Senior Thesis Titles 2011
LENARD W. BABUS
Decreased dendritic spine density and abnormal spine morphology in Fyn-knockout mice
Elizabeth M Little, Jung Min Song, S. Sakura Minami, So-Yeon Koo, Hyun-Jung Cha, Daniel T.S. Pak, G. William Rebeck, R. Scott Turner, and Hyang-Sook Hoe, Department of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, and Department of Neurology, Georgetown University Medical Center
MARIA BAQUERIZO
Lasioglossum Bee Populations, Distribution, and Biodiversity within a Mid-Atlantic National Park
Edward M. Barrows, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
SAMANTHA BAXTER
Rodents and the Ecological Recovery of Mount St. Helens
Philip Sze, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
JACOB BECKERMAN
Acetylsalicylic Acid Enhances IP3-mediated Ca2+-acitvated K+ Currents in Primary Rat Megakaryocytes
Adam Myers and Stephano Vicini, Department of Pharmacology, Georgetown University Medical Center
JAMES BLANEY
Optimal Timing of Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV/TB-coinfected Individuals
Steven Singer, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
JENINE BOILEAU
Neuronal Restriction of Fbxo16 by REST (repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor)
Elena Silva Casey, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
MASAKO CHEN
The Utility of Kolb Learning Style Inventory in a Ninth Grade Biology Class
Gina Wimp and Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
ELIZABETH CIARAVINO
Examining the use of Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT) as an effective long-term control strategy for the maintenance and reduction of mortality due to malaria
Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
SHOSHANA CLERIZIER
What techniques can be used to promote language precision and student confidence in written work?
Gina Wimp, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
CHRISTINE CORRENTE
The impact of kinesthetic, reading-writing, and visual activities on scientific knowledge retention
Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
ANNE R. COTTER
Predation risk and birth seasonality in Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins
Janet Mann, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Georgetown University
MARY CATHERINE DALY
Effects of Cki1 phosphorylation on arl1Δ sensitivity to hygromycin B in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Anne Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
MARK DECOTIIS
Biological and socioeconomic factors affecting mosquito larval abundance in neighborhoods of Washington D.C.
Zara Dowling, Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland
JACKIE DESJARDIN
The Role of the Amygdala and DLSC in Socio-emotional Behavior of Primates
Ludise Malkova, Department of Pharmacology and Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University
CHRISTINA DIBARTOLOMEO
Detection of DNA Methylation in Giardia lamblia
Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
VIRGINIA DINES
Teaching Study Techniques in a High School Classroom to Improve Metacognition and Test Performance
Peter Armbruster, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
DAVID C. DRISCOLL
Amniotic pluripotent stem cells in wound healing
Ronda Rolfes, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
CAITLIN A. DURKEE
Visual and chemical mimicry in a North American jumping spider
Divya B. Uma and Martha R. Weiss, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
ANASTASIA EFTHYMIOU
Characterization of neural progenitors in the developing mouse brain
Maria Donoghue, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
ANDREW ELDABH
The Role of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase in Hormone Independent Breast Cancer
Geoffrey B. Storchan and Mary Beth Martin, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University
ROCCO MICHAEL FERRANDINO
Using Forward Genetics to Learn about Membrane Traffic in Candida glabrata
Anne G. Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
BESS M. FLASHNER
Efforts in surgical volunteerism as a global health intervention
Kathleen M. Casey, American College of Surgeons; K.A. Kelly McQueen, Harvard University; and Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
BRIAN GALLAGHER
Probing the EGFR Network for Possible Small Molecule Inhibitors
Sandra Jablonski, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center
