Recent Graduates (M.A., M.S.) in Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Clinical Chemistry

August, 2010 - May, 2011

Qinglan Duan, M.A., Biochemistry
Michael Faris, M.A., Biochemistry
Brenda Gocek, M.S., Biochemistry
Brianna Mew, M.S., Clinical Chemistry
Maharshi Patel, M.A., Chemistry
Brett Taroli, M.A., Chemistry

August, 2009 - May, 2010

Luli Akinfiresoye, M.A., Clinical Chemistry

Dorina Amendola, M.A., Biochemistry

Teresa Coppa, M.A., Biochemistry

Robert Davis, Jr., M.S., Biochemistry

Charles Decker III, M.A., Chemistry

Kristina DeLorenzo, M.S., Biochemistry

Janice Ezdebski, M.A., Biochemistry

Jiaxi Gao, M.S., Clinical Chemistry

Victoria Hoch, M.S., Biochemistry

Helene Janosczyk, M.A., Biochemistry

Ernest Kawka, M.A., Chemistry

Ying Liu,  M.A., Biochemistry

Ryan Marsico, M.A., Chemistry

Kimberly McHugh, M.S., Clinical Chemistry

Charles Penn, M.S., Biochemistry

Amanda Riccio, M.A., Biochemistry

Mary Ann Smith, M.A., Biochemistry

Michael Soltus, M.S., Biochemistry

Frank Valla, Jr., M.S., Clinical Chemistry

Melanie Zipp, M.S., Biochemistry

August, 2008 - May, 2009

Michael Aversa, M.S., Biochemistry

Paul Homnick, M.A., Biochemistry

Amanda Hvizda, M.S., Biochemistry

Craig Onofry,  M.A., Biochemistry

Christine Richards, M.A., Chemistry

Mark Romanczyk, M.A., Biochemistry

Suraj Saraswat, M.A., Biochemistry

Hueiwen Tan, M.S., Biochemistry

Szuyun Wang, M.A., Biochemistry

August, 2007 - May, 2008

Seaton Angley, M.S., Chemistry

Kathleen Joyce,  M.S., Biochemistry

Eric Kemmerer, M.S., Biochemistry

Kunal Patel, M.S., Clinical Chemistry

Elizabeth Rogers, M.S., Biochemistry

Kristin Marie Stempa, M.S., Biochemistry

Brian Weidlich, M.S., Biochemistry

August, 2006 - May, 2007

Robert Congdon, M.A., Biochemistry

Christopher Fazen, M.A., Biochemistry

Jason Koval, M.A., Biochemistry

Renee Salvo, M.A., Biochemistry

Thomas Umile, M.A., Chemistry

Debbie Valentin, M.A., Biochemistry

August, 2005 - May, 2006

Krista Cohen, M.A., Biochemistry

James Collins, M.A., Chemistry

Christopher Corey, M.A., Biochemistry

Edward Evans, M.A., Biochemistry

John Flynn, Jr., M.A., Biochemistry

Derek Bruce Gilpin, M.S., Biochemistry

Peter Olinits, M.S., Biochemistry

Renee Elizabeth Schaefer, M.S., Clinical Chemistry

Wei-Cheng Tung, M.A., Chemistry

Joseph Urban, M.S., Biochemistry

Daniel Van Ness, M.A., Chemistry

August, 2004 - May, 2005

Daniel Czyzyk, M.A., Biochemistry

Sonak Dalal, M.A., Biochemistry

Valerie Ebert, M.S., Biochemistry

Rania Hamed, M.A., Clinical Chemistry

Marissa Kintner, M.A., Biochemistry

Kimberly Kishel, M.S., Clinical Chemistry

Adam Kocyk, M.S., Clinical Chemistry

Cynthia LaCapra, M.S., Biochemistry

Melissa Lacina, M.A., Biochemistry

Christian Merz, M.A., Biochemistry

Vinesh Naik, M.A., Chemistry

Laura Petro, M.A., Biochemistry

Kimberly Sarosky, M.S., Clinical Chemistry

Kate Shanley, M.S., Clinical Chemistry

Brad Solomon, M.S., Biochemistry

Margaret Wright, M.S., Biochemistry


August, 2003 - May, 2004

Magee Allegrucci, M.A., Biochemistry

Yuxing Cai, M.A., Biochemistry

Janine Lamonica, M.A., Biochemistry

Michael Mandarano, M.S., Biochemistry

Scott Martin, M.A., Chemistry

Christopher Mitkowski, M.A., Clinical Chemistry

Richard Morgan, M. A., Biochemistry

Brian Rizzo, M.S., Biochemistry

Peter Saengthien, M.S., Biochemistry

Najwa Samman, M.S., Biochemistry

August, 2002 - May, 2003

August, 2001 - May, 2002

August, 2000- May, 2001


Names in boldface are recipients of the Outstanding Graduate in Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Clinical Chemistry Award



