Senior Thesis Titles 2010

SURIA BAHADUE

Different Activities Elicit a Variety of Verbal Engagement Contributing to the Science Discourse in a Ninth Grade Biology Classroom
Maria Donoghue and Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

JACOB F. BARANOSKI

Effects of Eph-Ephrin Interaction on Cell Segregation and Neural Structure Formation
Maria Donoghue, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

COLLEEN BENNETT

The effect of combining guided notes with concept mapping or interactive activities on student learning
Peter Armbruster and Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

JEFFREY BIEN

The Luciferase Immunoprecipitation Systems Assay as a Method for Autoantibody Detection in the Sera of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Cirrhosis, and Healthy Controls
Radoslav Goldman, Dept. of Oncology, and Peter Armbruster, Dept. of Biology, Georgetown University

KARIN NOËL BOTHWELL

Monarch butterflies learn colors equally well through absolute and differential conditioning
Martha R. Weiss, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

ALEXA BURR

A Comparative Analysis of the Biological and Public Health Factors of the HIV/AIDS Epidemics in Washington, D.C. and Nigeria Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

WINIFRED CANTOR

Guided Note-Taking: Developing a Student’s Note-Taking Abilities and Enhancing Their Approach to Assignments
Ronda Rolfes, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

YELENA CHUZHIN

Evaluation of Student Learning in an 11th Grade Anatomy and Physiology Class Through Analysis of Large and Small Scale Question Success
Martha Weiss, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

SHANE M. CLARK

Ecological Control Methods of Lyme Disease
Philip Sze, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

BRENT AUSTIN DIBBLE

An Overview of Corticogenesis: Cellular Progression From Proliferation to Differentiation
Maria Donoghue, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

KELLY DIFFERDING

Regulation and expression of intestinal Ezrin following infection with Giardia lamblia
Steven Singer, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

KAITLIN DONOHUE

Inquiry-based Lesson Plans Elicit Positive Student Behaviors Conducive to a Productive Learning Environment
Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

KAMILLA ESFAHANI

Neurotrophic Activity of Gangliosides: Role of Neurotrophins
Italo Mocchetti and Seung Lim, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center

ANDREW FEDERER

Genome Annotation and Heavy Metal Inhibition of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. SL483
Dr. Anne Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

VIVIENNE FOROUGHIRAD

Patterns of maternal care in Tursiops sp. in Shark Bay, Australia
Janet Mann, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Georgetown University

JOHN GEAGER

Environmental Effects Resulting from the Growing Economy of China
Gina M. Wimp, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

BITA GHAFOURI

Examining the Estrogen-Like Effects of Arsenite, Nitrite, and Nickel in vivo in Female Sprague-Dawley Rats
Mary Beth Martin, Departments of Oncology and Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center; Anne Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

EMMA GORYNSKI

Functional Analysis of Cysteine Knot Proteins
Elena Casey, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MORGAN GREENFIELD

The Timing of Exposure to Metalloestrogens and Its Effects on Mammary Gland Development and Estrogen Receptor-alpha Expression
Mary Beth Martin, Departments of Oncology and Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology; Anne Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MELISSA HARVEY

Mother-Calf Rest Study in Wild Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops sp.) in Shark Bay, Australia
Janet Mann, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Georgetown University

AMANDA HASSLER

Annotation of the arginine and proline pathways and acid tolerance genes in a Salmonella enterica genome.
Dr. Anne Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

JENNIFER HAWKEN

Induction of T cell–based immunity against giardiasis
Steven Singer, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MICHAEL HRDY

The fate and function of antisense transcripts in Giardia lamblia
Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

NAIEM T. ISSA

Probing the Human Auditory Speech Perception Pathway Using Selective Adaptation Paradigms
Maximilian Riesenhuber, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center

CATHERINE JAMIS

Computational Analysis of Nasonia vitripennis MicroRNA
Christine G. Elsik, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

SARI KHALEEL

The Effect of H19 Gene Overexpression on Brush Border Proteins During Giardia lamblia Infection
Steven Singer, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

JASMINE KHILNANI

A Fight Against Cholera: A Comparative Study Between India and Brazil
Professor Elmendorf, Biology of Biology, Georgetown University

AN KIM

Genomic Annotation and Test of Antibiotic Susceptibility/Resistance of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. SL483
Dr. Anne Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

KRISTIN KOENIG

Estrogen-independent Activation and Nuclear Translocation of the Estrogen Receptor-alpha
Mary Beth Martin, Departments of Oncology and Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, and Ronda Rolfes, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

KELLY KRESPAN

Manual Annotation of Salmonella enterica and Gene Expression under Cold Stress
Anne G. Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

JUSTIN LARACY

A Pilot Study: Dynamic limb weight bearing in injured animal models
Nathan Neckel, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center, and: Dr. Elena Casey, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

PAUL LECCESE

Experience-dependent Structural and Functional Neuroplasticity in the Adult Somatosensory Pathway of the Central Nervous System
Joseph Neale, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

BRIAN LIN

Multimerization Plays a Critical Role in Protein Complex Formation and RNA Binding Activity of Hepatitis Delta Antigen
John Casey, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Chris Elsik, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

SARAH LINNEMANN

The Role of Misconceptions in Student Learning
Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

LAURA LINVILLE

Hormone Independent Regulation of the Progesterone Receptor Beta
Mary Beth Martin, Departments of Oncology and Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology; and Ronda Rolfes, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