LINDSAY GALLAGHER
A comparison of observational sampling methods for measuring activity budgets of wild dolphins
Janet Mann, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Georgetown University
CHELSEA GIAGNI
An Inflammation-Based Model of Atherosclerosis and Treatments that Target the Role of Lipoproteins in the Inflammatory Process
Steven Singer, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
ANEESH GUPTA
Development of Striatofugal Axonal Projections from D1 and D2-Dopamine Receptor Expressing Medium Spiny Neurons in Mice
Lawrence F. Kromer, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center
MARY KATHRYN HANNAN
The Order of Innovation and Efficiency and its Impact on Student Learning in a High School Science Classroom
Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
MEGAN HEFFERNAN
The Effect of Student and Overall Class Engagement on Individual and Classroom Performance
Ronda Rolfes and Heidi Elmendorf, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
NADIA JAFAR
Caveolin-1 Inhibits Survivin and Increases Sensitivity to Paclitaxel in Breast Cancer Cells
Ayesha N. Shajahan, Eddie Hickman, and Robert Clarke, Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University
DAVID KALIKHMAN
The Effect of Bilateral Trephination on Seizure Activity
Patrick Forcelli and Karen Gale, Department of Neuropharmacology, Georgetown University
CATILIN KARNIKSI
Investigating the Relationship Between Student Inquiry and Understanding
Gina Wimp, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
KATHLEEN KEENOY
The Effect of APP and Reelin on Dendritic Spine Formation
Hyang-Sook Hoe, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center
JEFFREY KUBIAK
The Role of Sox11 in Neurogenesis
Elena Silva Casey, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
JESSIE LAURASH
NOD2 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms In Patients with Intestinal Failure
Joseph Abdo1,2, Denver Lough1,2, Juan Francisco Guerra1,2,4, Michael Zasloff1,2,3, Thomas Fishbein1,2;1 Transplant Institute, Georgetown University Hospital, 2 Department of Surgery, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University Medical Center, 4Department of Digestive Surgery. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
KALEEN LAVIN
Effects of NAAG Peptidase Inhibitors on Nociception in Mouse Model of Inflammatory Pain
Joseph Neale, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
TAYLOR LEATH
Hippocampal Glutamatergic Transmission on a Self-Ordered Spatial Sequence Task in Non-Human Primates
Patrick A. Forcelli and Ludise Malkova, Department of Pharmacology, Georgetown University
JOHN MADORE
The Role of N-acetylaspartylglutamate in Inflammatory Pain
Joseph Neale, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
OMAR Z. MANIYA
The Role of COUP Transcription Factors in Tamoxifen Resistant Breast Cancer Cells
Alan Zwart1, Li Chen2, Jianhua Xuan2, Robert Clarke1, Rebecca B. Riggins1; 1Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University; 2Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
JESSICA MCCAMY
Instituting cost-effectiveness analysis in United States health care: Metrics, methods, and lessons from abroad
Robin Goldenberg, Department of Health Systems and Administration, Georgetown University
CLAIRE MCCARTHY
Investigation into the localization and RNA-binding properties of Hepatitis Delta Virus
John L. Casey, Georgetown University Medical Center
DAVID MCCUE
The Role of Serotonin in Orbitofrontal Cortex in Flexible Goal-Directed Behavior and Social Interaction
Elizabeth A. West, Patrick A. Forcelli, Ludise Malkova, and Karen Gale, Department of Pharmacology, Georgetown University
LISA MCMANUS
The role of activity type on engagement disparities between genders in middle school
Ronda Rolfes, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
MICHELLE MEJIA
Future Directions in Chlamydia Research: The Link between Hormones, Disease Severity, and Chlamydial Development
Anne Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
PETER GIESY METZGER
Candida albicans PHO2 is Not Necessary for Transcription Regulation of Phosphatase Utilization System or ADE Genes
Ronda Rolfes, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
JIHANA K. MOTTLEY
Knowledge and practices regarding infectious disease and their impact on mosquito populations: A survey across socioeconomic groups in Washington D.C.
