Upcoming Doctoral Dissertation Defense Dates

Yin Wang
Microbiology and Immunology, Ph.D. candidate
"Local Host Response to Chlamydial Urethral Infection in Male Guinea Pigs"
Mentor:  Dr. Roger Rank
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
1:00 p.m.
Biomedical Research Building I, B205/207

Sarah Cullen
Microbiology and Immunology, Ph.D. candidate
"Molecular Regulation of Inflammation by the Proteasome"
Mentor:  Dr. Usha Ponnappan
Thursday, November 19, 2009
1:30 p.m.
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Dinesh Kumar
Pharmacology, Ph.D. candidate
"Regulation of Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channels in Neonatal Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension"
Mentor: Dr. Nancy J. Rusch
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
2 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

2008-09

Lindsay Pack
Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences M.S. candidate
"Developing Greener Technology for Cotinine Biomonitoring Programs"
Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Moran
Thursday, July 16, 2009
11 a.m.
Arkansas Public Health Laboratory 1st floor training room

Biny K. Joseph,M.S.
Interdisciplinary Toxicology, Ph.D. candidate
"Loss of K+ Channels in the Cerebral Circulation of Hypertensive Rats:  Membrane Associated Proteins and Myogenic Tone"
Mentor:  Dr. Nancy Rusch
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
10 a.m.
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Sherin Y. Boctor, M.S.
Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. candidate
Interdisciplinary Neurosciences Track
"Neonatal Phencyclidine or Ketamine Treatment Modifies Preweaning Behaviors, but Only Neonatal PCP Treatment Alters Adult Locomotor Activity in Male and Female Sprague-Dawley Rats"
Mentor: Dr. Sherry Ferguson
Friday, July 10, 2009
9 a.m.
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

David Terrano, B.A.
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Ph.D. candidate
"Cdk1 phosphorylation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL as a new link between mitotic arrest and apoptosis"
Mentor: Dr. Timothy C. Chambers
Monday, May 18, 2009
2 p.m.
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Meijun Ye, MBBS
Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences Ph.D. candidate
"Cholinergic Modulation of Fast Synaptic Transmission in the Pedunculopontine and Parafascicular Nuclei: Implications for the Regulation of Cortical Arousal"
Mentor: Dr. Edgar Garcia-Rill
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
12 noon
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Jacy Wagnon, B.S.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Ph.D. candidate
"Characterization of ade6-M26 hotspot RNA and its role in the activation ot meiotic homologous recombination"
Mentor: Dr. Wayne Wahls
Friday, April 17, 2009
9 am
Biomedical Research Building I, Room 205/207

Gautam Gandhi, B.S.
Physiology and Biophysics Ph.D. candidate
"Functional Roles of Astrocytes in Metabolite Trafficking"
Mentor: Dr. Gerald Dienel
Thursday, April 16, 2009
3 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Swapnil Sonkusare, M.S.
Pharmacology Ph.D. candidate
"Upregualtion of vascular L-type calcium channels in hypertension: the role of beta subunits"
Mentor: Dr. Nancy Rusch
Tuesday, April 14
2-3 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Bill Buron, MSN, RNC, APN
Nursing Science Ph.D. candidate
"Promoting Personhood Among Nursing Home Residents Living With Dementia"
Committee Chair: Cornelia Beck, PhD, RN, FAAN
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
1-3 pm
COPH 5th floor, Room 5201

Laura Evans, BSN, APN, WHNP-BC
Nursing Science Ph.D. candidate
"Southern Rural Black Women's Explanatory Models of Heart Disease "
Committee Chair: Jean McSweeney, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
10:30-12:30 am
5th Floor of COPH, Room 5201

Carol Enderlin, MNSc, RN
Nursing Science Ph.D. candidate
"Sleep in Older Women with Breast Cancer"
Committee Chair: Elizabeth Ann Coleman, PhD, RN
Friday, April 3, 2009
2-4 pm
10th Floor of ACRC, Betsy Blass Board Room

Dana Carthron, BSN, RN
Nursing Science Ph.D. candidate
"Impact of Caregiving Responsibilities on the Diabetic Health of African-American Primary Caregiving Grandmothers"
Committee Chair: Pao-Feng Tsai, PhD, RN
Thursday, April 2, 2009
10-12 noon
COPH, 5th floor, Room 5201

