Recent Graduates
MICHELLE BALADI, Ph.D.
Defense Date: April, 2011
UTHSCSA Mentor: Charles France, Ph.D.
Dissertation:Impact of Feeding Condition on Sensitivity of Rats to Drugs
Acting on Dopamine Systems
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Pharmacology
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
JACOB GARZA, Ph.D.
Defense Date: September, 2010
UTHSCSA Mentor: Xin-Yun Lu, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Leptin Signaling Regulates Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Pharmacology
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
JENNIFER LYNN STEWART, Ph.D.
Defense Date: May, 2009
UTHSCSA Mentor: George Henderson, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Nrf2 is responsible for astrocyte mediated neuroprotection against ethanol
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Pharmacology
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
CORINA BONDI, Ph.D.
Defense Date: February, 2009
UTHSCSA Mentor: David Morilak, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Chroni stress-induced alterations in noradrenergic modulation of cognition in prefrontal cortex
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Neuroscience
University of Pittsburgh
TUSHAR ADVANI, Ph.D.
Defense Date: July, 2008
UTHSCSA Mentor: Julie Hensler, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Brain derived neurotrophic factor deficient mouse: A putative model of allostatic overload
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Psychiatry
UTHSCSA
FRESNIDA RAMOS, Ph.D.
Defense Date: May, 2008
UTHSCSA Mentor: Feng Liu, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Neuronal insulin signaling and the regulation of mammalian lifespan
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Pathology
University of Washington
JOSE VELA, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Defense Date: April, 2008
UTHSCSA Mentor: Kenneth Hargreaves, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Dissertation: Beta Adrenergic Modulation of Peripheral Nociceptors
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Fellow and Endodontics Resident
The University of Iowa
DAKSHINE SHANMUGARAJAH, Ph.D.
Defense Date: December, 2007
UTHSCSA Mentor: Frederick Hausheer, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Dissertation: Mechanism of Action of BNP7787, a Novel Chemoprotective Agent
Current Position:
Senior Scientist
DPT Laboratories
San Antonio, TX
GINGER BECKER, M.S.
Defense Date: December, 2007
UTHSCSA Mentor: Charles France, Ph.D.
Thesis: Conditioned Opioid Withdrawal in Rats
Current Position:
Research Assistant II
Department of Psychiatry
UT Southwestern Medical Center
DANIA ROSSI, Ph.D.
Defense Date: November, 2007
UTHSCSA Mentor: Julie Hensler, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Regional Differences in the Regulation of 5-HT1A Receptor Function at the level of 5-HT1A Receptor-G Protein Interaction Following Chronic Antidepressant Treatment
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Kansas
Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology
KELLY BERG, Ph.D.
Defense Date: July, 2007
UTHSCSA Mentor: Julie Hensler, Ph.D.
Dissertation: RNA-Editing and 5-HT2C Receptor Signaling
Current Position:
Assistant Research Professor
UTHSCSA
Department of Pharmacology
DAVID PRICE, Ph.D.
Defense Date: March, 2007
UTHSCSA Mentor: Andrea Giuffrida, Ph.D. & James Roberts, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Neuroprotective Effects of Cannabinoids in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center
Department of Pharmacology
MONA BAINS, Ph.D.
Defense Date: March, 2007
UTHSCSA Mentor: James Roberts, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Estrogen-Mediated Neuroprotection of Primary Mesencephalic Neurons
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center
Department of Pharmacology
ANIBAL DIOGENES, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Defense Date: December, 2006
UTHSCSA Mentor: Kenneth Hargreaves, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Dissertation: Prolactin Regulation of Trigeminal Sensory Neurons
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Fellow
UTHSCSA
Department of Endodontics
RAJKUMAR SEVAK, Ph.D.
Defense Date: November, 2006
UTHSCSA Mentor: Charles France, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Effects of Streptozotocin and Food Restriction on Dopamine Clearance and on the Behavioral Effects of Dopaminergic Drugs
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Kentucky
Department of Behavioral Science
XUMING MAO, Ph.D.
Defense Date: July, 2006
UTHSCSA Mentor: Lily Dong, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Identification of a Signaling Molecule Downstream to AdipoR1 in the Adiponectin Signaling
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Pennsylvania
Department of Dermatology
AMOL PATWARDHAN, Ph.D.
Defense Date: April, 2006
UTHSCSA Mentor: Kenneth Hargreaves, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Dissertation: Peripheral Antihyperalgesic Mechanisms of Opioids and Cannabinoids
Current Position:
Instructor
UTHSCSA
Department of Endodontics
DEVIN CROSS, M.S.
Defense Date: October, 2005
UTHSCSA Mentor: José Cavazos, M.D., Ph.D.
Thesis: Synaptic Reorganization of the CA1 Projection to the Subiculum after Kainic Acid-induced Status Epilepticus
Current Position:
Senior Research Assistant
UTHSCSA
Department of Neurology
JENNIFER GIBBS, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Defense Date: May, 2005
UTHSCSA Mentor: Kenneth Hargreaves, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Dissertation: An Evaluation of the Effects of Activation of Neuropeptide Y Receptors on Sensory Neurons
Current Position:
Endodontic Resident
University of California - San Francisco
LAWRENCE (LARRY) CARTER II, Ph.D.
Defense Date: March, 2005
UTHSCSA Mentor: Charles France, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Evaluation of the Mechanism of Action of Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in Rats and Mice
Current Position:
Medical Affairs Scientist
Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
WAN-HONG (DI DI) WU, Ph.D.