Master's Theses

August, 2010- May, 2011

Qinglan Duan
Mentor: David Rusak
Title: “Using Analytical Techniques (LIBS, ICP-AES, UV-Vis, and IR) to Prescreen Archaeological Bones for Radiocarbon-Dating.”

Michael Faris
Mentor: David Rusak
Title: “Determination and Quantitation of Carotenoids in Setophaga ruticilla Feathers.”

Brett Taroli
Mentor: David Rusak
Title: “Elemental Analysis of Coral and Bone Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy.”

Maharshi Patel
Mentor: David Marx
Title: “Development of Semicontinuous Electroless Plating Baths.”

August, 2009- May, 2010

Luli Akinfiresoye
Mentor: Joe Vinson
Title: “Effect of Three Piper Species on Oxidative Stress Induced by High Cholesterol Diet in Hamsters.”

Dorina Amendola
Mentor: Joe Vinson
Title: “In Vitro Biotransformation by Human Recombinant Liver Microsomes and Antioxidant Effectiveness of Soy Isoflavones Genistein and Daidzein and its Metabolite Equol.”

Teresa Coppa
Mentor: Timothy Foley
Title: “The Isolation and Identification of Candidate Redox Receptor Proteins in Brain by an Improved Phenylarsine Oxide Affinity Chromatography Method.”

Charles Decker III
Mentor: David Marx
Title: “Synthesis, Characterization, and Fluorescence Analysis of Silver Nanoparticle Preparations.”

Janice Ezdebski
Mentor: Joe Vinson
Title: “Analysis of Cranberry Anthocyanins and their Distribution in Hamster Organs.”

Helene Janosczyk
Mentor: Joan Wasilewski
Title: “Cloning of the Brucella Melitensis Gene Suspected to Express a DNA Protection Against Starvation (DPS) Protein.”

Ernest Kawka
Mentor: David Rusak
Title: “Method and Apparatus for Null-Measurement of Molecular Absorption Using Pulse Width Modulation.”

Ying Liu
Mentor: Joe Vinson
Title: “Green Tea and Black Tea Polyphenols Antioxidative Effects and Their Binding to LDL/vLDL.”

Ryan Marsico
Mentor: David Rusak
Title: “Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy to Identify Bone Samples as Candidates for Radiocarbon Dating.”

Amanda Riccio
Mentor: David Marx
Title: “The Antimicrobial Efficacy of Electroless Copper and Gold Nylon.”

Mary Ann Smith
Mentors: David Rusak and Michael Hardisky
Title: “Production of Ethanol Derived from Biological Feedstock Sources for a Determination of Feedstock Efficiencies.”


August, 2008- May, 2009

Paul Homnick
Mentor: Jennifer Tripp
Title: “Towards the Continuous-Flow Polymer-Supported Dioxolanation of 4-Chlorobenzaldehyde using a Vicinal Diol-Functionalized Macroporous Monolithic Polymer Column.”

Craig Onofry
Mentor: Michael Cann
Title: “Catalytic Microwave-Driven Dehydration of Glycerol to Acetol.”

Christine Richards
Mentor: Christopher Baumann
Title: “Infrared Spectra and Photochemistry of Biacetyl*Water Complexes Isolated in Inert Gas Matrices.”

Mark Romanczyk
Mentor: Joe Vinson
Title: “Polyphenol Binding and Antioxidant Effectiveness of Hydroxycinnamic Acids.”

Suraj Saraswat
Mentor: Joe Vinson
Title: “Antioxidant Effect of Polyphenols and Their Binding Ability with LDL/VLDL.”

Szuyun Wang
Mentor: Joe Vinson
Title: “Quantitative Measurement of Polyphenols of Breakfast Cereals by Folin and FRAP Methods.”

