HHMI 
 Undergraduate Research Scholars 
 Summer 2012
 
         
The following 18 students were selected to be HHMI Research Scholars for the Summer 2012.



Dana Ballis,
Biology
Zachary March,
Chemical Engineering
Laura Powell,
Biology
Kathleen Seip,
Biochemistry
Hamza Bhatti,
Biology
Allison McCague,
Biology
Torey Roesch,
Biology
Matthew Urban,
Biochemistry
Jennifer Bruhns,
Quantitative Biology
Colleen Moens,
Quantitative Biology
Anne Sanger,
Biomedical Engineering
Matthew White
Biochemistry
Amanda Grigoli,
Biology
Rohan Patel,
Quantitative Biology
Helen Schmidt,
Biochemistry
Jocelyn Zajac,
Biochemistry
 Nicholas Lombardi,
Biology
Monica Pirigyi,
Biochemistry



Sophomore, junior, and senior HHMI Scholars who are having their first research summer research experience at the University of Delaware are expected to attend the weekly Enrichment Program.




Dana Ballis
Biology 2013

Research Mentor: Ulhas Naik,
Department of Biological Sciences

Project Title: 
Determining Calcium and Integrin Binding Protein’s Role in Cancer Metastasis

Honor, Awards, and Activities: 
Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity, Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society, Wellspring Promoter of Wellness Peer Mentor, General Chemistry Workshop Leader, MEDLIFE

Fall 2013:
Medical scribe at Union Hospital, Elkton, MD. Plan to attend PA school Fall 2014.
 




Hamza Bhatti
Biological Sciences



Research Mentor: Deni Galileo, Department of Biological Sciences

Project Title:  Measuring Cellular Interactions Between Chick Embryo Brain Cells and Invasive Glioma Cells Using Monolayer Cultures and Fluorescent Labeling

Honors, Awards, and Activities:  National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Humanitarian Hospitality Society, Christiana Care College Volunteer, First Prize UMBC Undergraduate Research Symposium 2011 

Presentations:
UMBC Undergraduate Research Symposium 2011, 2012 ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition San Diego,
Fall 2013: Undecided




Jennifer Bruhns
Quantitative Biology 2013

Research Mentor: Richard Braun, Department of Mathematical Science

Project Title: Models for Transport Between the Tear Film and the Ocular Surface

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Math Club, Member of Society of Mathematical Biology, Red Cross Club, Chemistry Workshop Leader,

Fall 2013: Dental School





Amanda Grigoli
Biology 2013

Research Mentor:  Zhihao Zhuang,
Chemistry and Biochemistry

Project Title:  Chemical Synthesis of Di-ubiquitin through Different Linkages

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Biochemistry PBL tutor, Chemistry Workshop leader,  Lasting Links Peer Mentoring Program, HHMI/NUCLEUS Research Apprenticeship Program, Organic tutor, Circolo Italiano,

Fall 2013:




 

Nicholas Lombardi
Biology 2013

Research Mentor: Erica Selva, Biological Sciences
Project Title:  Investigating the Role of Wntless Isoforms in Wingless Signaling

Honors, Awards, and Activities: 2013 ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition in Boston,

Fall 2013: Research Fellow in Sports Medicine at the Rothman Institute in Egg Harbor Township, NJ.





Zachary March
Chemistry 2014


Research Mentor:  David Colby, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

Project Title:  Detection and structural analysis of misfolded tau

Honors, Awards, and Activities: American Institute of Chemical Engineers, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, American Chemical Society, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society,

Presentations: 
UMBC Undergraduate Research Symposium 2011, University of Delaware Research Fund Annual Meeting 2011,
2012 ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition San Diego,  2013 ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition in Boston,









Allison McCague
Biology 2013

Research Mentor: Erica Selva, Biological Sciences

Project Title: The Role of N-Linked Glycosylation During Drosophila Development

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Selected for a platform presentation EB 2012, Alpha Lamda Delta Honor Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Tri-Beta Biological Sciences Honor
Society, ASBMB Undergraduate Affiliates,
Presentations: UMBC Undergraduate Research Symposium 2011, 2012 ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition San Diego, Thomas Jefferson University Chapter of Sigma Xi Student Research Day 2012, Honorable Mention in 2013 Undergraduate Poster Competition Boston, Richard M. Johnson Award and the Adair B. Gould Memorial Awards in biology.  Honorable Mention 2013 ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition in Boston,

Fall 2013: Dortoral Program in Human Genetics, Johns Hopkins University.




Colleen Moens
Quantitative Biology 2013

Research Mentor:  Pak-Wing Fok, Department of Mathematical Sciences

Project Title: The Influence of oxLDL Dynamics on Artherogenesis

Honors, Awards, and Activities: 2011 Carl J. and Eleanor K. Rees Scholarship, member of Tri-Beta and Golden Key Honor Societies,

Fall 2013:
Teach for America, secondary math in the Newark, NJ area.






