MSTP Alumni 1991-1999
| Class of 1991 | Class of 1992 | Class of 1993 |
| Class of 1994 | Class of 1995 | Class of 1996 |
| Class of 1997 | Class of 1998 | Class of 1999 |
Class of 1999
David Berman
Dissertation Topic: Regulators of G Protein Signaling (RGS): A Family of GTPase Activating Proteins
Mentor: Alfred Gilman, Ph.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Pathology and Medicine
Current Affiliation: Bristol-Myers Squibb (Princeton, NJ)
Michael Biswas
Dissertation Topic: cDNA Cloning and Characterization of Enzymes that Metabolize Androgens
Mentor: David Russell, Ph.D.
Current Position: Internist
Current Affiliation: Athens Regional Medical Center (Athens, GA)
Greg Clines
Dissertation Topic: The Positional Cloning of Three Loci Involved in Human Skeletal Growth and Morphogenesis
Mentor: M. Lovett, M.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Current Affiliation: University of Virginia Medical Center
Michele Hutchison
Dissertation Topic: Cloning and Characterization of the Mammalian STE20-Related Protein Kinases, PAK2 and TAO1
Mentor: Melanie Cobb, Ph.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Current Affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Robert Marquis
Dissertation Topic: Study of the Active Mechanical Properties of the Hair Bundle Which May Underlie Signal Amplification in Vertebrate Internal Ear Organs
Mentor: AJ Hudspeth, M.D.
Current Position: Ophthalmologist
Current Affiliation: Texan Eye Ophthalmology Practice (Austin, TX)
Thai Nguyen
Dissertation Topic: Characterization of Neuroligins: Novel Cell Adhesion Molecules in Neurons
Mentor: T. Südhof, Ph.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine
Current Affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Monique Spillman
Dissertation Topic: Estrogen-Responsive Genes in Breast and Ovarian Cancer
Mentor: A. Bowcock, M.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Current Affiliation: University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
Linda Verkruyse
Dissertation Topic: Characterization of Palmitoyl-Protein Thioesterase and Its Role in Human Disease
Mentor: Sandra Hofmann, M.D., Ph.D.
Current Position: Hematologist & Medical Oncologist
Current Affiliation: Texas Oncology (Mansfield & South Arlington, TX)
Class of 1998
Prakash Bhatia
Dissertation Topic: Identification and Analysis of RAD28, the Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Homolog of the Cockayne Syndrome Complementation Group A (CSA) Gene
Mentor: Errol Friedberg, M.D.
Current Position: Psychiatrist, Bayview Medical Director (Behavioral Health)
Current Affiliation: Paradise Valley Hospital (National City, CA)
Prakash Bhuyan
Dissertation Topic: Identification of the Rat Maternally Transmitted Antigen
Mentor: Kirsten Fischer Lindahl, Ph.D.
Current Position: Director, ID/Vaccines Clinical Research; Adjunct Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
Current Affiliation: Merck Research Laboratories; University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Britt Britton
Dissertation Topic: Molecular Characterization of Human Isoforms of Carnitine Palmitoyltranferase I
Mentor: JD McGarry, Ph.D.
Current Position: (unknown)
Current Affiliation: N/A
Vik Dabhi
Dissertation Topic: Characteristics of T Cells Specific for the MHC Class I Molecule H2-M3
Mentor: Kirsten Fischer Lindahl, Ph.D.
Current Position: Internist, Gastroenterology & Hematology/Oncology
Current Affiliation: Pacific Medical Centers (Seattle, WA)
Jim Davie
Dissertation Topic: Expression and Assembly of Mammalian Branched-Chain Alpha-Ketoacid Decarboxylase in Escherichia Coli
Mentor: David Chuang, Ph.D.