AMBER MAKANI

Expression and Characterization of Fc Gamma Receptor 3a for Cancer Immunotherapy Studies
Yong Tang, and Dr. Louis Weiner, Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center

MURAD RAMIZ MAMEDOV

Determination of Regions Involved in Hepatitis Delta Antigen-RNA Interaction
John L. Casey, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University

BRIGIT N. McLAUGHLIN

Analysis of CITES Approved Ara macao Trade and Legislative Implications
Amy Wilson, Migratory Bird Center / Genetics Center, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, and Peter A. Armbruster, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

EILEEN P. MERCURIO

Annotation as a Cognitive Strategy to Help Improve Students’ Critical Reading and Comprehension of Scientific Texts
Peter Armbruster and Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

LAURA MERCURIO

The Relationship Between Images and Written Context in Student Learning
Ronda J. Rolfes and Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

ROB MERRILL

The Use of Natural Killer Cells In Cancer Immunotherapy
Steven Singer, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

VALENTINA MOCCHETTI

Regulation of Sox14 in the Mesencephalon of Xenopus laevis
Elena Casey, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

ALICE MURNEN

The Functional Role of the Basolateral Amygdala in Flexible Goal-Directed Behavior
Karen Gale, Elizabeth West, Patrick Forcelli, Department of Pharmacology, Georgetown University

ANGELICA NOCERINO

Synthetic Lethal Screen of an EGFR-Centerd signaling network in pancreatic cancer cell lines:
Louis Weiner and Sandra Jablonski, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center

CHRISTIAN PEAN

Manual Genome Annotation and Silver Inhibition of Salmonella enterica Agona str. SL483
Dr. Anne Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

SUNIL REDDY

Divergent function ApoER2 and VLDLR
William G. Rebeck. Georgetown University, Department of Neuroscience.

KATHERINE RENDON

White yeast cells of Candida albicans respond to pheromones released by opaque cells to form biofilms which may assist in opaque cell mating
Ronda Rolfes, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

GEORGE A. ROCHE

Halictid Bee Populations, Distribution, and Biodiversity within a Mid-Atlantic National Park
Edward M. Barrows, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

DEJA ROSE

Effects of Electroshock Seizures on Traumatic Brain Injury
Patrick A. Forcelli and Karen Gale, Department of Pharmacology, Georgetown University

MELODY SAFARZADEH

The envelope protein of human immunodeficiency virus-1 modulates the release of proBDNF in human cells
Italo Mocchetti and Alessia Bachis, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center; Maria Donoghue, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

PAUL SAMPOGNARO

A Role for Eph Signaling in Differentiated Neurons of the Developing Cortex
Maria J. Donoghue, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MAX SCHOBER

Effects of ephrin-B3, a myelin-associated protein, on inhibiting axonal sprouting after spinal cord injury
Lawrence Kromer, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center

MICHELE SCIAUDONE

Properties of Nicotinic Cholinergic Receptors in MN9D Dopaminergic Cells
Kenneth Kellar, Department of Pharmacology, Georgetown University; Maria Donoghue, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

COLIN SHUKIE

The Role of the Presynaptic Membrane-Associated Protein, SNAP-23, in Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Killing
Gerard Ahern, Department of Pharmacology, Georgetown University

SHAELYNN SLEATER

In Search of the Molecular Mechanisms Underpinning Photoperiodic Diapause in Aedes albopictus
Peter Armbruster, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

KATHRYN A. SPECTORSKY

Plain Populations and Fancy Diseases: Understanding Genetically Recessive Diseases in Amish and Mennonite Communities
Gina M. Wimp, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MATTHEW CLIFFORD STROM

Genes of the foundation species Populus deltoides affect community structure and performance
Gina Marie Wimp, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

RYAN SUMME

Algal Biodiesel: An Analysis on the Feasibility of Large-Scale Production
Phil Sze, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

CARA SWANTEK

Infertility in Developed and Developing Countries
Anne Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

CAMERON SWEENEY

Adverse Behavioral Effects of Early Postnatal Exposure to Anticonvulsant Drugs in Rats
Patrick Forcelli and Karen Gale, Department of Pharmacology, and Maria Donoghue, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

JOE TESORIERO

F-Spondin Promotes Dendritic Spine Formation and Synaptic Plasticity in-vitro
Hyang-Sook Hoe, Department of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Hospital

TEJAL THAKER

Factors Contributing to the Quality of Differences between Student Verbal and Written Responses
Maria Donoghue and Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MATTHEW J. TOTH

Determining the Role of the “Class E” Vacuolar Protein Sorting (VPS) Proteins in Purine Secretion
Ronda J. Rolfes, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

ABRAM WAGNER

Investigating Recall of Material from Kinesthetic and Non-Kinesthetic Activities among 11th-grade Science Students
Martha Weiss and Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

DYLAN WATERMAN

Network temporal effects of the down-regulation of neural ligand protein ephrinB3 on developing hippocampal cultures
Rhonda Dzakpasu, Department of Physics, and Maria J. Donoghue, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

LAUREN WESTBAY

Polymorphisms in the genes COMT, BDNF, and DRD4 influence dissociable aspects of feedback-based learning
Darlene V. Howard, Department of Psychology, and Maria J. Donoghue, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

SAMUEL WILES

Characterization of the Genomic Properties of Salmonella enterica serovar Agona str. SL483
Anne G. Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

SARAH WONDISFORD

Development of an in vitro assay to measure inorganic polyphosphate.

Elliot Crooke, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, and Ronda Rolfes, Department of Biology, Georgetown University