Barbara Pate, MPH, BSN, RN
Nursing Science Ph.D. candidate
"Effectiveness of Web-based Programs in Improving Breastfeeding Self-efficacy  "
Committee Chair: Robert Kennedy, Ph.D.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
10-12 am
5th Floor of COPH, Room 5201

Melodee Harris, MSN,RN
Nursing Science Ph.D. candidate
"The Effects of Slow-Stroke Back Massage on the Sleep of Persons with Dementia in the Nursing Home"
Committee Chair: Claudia Beverly, Ph.D., R.N.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
12:30-3:30 pm
COPH G/232

Kathryn Seely, B.S.
Interdisciplinary Toxicology Ph.D. candidate
"Cannabinoid Receptor Inverse Agonists as Novel Therapeutic Agents"
Mentor: Dr. Paul Prather
Friday, March 20, 2009
1 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Stephanie Byrum, M.Sc.
Bioinformatics Ph.D. candidate
"The Diagnostic Fingerprint of Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis"
Mentor: Dr. Larry Suva
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
2 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Yuliya Koriakina
Physiology and Biophysics Ph.D. candidate
"Studies of Expression, Signaling, and Trafficking of the Beta2-Adrenergic Receptor in Response to Beta-Agonist"
Mentor: Dr. Lawrence Cornett
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
3 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Balasubramanian Manickam
Microbiology and Immunology Ph.D. candidate
"Role of Complement and Complement Regulatory Proteins in Experimental Autoimmune Anterior Uveitis (EAAU)"
Mentor: Dr. Nalini Bora
Thursday, January 29, 2009
1:30 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Venkata Bhogaraju
Pharmacology Ph.D. candidate
"Characterization of Cu, Zn Superoxide Dismutase In Vivo: Zn-Deficient SOD1 as a Potential Neurotoxic Species in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis"
Mentor: Dr. John Crow
Friday, January 16, 2009
1 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Sarah White
Pharmacology Ph.D. candidate
"Effects of methamphetamine on pregnant rats and their litters in the presence and absence of anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibody therapy"
Mentor: Dr. Michael Owens
Monday, December 15, 2008
2 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Lauren Blair
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Ph.D. candidate
"Structure-Function Analysis of SF1B Helicases Dda and Pfi1"
Mentor: Dr. Kevin Raney
Friday, December 12, 2008
12 noon
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Shankar Munusamy, M.S.
Pharmacology Ph.D. candidate
"Involvement of Oxidants and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Pathogenesis of Hyperglycemia-induced Renal Injury"
Mentor: Dr. Lee Ann MacMillan-Crow
Friday, December 5, 2008
1 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Ying Su
Physiology and Biophysics Ph.D. candidate
"Molecular Regulation of Breast Cancer Susceptibility by Dietary Factors"
Mentor: Dr. Rosalia Simmen
Thursday, December 4, 2008
3 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Jonathan Hubbard
Pharmacology Ph.D. candidate
"Monoclonal Antibodies as Protective Medications for Drug Abuse During Pregnancy"
Mentor: Dr. Michael Owens
Thursday, December 4, 2008
2 pm
Biomedical Research Building I, Room 205/207

Anca Bene
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Ph.D. candidate
"The role of c-Jun/AP-1 in microtubule inhibitor-induced apoptosis"
Mentor: Dr. Timothy Chambers
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
12:00 noon
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Lavanya Amuluru
Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences M.S. candidate
"Calcific Uremic Arteriolopathy: Potential Role of Metal Accumulation"
Friday, November 14, 2008
8 am
VA 6B 138

Yiying Wang
Physiology and Biophysics Ph.D. candidate
"Temporal Control of Maternal mRNA Translation during Oocyte Maturation"
Mentor: Dr. Angus MacNicol
Friday, September 26, 2008
1 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Jun Gao
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Ph.D. candidate
"Regulation of Meiotic Recombination by a Multifunctional ATF/CREB Protein"
Mentor: Dr. Wayne Wahls
Thursday, September 25, 2008
12 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

LaTasha Smith
Physiology and Biophysics Ph.D. candidate
"Comparative profiling of adipokines and gene expression of adipocyte differentiation factors in obese African-American and Caucasian women"
Mentor: Dr. William Evans
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
3 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Amit Bodhani
Pharmaceutical Sciences Master's Thesis defense
"Evaluating Medicare Beneficiaries' Satisfaction with Medication Therapy Management Services in Community Pharmacies"
Monday, September 15, 2008
2 pm
Ed II, COP 6th floor main conference room

