PhD Student Profiles

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PHD_2022

Please click on the name of each student to learn more about them.

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Kelsey Bernard

Email: keberna@arizona.edu 

Co-Advisor: 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)

Publications: In Progress

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Garrett Crosby headshot

Email: crosbyg@arizona.edu

Advisor:  Jil Tardiff, PhD

Reseach 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

Publications: In progress

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Sara Djurich headshot

Email: sarad2@arizona.edu

Advisor: Tim Secomb, PhD

Research Interests: anything brain related

Personal Interests: reading, writing, biking and music

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Catherine Ellis headshot

Email: ceellis@arizona.edu

Advisor: First year rotations

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). 

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Uloma Elvis-Offiah headshot

Email: ulomaelvisoffiah@arizona.edu

Advisor: Juanita Merchant

Research Interest: Reproductive Physiology, Sex-specific differences in endocrine, renal and cardiovascular diseases, Angiotensin-induced pre- and post- menopausal hypertension, estrogen signaling and sex-specific therapeutics.

Personal Interest: Leadership forums and meetings, Conventions, Writing devotionals, camping, and singing

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

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Keila Espinoza headshot

Email: espinoza5@arizona.edu

Advisor: First year rotations

Research Interests: Sex differences, metabolic syndrome, diet and immune cell mediated inflammation, menopause

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

Publications: In progress

 

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M. Gauthier

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)

Publications: in progress

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Christina Hoyer-Kimura

Email: choyerkimura@arizona.edu

Advisor: John Konhilas, PhD

Research Interests: Cell transporters, comnencil bacteria, cardio, immuno, neuro, exercise, stem cell...I love many subjects

Personal Interests: Dance, dogs

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Wanjiru Kamau-Devers

Email: wkamaudevers@arizona.edu

Advisor: Ralph Fregosi, PhD

Awards: Medical Award of Excellence (2019-2020), Bunt-Jeffrey Medical Scholarship (2020-2021)

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Kat Kennedy headshot

Email: katkennedy@arizona.edu

Advisor: Dr. Michael Grandner

Research interests: Novel therapeutics used to improve sleep, sleep and diet, women's sleep health

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

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Matthew Klass

Email:  mklass92@arizona.edu

Advisor:  Jil Tardiff, MD, Ph.D.

Research Interests:  I love the general fields of electrophysiology, neurophysiology, and cardiovascular physiology. Ultimately, I'd like my research to focus on improvements to health and wellness especially concerning type II diabetes and obesity.

Personal Interests:  Cooking & eating, swimming, freelance tattoo design, exercise and great conversation!

Awards:  University Fellows Award (2016-2017), NIH T32 Training Grant: Interdisciplinary Training in Cardiovascular Research (2017-2018), Achievement Reward for College Scientists (ARCS) (2021-2022)

Publications: 

Deranek, A. E., Klass, M. M., & Tardiff, J. C. (2019). Moving beyond simple answers to complex disorders in sarcomeric cardiomyopathies: the role of integrated systems. Pflugers Arch. doi:10.1007/s00424-019-02269-0

 

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Tim Maley

Email:  maleytim@arizona.edu

Advisor:  Erika Eggers, Ph.D.

Research Interests:  The role of retinal inhibition in Light adaptation. 

Personal Interests:  Cycling, Skiing, Hiking, Representing Physiological Sciences GIDP in intramural sports

Publications: In progress

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Vito Marino headshot

Email: vitomarino@arizona.edu

Advisor: John Konhilas, Ph.D.

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

Publications: In progress

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Josie Mazzone headshot

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

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Masa Miscevic headshot

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

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Wil Pederson headshot

Email: wpederson@arizona.edu

Advisor: Julie Ledford, PhD

Research Interests: Asthma, Inflammation, Menopause

Personal Interests: Traveling, Hiking, Exploring local restaurants

Awards: Infection and Inflammation as Drivers of Aging (IIDA) Predoctoral Training Grant (1T32AG058503-01A1) (2021-2022), renewed (2022-2023)

Publications:

Stephanie M Bruggink, William P Pederson, Kyle P Kentch, Jason M Kronenfeld, Julie G Ledford, and Benjamin J Renquist (2022). Obesity-Associated Alterations in Lung Function In Mice Measured With Head-Out Plethysmography. (Pending Submission).

