Please click on the name of each student to learn more about them.
Email: keberna@arizona.edu
Advisors: Torsten Falk, PhD and Lalitha Madhavan, MD, PhD
Research Interests: Parkinson's Disease, Neuroprotective therapeutics, Molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease.
Personal Interests: Reading, watching historical dramas, Hiking, Creating glass mosaics.
Awards: Translational Research in AD and related Dementias (TRADD) (1T32AG061897-01 ) (2020-2022)
Email: megancracchiolo@arizona.edu
Advisor: First Year Rotations
Research Interests: Immune interactions, Neuroscience
Personal Interests: Formula 1, UArizona Athletics, my dog
Publications:
Gilman, K. E., Cracchiolo, M. J., Matiatos, A. P., Davini, D. W., Simpson, R. J., & Katsanis, E. (2023). Partially replacing cyclophosphamide with bendamustine in combination with cyclosporine A improves survival and reduces xenogeneic graft-versus-host-disease. Frontiers in Immunology, 13.
Gilman, K. E., Matiatos, A. P., Cracchiolo, M. J., Moon, A. G., Davini, D. W., Simpson, R. J., & Katsanis, E. (2023). Multiagent Intratumoral Immunotherapy Can Be Effective in A20 Lymphoma Clearance and Generation of Systemic T Cell Immunity. Cancers (Basel), 15(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15071951
Email: crosbyg@arizona.edu
Advisor: Jil Tardiff, PhD
Research Interests: Cardiac thin filament structure and how point mutations in thin filament proteins lead to complex symptomatic cardiomyopathy.
Personal Interests: Swimming, hiking, mountain biking, and B horror movies.
Email: sarad2@arizona.edu
Advisor: Tim Secomb, PhD
Research Interests: anything brain related.
Personal Interests: reading, writing, biking and music.
Email: ceellis@arizona.edu
Advisor: Pawel Kiela, DVM, PhD
Research Interests: Relationships between diet, gastrointestinal function, inflammation and metabolism.
Personal Interests: Playing piano and classical guitar, painting, drawing, walking, cooking, being surrounded by nature.
Publications:
Murillo F, Arrieta M, Ellis C, Dobles E. (2018). Homeostasis del magnesio: Implicaciones fisiológicas y patológicas. Revista médica de la Universidad de Costa Rica 11(2).
Email: ulomaelvisoffiah@arizona.edu
Advisor: Juanita Merchant, PhD
Research Interest: Gastrointestinal physiology, genetic mutations, neuroendocrine tumors particularly gastrinomas.
Personal Interest: Languages, reading, camping, singing and taking care of things.
Publications:
Enitome E. Bafor, Faith Ukpebor, Uloma Elvis-Offiah, Adaeze Uchendu, Osemelomen Omoruyi, and Glory Uyi Omogiade. Justicia flava Leaves Exert Mild Estrogenic Activity in Mouse Models of Uterotrophic and Reproductive Cycle Investigations. J Med Food 00 (0) 2019, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2019.0155
Elvis-Offiah UB, Bafor EE, Sanusi OB, Uchendu AP, Omoregie OO, Onyiriuka CE, Uba NC, Ebiuwa DE, Omoruyi O, Tafamel EG, Kadiri PB (2019). Reproductive activity and function of Vocanga africana leaves on non-pregnant female mice. African Journal of Pharmaceutical Research & Development. Vol. 11 No.1; pp; 016-034.
Elvis-Offiah Uloma B., Bafor Enitome E., Eze Gerald I., Osamwonyi Igbinumwen, Christina Viegelmann, RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel (2016). In vivo Investigation of Female Reproductive Functions and Parameters in Non-Pregnant Mice Models and Mass Spectrometric Analysis of the Methanol Leaf Extract of Emilia Coccinea (Sims) G Dons. Physiol Rep, 4 (23), e13047, doi: 10.14814/phy2.13047
Elvis-Offiah B. Uloma, Vincent I. Iyawe, Enitome E. Bafor (2016). In vitro response of isolated non-pregnant mouse uterus to the methanol extract of Emilia coccinea (Sims) G. Dons leaf. Journal of Pharmacy and Biomedical Resources, 13: 134-147. DOI: 10.4314/jpb.v13i2.9
Bafor EE, Elvis-Offiah UB. Africa calls for her women in science: Review of the status of Nigerian women in science. GWIS IOTA NU. 2013, volume: 2(4), page 6-7
Email: espinoza5@arizona.edu
Advisor: Ashley Snider, PhD
Research Interests: Sex differences, menopause, renal pathology, obesity and metabolic disease, sphingolipids, immune cell mediated inflammation, neutrophil and macrophage dys/function.
Personal Interests: Videogaming, drawing, dancing, and going out with friends.
