Please click on the name of each student to learn more about them.
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
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
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: 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).
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
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
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
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
Email: wkamaudevers@arizona.edu
Advisor: Ralph Fregosi, PhD
Awards: Medical Award of Excellence (2019-2020), Bunt-Jeffrey Medical Scholarship (2020-2021)
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
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
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
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
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: 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
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: lshrestha@arizona.edu
Advisor: Dr. Qin Chen
Research Interests: Cardiac protection and extracellular mitochondria
Personal Interests: Cats, love cooking and hiking
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
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
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).
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, 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
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.