Defense Date: January, 2005
UTHSCSA Mentor: John Kuhn, Pharm.D.
Dissertation: Characterization of the P13K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR Pathway in Glioblastoma Multiforme
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Fellow
UTHSCSA
Department of Biochemistry
LORA TALLEY WATTS, Ph.D.
Defense Date: December, 2004
UTHSCSA Mentor: George Henderson, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Astrocytes Protect Neurons from Ethanol-Induced Apoptotic Death
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Fellow
UTHSCSA
Department of Cellular & Structural Biology
MICHAEL (KRIS) KAHLIG, Ph.D.
Defense Date: July, 2004
UTHSCSA Mentor: Aurelio Galli, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Amphetamine Regulation of Dopamine Transport
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Medicine
Vanderbilt University
SHELLEY THIELEN, M.S.
Defense Date: April, 2004
UTHSCSA Mentor: David Morilak, Ph.D.
Thesis: Characterization of the Amygdala Priming Model of Panic Disorder
Current Position:
Senior Research Assistant
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Department of Psychiatry
NATHANIEL (NATHAN) JESKE, Ph.D.
Defense Date: December, 2003
UTHSCSA Mentor: James Roberts, Ph.D.
Dissertation: The Association of Metalloendopeptidase EC3.4.24.15 With Lipid Rafts
Current Position:
Assistant Professor
UTHSCSA
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
THEODORE (TED) PRICE, Ph.D.
Defense Date: September, 2003
UTHSCSA Mentor: Kenneth Hargreaves, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Dissertation: The Neuronal Localization and Neuromodulatory Function of Cannabinoid-Responsive Receptors in the Trigeminal
Current Position:
Assistant Professor
University of Arizona
Department of Pharmacology
GREGORY (GREG) DUSSOR, Ph.D.
Defense Date: December, 2002
UTHSCSA Mentor: Chris Flores, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Cholinergic Modulation of Primary Sensory Neuronal Activity
Current Position:
Assistant Professor
University of Arizona
Department of Pharmacology
KIMBERLY FRALIX, Ph.D.
Defense Date: April, 2002
UTHSCSA Mentor: James Freeman, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Mechanisms of Transcriptional Repression of the TGF-Beta Type II Receptor in UK Pan-1 Cells
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Virginia
Department of Cell Biology
MICHAEL (MIKE) WICK, Ph.D.
Defense Date: March, 2002
UTHSCSA Mentor: Feng Liu, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Identification and Characterization of Regulatory Mechanisms in the Insulin Receptor Signal Transduction Pathway
Current Position:
Director, Preclinical Research
South Texas Accelerated Research Therapeutics
San Antonio, TX
EVANGELINE (EVA) LOH, Ph.D.
Defense Date: December, 2001
UTHSCSA Mentor: Frank Kolakowski, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Molecular Characterization of a Novel Glycoprotein Hormone Receptor, GPR48
Current Position:
Director of Regulatory Affairs
Emergo Group, Inc.
NICOLE SULLIVAN, Ph.D.
Defense Date: November, 2001
UTHSCSA Mentor: Julie Hensler, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Mechanisms of Ligand-Induced Desensitization of the 5-HT2A Receptor in C6 Glioma Cells
Current Position:
Scientific Advisor
Darby & Darby Intellectual Property Law
New York, NY
TIMOTHY (TIM) HAGERTY, Ph.D.
Defense Date: November, 2001
UTHSCSA Mentor: Randy Strong, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Identification and Characterization of A Glucocorticoid Response Element on the Tyrosine Hydroxylase Promoter
Current Position:
Alexander Von Humboldt Fellow; Department of Physiology
Friedrick - Alexander - Universitaet
Erlangen - Nuremburg, Germany
HABIBEH KHOSHBOUEI, Ph.D.
Defense Date: April, 2001
UTHSCSA Mentor: David Morilak, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Modulatory Effect of Galanin on the Stress-Induced Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Responses in the Rat Extended Amygdala
Current Position:
Assistant Professor
Department of Pharmacology
Meharry Medical College
ANTJE ANJI, Ph.D.
Defense Date: November, 2000
UTHSCSA Mentor: Julie Hensler, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Regulation of 5-HT2A Receptors
Current Position:
Research Assistant Professor
Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Department of Anatomy and Physiology
BRIAN STOUT, Ph.D.
Defense Date: October, 2000
UTHSCSA Mentor: William Clarke, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Effector Pathway- and Agonist-dependent Desensitization of 5-HT2C Receptor-mediated Responses
Current Position:
Academic Leader for Natural and Physical Sciences
Northwest Vista College
San Antonio, TX
KURT ELLIOTT, Ph.D.
Defense Date: August, 2000
UTHSCSA Mentor: Mike Rea, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Mechanisms of Adenosine Regulation in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus
Current Position:
Unknown
JAMES CORBITT, Ph.D.
Defense Date: March, 2000
UTHSCSA Mentor: Randy Strong, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Control of Tyrosine Hydroxylase Gene Expression by Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide
Current Position:
Patent Agent
Summa & Allan, Patent Attorneys
Charlotte, NC
KENDA JAMESON EVANS, Ph.D.
Defense Date: July, 1999
UTHSCSA Mentor: William Clarke, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Regulatory of Drug Efficacy at the 5HT1A Receptor by Phospholipase Signaling Cascades
Current Position:
Reagent Product Specialist
Perkin Elmer Life and Analytical Sciences
Houston, TX