Senior Thesis Titles 2003

RACHEL I. ADAMS

Determining the Extent of Size Homoplasy by Examining Twelve Microsatellite Loci of an Amazonian Tree
Matthew B. Hamilton, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
Rachel was awarded the Chapman Medal from the Department of Biology for this thesis research project

David Andolino

Selected Aspects of Breast Cancer Metastasis
Steven Singer, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

Jeremy Asnis

Deep Brain Stimulation in the Treatment of Parkinson�s Disease
Joseph Neale, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

NOURA BAKKOUR

Changing abundance of the Green Sea Urchin Strongylocentrus droebachiensis before and after the introduction of three invasive species to the rocky subtidal community of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean
Philip Sze, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

Alexander S. Baras

Gene expression profiling in neonatal mouse models of altered lung development and adult mouse lung remodeling
Linda B. Clerch, Don Massaro, Lung Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine
Dr. Neale, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

ELIZABETH BECHERER

Effects of γ-Butyrolactone (GBL) on the behavior of rats fed a ketogenic diet measured by their state of arousal
Douglas Eagles, PhD, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MICHAEL BERNSTEIN

Short AT-rich regions throughout the genome of Giardia lamblia are sufficient to drive transcription and are the source of sterile transcripts produced by the organism
Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

ELIZABETH H. BOHNETT

The Role of the SAGA Complex in the Adenine-Regulated Transcription of ADE5,7 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Ronda J. Rolfes, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

RACHEL BOUTTENOT

Cytoskeletal Dynamics in Giardia lamblia: Isolation of the Cytoskeleton and Identification of Phosphorylated Proteins
Dr. Heidi G. Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

KATHERINE M. BRACKE

Social strategies: Examining the relationship between reproductive state and patterns of female-female associations in Tursiops sp
Janet Mann, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

CONNIE H. CHAN

Identification of IRES-mediated translation in Sp3
John R. Richert, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University
Steven M. Singer, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

YOUNG CHOE

DNA Secondary Structure and Free Energy are Associated with Indels in Non-Coding Chloroplast DNA of New World Lecythidaceae
Matthew B. Hamilton, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

Suna Choi

Streptococcus mitis biovar 1: Clonal Diversity of a Pioneer Species in the Oral Cavity of Human Neonates
Michael F. Cole, B.D.S., Ph.D. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center
Heidi Elmendorf, Ph.D. Department of Biology, Georgetown University

RONALD CODARIO

High-copy Suppressor Analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Dr. Ronda Rolfes, Biology Department, Georgetown University

AMY M. DAWLI

Inhibition Of Breast Cancer Resistance In LCC-1, LCC-204HPR, and LCC-219-cis-RA Cell Lines To Retinoid Treatment
Dr. Kerry O’Brien and Dr. Robert Clarke, Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown University

CAITLIN E. ENRIGHT

The Role of Angiotensin II and Estrogen in the Regulation of Renomedullary Interstitial Cell Growth
Christine Maric, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center
Ellen Henderson, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

DAVID R. FERNÁNDEZ

An Investigation of the Regulation of IRF-1 in MCF-7 Cells in Response to Treatment with Cytotoxic Drugs
Dr. Robert Clarke, Georgetown University

GARRETT D. FITZGERALD

The Protective Role of Estrogen in Diabetic Renal Disease
Dr. Christine Maric, Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Georgetown University

CHRISTOPHER J. FRANCIS

The Molecular Mechanisms and Pathophysiology of the Mammalian Nociceptive Response
Joseph H. Neale, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

VONNI GANT

From Mold to Morbidity: School Conditions and Asthma Priti Patel, American Lung Association of DC (ALADC)
Professor Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

PAUL F. GARVEY

A Study of the Ultrastructural Manifestations of Anti-Epilepsy Treatments in Rat Liver
Dr. George B. Chapman and Dr. Douglas Eagles, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

AMY L. GIN

Molecular Response of Colo-357 Pancreatic Cancer Cells to a Combination Treatment of Antisense HER-2 Oligonucleotides and Gemcitabine
Esther H. Chang, Ph.D., Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center
Ronda J. Rolfes, Ph.D., Department of Biology, Georgetown University

PAUL GRABOWSKI

Genetic and Environmental Factors in the Onset of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Jacqueline Jonklaas, Department of Medicine, Georgetown University
Joseph H. Neale, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MICHAEL J. GRIECO

The Role of Phosphorylation of PHO2 in Expression and Regulation of the ADE Genes in Conjunction with BAS1
Dr. Ronda J. Rolfes, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

KELLEY L. HAGERICH

Plasmodium falciparum Pathology and the Association with Macrophage Infiltration of the Placenta and the Production of Antibodies to HRP-1
Diane W. Taylor, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

DEVON H. HAYDON

Arl1p Regulates Membrane Potential in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: a Novel Role for an Arl Protein
Anne G. Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
Zukowski 2002 Undergraduate Research Scholarship Award Winner