Sarika Saraswati
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Ph.D. candidate
"Post-Translational Regulation of Galectin-3 in Human Seminal Plasma"
Mentor: Dr. Alan Diekman
Thursday, September 4, 2008
12 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Wassim El Jouni
Physiology and Biophysics Ph.D. candidate
"Physiology and Regulation of Plasma Membrane Trafficking during Xenopus Oocyte Maturation"
Mentor: Dr. Khaled Machaca
Thursday, July 3, 2008
2:30 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Sheeno Thyparambil
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Ph.D. candidate
"Identification of putative biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma using mass spectrometry based proteomic approaches"
Dr. Rick Edmondson
Friday, June 27, 2008
2:00 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2
 

2007-2008

Thomas Alan Jennings
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Ph.D. candidate
"Biochemical and biological investigations of Hepatitis C virus non-structural protein interactions "
Dr. Kevin Raney
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
2 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Shalini Singh
Physiology and Biophysics Ph.D. candidate
"Molecular Mechanisms Contributing to Rhabdomyosarcoma Development"
Dr. Charlotte Peterson
Thursday, May 15, 2008
1:30 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Cagdas Tazearslan
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Ph.D. candidate
"Positive feedback between transcriptional and kinase suppression accompanies extraordinary longevity and stress resistance in C. elegans"
Dr. Robert Reis
Friday, May 16, 2008
2 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Vishnu Ramani
Physiology and Biophysics Ph.D. candidate
"Multiple roles of kallikrein 7 in pancreatic cancer"
Dr. Randy Haun
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
10 am
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Thetsu Mon
Physiology and Biophysics Ph.D. candidate
"Acetylcholine in developing and adult retina"
Dr. Jimmy Zhou
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
2 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Anandi Sawant
Microbiology and Immunology Ph.D. candidate
"The Role of Trehalose in Mycobacterium smegmatis"
Dr. David Carroll
Friday, April 18, 2008
1 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Yinghui Pu
"How Does Mouse Hepatitis Virus Enter Host Cells?"
Dr. Xuming Zhang
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
2 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

David S. Heister
Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences Ph.D. candidate
“Intrinsic mechanisms and cholinergic modulation of the dorsal subcoeruleus: Implications for REM sleep”
Dr. Edgar Garcia-Rill
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Noon
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Dongdong Yu
Microbiology and Immunology Ph.D. candidate
"Coronavirus pathogenesis: virus-host cell interaction"
Dr. Xuming Zhang
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
2 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Xiaojun Ning
Microbiology and Immunology Ph.D. candidate
"VPN1 N terminal domains and poliovirus entry"
Dr. Marie Chow
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
2 pm
Biomedical Research Building I, Room 205-207

Rohit Singhal, M.Sc.
Interdisciplinary Toxicology Ph.D. candidate
"Modulation of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Signaling by Soy Consumption and Estrogens"
Dr. Martin J. Ronis
Friday, January 18, 2008
10 am
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Courtney Wilkins
Microbiology and Immunology Ph.D. candidate
"Caenorhabditis elegans as a model host for viral infection"
Dr. Marie Chow
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
2 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Zabeena P. Shaik
Pharmaceutical Sciences track Ph.D. candidate
"Protective Actions of Protein Kinase B/Akt Against Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Cell Death in Injured Renal Cells"
Dr. Grazyna Nowak
Thursday, December 6, 2007
12 pm
Biomedical Research Building I, Room 205-207

Brian Donahower
Interdisciplinary Toxicology  Ph.D. candidate
"Examination of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in a Mouse Model of Acetaminophen Toxicity"
Dr. Laura James
Monday, December 3, 2007
1 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Nirmal K. Phulwani
Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences Ph.D. candidate
"Modulating Astrocyte Activation in Response to Staphylococcus aureus: Relevance to Brain Abscess"
Dr. Tammy Kielian
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
10 am
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Barbara H. Baker, MSN, RN
Nursing Science  Ph.D. candidate
"Retention Strategies for Minority Nursing Students in Baccalaureate and Associate Degree Nursing Programs as Identified by Faculty"
Dr. Robert L. Kennedy
Monday, November 19, 2007
11 am-1 pm
UAMS COPH Ground Floor, G232