Current Position: Dermatopathologist AP/CP
Current Affiliation: Medical Center Clinic (Pensacola, FL)
Julia Klesney-Tait
Dissertation Topic: Characterization of the Major Outer Membrane Protein of Haemophilus ducreyi
Mentor: Eric Hansen, Ph.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine; Medical Director of Lung Transplantation; Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Occupational Medicine
Current Affiliation: University of Iowa Roy J. & Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
Colin Koon
Dissertation Topic: Identification, Purification and Characterization of a Mitochondrial DNA-Binding Protein
Mentor: RS Williams, Ph.D.
Current Position: OB/Gyn Specialist
Current Affiliation: Texas Oncology - Baylor/Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, Gynecologic Oncology
Richard Noel
Dissertation Topic: Use of Recombinant Adenovirus for Engineering of Glucose Transport and Glycerol Metabolism in Insulinoma Cells and Islets of Langerhans
Mentor: C. Newgard, Ph.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Current Affiliation: Medical College of Wisconsin
Andrea Sestak
Dissertation Topic: Studies of Gene Expression in Two Animal Models of Growth and Insulin Hypersecretion in the Islets of Langerhans
Mentor: C. Newgard, Ph.D.
Current Position: Research Assistant Member, Arthritis & Immunology Research Program
Current Affiliation: Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Pampee Young
Dissertation Topic: Two Cis-Acting Motifs, a CRE-Like Element and a GT Box, are Necessary for the Cyclic AMP Regulation of the Human Surfactant Protein-A2 (SP-A2) Gene Expression in Alveolar Type II Cells
Mentor: Carole Mendelson, Ph.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Pathology & Medicine
Current Affiliation: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Class of 1997
Fernando Catalina
Dissertation Topic: The Effect of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Administration on the Proliferation of Normal & Neoplastic Hematopoietic Progenitors: The Role of Caloric Restriction
Mentor: Michael Bennett, M.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Current Affiliation: University of Massachusetts Medical School (Worcester, MA)
Charles Eberhart
Dissertation Topic: A Molecular & Genetic Analysis of Pelota & Boule, Two Loci Required for Meiotic Cell Division in Drosophila Males
Mentor: S. Wasserman, M.D.
Current Position: Associate Professor of Pathology, Ophthalmology and Oncology
Current Affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Phil Frykman
Dissertation Topic: The Very Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor Knockout Mouse
Mentors: Michael Brown, M.D. and Joseph Goldstein, M.D.
Current Position: Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics; Associate Director of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery
Current Affiliation: University of California at Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Naoum Issa
Dissertation Topic: The Concentration of Calcium Ions at the Presynaptic Active Zone of Hair Cells During Neurotransmitter Release
Mentor: AJ Hudspeth, M.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Neurobiology, Pharmacology, Physiology
Current Affiliation: University of Chicago
Daniel Lee
Dissertation Topic: Temperature-Dependent Regulation of Interleukin-1β Gene Expression
Mentor: P. Nison, M.D.
Current Position: Assistant Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology
Current Affiliation: University of California San Diego Medical Center
Ethan Lee
Dissertation Topic: The Structural Basis of G Protein Activation
Mentor: Alfred Gilman, M.D., Ph.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Cell & Developmental Biology
Current Affiliation: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Steve Margossian
Dissertation Topic: Studies of the Dead/H Box Protein, Suv3p, & Its Role in Mitochondrial RNA Metabolism in Yeast
Mentor: R. Butow, M.D.
Current Position: Instructor of Pediatric Oncology and Medicine
Current Affiliation: Harvard University - Children's Hospital of Boston; Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Ignatius Ou
Dissertation Topic: Cloning & Characterization of Cellular Factors that Bind to Critical Regulatory Elements in the HIV-1 LTR
Mentor: R. Gaynor, M.D.