ALEXANDRA HERZLICH

Inhibition of Presentation of Myelin Basic Protein Peptide Antigen by HLA DR1501 Transfected Cells to T Cell Receptor-Transfected Hybridoma Cells Using Small Organic Benzene Derivatives as a Possible Drug Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis
John Richert, MD, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Georgetown University
Douglas Eagles, PhD, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

James F. Kelly

Effects of Increased Beta-Hydroxy Butyrate Levels on Seizure Resistance
Dr. Douglas Eagles, Georgetown University

JUSTIN J. KOPA

Regulation of mouse beta defensin 3 expression in cell lines and its connection to Giardia lamblia infections
Steven Singer, Georgetown University Department of Biology

MICHAEL C. KOPRUCKI

Characterization of a human gene with a possible role in multiple sclerosis
John Richert, MD, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center
Douglas Eagles, Ph.D., Department of Biology, Georgetown University

EFUA LEKE

An Assessment of Antibody Responses to Two Liver-Stage Antigens of Malarial Parasites in Pregnant Women Exposed to Plasmodium falciparum
Diane Wallace Taylor, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

JOSHUA CHAO LERNER

A Light and Electron Microscope Study of the Daylily, Hemerocallis spp
George B. Chapman, Ph.D., Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Georgetown University Biology Department

BRIAN MacLAUGHLIN

Methoxyacetic Acid Disregulation of Androgen Receptor in Developing Testis
Carlos Suarez-Quian, Ph.D., Department of Cell Biology, Georgetown University
Douglas A. Eagles, Ph.D., Department of Biology, Georgetown University

DULCIE MADDEN

Seizure threshold, ß-hydroxybutyrate, glucose levels, and norepinephine in a normal, calorie restricted diet in rats
Douglas A Eagles, Ph.D., Department of Biology, Georgetown University

LAUREN MATTEINI

Effects of γ-Butyrolactone (GBL) on the behavior of rats fed a ketogenic diet measured by their state of arousal
Douglas Eagles, Ph.D., Department of Biology, Georgetown University

ANNE M. McINTYRE

Sialidae Biodiversity and Habitat Uses in Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, Virginia
Dr. Edd Barrows, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

DOMINIC MINTA-LUCCI

The Regulation Effects of NKX3.1 On Transcriptional and Translational Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
Dr. Edward Gelmann, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center
Dr. George Chapman, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MAYA MOORE

Innate color preference and learning abilities of Danaus plexippus in two behavioral contexts: foraging and oviposition
Martha Weiss, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

VIKRAM R. PALANIVEL

Structure-Function Analysis of Arl1p in S. cerevisiae
A.G. Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

CHRISTOPHER T. RICHARDS

Characterizing Cytokine Production by Fetal Placenta Tissue in Response to Plasmodium falciparum Infection
Diane Wallace Taylor, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

KELLIE A. ROONEY

The Regulation of Ion Homeostasis in S. cerevisiae
A.G. Rosenwald, Biology Department, Georgetown University

MELISSA RUIZ

A genetic predisposition to alcoholism: analysis of recent evidence examining the link between genetics and alcohol dependence and the implications of these findings
Ronda J. Rolfes, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MARY SANDQUIST

Production of GFP-actin to study the dynamics of actin in live Giardia lamblia cells
Dr. Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

Marc Sanidad

Capillaria philippinensis: description of capillariasis in human hosts
Diane Taylor, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

FRANCINE M. SCAFFIDI

DNA microarray technology and the effects of divalent cations on gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Anne G. Rosenwald, Ph.D., Department of Biology, Georgetown University

ANTHONY J. SCILLIA

Alzheimer’s Disease
Joseph H. Neale, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

JUSTIN M. SPORRER

Using non-linear dynamics to understand and control the spatio-temporal chaotic patterns in a model of fibrillating heart tissue
David Egolf, Department of Physics, Georgetown University
Douglas Eagles, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
Justin was awarded the Chapman Medal from the Department of Biology for this thesis research project

ALEXANDER T. TAFT, III

Odonata Abundance, Habitat, and Flight Periods in the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, Virginia
Edward M. Barrows, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

GRETTA THORN

Does the ketogenic diet protect against seizures by raising norepinephrine levels
Douglas A. Eagles, Ph.D., Department of Biology, Georgetown University

JOSEPH TRUGLIO

The Synergistic Neurotoxicity of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Tat Protein and Morphine
Barbara M. Bayer, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center
Douglas A. Eagles, Ph.D., Department of Biology, Georgetown University

JAN VOBECKY

A Light and Electron Microscope Study of the Islets of Langerhans and Islet Like Cell Clusters Developed in vitro
Nadya Lumelsky, Ph.D., Clinical Endocrinology Branch NIDDK, National Institutes of Health
George B. Chapman, Ph.D., Electron Microscope Laboratory, Georgetown University Biology Department

DENISE WHITE

Green crabs as an invasive species in North America
Philip Sze, PhD, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MATTHEW T. WITMER

Translation of Capped and Polyadenylated mRNA in Giardia lamblia
Steven Singer, Department of Biology, Georgetown University