Schiff HV, Rivas CM, Pederson WP, Sandoval E, Gillman S, Prisco J, Kume M, Dussor G, Vagner J, Ledford JG, Price TJ, DeFea KA, Boitano S. β-arrestin-biased proteinase-activated receptor-2 antagonist C781 limits allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation. Br J Pharmacol. 2022 Jun 23. doi: 10.1111/bph.15903. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35735078.

William P. Pederson, Laurie M. Ellerman, Estevan C. Sandoval, Scott Boitano, Jennifer B. Frye, Kristian P. Doyle, Heddwen L. Brooks, Francesca Polverino , Julie G. Ledford (2022). “Development of a Novel Mouse Model of Menopause-Associated Asthma.” American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology (AJRCMB). (Accepted, awaiting publication)

Iannuzo N, Insel M, Marshall C, Pederson WP, Addison KJ, Polverino F, Guerra S, Ledford JG. CC16 deficiency in the context of early life Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection results in augmented airway responses in adult mice. Infect Immun. 2021 Nov 15:IAI0054821. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00548-21. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34780280.

William P. Pederson, Jaime M. Cyphert-Daly, Robert M. Tighe, Loretta G. Que, Julie G. Ledford (2021). “Genetic Variation in Surfactant Protein-A2 Alters Responses to Ozone.” PLoS One. 16(2). PMID: 33617569

Zhai J, Insel M, Addison KJ, Stern DA, Pederson W.P., Dy A, Rojas-Quintero J, Owen CA, Sherrill DL, Morgan W, Wright AL, Halonen M, Martinez FD, Kraft M, Guerra S, Ledford JG (2019). “Club Cell Secretory Protein Deficiency Leads to Altered Lung Function.” American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Vol. 199, No. 3. PMID: 30543455

Njira Lugogo, Dave Francisco, Kenneth J. Addison, Akarsh Manne, William P. Pederson, Jennifer Ingram, Benjamin T. Suratt, James J. Lee, Mary E. Sunday, Monica Kraft, Julie G. Ledford (2018). “Obese Asthmatics have Decreased Surfactant Protein-A Levels: Mechanisms and Implications.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Vol. 141, Issue 3. PMID: 28624607

 
 
 

 

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Emily Peters

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

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Felipe Polk headshot

 Email: fpolk@arizona.edu

Advisor: Paulo Pires, PhD

Research Interests:

Personal Interests:

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Lenee Shrestha

Email: lshrestha@arizona.edu

Advisor: Dr. Qin Chen

Research Interests:  Cardiac protection and extracellular mitochondria 

Personal Interests: Cats, love cooking and hiking

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Beatriz Smith

Email: bsmith7@arizona.edu

Advisor: TBD

Research Interests: Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Sphingolipid Metabolism, ER Stress Pathways

Personal Interests: budgeting-cooking-family-music-reading-sleeping-heels

Awards: The University of Arizona/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Indigenous Graduate Partnership (UA/SIGP) (2019-current)

Publications: in progress

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Kyle Smith headshot

Email: kaskylesmith@arizona.edu

Advisor: Richard J. Simpson, PhD

Research Interests: nutrition, exercise, and immunology

Personal Interests: golf, volleyball, hiking

Awards: NASA Space Physiology Research Grant - American College of Sports Medicine (2020), Foundation Doctoral Research Grant - Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2020)

Publications:

Baur, D. A., Willingham, B. D., Smith, K. A., Kisiolek, J. N., Morrissey, M. C., Saracino, P. G., . . . Ormsbee, M. J. (2018). Adipose Lipolysis Unchanged by Preexercise Carbohydrate Regardless of Glycemic Index. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 50(4), 827-836. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000001498

Kunz, H. E., Agha, N. H., Hussain, M., LaVoy, E. C., Smith, K. A., Mylabathula, P., . . . Simpson, R. J. (2020). The Effects of β-Adrenergic Receptor Blockade on the Exercise-induced Mobilization and Ex Vivo Expansion of Virus-specific T-cells: Implications for Cellular Therapy and the Anti-viral Immune Effects of Exercise. Cell Stress Chaperones. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12192-020-01136-7

Molina, M. S., Hoffman, E. A., Stokes, J., Kummet, N., Smith, K. A., Baker, F., . . . Katsanis, E. (2021). Regulatory Dendritic Cells Induced by Bendamustine Are Associated With Enhanced Flt3 Expression and Alloreactive T-Cell Death. Front Immunol, 12, 699128. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.699128