Awards:
NIH T32 Training Grant 2022-2023
University of Arizona Graduate Access Fellowship 2022-2023
Oral Presentation award 12th International Ceramide Conference 2023
Publications:
Espinoza KS, Hermanson KN, Beard CA, Schwartz NU, Snider JM, Low BE, Wiles MV, Hannun YA, Obeid LM, Snider AJ. A novel HSPB1S139F mouse model of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat. 2023 Dec;169:106769. doi: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2023.106769. Epub 2023 Aug 23. PMID: 37625781; PMCID: PMC10843462.
Email: mgauthier1@arizona.edu
Advisor: Christopher Banek, PhD
Research Interests: Blood pressure regulation, autonomic nervous system.
Personal Interests: Reading, running, container gardening, sewing, spending time with family.
Awards: NIH T32 Training Grant: Interdisciplinary Training in Cardiovascular Research (2021-2022)
Email: katkennedy@arizona.edu
Advisor: Michael Grandner, PhD
Research interests: Sleep and Circadian Rhythms.
Personal interests: Science communication, exploring the desert, and making cups of tea.
Awards: Certificate of Merit for Science Journalism - School of Journalism, University of Arizona Mark of Excellent Award Finalist - Society of Professional Journalists
Publications:
Kennedy, K., Bastien, C. H., Ruby, P. M., Killgore, W., Wills, C., & Grandner, M. A. (2021). Nightmare content during the COVID-19 pandemic: Influence of COVID-related stress and sleep disruption in the United States. Journal of sleep research, e13439. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13439
Kennedy, K., Onyeonwu, C., Nowakowski, S., Hale, L., Branas, C. C., Killgore, W., Wills, C., & Grandner, M. A. (2021). Menstrual regularity and bleeding is associated with sleep duration, sleep quality and fatigue in a community sample. Journal of sleep research, e13434. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13434
Tubbs, A. S., Kennedy, K., Alfonso-Miller, P., Wills, C., & Grandner, M. A. (2021). A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of a Polyphenol Botanical Blend on Sleep and Daytime Functioning. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(6), 3044. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063044
Email: maleytim@arizona.edu
Advisor: Erika Eggers, PhD
Research Interests: The role of retinal inhibition in Light adaptation.
Personal Interests: Cycling, Skiing, Hiking, Representing Physiological Sciences GIDP in intramural sports.
Email: vitomarino@arizona.edu
Advisor: John Konhilas, PhD
Research Interests: Cell biology, cardiovascular physiology, and bone physiology in the context of hormonal status in regards to the menopausal transition.
Personal Interests: Dogs, hiking, bowling, baseball, and coloring.
Awards: University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center: Novel & Cardiovascular Research Project Award in the Area of Cardiovascular Disease and Medicine (Ralph and Shirley Morgan Cardiovascular Research Award; J.G. Murray Research Award) 2021- 2022
Email: jmazzone@arizona.edu
Advisor: Fiona Bailey, PhD
Research Interests: Blood pressure regulation, sex-differences in cardiovascular disease, exercise.
Personal Interests: My animals, puzzles, soccer, writing, & chocolate.
Email: mmiscevic@arizona.edu
Advisor: Haijiang Cai, Ph.D.
Research Interests: Neural circuits mediating gut-brain communication, effects of nutrition on neural circuits which regulate eating behaviors.
Personal Interests: social Latin dances, hiking (nature and urban), visiting local coffees shops and bookstores, learning about art and art history, community service.
Email: emilypeters@arizona.edu
Advisor: Paulo Pires, PhD
Research Interests: Cerebrovascular physiology, Alzheimer's disease, Aging, Nutrition.
Personal Interests: Distance running, cooking, & spending time outdoors.
Publications:
Peters, E.C., Safayan, L., Marx, T.J., Ngu, E., Vasileva, A., Zappia, I., Powell, W.H., Duca, F.A., & Stern, J.H. Metabolic and physical function are improved with lifelong 15% calorie restriction in aging male mice. Biogerontology (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-022-09996-5
Peters, E. C., Gee, M. T., Pawlowski, L. N., Kath, A. M., Polk, F. D., Vance, C. J., Sacoman, J. L., & Pires, P. W. (2021). Amyloid-β disrupts unitary calcium entry through endothelial NMDA receptors in mouse cerebral arteries. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271678X211039592
Email: fpolk@arizona.edu
Advisor: Paulo Pires, PhD
Research Interests: Vascular Physiology, Alzheimer's Disease
Personal Interests: Fishing, hiking, snowboarding, and any sport that involves a ball and a racquet.