Toby M. Ward
Microbiology and Immunology  Ph.D. candidate
"Genetic Strategies for Improvement of Varicella Vaccines"
Dr. Wayne Gray
Friday, October 26, 2007
1 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

January Baumgardner
Interdisciplinary Toxicology Ph.D. candidate
"Effects of Diet and Nutritional Status on Progression of Fatty Liver Disease in Rats Fed via Total Enteral Nutrition"
Dr. Martin Ronis
Friday, October 5, 2007
2 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Taasin Srivastava
Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences Ph.D. candidate
"Role and Regulation of CPEB1 in Neuronal Cells"
Dr. Angus MacNicol
Thursday, October 11, 2007
9 am
College of Public Health Building, Room 8-240

Jennifer L. Shoemaker
Pharmacology Ph.D. candidate
"Antagonism of Cannabinoid CB2 Receptors Prolongs Survival and Maintains Motor Function in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis"
Dr. Paul Prather
Friday, August 24, 2007
1 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Rajesh Vadlapatla
Pharmacology Ph.D. candidate
"Drug-Organic Electrolyte Complexes as Controlled Release Systems"
Dr. Cherng-ju Kim
Monday, July 23, 2007
12 noon
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Rijin Xiao
Physiology and Biophysics Ph.D. candidate
"Dietary Proteins in Colon Cancer Prevention: Molecular Mediators and Mechanisms of Action"
Dr. Frank Simmen
Friday, July 6, 2007
1 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Prathamesh Pathak
Pharmaceutical Evaluation and Policy M.S. candidate
"An Investigation of Evidence-Based Versus Non Evidence-Based Off-Label Use of Atypical Antipsychotics in Arkansas Medicaid Pediatric Population: 2001-2005"
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
10 am
Ed 11, COP 6th floor conference room
 
2006-2007

Liping Wu, MS
Interdisciplinary Toxicology Ph.D. candidate
"Microcirculatory Dysfunction and Reactive Nitrogen Species Generation During Sepsis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury"
Major advisor: Dr. Philip Mayeux
Friday, April 13, 2007
9 am
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Glenn Raup, MSN, RN, CNA-BC
Nursing Science Ph.D. candidate
"An Evaluation of the Impact of Leadership Styles Exhibited by ED Nurse Managers in Academic Health Centers on Nurse Turnover and Patient Satisfaction"
Dr. Ann Coleman
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
7-9 am
Ed II 5th floor Room 5201

Nichole Dowdy-Sanders
Interdisciplinary Toxicology Ph.D. candidate
"Effects of Cognitive Enhancers on Learning and Attention in the Ts65Dn mouse, a Model of Down Syndrome"
Dr. Galen Wenger
Monday, April 23, 2007
1 pm
Biomedical Research Building I, Room 205/207

Tiffany Wallace Huitt
Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences Ph.D. candidate
"Differential Activation of N-Methyl-D-Aspartic Acid and Kainic Acid Receptors in the Pedunculopontine Nucleus of Rat Modulates Both Ascending and Descending Efferent Projections Related to Preattentional and Arousal Mechanisms"
Dr. Edward Garcia-Rill
Thursday, April 26, 2007
12 noon
College of Public Health Building, Room G228

Yan Xiong
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Ph.D. candidate
"Identification of the Binding Sites of Human UDP-Glucuronsyltransferases"
Dr. Anna Radominska-Pandya
Friday, May 4, 2007
10 am
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Athena Starlard-Davenport
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Ph.D. candidate
"Characterization of UDP-Glucuronosyl Transferases in Normal and Malignant Human Breast Tissues"
Dr. Anna Radominska-Pandya
Monday, May 7, 2007
12 pm
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Sudeepa Bhattacharyya, M.Sc.
Bioinformatics Ph.D. candidate
"Discovery of Osteoporosis Biomarkers by Serum Proteomics"
Dr. Larry Suva
Monday, May 7, 2007
10 am
Biomedical Research Building II, Rayford Auditorium, Room 106-2

Cindy X. Zhang Gandhi
Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences Ph.D. candidate
"Effect of Liver X Receptor Agonists on Glial Activation: Relevance to Multiple Sclerosis"
Dr. Paul Drew
Thursday, May 10, 2007
12 pm
College of Public Health Building, Room G226