Rohan Patel
Quantitative Biology 2014


Research Mentor:  Edward Lyman, Physics and Astronomy and Chemistry and Biochemistry

Project Title: Stability of native vs. mutant A2A adenosine receptor by molecular dynamics simulation

Honors, Awards, and Activities:  Tri-Beta and Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Societies, NUCLEUS, MEDLIFE, Interdisciplinary sciences award ABRCMS 2011,

Presentations: UMBC Undergraduate Research Symposium 2011, ABRCMS 2011,






Monica Pirigyi
Biochemistry 2013

Research Mentor:  Neal Zondlo, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Project Title:    Synthesis of Functional Proteins via Multiple Bioorthogonal Ligations

Honors, Awards, and Activities: National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Biochemistry PBL tutor, CHEM103 lab TA, Recipient of the Quaesita Drake Scholarship and James A. Moore undergraduate award in organic chemistry, and President/Founder of Cardio Hoop Dance Club, graduating with an honors degree in biochemistry with distinction.

Presentation:
UMBC Undergraduate Research Symposium 2011, 2012 UMBC Undergraduate Research Symposium, 2013 ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition in Boston,

Fall 2013:
Iintends to go to medical school forensic pathology, perhaps at UMDNJ and RWJMS.





Laura Powell
Biology 2014

Research Mentor: Fidelma Boyd, Biological Sciences

Project Title:  Osmotic stress response in ompR mutant of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Vice President of Tri-Beta Biological Sciences Honor Society,
Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society,
Presentations:  Leadership Alliance National Symposium (Summer 2011), SRIP at University of Virginia,  2013 ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition in Boston,





Torey Roesch
Biology 2013


Research Mentor:  Randall Duncan, Biological Sciences

Project Title:  P2Y2 Receptor Desensitizes Osteoblasts Response to Mechanical Load through Phosphorylation of RhoA

Honors, Awards, and Activities: National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Tri-Beta Honors Society, Christiana Care Volunteer, Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity

Fall 2013:
Medical School at Thomas Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia 






Anne Sanger
Biomediucal Enginering

Research Mentor:  Catherine Leimkuhler Grimes, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Project Title: Interactions between NOD2's LRR domain and MDP

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Secretary-Biomedical Interest Group, Social outreach coordinator for the Perry Initiative Program which encourages high school girls to enter fields of engineering and orthopedics, UD Trap and Skeet clay targets team that competed in Texas for national ACUI event,  Resident Assistant for honors freshman,






 



Helen Schmidt
Biochemistry 2013
Research Mentor:  K. Eric Wommack, Department of Plant and Soil Science

Project Title:  Exploring Diversity of Environmental Viral DNA Polymerases

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Delaware Repertory Dance Co., National Society of Collegiate Scholars Member, Francis J. McConne Scholarship,

Presentations: 
2010 Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, NSF EPSCoR Annual Meeting 2011, Delaware Environmental Institute Annual Meeting 2010, 2013 ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition in Boston,

Fall 2013: Doctoral Program Johns Hopkins.



Kathleen Seip
Biochemistry 2014

Research Mentors:  Michele Parent, Medical Technology and Catherine Leimkuhler Grimes, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Project Title:  Investigate How Vibrio parahaemolyticus Peptide Probes interact With NOD1, Resulting in Mammalian Cell activation

Honors, Awards, and Activities:  American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Student Affiliate, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Golden Key Honor Society, NUCLEUS,







Matthew Urban

Biochemistry 2014
Research Mentor:  Zhihao Zhuang, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Project Title: Molecular Mechanism of Eukaryotic Translesion Synthesis

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society, Golden Key Honors Society, Sigma Nu Fraternity, 2012 Wallace H. Carothers Scholar, Christiana Care Volunteer, Chemistry Tutor,




Matthew White
Biochemistry 2013


Research Mentor:  Charles Riordan, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Project Title: Exploring Properties and Reactivity of Nickel (I) trispyrazolylborate Complexes with Elemental Sulfur and Selenium

Honors, Awards, and Activities: National Merit Scholarship recipient, UD Distinguished Scholar 1743 Scholarship, Kevin Scott Beall Memorial Award in Chemistry (2009), ASBMB-UAN Secretary (2010-11) and president (2012-2013), Phi Βeta Κappa Society Alpha of Delaware Chapter Member, ΦΒK Clift and DeArmond Award, ASBMB Undergraduate Affiliates, Treasurer, Lori's Hands Volunteer Organization, Member, Treasurer, ACS Student Affiliates ACS Student Affiliates President 2012-13, U.D. Chapter AAUP Student Award, Elizabeth Dyer Award for Excellence in Chemistry and Biochemistry, Frank Collins Undergraduate Award in Biochemistry, Delaware Valley Science Fair Calvert Award Judge, U.D. General Honors Award, Biochemistry PBL tutor,

Presentation: 2010 Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium,

Fall 2014:
Recipient of an NSF Graduate Fellowship to attend graduate school in chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley,



 

Jocelyn Zajac
Biochemistry 2013
Research Mentors:  Melinda Duncan, Department of Biological Sciences

Project Title:
The Regulation and Function of Sip1 in the Eye Lens

Honors, Awards, and Activities: Biochemistry PBL tutor, Senior Thesis

Presentation: Sigma Xi Student Research Day Conference and presented a poster.


Fall 2013: GeneDx in Gaithersburg, MD as an array tech screening for rare genetic disorders.





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Created 6 May 2013 Last up-dated 21 May 2013 by Hal White [halwhite at udel.edu]
Copyright 2013