 

August, 2006- May, 2007

Robert Congdon
Mentor: David Rusak
Title: “Depth Profiling of Metal Platings with Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy.”

Christopher Fazen
Mentor: Timothy Foley
Title: “Oxidative Stress-Induced Protein Disulfides and Destabilization of Soluble Proteins from Rat Brain.”

Jason Koval
Mentor: Timothy Foley
Title: “Brain Protein Phosphatase 2A: Thiol-Based Redox Regulation and Aging.”

Renee Salvo
Mentor: Timothy Foley
Title: “Disulfide-Based Modification of Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) from Rat Brain: Possible Molecular Basis for the Responsiveness of PP2A to Oxidative Stress.”

Thomas Umile
Mentor: Michael Cann
Title: “Preparation of a Polylacic Acid Oligomer via Sulfuric Acid-Catalyzed, Microwave Assisted Polycondensation Reaction.”

Debbie Valentin
Mentor: David Rusak
Title: “Cyclodextrin-Enhanced Fluorescence of Acenaphthene.”

August, 2005- May, 2006

Krista Cohen
Mentor: Christopher Baumann
Title: “A Study of Isotopically Labeled Vinyl Acetate in Matrix Isolation Infrared Spectroscopy Experiments.”

 

James Collins
Mentor: Christopher Baumann
Title: “A Study of  the Desorption Kinetics and Infrared Spectrum of Glyoxal Adsorbed on Alkali Halide Films.”

 

Christopher Corey
Mentor: David Marx
Title: “A Comparative Study of Electroless-Plated Silver Wound Care Dressings to Commercial Silver-Based Wound Care Dressings.”

 

Edward Evans

Mentor: Tabbi Miller
Title: “Proteome Analysis by Two Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis (2DE) and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF MS) of the halophile Haloferax volcanii DS2.”


John Flynn, Jr.

Mentor: David Marx
Title: “The Oligodynamic Effect of Copper.”

 

Wei-Cheng Tung

Mentor: Joe Vinson
Title: “Investigation of Polyphenol Complexes with Lipoprotein and Albumin.”

 

Daniel Van Ness
Mentor: David Marx
Title: “Electroless Deposition of Silver Metal on Kevlar® Surfaces.”

 

August, 2004- May, 2005

Daniel Czyzyk
Mentor: Christopher Baumann
Title: “Desorption Kinetics and Infrared Spectroscopy of Deuterated Biacetyl on Alkali Halide Films.”

Sonak Dalal
Mentor: Joe Vinson
Title: “Comparative Human Bioavailability of Different Forms of CoQ10.”

Rania Hamed
Mentor: John Deàk
Title: “Permeation Enhancers of Indomethacin Using Franz Diffusion Cell Technique.”

Marissa Kintner
Mentor: Timothy Foley
Title: “Regulation of Brain Protein Phosphatase 2A by Inorganic Phosphate and Intermolecular Disulfide Bond Formation.”

Melissa Lacina

Mentor: Joan Wasilewski
Title: “Fluorescence Spectroscopic Studies of the Binding of Bacteriophage l Cro Repressor with OR3 DNA in the Presence of Monovalent and Divalent Metal Cations.”

 

Christian Merz

Mentor: Tabbi Miller
Title: “Comparative Genomics Investigation and Bioinformatics of a Highly Variable Genomic Region in Chromosome II, which Includes a Putative Hemagglutinin Gene, among Brucella Strains.”

Vinesh Naik
Mentor: David Marx
Title: “A Low Temperature Electroless Nickel Bath.”

Laura Petro
Mentor: Timothy Foley
Title: “Direct and Reversible Inhibition of Brain Protein Phosphatase 2A by the Cellular Oxidant Glutathione Disulfide.”

August, 2003- May, 2004

Magee Allegrucci
Mentor: Vito Del Vecchio
Title: “Comparative Analysis of the Exosporiomes of Bacillus anthracis and Other Closely Related Organisms”

Yuxing Cai

Mentor: Joe Vinson
Title: "Determination of Quality and Quantity of Polyphenols in Nuts."

Janine Lamonica
Mentor: Vito Del Vecchio
Title: “Comparative Two-Dimensional Gel Electrophoretic Study of the Secretome Profiles of Two Bacillus anthracis RA3 Derivative Strains Collected under Standard Aerobic and Host-Simulated Conditions.”