Peter Armbruster, Department of Biology, Georgetown University, and Zara Dowling, Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland
SUSAN MOVITZ
Transgenic Zebrafish (Danio rerio): A potential model organism for studying intersex characteristics as a result of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Eric Glasgow, Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center
MATTHEW MULLARKEY
The Utility of Peer Assessment to Enhance Student Learning and Performance
Peter Armbruster, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
KELSEY R. MURPHY
Changes in the Intestinal Epithelium following Giardia lamblia infection
Steven M. Singer, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
GABRIELA NOCERINO
Combined targeting of the EGFR signaling network in the A431 cell line
Louis Weiner and Sandra Jablonski, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center
ELIZABETH OCKERMAN
Integration of experience-based learning into middle school classroom assessments
Maria Donoghue, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
ALISON O’NEILL
Chemotherapy-Resistant Ewing Sarcoma Stem Cells Respond to EWS-FLI1 Inhibition and Express Low IGF-IR
Jeffrey A. Toretsky, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center
TREY PICOU
A Quantitative Approach to Establishing the Hydrodynamic Attachment Mechanism of Giardia lamblia
Haibei Luo1, Ryan McAllister2, Jamie Polackwich2, Beatriz Burrola Gabilondo2, Jeff Urbach2 and Heidi Elmendorf1; 1 Department of Biology, and 2Department of Physics, Georgetown University
ALEXANDRA PORCU
Localization of ADE5,7, ADE17 and PHO5 in the nucleus before and during transcription
Kris Willis and Ronda Rolfes, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
MARY PUNCHAK
Virulence Factors of Cryptococcus neoformans
Anne Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
MATTHEW T. RENART
An Investigation of “Food Deserts” And Their Impact On Childhood Obesity In Washington D.C.
Myrtle McCulloch, Department of International Health, Georgetown University
ALEXANDRA RUSSO
The role of Eph/Ephrin signaling in cortical synaptogenesis
Maria Donoghue, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
BETH RUTSTEIN
Use of Time-lapse Imaging with Single-cell Tracking to Understand Cancer and Stromal Cell Behaviors
M. Carla Cabrera, LCCC, Georgetown University; Timm Schroeder, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen-German Research Center for Environmental Health; and Priscilla Furth, LCCC, Georgetown University
SHIRA SAPERSTEIN
Inhibition of Dengue Virus 2 and West Nile Virus Serine Protease by 8-Hydroxyquinoline Derivative Compound KN13
Priya Srinivasan, Tarn Siwaporn and R. Padmanabhan, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University
BRITTANY SEIDENSTICKER
The influence of screening programs and risk factors on cervical cancer mortality: a case study of Paraguay and Vietnam.
Jose Teruel, School of Nursing and Health Studies, Georgetown University
NIMRITA SIDHU
Synchrony and Development in Bottlenose Dolphins
Janet Mann, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
CIARAN SMOLINSKY
Tauopathy in the A53T Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease is Limited to the Striatum
Anita Sidhu, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center
ELENA SOLLI
ApoE Isoforms Differentially Affect the Number of Astrocytes in the Mouse Hippocampus
Sonya Dumanis and William Rebeck, Department of Neurosciences, Georgetown University Medical Center
MATTHEW H. SPTIZER
Exploring dendritic spine density promoters for Alzheimer’s disease treatment
Hyang-Sook Hoe, Departments of Neuroscience and Neurology, Georgetown University Medical Center
BRENNA STANCZYK
ApoEr2: Exon 19 Mediated Interaction with Adaptor Proteins
Teal Connor and G. William Rebeck, Department of Neurosciences, Georgetown University Medical Center
CARA SWEENEY
Comparison of Emerging Resistance to Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV in South Africa and Brazil
Steven Singer, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
ALEXANDER X. TAI
Eph/ephrins mediate the topographical sorting of striatofugal projection neurons during development
Lawrence F. Kromer, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center
SYDNEI TOLEFREE
Examining the Affects of Obesity and Diet on Host Gut Microbial Populations
Ronda Rolfes, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
DARYN TOWLE
Self-reported Confidence and Performance in Urban Middle School Students
Maria Donoghue, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
TUAN TRINH
Protection of MIN6 Transplantation by Local Delivery of Abatacept and Rapamycin
Douglas Sobel, Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University Medical Center
ALEXANDRA WHITE
Dissecting Elite Control and its Implications for HIV Vaccine Science
Steven Singer, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
MARK Q. WILBER
The Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on Host-Parasitoid Interactions
Gina M. Wimp, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
HABIB G. ZALZAL
Psychological Impact on Patients at High Risk for Breast Cancer who Undergo Prophylactic Mastectomy
Ali Al-Attar, Scott L. Spear, Department of Plastic Surgery, Georgetown University Hospital