Simpson, R. J., Boßlau, T. K., Weyh, C., Niemiro, G. M., Batatinha, H., Smith, K. A., & Krüger, K. (2021). Exercise and adrenergic regulation of immunity. Brain Behav Immun. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2021.07.010

Smith, K. A., Kisiolek, J. N., Willingham, B. D., Morrissey, M. C., Leyh, S. M., Saracino, P. G., . . . Ormsbee, M. J. (2020). Ultra-endurance triathlon performance and markers of whole-body and gut-specific inflammation. Eur J Appl Physiol, 120(2), 349-357. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04279-3

Smith, K. A., Pugh, J. N., Duca, F. A., Close, G. L., & Ormsbee, M. J. (2021). Gastrointestinal pathophysiology during endurance exercise: endocrine, microbiome, and nutritional influences. Eur J Appl Physiol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04737-x

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Ben Stansfield headshot

Email: bstansfield@arizona.edu

Advisor: TBD

Research Interests: Cardiovascular Physiology, hiPSC disease modeling, Proteomics, Molecular and Cellular Physiology

Personal Interests: Rugby, Cricket, Fitness, Dogs and the "occasional" alcoholic beverage 

Publications:

Iwankski J, Kazmouz SG, Li S, Stansfield B, Salem TT, Perez-Miller S, Perez-Miller S, Kazui T, Jena L, Uhrlaub JL, Lick S, Nikolich-Zugich J, Konhilas JP, Gregorio CC, Khanna M, Campos SK, Churko JM. Antihypertensive drug treatment and susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in human PSC-derived cardiomyocytes and primary endothelial cells. Stem Cell Reports (2021). 

BN Morris, N Chester, R McGreggor-Cheers, G Kleinnibbelink, C Johnson, J Harrison, BN Stansfield, A Henney, K George, D Warburton, J McKinney, N Sculthorpe, R Cooper, T Fairbairn, D Oxborough. The impact of image and performance enhancing drugs on bi-ventricular structure and function in strength-trained athletes and the association to fat-free mass. Preventative Cardiology (2021).

Hesketh SJ, Stansfield BN, Stead C,  Burniston JG. The application of Proteomics in Muscle Exercise Physiology. Expert Review of Proteomics (2021).

Stansfield BN, Brown AD, Stewart CE and Burniston JG. Dynamic proteome profiling of mole synthesis rates of proteins during C2C12 myoblast differentiation. Proteomics (2020)

Jabart E, Molho J, Sin K, Stansfield B, Kazmouz S. Ventro D, Gardner K, WU JC, Churko JM. Single-Cell Protein Expression of hiPSC-derived Cardiomyocytes using Single-Cell Westerns. Cellular and Molecular Cardiology (2020).

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Hallie Wachsmuth

Email: wachsmuth@arizona.edu

Advisor: Frank Duca, PhD

Research Interests: Metabolic Diseases, Exercise, Diet

Personal Interests: Food, Exercise, Dogs

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Savanna Weninger headshot

Email: savannaweninger@arizona.edu

Advisor: Frank Duca, Ph.D. 
Research Interests: the role of the gut microbiome in energy and glucose homeostasis
Personal Interests: dogs, spinning, the outdoors, and local brews

Publications: In progress

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Fiona Wong headshot

Email: fionalanwong@arizona.edu 

Advisor: Brett Colson, PhD
Research Interests: Cardiovascular research, drug discovery, translational medicine 
Personal Interests: To travel often and to eat well!

Awards: NIH T32 Training Grant: Interdisciplinary Training in Cardiovascular Research (2021-2022), Sarver Heart Center Investigator Award (Donors: Billington and Doris Griswold) (2020-2021)

Publications:

Ma, W., M. Henze, R. L. Anderson, H. M. Gong, F. L. Wong, C. L. Del Rio and T. C. Irving (2021). "The Super-Relaxed State and Length Dependent Activation in Porcine Myocardium." Circ Res.

Anderson, R. L., D. V. Trivedi, S. S. Sarkar, M. Henze, W. Ma, H. Gong, C. S. Rogers, J. M. Gorham, F. L. Wong, M. M. Morck, J. G. Seidman, K. M. Ruppel, T. C. Irving, R. Cooke, E. M. Green and J. A. Spudich (2018). "Deciphering the super relaxed state of human beta-cardiac myosin and the mode of action of mavacamten from myosin molecules to muscle fibers." Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 115(35): E8143-E8152.

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