Michael Mandarano
Mentor: Joe Vinson
Title: “The Effect of Various Antioxidants on the Biochemistry of Chronic Complications Especially Cardiovascular Disease and Nephropathy in Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rats.”

Scott Martin
Mentor: David Rusak
Title: “Trace Metal Speciation Using HPLC-AA Technique.”

Christopher Mitkowski
Mentor: David Rusak
Title: “Spectroscopic Determination of Temperature in a Laser-Induced Plasma on a Lead-Carbon Target.”

Richard Morgan
Mentor: Christopher Baumann
Title: "A Study of the Desorption Kinetics and Infrared Spectrum of Biacetyl Adsorbed on Alkali Halide Films."

Brian Rizzo
Mentor: Joe Vinson
Title: “A Quantitative Investigation of Polyphenols Bound to LDL and VLDL.”


August, 2002- May, 2003

Sunil Anamandla
Mentor: Joe Vinson
Title: “Measuring the Absorption of Co-enzyme Q-10 in the Human Skin and its in vivo Antioxidant Effect.”

Troy Horn
Mentor: Vito Del Vecchio
Title: “Comparative Proteomic Study of Brucella melitensis strain 16M and Brucella abortus strain 2308.”

Kimberly Morgan
Mentor: Donna Narsavage-Heald
Title: “Investigation of the Reaction of a Cyclotrisilazane with a Borane Adduct.”

Donna Shuta
Mentor: Joe Vinson
Title: “Qualitative and Quantitative Measurement of Antioxidants in Coffee and the Effect of Coffee on Atherosclerosis in Hamsters.”

Candice Taylor
Mentor: Christopher Baumann
Title: "Infrared Analysis of Acetonitrile Adsorbed on Alkali Halide Films.”

Jared Varaly
Mentor: Christopher Baumann
Title: "The Characterization of the 405 nm Photoproducts in Deuterated Biacetyl.”

Leanne Williams
Mentor: Vito DelVecchio
Title: "Comparative Study of the in vitro Bacillus anthracis Secretome With or Without CO2 Induction: A Two-Dimensional Protein Electrophoresis Study.”


August, 2001- May, 2002

Rabab Al-Lahham
Mentor: Timothy Foley
Title: "Development of a Novel and Sensitive RT-PCR Assay for the Detection of ErbB2 Expression in Breast Cancer."

Brian Kupchak
Mentor: Timothy Foley
Title: "The Effects of Reactive Nitrogen Oxide Species on Brain Protein Phosphatases."

Kimberly Kutch
Mentor: Christopher Baumann
Title: "Infrared Analysis of Orientational Diffusion of Methyl Rotors on Alkali Halide Films."

Weiwen Long
Mentor: Timothy Foley
Title: "Receptor Tyrosine Kinase, ErbB4, Plays an Essential Role in Mammary Epithelium Differentiation and Lactation."

Michael Walton
Mentor: Donna Narsavage-Heald
Title: "The Synthesis and Characterization of a Bis-GMA/Silsesquioxane Dental Composite."
 

August, 2000- May, 2001

Jason Howe

Mentor: Donna Narsavage-Heald
Title: "Poly(borosilazane) Derived Ceramic as Carbon Substrate Coating."

Shad Lewis
Mentor: Larry Sherman
Title: "Tributyltin Chloride Biotransformation in the Perfused Rat Liver."

Denise Mahalidge
Mentor: Christopher Baumann
Title: "Infrared Analysis and Vibrational Dephasing Studies of Methyl Halides on Alkali Halide Surfaces."

Sabzada Rasool
Mentor: Larry Sherman
Title: "The Synergistic Effect of Organotin Compounds in Polysorbate 80 as a Chronic Nerve Toxin."

Mary Grace Sandy
Mentor: Joan Wasilewski
Title: "Observation of Bacteriophage lambda Cro Protein with Nonspecific DNA in the Presence of Divalent Metal Cations Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy."

Pranav Shah
Mentor: Donna Narsavage-Heald
Title: "Synthesis and Characterization of Three Copolymers and Investigation of Crosslinking by Sol-gel Process."

Sarah Zigmont
Mentor: Donna Narsavage-Heald
Title: "Studies of Bis-GMA/TEGMA/Silsesquioxane Composites."