Publications:
Polk, F. D., Hakim, M. A., Silva, J. F., Behringer, E. J., & Pires, P. W. (2023). Endothelial KIR2 channel dysfunction in aged cerebral parenchymal arterioles. American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology, 10.1152/ajpheart.00279.2023. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00279.2023
Peters, E. C., Gee, M. T., Pawlowski, L. N., Kath, A. M., Polk, F. D., Vance, C. J., Sacoman, J. L., & Pires, P. W. (2022). Amyloid-β disrupts unitary calcium entry through endothelial NMDA receptors in mouse cerebral arteries. Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism: official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 42(1), 145–161. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271678X211039592
Email: lshrestha@arizona.edu
Advisor: Dr. Qin Chen
Research Interests: Cardiac protection and extracellular mitochondria.
Personal Interests: Cats, love cooking and hiking.
Email: wachsmuth@arizona.edu
Advisor: Frank Duca, PhD
Research Interests: Metabolic Diseases, Exercise, Diet.
Personal Interests: Food, Exercise, Dogs.
Email: savannaweninger@arizona.edu
Advisor: Frank Duca, PhD
Research Interests: The role of the gut microbiome in energy and glucose homeostasis.
Personal Interests: dogs, spinning, the outdoors, and local brews.
Publications:
Martinez, T. M., Wachsmuth, H. R., Meyer, R. K., Weninger, S. N., Lane, A. I., Kangath, A., Schiro, G., Laubitz, D., Stern, J. H., & Duca, F. A. (2023). Differential effects of plant-based flours on metabolic homeostasis and the gut microbiota in high-fat fed rats. Nutrition & Metabolism, 20(1), 44.
Weninger, SN., Herman, C., Wachsmuth, H., Meyer, R., Caporaso, J.G., Duca, FA. (2023). Oligofructose improves small intestinal lipid-sensing mechanisms via alterations to the small intestinal microbiota. Microbiome, 11(1), 169.
Weninger, SN., Ding, A., Laubitz, D., and Duca, F. (2023) Longitudinal Characterization of the Gut Microbiota in the Diabetic ZDSD Rat Model. Metabolites, 13, 5.
Meyer, R. K., Lane, A. I., Weninger, S. N., Martinez, T. M., Kangath, A., Laubitz, D., & Duca, F. A. (2022). Oligofructose restores postprandial short-chain fatty acid levels during high-fat feeding. Obesity (Silver Spring), 30, 7.
Wachsmuth, H. R., Weninger, S. N., & Duca, F. A. (2022). Role of the gut-brain axis in energy and glucose metabolism. Exp Mol Med 54, 4.
Geisler CE, Ghimire S, Bruggink SM, Miller KE, Weninger SN, Kronenfeld JM, Yoshino J, Klein S, Duca FA, Renquist BJ. (2021). A critical role of hepatic GABA in the metabolic dysfunction and hyperphagia of obesity. Cell Reports 35, 13.
Harris, P.R., Keen, D.A., Constantopoulos, E., Weninger, SN, Hines E, Koppinger MP, Khalpey ZI, Konhilas JP. (2019). Fluid type influences acute hydration and muscle performance recovery in human subjects. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 16, 15.
Email: fionalanwong@arizona.edu
Advisor: Brett Colson, PhD
Research Interests: Cardiovascular research, drug discovery, translational medicine.
Personal Interests: To travel often and to eat lots of yummy food.
Awards: Sarver Heart Center Investigator Award (Donors: Billington and Doris Griswold) (2020-2021), NIH T32 Training Grant: Interdisciplinary Training in Cardiovascular Research (2021-2022), American Heart Association (AHA) Predoctoral Fellowship (2023-2025), Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation Scholarship (2023-2024)
Publications:
Wong FL, Bunch TA, Lepak VC, Steedman AL, Colson BA. Cardiac myosin-binding protein C N-terminal interactions with myosin and actin filaments: Opposite effects of phosphorylation and M-domain mutations. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2024 Jan;186:125-137. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2023.11.010. Epub 2023 Nov 24. PMID: 38008210.
Ma W, Henze M, Anderson RL, Gong H, Wong FL, Del Rio CL, Irving T. The Super-Relaxed State and Length Dependent Activation in Porcine Myocardium. Circ Res. 2021 Sep 3;129(6):617-630. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.120.318647. Epub 2021 Aug 9. PMID: 34365814; PMCID: PMC8416939.
Anderson RL, Trivedi DV, Sarkar SS, Henze M, Ma W, Gong H, Rogers CS, Gorham JM, Wong FL, Morck MM, Seidman JG, Ruppel KM, Irving TC, Cooke R, Green EM, Spudich JA. Deciphering the super relaxed state of human β-cardiac myosin and the mode of action of mavacamten from myosin molecules to muscle fibers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Aug 28;115(35):E8143-E8152. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1809540115. Epub 2018 Aug 13. PMID: 30104387; PMCID: PMC6126717.