in biochemistry. Aaron will graduate in the spring of 2014, and apply to PhD. programs in the fall of 2013.

 

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ENGINEERING

ELIZABETH FORTIN, Mechanical Engineering
MBRS Mentor: Satchi Venkatamaran, Ph.D.

Elizabeth joined the MBRS Program in September 2012. She started working in Dr. Venkataramans’ aerospace structures laboratory in Spring 2012. Over the summer, Elizabeth was funded through the National Science Foundation – Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Summer Team Internship Program and worked with Dr. Venkataraman on functionally graded honeycomb sandwich tapers and how the tapered region reacts to applied stresses. Her current project is integrating single origami-style folds into materials that can be formed into retractable and expandable coronary stents. Elizabeth is currently researching the background of origami and modeling practice specimen. She will graduate in May 2014 with her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and will be applying to Ph.D. programs next fall.

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

ROSANNAE CHHOUK, Environmental Science and Sociology
MBRS Mentor: Richard Gersberg, Ph.D.

Rosannae Chhouk is a Sociology and Environmental Science major and began the MBRS/IMSD program in September 2011. She is currently working in the laboratory of Dr. Richard Gersberg in the Department of Public Health on measuring pyrethroids, particular bifenthrin and permethrin, in collected stream sediment samples. Understanding this pesticide is critical. They are known to be toxic to non-target invertebrates, like zooplankton, that are beneficial to our environment. To separate the pyrethroids from the sediment, ultrasonificaiton and microwave extraction techniques were used. Samples were processed using the liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS). Parameters were manipulated to promote accurate pyrethroid detection. In summer 2012, Rosannae was granted another excellent opportunity to research aquatic ecosystems at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) as a summer fellow in the Summer Student Fellowship program. At WHO Rosannae worked in the Biology Department in Dr. Donald Anderson’s laboratory and under the direct mentorship of Dr. Michael Brosnahan and Dr. Katherine Hubbard. Her project focused on how advances in remote sensing shape our understanding of harmful algae blooms, particularly through two new developments: the imaging flow cytobot (IFCB) and the environmental sample processor (ESP). Harmful algae blooms (HABs) describe the proliferation of toxic phytoplankton and microalgae that adversely affect our natural resources and public health. Over 12 weeks, she explored how the ESP and IFCB can be used to detect cellular abundance and predict the growth rate of Pseudo-nitzschia seriata and Alexandrium tamarense respectively. Summer 2013 Research: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Integrated Biological Sciences Summer Research Program

 

MATHEMATICS

NADIA OTT, Mathematics
MBRS Mentor: Andrew Cooksy, Ph.D. and Timothy Dunster, Ph.D.

Nadia joined the MBRS program in March 2012 as an applied mathematics major with an emphasis in physical science. She currently works in Dr. Cooksy’s lab. The project she is currently working on studies the vibrational quantum mechanics of reactive organic molecules.  Nadia’s current are of investigation deals mainly with developing new software that will calculate properties, including  vibrational spectra, of selected organic molecules using computational quantum chemical methods. The overall goal of this project is to develop computational means of predicting the spectra at which concentrations of reactive molecules hazardous to our health can be assessed and then appropriately dealt with. Nadia’s goal is to obtain a Ph.D in applied mathematics that will interface with a physical science such as physics or chemistry. She will graduate from San Diego State University with a B.S in Applied Mathematics/Science in Spring 2014. Summer 2013 Research: Cornell REU (Analysis on Differential Equations on Fractals)

 

PSYCHOLOGY

SAVANNA TIERNEY, Psychology, minor in Biology
MBRS Mentor: Paul Gilbert, Ph.D.

Savanna joined the MBRS program in January 2013.  She is a psychology major with a minor in biology and currently conducts research at the Center for Healthy Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease Research under the direction of Dr. Paul Gilbert. This lab investigates the effects of neurodegenerative disease on cognition, with a specific focus on memory function.  The principal method of her current research is neuropsychological assessment of specific clinical populations, including individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease, as well as cognitively healthy older and young adults. Her projects investigate the impacts these diseases have on daily activities and how to detect age-related changes and deficits earlier in individuals with these conditions.  She transferred from San Diego Mesa College in the fall of 2012. As a Bridges to Baccalaureate Scholar, Savanna presented her summer project exploring source memory function in individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. In the future, she would like to apply her background in biology and physiology to concentrate not only on diagnosis, but also uncovering more information about the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases as well as effective methods of both treatment and prevention. Savanna will graduate in May of 2015 and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical neuropsychology. Summer 2013 Research: University of Oregon SPUR

 

ANNALIA VALDIVIA, Psychology
MBRS Mentors: Linda Gallo, Ph.D. and Patricia Gonzalez, Ph.D.

Annalia Valdivia joined the MBRS program in July 2012. Annalia is a psychology major and has been working in Dr. Linda Gallo’s research lab starting summer 2012.  Dr. Gallo’s lab focuses on psychological and social factors in the etiology and course of cardiovascular diseases in three general domains 1) Psychosocial factors and interpersonal experiences in cardiovascular stress responses 2) Psychosocial factors and outcomes in cardiac patient populations and 3) Gender, ethnic, and cultural factors in psychosocial risk processes. Annalia’s ambition is to continue on to graduate school to obtain a Ph.D in clinical psychology. She is involved in clubs/organizations such as Psi Chi, EOP, and Compact Scholars and likes to volunteer in her spare time. Annalia hopes to gain a great deal of research experience and other important skills that will lead her to her future goals. She will graduate May 2014 with a B.A in Psychology. Summer 2013 Research: University of Arizona: Mental Health Disparities summer program