Current Position: Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary & Critical Care Division
Current Affiliation: University of California at Irvine Medical Center, UCI Lung Center, Chao Comprehensive Cancer Center
David Raizen
Dissertation Topic: Behavioral, Electrophysical & Genetic Studies of Neurons that Control Pharyngeal Pumping in Caenorhabditis Elegans
Mentor: L. Avery, M.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Neurology
Current Affiliation: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
John Villano
Dissertation Topic: Molecular & Genetic Characterization of the Drosophila Four-Jointed Gene
Mentor: F. Katz, M.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Medicine - Hematology/Oncology
Current Affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago
Brian Weis
Dissertation Topic: Expression of the Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase Enzymes in Rat Liver & Heart
Mentor: JD McGarry, M.D.
Current Position: Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
Current Affiliation: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and School of Medicine
Patrick Weix
Dissertation Topic: Analysis of Loss of Heterozygosity in Murine Ocular Tumors by Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms
Mentor: J. Sambrook, M.D.
Current Position: Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist
Current Affiliation: Irving/Coppell Women's Health Center (Irving, TX)
Class of 1996
Scott Armstrong
Dissertation Topic: Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of Rab Geranylgeranyl Transferase
Mentors: Michael Brown, M.D. and Joseph Goldstein, M.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Current Affiliation: Harvard University - Children's Hospital of Boston; Dana Farber Cancer Institute & Karp Family Research Laboratories
David M. Berman
Dissertation Topic: The Role of Steroid 5-α Reductase Isozymes in Male Sexual Development
Mentor: David Russell, Ph.D.
Current Position: Associate Professor of Pathology, Oncology & Urology
Current Affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Laura Camp Lee
Dissertation Topic: Purification, Characterization and Molecular Cloning of Palmitoyl-Protein Thioeserase
Mentor: S. Hoffman
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Cell & Developmental Biology
Current Affiliation: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Leonidas Carayannopoulos
Dissertation Topic: A System for the Production of Recombinant Immunoglobulin A: Application to the Study of IgA Structure and Function
Mentor: JD Capra, Ph.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine/Pulmonary; Experimental Medicine Division
Current Affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine; Merck Research Laboratories
Diego Castrillon
Dissertation Topic: Studies of Loci Required for Male Fertility in Drosophila Melanogaster
Mentor: S. Wasserman, M.D.
Current Position: Associate Professor of Pathology
Current Affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Ravindhra G. Elluru
Dissertation Topic: Characterization of the Axonal Transport of Kinesin and Type I Hexokinase in the Rat Visual System
Mentor: S. Brady, M.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery; Pediatric Otolaryngologist, Department of Otolaryngology
Current Affiliation: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Christine Kim Garcia
Dissertation Topic: Transporters of Mevalonate and Monocarboxylates
Mentors: Michael Brown, M.D. and Joseph Goldstein, M.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor, McDermott Center for Human Growth & Development
Current Affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Christopher L. Newton
Dissertation Topic: Cloning and Characterization of a cDNA for Ataxia-Telangiectasia
Mentor: T. Sudhof, Ph.D.
Current Position: Private Practice (Pediatrics)
Current Affiliation: Centennial Medical Center (Frisco, TX)
Class of 1995
Michael Wong
Dissertation Topic: Long-Term and Short-Term Steroidal Modulation of the Electrophysiological Properties of Hippocampal Neurons
Mentor: R. Moss, M.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Pediatric Neurology
Current Affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine
Class of 1994
David Crawford
Dissertation Topic: Structural and Functional Studies of Ribonuclease Inhibitor, a Cytosolic Phosphoprotein
Mentor: Bruce Beutler, M.D.
Current Position: Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Current Affiliation: The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Keith Tansey
Dissertation Topic: Motor Unit Activation during Evoked Muscle Contractions: Implications for the Synaptic Organization of Motoneuron Pools and the Modulation of Muscle Force
Mentor: Barry Botterman, Ph.D.
Current Position: Director, Spinal Cord Injury Center Research; Departments of Neurology & Physiology)
Current Affiliation: Crawford Research Institute, Shepherd Center (Atlanta, GA); Emory University School of Medicine
Class of 1993
Robert C. Kowal
Dissertation Topic: Studies of the Structure and Function of the LDL Receptor-Related Protein
Mentors: Michael Brown, M.D. and Joseph Goldstein, M.D.
Current Position: Cardiologist
Current Affiliation: Baylor Heart Hospital (Dallas, TX)
Sancy A. Leachman
Dissertation Topic: Functional Domains of Skeletal and Smooth Muscle Myosin Light Chain Kinases
Mentor: James Stull, Ph.D.
Current Position: Associate Professor of Dermatology; Director and Principal Investigator, Matthews Familial Melanoma Research Clinic; Deputy Director, Melanoma Program, Huntsman Cancer Institute
Current Affiliation: University of Utah
Kathryn Maschhoff
Dissertation Topic: An Analysis of the Mechanism of Pre-mRNA Splicing using Phosphorothioate-Substituted RNA
Mentor: R. Padgett, M.D.
Current Position: Clinical Associate of Pediatrics, Neonatology & Newborn Services
Current Affiliation: University of Pennsylvania
Class of 1992
Brian Maddux
Dissertation Topic: Processing of Multimodality Cortical Signals in the Cerebellar Paraflocculus
Mentor: D. Woodward, M.D.
Current Position: Neurologist
Current Affiliation: Riverhills Healthcare Montgomery (Cincinnati, OH)
Andrea Richardson
Dissertation Topic: Molecular Cloning and Characterization of the t(2;14) Translocation Associated with Childhood CLL
Mentor: P. Tucker, M.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Pathology
Current Affiliation: Harvard University, Brigham & Women's Hospital
Mark Segal
Dissertation Topic: The Role of Disulfide Bond Formation & the Cellular Protein BiP in the Folding of Influenza Hemagglutinin
Mentor: MJ Gething, M.D.
Current Position: Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
Current Affiliation: University of Florida School of Medicine
Jeffrey Smith
Dissertation Topic: Feedback Regulation of Genes Controlling Cholesterol Metabolism
Mentors: Michael Brown, M.D. and Joseph Goldstein, M.D.
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Medicine & Cancer Biology; Division of Genetic Medicine; Ingram Assistant Professor, Cancer Research
Current Affiliation: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Class of 1991
Michael J. Eck
Dissertation Topic: The three-dimensional structure of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-alpha) at 2.6 angstrom resolution
Mentor: S. Sprang, M.D.
Current Position: Professor of Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology
Current Affiliation: Harvard University - Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Sunilkumar Patel
Dissertation Topic: Functional and phenotypic analysis of human T-cell clones
Mentor: P. Lipsky, M.D.
Current Position: Internist
Current Affiliation: Private practice (Abilene, TX)
Ellen Pizer
Dissertation Topic: Insertional activation of the C-MYB locus and development of B-cell lymphomas in chickens infected embryonically with ALV
Mentor: E. Humphries, M.D.
Current Position: Attending Pathologist
Current Affiliation: CellNetix Pathology PLLC (Everett, WA); Swedish Medical Center (Seattle, WA)
Ronald Rubenstein
Dissertation Topic: Regulation of G Proteins by the β-Adrenergic Receptor: Aspects of Receptor Structure and Selectivity
Mentor: Elliot Ross, Ph.D.
Current Position: Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Current Affiliation: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Children's Hospital, Philadelphia
Mark Swancutt
Dissertation Topic: Molecular characterization of the immunogenic 34-kilodalton membrane lipoprotein of Treponema palladium
Mentor: Michael Norgard, Ph.D.
Current Position: Associate Professor of Microbiology and Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease
Current Affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Keith Woeltje
Dissertation Topic: Structure/function/regulatory properties of mitochondrial carnitine palmitoyltransferase
Mentor: JD McGarry, M.D.
Current Position: Associate Professor of Medicine; Division of Infectious Diseases
Current Affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine