2015 George H. Cook Scholars
Niki Nayan Jayshree Amin
Degradation of Biphenyl and Diphenyl Methane by Pseudomonas stutzeri Bacterial Species Using Biphenyl Catabolic Pathway
With Gerben Zylstra (Biochemistry & Microbiology)
Karen Ben-Elazar
Effect of Dairy Proteins on Viscosity and Glycemic Index of Oat Based Formulas
With Michael Rogers (Food Science)
Lauren Benzinger
Structural Explorations of Leptin's Role in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
With Shuchismit Dutta (Chemistry & Chemical Biology)
Holly M. Berman
User Survey of Sustainability Education at Duke Farms
With Karen O'Neill (Human Ecology)
Aishwarya Bhattacharjee
Community Ecology and Animal Physiology
With Peter Morin (Ecology, Evolution & Natural Resources)
Monica Castle
Vitamin D Supplementation and Cognitive Function in Postmenopausal Women
With Sue Shapses (Nutritional Sciences)
Brittney Chrans
Female Mbuna Cichlid's Search Pattern for Potential Mates
With Rebecca Jordan (Human Ecology)
Michael Ciappi
Risk Index and Mapping of the Monk Parakeet throughout North America
With Julie Lockwood (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Ross C. Conroy
Antimicrobial Inclusion in Bacterial Cellulose Food Packaging: Optimization of Loading Procedure
With Kit Yam (Food Science)
Caroline Ines Davis
The Purification and Characterization of the Human LPIN2-Encoded Phosphatidate Phosphatase
With George Carmen (Food Science)
Julianne Davis
Searching For Susceptibility to Anisogramma Anomala in Hazelnut Cultivars Using Real Time PCR
With Thomas Molnar (Plant Biology & Pathology)
Tamar Demby
Understanding the Role of GCN2 in Amino Acid Signaling to the mTOR-mediated Pathway of Autophagy Induction
With Tracy Anthony (Nutritional Sciences)
Anam Fatima
Studies of Intestinal Lipid Transport & Metabolism Using Mice Null for Fatty Acid Binding Proteins
With Judith Storch (Nutritional Sciences)
Katherine Fudacz
A Comparison Between the International Commercialization of Bolivian Quinoa and Local Commercialization of Oaxacan Amaranth
With Mark Robson (Plant Biology and Pathology)
Eliana S. Geretz
Temporal and Spatial Changes in Bryophyte Diversity With Urbanization in Philadelphia, PA
With Myla Aronson (Ecology, Evolution & Natural Resources)
Rahul D. Ghosal
Climate Vulnerability and Small Island States: A Case Study of the Caribbean
With Robin Leichenko (Geography)
Samantha Globerman
Role of Estrogen and Progesterone in Enhanced Susceptibility to Mammary Tumorigenesis
With Wendie Cohick (Animal Science)
Ruthie Goldstein
Federal Food Assistance Benefit Utilization and Fruit and Vegetable Intake Patterns Among New Brunswick Community Farmers Market Customers
With Nurgul Fitzgerald (Nutritional Science)
William A. Hansen
Computational DeNovo Enzyme Design Methods With Catalytic Ion Complexes
With Sagar Khare (Chemistry and Chemical Biology)
Cheryl A. Harvey
The Effects of Eiphisol on Blood Gases and Chemistries in Exercising Horses
With Kenneth McKeever (Animal Science)
Michelle R. Hernandez
The Effects of Fatty Acid Profile and 17-Beta Estradiol on Obesity and the Hypothalamic Energy Balance System
With Troy A. Roepke (Animal Science)
Oliver S. Ho
The Effect of Temperature on Western Antarctic Phytoplankton Physiology
With Oscar Schofield (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Daniel L. Hollerbach
Genetic Characterization of bamA's Involvement in the Anaerobic Pathway for the Degradation of Natural Aromatics
With Abigail W. Porter (Environmental Science)
Theresa L. Hyslop
Living Laboratories for the Cook/Douglass Campus
With Holly Nelson (Landscape Architecture)
Rishi Jaggernauth
Unsecured Debt Levels and Effect on Physical Healtht
With Karen Zurlo (School of Social Work)
Marium Javed
Structure of NS1B Protein
With Gaetano T. Montelione (Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine)
Rebecca L. Joyce
Effects of Developmental Estrogenic Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Exposures on Rat Uteri
With Aparna Zama (Animal Science)
Ryan W. Koch
Parasite Communities Along a River Continuum in the New Jersey Pinelands
With Michael Sukhdeo (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Sarah Korapati
Potential For a Climax Community in an Urban Brownfield Through a Study of the Tree Colonization
With Frank Gallagher (Landscape Architecture)
Andrew Lahr
Quantifying the Effects of Man-made Fish Passage Systems on Anadromous Fish Populations in the Raritan River
With Olaf Jensen (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Michael C. Lamantia
A Marketing Analysis of International Trade in the Bahamas
With Ramu Govindasamy (Agriculture Economics and Marketing)
Ran Li
In Vitro Characterization of Niemann-Pick Type C2 Transfer Domain
With Judith Storch (Nutritional Sciences)
Carol Liu
Delivery of Antifungal Activity via Outer Membrane Vesicles of Lysobacter enzymogenes C3
With Paul Meers (Plant Biology and Pathology)
Jui Wan Loh
Impact of Human Genomic Variation
With Jinchuan Xing (SAS-DLS- Genetics)
Lauren Louie
The Effects of Glutamine on Neurodegenerative Diseases
With Jianmin Chen (DLS- Cell Biology & Neuroscience)
Jessica Lovich
Effects of Duration of Nursing on Gene Expression in the Neonatal Porcine Uterus
With Carol Bagnell (Animal Science)
Lorri Matusiak-Lindsay
Mitigating the Effects of Equine Facilities on Watersheds Through Landscape Architecture
With Frank Gallagher (Landscape Architecture)
Colleen McHugh
Thermodynamic Changes Associated With Climate Change Applied to the 2010 Boxing Day Blizzard
With Steven Decker (Environmental Science)
Katelyn Meyler
Effects of Natural Antioxidants on Volatile Lipid Oxidation Products in Dry Model Systems
With Karen Schaich (Food Science)
Kendall L. Miller
An Evaluation of Trichopteran Light Trapping For Use in Aquatic Biomonitoring, Sussex Co., New Jersey
With Frank Carle (Entomology)
Elizabeth C. Newton
Black Bear (Ursus americanus) Harvest Modeling in NJ
With Brooke Maslo (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Tu Nguyen
Developing a Palatable Bait for American, German and Oriental Cockroaches
With Changlu Wang (Entomology)
Chelcey Nordstrom
The Effects of Light Variation on Decomposition Rate and Insect Colonization on Pig Carcasses
With George Hamilton (Entomology)
Purandhri Pandya
Genetic Analysis of Primer-Dependent Initiation in Escherichia coli
With Bryce Nickels (Waksman Institute of Microbiology)
Nikesh Patel
Effects of Maternal Supplementation With Aminogut on Pig Neonatal Liver
With Carol Bagnell (Animal Science)
James Rodrigues
RNAi to Knock Down Insulin - Like Peptides to Test Health Span in 7 Day Old Adult C. Elegans
With Monica Driscoll (DLS-Molecular Biology & Biochemistry)
Laura Romano
Effects of Bisphenol A (BPA) and Bisphenol S (BPS) on Energy Metabolism in Zebrafish Embryos (Danio rerio)
With Lori White (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Jennifer Rose
The Effect of Music on Approach Behavior in Dairy Heifers
With Susan Becker and Larry Katz (Animal Science)
Shira Tziporah Rosenblum
The Volume Change of Co-factor Binding To Horse Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase
With Peter Kahn (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Bryan D. Ryder
The Role of Hydration in the Formation of Insulin Amyloid Fibrils
With Peter Kahn (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Rachael Sacatelli
Diamondback Terrapin Species Distribution Model for the Mid-Atlantic Region
With Brooke Maslo (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Catherine Seeds
The Effects of Continuous vs. Rotational Grazing Systems on Horse Condition and Plant Performance
With Carey Williams (Animal Science)
Lena S. Sena
Differential Effects of Sex Steroids on Sexual Behavior in Castrated Male Goats
With Susan Becker and Larry Katz (Animal Science)
Alise Strauch
Assessing Compliance With Catch-and-Release Measures in the Recreational Fishery For Hucho Taimen in Mongolia
With Olaf Jensen (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Tejasvi Turpuseema
Developing a Descriptive Sensory Profile for Common Culinary Varieties of Ocimum basilicum (Sweet Basil)
With Jim Simon (Plant Biology and Pathology)
Alejandra G. Villalobos
Effect of Maternal Over-nutrition On Gene Expression in the Arcuate and Liver
With Troy A. Roepke (Animal Science)
Veronica Walentowizc
Environmental and Occupational Health
With Mark Robson (Plant Biology and Pathology)
Ruiying Xiong
Contact Time and Its Effect on Cross-contamination of Enterobacter Aerogenes (or Salmonella) To Wood and Plastic Cutting Boards
With Donald Schaffner (Food Science)
Victoria Y. Yeung
Potential Photoinactivation of Foodborne Pathogens Using GRAS Photosensitizers
With Richard Ludescher (Food Science)
Shuqi Zhao
Production of Sucrose Ester Organogel Under Different Processing Parameters: Effect on the Structure Crystallinity, Rheology and Digestion Kinetics
With Qingrong Huang (Food Science)
2016 George H. Cook Scholars
Amanda Bevan
Survival Analysis of Indiana Bats (Myotis sodalis) with White-nose Syndrome
With Brooke Maslo (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
David Blystone
The Effects Of Endophytic Bacteria On Disease Resistance in Lilium Longiflorum
With Nimmi Rajmohan (Plant Biology and Pathology)
Stephanie Boucher
The Effect of Temperature on RpoS Expression and the Recovery of Desiccated O157:H7
With Karl Matthews (Food Science)
Keaton Brenneman
Observing the June 2013 East Coast US Meteotsunami Event in ROMS
With John Wilkin (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Carmela M. Buono
A Study of the Biotic and Abiotic Effects of Rubus phoenicolasius in a Mixed Oak Forest
With Myla Aronson (Ecology, Evolution & Natural Resources)
Kuan Yu Cheong
The Anti-UV Mechanisms of Plant Extracts in Caenorhabditis Elegans
With Rong Di (Plant Biology and Pathology)
Hayley Cohen
Raspberry Ketone [4-(4 Hydroxyphenyl)-2-Butanone] Effects On Body Weight Homeostasis
With Nicholas Bello (Animal Science)
Emily R. Convery
Development of Self-Enurination Behavior in the Male Goat
With Larry Katz and Susan Becker (Animal Science)
Joshua Coupe
Eddy Characteristics From a Global Ocean Reanalysis Dataset
With Enrique Curchitser (Environmental Science)
Catherine E. Dillon
Canopy Productivity and Recovery in an Urban Brownfield Forest
With Frank Gallagher (Landscape Architecture)
Julia Dreifus
Carbon Cycling in Microbial Biofilms in Deep-sea Vents
With Constantino Vetriani (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Carly Earle
The Regulation of Clp Proteases By SrrAB in Staphylococcus aureus
With Jeff Boyd (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Sundoes Elbery
Health Beliefs and Behaviors of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Urban Egypt
With Briavel Holcomb (Edward Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy)
Christina A. Enoch
Developing a Community Animal Response Team at Rutgers University: Assessing Disaster Awareness and Preparedness for Animals of Rutgers Affiliates
With Julie M. Fagan (Animal Science)
Austin Falciani
Biodegradation of Bisphenol-A and Bisphenol-A Analogs
With Max Haggblom (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Derrick Fondaco
Luminescent Probes of Micro (and Bulk) Viscosity: Applicability To On-line Measurements
With Richard Ludescher (Food Science)
Ella Friling
The NRF2 Gene and In-utero Inflammatory Response in Autism
With George Wagner (Psychology)
Katherine Fullerton
Presence of the Anaerobic Benzoyl-CoA Degradation Pathway in Animal Samples
With Abigail W. Porter (Environmental Science)
Sakshi Gandhi
Copper Homeostasis in S. aureus
With Jeff Boyd (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Rebecca Gardella
Elucidating the Interplay Between TEP Production and Viral Infection in Coccolithophores
With Kay Bidle (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Ashley Goncalves
Dynamics of the Primary Producers Along the West Antarctica Peninsula
With Oscar Schofield (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Glen Groben
Ethylendiruea Induced Protection Against Ozone Damage: Transcriptome Analysis
With Barbara Zilinskas (Plant Biology and Pathology)
Andrea Guerra
Biochemistry and Geochemistry of Mediterranean Coral: Can Trace Element Composition Reveal Vulnerability to Ocean Acidification?
With Robert Sherrell (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Sai M. Guntaka
mTOR Complex 2 Structural Integrity Upon Nutrient Deprivation
With Estela Jacinto (RWJ-Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Nicole Guzman
Trace Metals in New Jersey Estuarine Fish
With John Reinfelder (Environmental Science)
Meagan L. Hennessy
Effects of Estrogen on the Microbiome and Fat Metabolism In Intact Versus Ovariectomized Mice
With Sara Campbell (SAS- Exercise Science)
Kurtis Himmler
Effect of the Urban Landscape on Avian Community Composition in New York City Parks
With Myla Aronson (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Oliver S. Ho
The Effect of Temperature on Western Antarctic Phytoplankton Physiology
With Oscar Schofield (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Neal Kantharia
A Risk Assessment of Commonly Used Insecticides in Hebei, China Based on Acute Toxicity Values
With Mark Robson (Plant Biology and Pathology)
Caitlin Kober
The Effect of Co-twin Gender on Estrous Behavior in Goats
With Larry Katz and Susan Becker (Animal Science)
Rachel Lee
Analytical Sensory Analysis of Basil
With Beverly Tepper (Food Science)
Xinyi Li
Does the Deletion of IFABP or LFABP Cause Over Compensation in the Other FABP in Mice Fed a High Fat Diet?
With Judith Storch (Nutritional Sciences)
Madison Little
Sexual Concurrency, Male Circumcision, and HIV Risk in Sub-Saharan Africa: Informing Policy For an Effective AIDS Response in the Post-2015 Development Era
With Ashley Fox (Rockefeller College of Public Affairs)
Samuel Lucas
An Assessment of Attitudes of First Responders (EMTs) to Patients in Mental Health Crisis
With Mark Robson (Plant Biology and Pathology)
Huibin Luo
Source Apportionment of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Sediments of the Upper Hudson River
With Lisa A. Rodenburg (Environmental Science)
Stacy Martinez
Indigenous Vulnerability: Ecological, Cultural and Health Effects of Climate Changes and Human Disturbances in the Peruvian Amazon
With Holly Nelson (Landscape Architecture)
Shannon Moran
Investigating Uptake Mechanisms of Selenocysteine Proteins
With Paul Copeland (RWJ-Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
Kelli Mullane
Isolation and Identification of Pure Bacterial Cultures
With Constantino Vetriani (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Eliot Nagele
Restoration Management Plan for the Arbor Trail
With Jean Marie Hartman (Landscape Architecture)
Mary Nasr
The Effects of Age and Nursing on Neonatal Porcine Small Intestine
With Carol Bagnell (Animal Science)
Sophie Newton
The Effects of Surface Residue Mutation on Niemann Pick Type C 2 Protein on Cholesterol Transport and Sensitivity to LBPA
With Judith Storch (Nutritional Sciences)
Sher Lynn Ng
Impact of Climate Changes on the Ecology of West Antarctic Peninsula
With Oscar Schofield (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Aashka Parikh
Study of the Function and Dynamics of Centromere Proteins in Drosophila Melanogaster Oocytes
With Kim McKim (Waksman Institute of Microbiology)
Varsha Poddar
Characterization of Lung Microbiome
With Lee Kerkhof (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Nicholas Raffa
Mercury Methylation and the Role of Syntrophy
With Tamar Barkay (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Breanna Robles
A Place to Call Home: A Courtyard Design for Ebbetts Field Apartments
With Holly Nelson (Landscape Architecture)
Francesca Roselli
Population Biology of Oyster Toadfish, Opsanus Tau, In New Jersey Estuaries
With Daphne Munroe (Marine and Coastal Science)
Alec E. Roth
Non-Recycled Plastic as a Feedstock for Advanced Fuel
With Serpil Guran (NJ Eco Complex)
Chianti Shi
The Effect of Platinum Containing Chemotherapeutics on Zebrafish Development
With Kyle Murphy (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Kathryn Sinko
IGF Binding Protein-3 Mediates Ribotoxin-induced Apoptosis in Mammary Epithelial Cells
With Wendie Cohick (Animal Science)
Alexandria Stellwag
The Effect of Breast-feeding on Adult Taste Perception and Enjoyment of Glutamate in Foods
With Paul Breslin (Nutritional Sciences)
Rebecca Tonnessen
The Healthy Campus Environmental Audit: An Evaluation of the Food Environment of Rutgers Campus
With Carol Byrd-Bredbenner (Nutritional Sciences)
Vinay L. Vadali
A Study of mRNA Phenotypes in Normal and Cancer Cells
With Sungchul Ji (Pharmacology and Toxicology)
Ashley Van Name
Exploring the Lagrangian Dynamics of Gulf Stream Eddies
With Enrique Curchitser (Environmental Science)
Sangeevan Vellappan
Identifying Target for the New Antichlamydial Benzylidene Acylhydrazide
With Huizhou Fan (RWJ–Pharmacology)
Kathleen Vincent
Ocean Acidification Effects on 2013 Summer Flounder: Morphometric Analysis
With Keith Cooper (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Ryann Ashley Wakefield
The Impacts of Antecedent Soil Moisture Anomalies on Tornado Activity in the United States
With Steven Decker (Environmental Science)
Sarah M. Waxman
Food Colors as Intrinsic Luminescent Sensors in Edible Products
With Richard Ludescher (Food Science)
Aaron Wu
Characterization of Tet and Its Role in Development in Drosophila melanogaster
With Ruth Steward (Waksman Institute of Microbiology)
Amanda Zahorik
Changes in the Membrane Lipid Composition of Arctic Acidobacteria in Response to Ph and Cold Stress
With Max Haggblom (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Meijuan Zeng
Relationships Among Rutgers-New Brunswick, Students' Perceptions of the Campus Physical Activity Environment, Physical Activity Practices and Cognitions, and Campus Walkability and Bikeability
With Carol Byrd-Bredbenner (Nutritional Science)
Joseph Zientek
Morphological Trait Matching Between Bees and Flowers Drives Pairwise Interactions
With Rachel Winfree (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
2020 George H. Cook Scholars
Animal Physiology and Toxicology
Gabrielle Acoury (Animal Science) The Germ-Cell Specific RNA Binding Protein ADAD2 May Be a Novel piRNA Biogenesis Factor
Advisor: Elizabeth Snyder (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Wendie Cohick (Animal Sciences)
Rifke Anolik (Animal Science) Plasma Orexin a Levels in Anticipation
of Binge-Like Eating in Mice
Advisor: Nick Bello (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Malcolm Watford (Nutritional Sciences)
Giulia P. Arpino (Animal Science) Student Attitudes Towards Animals
Advisor: Larry Katz (Animal Sciences)
Camille S. Duchamp (Animal Science) Does Clenbuterol Alter Body Composition in Horses?
Advisor: Kenneth McKeever (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Carey Williams (Animal Sciences)
Katherine E. Fafara (Animal Science) Influence of Colostrum Intake on Boar Testicular Development
Advisor: Carol Bagnell (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Barry Jesse (Animal Sciences)
Nupur Kadam (Animal Science/Biotechnology) Beta 2 adrenergic and Mu-opioid receptor enhances aggressiveness of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line using the ILK signaling pathway
Advisor: Dipak Sarkar (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Aparna Zama (Animal Sciences)
Danielle Kulyk (Animal Science) The Role of GHSR Expression in KNDy Neurons in the Response to Diet-induced Obesity in Female Mice
Advisor: Troy Roepke (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Nicholas T. Bello (Animal Sciences)
Alison Mautner (Biological Sciences) The Effects of Stress and Alcohol on Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation
Advisor: Dipak Sarkar (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Doreen Glodowski (Genetics)
Nardine Nasr (Animal Science) Dose-dependent effects of raspberry ketone [4(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone] on heart rate and blood pressure in female mice
Advisor: Nicholas Bello (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Carol Bagnell (Animal Sciences)
Yassin Salah (Animal Science) Pharmacokinetics of Therapeutic Clenbuterol Administration in Horses
Advisor: Kenneth McKeever (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Karyn Malinowski (Animal Sciences)
Kayla Salem (Animal Science) Effects of Clenbuterol on EMG Readings in Standardbreds
Advisor: Kenneth McKeever (Animal Sciences)
Halle Sarkodie (Biological Sciences) Identifying Mutational Signatures for Bisphenol A and Styrene-7,8-Oxide in Human Embryonic Kidney Cells
Advisor: Subhajyoti De (Cancer Institute of New Jersey)
Co-Advisor: Lori White (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Zhiyvan Shen (Cancer Institute of New Jersey)
Zuzanna Szmacinski (Animal Science) Acute Feeding Suppression and Toxicity of Raspberry Ketone [4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone] in Mice
Advisor: Nicholas Bello (Animal Sciences)
Cassandra Winz (Biochemistry) The Effects of Pesticide Exposure on Microglia Morphology and Locomoter Behavior in the Zebrafish
Advisor: Lori White (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Keith Cooper (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Atmospheric, Ocean, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Ashley E. Cornish (Meteorology) Climate Change Indicators for New Jersey and New York
Advisor: Anthony Broccoli (Environmental Sciences)
Reader: James Miller (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Toyosi Dickson (Environmental Science) Investigating the Presence of Alternative Stable States
after Drought Events in Soils in the former Soviet Union
Advisor: Daniel Gimenez (Environmental Sciences)
Reader: A.J. Both (Environmental Sciences)
Rohan Jain (Meteorology) An Analysis of Precipitation Distribution from a WRF Simulated Hurricane Irene
Advisor: Enrique Curchitser (Environmental Sciences)
Reader: Steven Decker (Environmental Sciences)
Zackary J. Mages (Meteorology) The Interactions Between Marine Stratocumulus and Dimethyl Sulfide
Advisor: Mark Miller (Environmental Sciences)
Reader: Benjamin Lintner (Environmental Sciences)
Ecology
Aliya E. Caldwell (Ecology) Microplastic Ingestion by Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) and Roseate Terns (S. dougallii) breeding along the Northwestern Atlantic coast
Advisor: John Weidermann (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Brooke Maslo (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Zhuoxue Chen (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) Population Dynamics of Co-habiting Intestinal Macroparasites in the European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Advisor: Suzanne Sukhdeo (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Juan A. Bonachela (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Hailey Marie Conrad (Biological Oceanography; Ecology) Evidence for Tolerance of Ectoparasitism in Yearling Eastern Fence Lizards, Sceloporus undulatus
Advisor: Henry John-Alder (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Marci Meixler (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Morgan Crooks (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) The Spatial Distribution of Spring Ephemerals in an Old Growth Forest
Advisor: Myla Aronson (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: David Smith (Landscape Architecture)
Kelly Faller (Ecology) Invasive Species Impacts on Bat Foraging Ecology and Prey
Availability
Advisor: Brooke Maslo
Nina Gangi (Ecology) Behavior of Monogeneon Gill Parasites on Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus)
Advisor: Henry John-Alder (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Kimberly Russell (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Kiera Malone (Ecology, Evolution and Nat. Resources) Spider Declines Across Habitat Types in New Jersey: A Comparison of Surveys Spanning Three Decades
Advisor: Kimberly Russell (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Henry John-Alder (Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources)
Olivia Matise (Ecology) Comparison of Mite Community Composition on Bumblebees Between Rural, Suburban, and Urban Locations Across Central New Jersey
Advisor: Suzanne Sukhdeo (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Kimberly Russell (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Robert Porch (Ecology) Phenotypic Traits of the World’s Most Common Urban Plant Species
Advisor: Myla Aronson (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Lena Struwe (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Sneha Sivaram (Marine Science; Evolutionary Anthropology) Biophysical Parameters of Green Algae
Advisor: Paul Falkowski (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Kasey H. Walsh (Biological Oceanography) An Investigation of Microplastic Consumption by Euphausia crystallorphias in the Ross Sea
Advisor: Grace Saba (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Reader: Nicole Fahrenfeld (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
Adam Yawdogzyn (Ecology) Modeling Ecological Predictors of Chigger Mite Ectoparasitism in Eastern Fence Lizards (Sceloporus undulatus)
Advisor: Henry John-Alder (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Juan Bonachela (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Environmental Design
Jefferson Shirbrina (Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior) The Effectiveness of the Biophilia Hypothesis to Promote Urban Sustainability
Advisor: Frank Gallagher (Landscape Architecture)
Reader: Angela Oberg (Human Ecology)
Amanda Leifer (Landscape Architecture) Kibbutzim and Moshavim: Exploring Communities and Their Relationships With the Agricultural Landscape in Israel and the West Bank
Advisor: Holly Nelson (Landscape Architecture)
Reader: Anette Freytag (Landscape Architecture)
Food, Nutrition and Health
Fiona Gaile L. Bawagan (Food Science) Cannabidiol Alters the Postmenopausal Gut Microbiome and Attenuates Intestinal Inflammation
Advisor: Diana Roopchand (Food Science)
Reader: Sue Shapses (Nutritional Sciences)
Fahad Ahmad Chaudhri (Nutritional Sciences) GSK-3 Mediated Phosphorylation of Yeast Pah1 Phosphatidate Phosphatase
Advisor: George M. Carman (Food Science)
Reader: Prabuddha Dey (Food Science)
Jasmine L. Cheung (Biological Sciences) Tauopathy-linked Autophagy Mechanism in Alzheimer’s Disease
Advisor: Qian Cai (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Co-Advisor: Malcolm Watford (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Yu Young Jeong (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Heineken Queen B. Daguplo (Biochemistry/Toxicology) Signal Transduction Pathway
Advisor: Estela Jacinto (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School)
Co-Advisor and Reader: Lori White (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Matthew Estrella (Microbiology) Phosphorylation of Pah1 Phosphatidic Acid Phosphatase
by Calmodulin Kinase
Advisor: George Carmen (Food Science)
Reader: Harini Sampath (Nutritional Sciences)
Matthew Jacoby (Exercise Science) Acute Exercise and Cognition
Advisor: Brandon Alderman (Kinesiology and Health)
Reader: Cassandra Nelson (Kinesiology and Health)
Michael Langevin (Biochemistry) HPLC as a Method for Quantifying Hepatic Amino Acid Responses to Halofuginone
Advisor: Tracy Anthony (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Joshua W. Miller (Nutritional Sciences)
Amanda Lee (Nutritional Sciences) Metabolic Effects of Alternate-Day Sulfur Amino Acid
Restriction in Mice
Advisor: Tracy Anthony (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Malcolm Watford (Nutritional Sciences)
Bansari Patel (Nutritional Sciences) Regulation of Glutamine Metabolism in Lactation
Advisor: Malcolm Watford (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Tracy G Anthony (Nutritional Sciences)
Hannah Posluszny (Nutritional Sciences) The Mother-Daughter Relationship and Weight-Related Behaviors
Advisor: John Worobey (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Virginia Quick (Nutritional Sciences)
Mahtab Hassanpour Tazehabadi (Biological Sciences) Probiotic Bacilli Inhibit Salmonella biofilms without Killing the Targeted Pathogen
Advisor: Michael Chikindas (Food Science)
Reader: Paul Takhistov (Food Science)
Microbiology
Sarah Fichot (Biochemistry) Anaerobic Degradation of Aspirin by Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria
Advisor: Max Haggblom (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Lee Kerkhof (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Komalpreet Saggu (Microbiology) Effects of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) Emitted by Cryptococcus neoformans on Drosophila melanogaster
Advisor: Joan Bennett (Plant Biology)
Reader: James White (Plant Biology)
Ramya Vijapurapu (Biotechnology) Anaerobic Biodegradation of Acetylsalicylic Acid
Advisor: Max Haggblom (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Gerben Zylstra (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
People, Perception and Preference
Grace Chang (Dietetics) Evaluating Sensory Food Characteristics of Value-added Products Among New Brunswick Community Farmers Market Customers
Advisor: Virginia Quick (Dietetics Program)
Reader: Lauren Errickson (Rutgers Cooperative Extension)
Jamie Cohen (Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior) What’s on My Plate? A Study Examining Use of Comics for Environmental Awareness
Advisor: Mary Nucci (Human Ecology)
Reader: Cara Cuite (Human Ecology)
Bernadette Kateri Hayes (Food Science) Descriptive Profiling of Flavor and Aroma of Fresh Basil Varieties with Disease-Resistant Traits
Advisor: Beverly Tepper (Food Science)
Reader: James E. Simon (Plant Biology)
Plant Science
Christopher Caputi (Biochemistry) Assessment of Essential Oil from Catnip (Nepeta sp.) and Other Botanicals as a Bed Bug Repellent
Advisor: James Simon (Plant Biology)
Reader: Qing-Li Wu (Plant Biology)
Benjamin Feng (Biotechnology) CRISPR-Gene Editing of Arabidopsis Susceptibility Genes to Improve Powdery Mildew Disease Resistance
Advisor: Rong Di (Plant Biology)
Reader: Michael Lawton (Plant Biology)
Hana Abigal Feulner (Biotechnology; Plant Science) Identification of Bioactive Compounds from
Artemisia scoparia that Effect Adipogenic Metabolism
Advisor: David Ribnicky (Plant Biology)
Samantha Guidry (Food Science; Agriculture and Food Systems) Fluorescence of Fruits
Advisor: Richard Ludescher (Food Science)
Reader: Paul Takhistov (Food Science)
Zeeshan Zahid (Biotechnology) Synonymous Codon Usage Bias in Cryphonectria parasitica Viruses: Insights on Evolution and Host Adaptation
Advisor: Bradley Hillman (Plant Biology)
Reader: Ning Zhang, Reader (Plant Biology)
Socio-Economic Structures
Kyra Frank (Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior) Talking About Transportation: An Analysis of Nashville’s Transportation Discourse in General Plans From 1980 to Present
Advisor: Angela Oberg (Human Ecology)
Melissa Janney (Community Nutrition) Comorbidities Disclosure and the Workplace
Advisor: Javier Robles (Kinesiology)
Reader: Kimberly Kozinski (Residence Life)
Nadia Jlelaty (Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior) Hydroelectric Dams and The World Bank
Advisor: Angela Oberg (Human Ecology)
Reader: Noreen McAuliffe (Human Ecology)
Celine LeBelle (Public Health) Food Insecurity and Food Resource Use Among Students Using Rutgers-New Brunswick Student Health
Joint Advisor: Cara Cuite (Human Ecology)
Joint Advisor: Dawne Mouzon (School of Planning and Public Policy)
Reader: William Hallman (Human Ecology)
Theodora Mavros (Biology) Food Choice Among Women in Kenyan Slums
Advisor: Shauna Downs (Urban Global Public Health, School of Public Health)
Reader: Xenia Morin (Plant Biology)
Katheryn Raatz (Environmental and Business Economics) Examining Attitudes and Beliefs of Youth in Denmark, Germany, Italy, and Spain: Can the Dual Vocational Educational System work in Italy and Spain
Advisor: Michael J. Camasso (Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics)
Reader: Radha Jagannathan (School of Planning and Public Policy)
2021 George H. Cook Scholars
Animal Physiology Toxicology and Management
Kamila Cieslik (Animal Science) Combining Quantitative and Qualitative Behavior Assessments to Measure Equine Stress
Advisor: Karyn Malinowski (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Kenneth McKeever (Animal Sciences)
Sierra Daisey (Animal Science) Behavioral Responses to the Modification of KNDY Neurons and Diet Induced Obesity
Advisor: Troy A. Roepke (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Nicholas Bello (Animal Sciences)
Angelo DiTomaso (Biology) The Synergistic Effect of BMPR2 Inhibitors and Ym155 to Induce AIF-Caspase Independent Cell Death in Cancer Cells
Advisor: John Langenfeld (Cancer Institute of New Jersey)
Co-Advisor: Amanda Jetzt (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Sengottuvelan Murugan (Animal Sciences)
Sowmya Kodali (Biology) Behavior Effects of CVMS in Male and Female Mice
Joint Advisors: Troy A. Roepke and Kimberly Wiersielis (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Benjamin Samuels (Psychology)
William Mack III (Exercise Science) DHM (dihydromyricetin) Time Dependently Reduced Oral Ethanol Impairment
Advisor: Nicholas Bello (Animal Sciences)
Reader: James Simon (Plant Biology)
Gemma Parente (Animal Science) Animal Waste Management Techniques On New Jersey Equine Farms
Advisor: Michael Westendorf (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Carey Williams (Animal Sciences)
Chelsea Phuangthong (Biochemistry) Determination of Zebrafish Sex in Early Development
Advisor: Keith Cooper (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Lori White (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Madeline Procopi (Animal Science) The Effects of Perinatal Phthalate Exposure on Female Rat Reproductive Development
Advisor: Mehmet Uzumcu (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Aparna Zama (Animal Sciences)
Danielle Slomko (Biochemistry) The Effect of Pyrethroid Exposure on Zebrafish Behavior
Advisor: Lori White (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Keith Cooper (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Victoria A. Stiritz (Biological Sciences) The Role of Dynorphin in Hyperkatifeia Induced by Acute Opioid Withdrawal
Advisor: Gary Aston-Jones (Brain Health Institute/ School of Public Health)
Co-Advisor: Nicholas Bello (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Morgan H. James (Brain Health Institute/ School of Public Health)
Meryem S. Turan (Exercise Science) The Effects of Cardiac-Neural Signaling on Substance Use Disorder Recovery
Advisor: Jennifer Buckman (Kinesiology and Health)
Co-Advisor: Sarah Grace Uhouse (Center for Alcohol Studies)
Reader: Julianne Price (Psychology)
Nada Wahba (Biochemical Toxicology) Galectin-3 Binding Interactions with Airway Microparticles in Response to Nitrogen Mustard-Induced Lung Injury
Advisor: Raymond Rancourt (School of Pharmacy)
Reader: Keith Cooper (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Ben Wang Wu (Biological Sciences) Choline Metabolite Concentration and Enhanced B-Lymphocyte Survival
Advisor: Ping Xie (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Co-Advisor: Wendie Cohick (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Jaeyong Jung (Molecular Bioscience)
Ecology and Oceanography
Conner Anderson (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) Habitat Selection in Eastern Fence Lizards
Joint Advisors: Henry John-Alder and Juan Bonachela (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Lisa McManus (University of Hawaii)
Therese Apuzzo (Marine Biology) Changes in Surface Ocean Conditions in the Southern Indian Ocean since the Last Glacial Maximum
Advisor: Elizabeth Sikes (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Reader: Anthony Broccoli (Environmental Sciences)
Laurie M. Ferreras (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) Maximizing the Effectiveness of Wild Bee Surveying Methods
Advisor: Kimberly Russell (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Julie Lockwood (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
T. Jade Grimm (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) Investigation of Scales and Approaches of Wild Fire Modeling to Better Understand Forest Management in NJ
Joint Advisors: Jason Grabosky and Michael Gallagher (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Richard Lathrop (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Marissa Guzik (Marine Biology) Observing Winter Carbonate Chemistry Dynamics Throughout the Mid-Atlantic Bight Shelf Using Novel Glider Technology
Advisor: Grace K. Saba (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Reader: Daphne Munroe (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Sandra Paredes (Evolutionary Anthropology/ Entomology) Ecological Succession of Partially Submerged Carrion in Aquatic Environments
Advisor: Chloe Hawkings (Entomology)
Reader: George Hamilton (Entomology)
Mollie Passacantando (Marine Science) Mixing in the Southern Ocean
Advisor: Josh Kohut (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Reader: Rebecca Jackson (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Rebecca M. Unz (Environmental Sciences) Literature Review of the Plant Associations of Forest Specialist Bees
Joint Advisors: Rachael Winfree and Lucia Weinman (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources
Reader: Mary Whelan (Environmental Sciences)
Microbiology and Biochemistry
Allison Almeda-Ahmadi (Biological Sciences) Evaluating the Biological Activity of Novel Antimicrobial Compounds on Oral Biofilms
Advisor: Jeffrey Boyd (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Arek Kulczyk (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Taylor Andrews (Biological Sciences) The Isolation of Lytic Phages Against Staphylococcus aureus and Other Staphylococcus Species
Joint Advisors: Jeffrey Boyd (Biochemistry and Microbiology) and Siobain Duffy (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Jason Kaelber (Institute of Quantitative Biomedicine)
Jonathan Evan Ash (Biotechnology/ Biomathematics) In-silico Docking and Rupture Force Determination of Glycan Binding Protein Complexes
Advisor: Shishir Chundawat (Chemical and Biochemical Engineering)
Co-Advisor: Paul Meers (Plant Biology)
Reader: Sonia Arora (Plant Biology)
Sarah Cain (Food Science) Bacteriophage Phi 6 as a Surrogate for SARS-CoV-2 Survival in Varying Environment
Advisor: Donald Schaffner (Food Science)
Reader: Siobain Duffy (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Kaitlin Decker (Microbiology) The Dehalogenation of 2,6-Dibromophenol by Hawaiian Sponge and Coral-Associated Organohalide-Respiring Bacteria
Advisor: Max Haggblom (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Lee Kerkhof (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Gabriel Palmieri (Microbiology/ Linguistics) Physiology of Deep Sea Epsilonproteobacterium Sulfurovum riftiae
Advisor: Constantino Vetriani (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Reader: Max Haggblom (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Jonathan Phan (Biotechnology) Dissimilatory Iron Reduction in Bacteria from Marine Hydrothermal Vents
Advisor: Constantino Vetriani (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Reader: Nathan Yee (Environmental Sciences)
Laryssa Rodriguez (Animal Science) Inhibition of Methanogenesis Using Brominated Compounds
Advisor: Lily Young (Environmental Sciences)
Reader: Abigail Porter (Environmental Sciences)
Katherine Scott (Microbiology) Isolation of Debrominating Bacteria from Marine Sponges
Advisor: Max Haggblom (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Lee Kerkhof (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Akino Tomizawa (Food Science) GRAS Flavonols as Molecular Probes for Physical Properties in Model Food Systems
Advisor: Richard Ludescher (Food Science)
Reader: Karen Schaich (Food Science)
Megan Wang (Food Science) Effect of Changes in Water Activity on the Fluorescence of 3-Hydroxyflavone
Advisor: Richard Ludescher (Food Science)
Reader: Karl Matthews (Food Science))
Nutrition and Public Health
Simone Y. Allison (Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior) Comparison of Citizen and Media Responses to the Newark Lead Crisis Using Social Media Aggregation
Advisor: Daniel Van Abs (Human Ecology)
Reader: Mary Nucci (Human Ecology)
Bernie Chavez (Nutritional Sciences) Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) Regulation of Cholesterol Clearance from NPC1 Deficient Fibroblasts: Effects of Time and Concentration
Advisor: Judith Storch (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Radek Dobrowolski (Biology)
Emmanuel Encarnado (Biochemistry/Toxicology) Role of Stearoyl CoA Desaturase in Intestinal Lipid Metabolism
Advisor: Harini Sampath (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Judith Storch (Nutritional Sciences)
Carey E. Grzankowski (Public Health) The Association Between Patient-Provider Communication and Knowledge of Palliative Care Among US Adults Diagnosed with Cancer: Preliminary Evidence from a National Survey
Advisor: Soumitra Bhuyan (Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy)
Co-Advisor: Kyle Murphy (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Anita Franzione (Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy)
Gabriella Harrison (Nutritional Sciences) Grow. Prepare. Eat: Evaluating a Virtual Summer Food Literacy Program
Advisor: Peggy Policastro (Dining Services)
Reader: Erin Comollo (Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health)
Parker Herrera (Food Science) Understanding Human Food Purchasing Behaviors During COVID-19
Advisor: Rachel Shwom (Human Ecology)
Reader: Cara Cuite (Human Ecology)
Yin Hai Lau (Biotechnology) Hepatic Lipid Metabolism in the Intestine-Specific LFABP Knockout Mouse
Advisor: Judith Storch (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Harini Sampath (Nutritional Sciences)
Nancy McKeon (Public Health/Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior) Investigating the Relationship Between Hydraulic Fracturing and Birth Outcomes in Pennsylvania
Advisor: Jeffrey Field (Pharmacology, University of PA)
Co-Advisor: Ethan Schoolman (Human Ecology)
Reader: Mark Robson (Plant Biology)
Karina Pereira (Nutritional Sciences) Recent Developments in Glutamine Supplementation
Advisor: Malcolm Watford (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Tracy Anthony (Nutritional Sciences)
Camila Silva (Biotechnology) Examining the Role of the Intestinal Microbiome and 7,8-dihydroxyflavone on Body Weight Regulations
Advisor: Harini Sampath (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Susan Shapses (Nutritional Sciences)
Emily Wheatley (Nutritional Sciences) Weight-Related Teasing and its Effects on Weight Perception of Mothers with Preschool Aged Children
Advisor: Virginia Quick (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Colleen Delaney (Nutritional Sciences)
Larissa Wojtenko (Nutritional Sciences) Sources of Variability Contributing to Fasting Glucose and Triglyceride Levels
Advisor: Susan Shapses (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Harini Sampath (Nutritional Sciences)
Plant Biology and Landscape Design
Alexander J. Barrett (Plant Science) Analytical Comparison of Extraction Methods for Aromatic Compounds in Ocimum basilicum L.
Advisor: James Simon (Plant Biology)
Rebecca Bright (Environmental Policy, Institutions and Policy) Characterization of a New Isolate of the Chestnut Blight Fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica, From Northern New Jersey
Advisor: Bradley Hillman (Plant Biology)
Reader: Ning Zhang (Plant Biology)
Jenna Flanders (Biotechnology) Copper Resistance in Plant Pathogenic Bacteria
Advisor: Donald Kobayashi (Plant Biology)
Reader: Sonia Arora (Plant Biology)
Daniel Jacobs (Agriculture and Food Systems) Reassessing Previously Identified Sources of Resistance to Eastern Filbert Blight in Genus Corylus
Advisor: Thomas Molnar (Plant Science)
Reader: Suzanne Sukhdeo (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Sean Lynch (Environmental Planning and Design) Landscape Trees Environmental Services Growth Curve as a Management Tool
Advisor: Jason Grabosky (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Nick Polanin (NJ Agricultural Experiment Station)
Swati Modhwadia (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) Exploring the Potential of Utilizing Food Forests to Reduce Food Insecurity in NJ Food Deserts
Advisor: Jason Grabosky (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Lena Struwe (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Ravi Mohamed (Landscape Architecture) Increasing Tree Canopy Coverage in Jersey City from 17% (Current) to 40% (Goal)
Advisor: Richard Alomar (Landscape Architecture)
Reader: Holly Nelson (Landscape Architecture)
Moshe Schwartz (Plant Science/ Agriculture and Food Systems) Use of Rootstocks for Optimization of Quality, Growth, and Yield of Honeycrisp Apples
Advisor: Megan Muehlbauer (Agricultural and Resource Economics)
Reader: Thomas Gianfagna (Plant Biology)
2022 George H. Cook Scholars
Animal Cell BiologySomer Abdelfattah (Biotechnology) The Mechanisms by which Lung Cancer Tumors with High Mutational Burden Respond to Immunotherapy Involving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Advisor: Eileen White (SAS-Molecular Biology and Biochemistry)
Co-Advisor: Paul Meers (Plant Biology)
Reader: Edmund C. Lattime (CINJ-Education and Training)
Ethan J. Black (Biochemistry) Addressing the Role of MTOC-Related Genes in Extracellular Trash Extrusion Mechanism
Advisor: Monica Driscoll (SAS-Molecular Biology and Biochemistry)
Co-Advisor: Lori White (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Barth Grant (SAS-Molecular Biology and Biochemistry)
Samuel E. Fisher (Exercise Science) Analyzing Hypothalamic Gene Expression for Fat-1 and VCD Mice Using Quantitative Real-Time PCR
Advisor: Troy A. Roepke (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Sara Campbell (Kinesiology and Health)
Katie Jung (Nutritional Sciences) Fatty Acids Effects on Bone in VCD Model of Female Menopause
Advisor: Sue Shapses (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Diana Roopchand (Food Science)
Jenna R. Lorippo (Animal Science) Effects of Lactocrine Deficiency on Neonatal Porcine Uterine Development
Advisor: Carol Bagnell (Animal Science)
Reader: Amanda Jetzt (Animal Science)
Erin K. Miners (Biological Sciences) Porcine Testicular Development: Effects of Lactocrine Deficiency
Advisor: Carol Bagnell (Animal Science)
Reader: Mehmet Uzumcu (Animal Science)
Sarah K. Pfreundschuh (Nutritional Sciences) The Impact of Intestinal Deletion of SCD2 on Bile Acid Homeostasis and Hepatic Lipid Metabolism
Advisor: Harini Sampath (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Judith Storch (Nutritional Sciences)
Parth Rajwade (Biotechnology) Putative Role of KNCB1 Channel and IGF Signaling
Advisor: Federico Sesti (RWJ-Neuroscience)
Co-Advisor: Paul Meers (Plant Biology)
Reader: Alessandro Bertolami (RWJ-Neuroscience)
Ranjita Suresh (Nutritional Sciences) The Role of the Intestine in SCD1 Knockout Mice During Olive Oil and Butterfat Challenge
Advisor: Harini Sampath (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Malcolm Watford (Nutritional Sciences)
Nirali P. Trivedi (Biochemistry) Lipidomic Changes in Mice Lacking Intestinal Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase-2 (SCD2)
Advisor: Harini Sampath (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Sue Shapses (Nutritional Sciences)
Taylor L. Viana (Nutritional Sciences) The Effect of Sucrose and Dietary Induced Obesity on Glutamine Synthetase in Mouse Adipose Tissue
Advisor: Malcolm Watford (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Sue Shapses (Nutritional Sciences)
Animal Physiology and Behavior
Katelynn M. Eick (Animal Science) Equine Nutrition Evaluating Forage Particle Size Measurement Protocols
Advisor: Carey Williams (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Barry Jesse (Animal Sciences)
Sarah E. Florentine (Animal Science) Evaluating Facial Behaviors as a Measure of
Stress in Equine Assisted Interventions
Advisor: Karyn Malinowski (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Kenneth McKeever (Animal Sciences)
Rhys D. Hagen (Animal Science) Testing the Efficacy of Chloride Sweat Patches on Horses
Advisor: Kenneth McKeever (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Karyn Malinowski (Animal Sciences)
Anna C. Laemmle (Biological Sciences) The Influence of Parental Experience on Zebra Finch Pair Bonds
Advisor: David Vicario (SAS-Psychology)
Co-Advisor: Kimberly Russell (Ecology, Environmental and Natural Resources)
Reader: Mimi Phan (SAS-Psychology)
Jacqueline A. Mehr (Biological Sciences; Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies) Using Fiber Photometry Recordings to Probe Orexin System Activation in a Rodent Model of Binge Eating Disorder
Advisor: Morgan James (RWJ-Dept. of Psychiatry)
Co-Advisor: Nicholas Bello (Animal Science)
Reader: David Barker (RWJ-Dept. of Psychiatry)
Nivedita Rajiv (Biotechnology) Assessing Potential Effects of Cleaning Agents on the Behavior of Mice Models
Advisor: Alexander Kusnecov (SAS-Psychology)
Co-Advisor: Nicholas Bello (Animal Science)
Reader: Cara Nasello (SAS-Genetics)
Anne Y. Zou (Exercise Science) Modern Approaches to Analyzing Zebra Finch Behavior
Advisor: David Vicario (SAS-Psychology)
Co-Advisor: Mark Robson (Plant Biology)
Reader: Mimi Phan (SAS-Psychology)
Kiernan A. Bates (Marine Biology) Investigating the Drivers of Fish and Crab Abundance and Richness in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey
Advisor: Grace Saba (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Reader: Kenneth Able (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Julia R. Brennan (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) Effects of Forest Thinning on Tick Populations and Prevalence of Tick-borne Pathogens in the New Jersey Pinelands Reserve
Joint Advisors: Dina Fonseca (Entomology) and Henry John-Alder (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Julia Gonzalez-Gonzalez (Entomology)
Gabriella Cano (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) Increasing Rutgers Forest Carbon Stock through Afforestation and Reforestation
Advisor: Richard Lathrop (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Jason Grabosky (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Anthony T. Darrow (Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior) Survival of Northern Diamondback Terrapins in The Lower Great Bay
Advisor: Brooke Maslo (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Michael Allen (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Emily C. Hughes (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) Trends of Herbivory in Trifolium repens Using Herbarium Specimens
Advisor: Myla Aronson (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Lena Struwe (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Julian T. Ibarra (Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior) Evaluating Tree-of-Heaven and Spotted Lanternfly Populations in Rutgers Gardens Using Egg Mass Density
Joint Advisors: Lena Struwe (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) and Anne Nielson (Entomology)
Reader: George Hamilton (Entomology)
Evanna Jaramillo (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) Assessing the Range and Microbiome Composition of the Sand Fly Lutozmyia vexator (Diptera: Psychodidae) in New Jersey
Advisor: Dana C. Price (Entomology)
Reader: Alvaro Toledo (Entomology)
Marcellus J. Murray II (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) Resource Competition between Honeybees and Native Bee Species
Advisor: Kimberly Russell (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Jason Grabosky (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Christina M. Malyshko (Marine Biology/Biological Oceanography) Determining the Seasonality of Open Ocean Phytoplankton Blooms in the Southern Ocean Using Biogeochemical ARGO Data
Advisor: Oscar Schofield (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Reader: Joshua Kohut (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Morgan A. Mark (Bioenvironmental Engineering) Seasonal Dynamics of Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in Free-ranging Eastern Copperheads
Advisor: Brooke Maslo (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Evan Eskew (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Noah J. Motz (Marine Biology) Phytoplankton Trends in Antarctic Waters from Palmer LTER
Advisor: Oscar Schofield (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Reader: Jacqueline Veatch (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Rhea D. Rajpal (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) Habitat Preference of Melanistic Eastern Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) on a Local Scale
Advisor: Myla Aronson (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Susanne Sukhdeo (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Ryan J. Schmidt (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) Ballast Species: Using Herbarium Data to Understand the Impact of Historical Trade on the Flora of New Jersey
Advisor: Lena Struwe (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Robert Naczi (NY Botanical Gardens)
Bonnie L. Semmling (Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior) Collection Bias, the Future of Herbaria, and the Fabaceae of New Jersey
Advisor: Lena Struwe (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Marissa N. Shinal (Entomology) Hepatic Survey of Native Bee Species of New Brunswick, New Jersey
Advisor: Chloe Hawkings (Entomology)
Reader: Isaac Esquivel (Entomology)
Megan E. Spina (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) Exploring the Role of Unexplained Mortality in the Management of New England Fisheries
Advisor: John Wiedenmann (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Grace Saba (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Carly A. Dykeman (Agriculture and Food Systems) Impact of New Jersey Stormwater Regulations
Advisor: Christopher Obropta (Environmental Sciences)
Reader: Subhasis Giri (Environmental Sciences)
Amani N. Hassan (Biological Sciences) Climate Change Impacts Over Time on the Infrastructure
Necessary to Support the Surgical, Anesthetic, and Obstetric Healthcare System in Barranquilla, Colombia: A Damage Assessment
Advisor: David Tulloch (Landscape Architecture)
Reader: Marjorie Kaplan (Rutgers Climate Institute)
Arianna R. Horgan (Biological Sciences) Drivers of Variation in Gut Transit Time, Physiological Rates, and Parasite Infestation in Crassostrea virginica
Advisor: Daphne Munroe (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Reader: Lisa Calvo (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Emma B. Huntzinger (Marine Biology) An Investigation of Innovative Cement Technology for Oyster Reef Restoration
Advisor: David Bushek (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Reader: Richard Riman (School of Engineering-Material Science and Engineering)
Jon Ander Ibanez (Environmental and Business Economics) Evaluating the Economic Impact of NJ's Farmland Preservation
Advisor: Brian Shilling (Cooperative Extension-Agriculture Policy)
Reader: Paul Gottlieb (Agriculture and Economics)
Carli J. Keefer (Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior) The Implications of Rising Sea Levels for Stormwater Management in Coastal Communities of the Barnegat Bay Area
Advisor: Daniel Van Abs (Human Ecology)
Reader: Karen O’Neill (Human Ecology)
Meridian V. Mathes (Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behaviors) A Historical Ecological Perspective of Oatlands Plantation
Advisor: Victoria Ramenzoni (Human Ecology)
Reader: Karen O’Neill (Human Ecology)
Felicia N. Paradiso (Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior) Networks of New Jersey Farms and Emergency Food Systems
Advisor: Meredith Taylor (Landscape Architecture)
Reader: Ethan Schoolman (Human Ecology)
Alexis M. Serido (Landscape Architecture) Exploration of the Legends, Ecological, Social, and Cultural Significances of the New Jersey Pinelands
Advisor: Frank Gallagher (Landscape Architecture)
Reader: Kathleen John-Alder (Landscape Architecture)
Ashley N. Stoop (Landscape Architecture) The Assunpink Watershed Restoration: An Homage to Ecology, History and Connectivity
Advisor: Frank Gallagher (Landscape Architecture)
Reader: Anita Bakshi (Landscape Architecture)
Vita M. Bankauskas (Biological Sciences) Yeast Phosphatidylinositol Synthase
Advisor: George Carman (Food Science)
Reader: Gil-Soo Han (Food Science)
Max Dvinskikh (Microbiology) Isolation and Identification of Debrominating Anaerobic Bacteria from Sponge Samples
Advisor: Max Haggblom (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Lee Kerkhof (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Divya Dubey (Biotechnology) Genealogies of Movement Protein and Nuclear Shuttle Protein Encoded on Begomovirus DNA-Bs
Advisor: Siobain Duffy (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Brad Hillman (Plant Biology)
Nolan F. Fehon (Marine Science) Identifying Nuclear Genes Responsible for Photo-acclimation in a Marine Diatom
Advisor: Paul Falkowski (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Reader: Kay Bidle (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Karolyn M. Ficken (Biotechnology) Investigating Bacteriophages as a Novel Therapeutic Approach Against Common Skin-Infecting Bacteria
Advisor: Jeffrey Boyd (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Siobain Duffy (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Shannon Hiner (Biotechnology) Analysis of the Binding and Recognition of a Feline Leukemia Virus Envelope protein to the SLC35F2 receptor in the Presence and Absence of Small Molecule Substrates
Advisor: Monica Roth (RWJ-Pharmacology)
Co-Advisor: Paul Meers (Plant Biology)
Reader: Jerome Langer (RWJ-Pharmacology)
Neha V. Joshi (Biotechnology) Enrichment and Characterization of Anaerobic Bacteria That Utilize Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products
Advisor: Max Haggblom (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Donna Fennell (Environmental Science)
Steven W. Mayer (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) Testing Reemergence of Highly Specialized Populations of phi 6
Advisor: Siobain Duffy (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Bradley Hillman (Plant Biology)
Christopher M. McGinley (Biochemistry) Investigation into The Roles of Conserved Amino Acids for the Function of the Metal Ion Homeostasis Protein YlaN
Advisor: Jeffrey Boyd (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Arek Kulczyk (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Erik J. Nitzberg (Environmental Sciences) Effects of Halogenated Pollutant Metabolites on the Dehalogenation of Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins
Advisor: Donna Fennell (Environmental Sciences)
Reader: Lisa Rodenburg (Environmental Sciences)
Zanub Rahman (Biochemistry) Effects of Plastic on Naproxen Degradation via a Freshwater Consortium
Advisor: Abigail Porter (Environmental Science)
Reader: Lily Young (Environmental Science)
Jocelyn A. Schwartz (Biochemistry) Antifungal Activity of Thyme Essential Oil Volatiles
Advisor: Joan Bennett (Plant Biology)
Reader: James White (Plant Biology)
Julia Senkina (Biochemistry) Improving the Drug-Like Properties of ELQ Antimalarials
Advisor: Spencer Knapp (Chemistry and Chemical Biology)
Reader: Longqin Hu (Medicinal Chemistry)
Waner Zhang (Biotechnology/Bioinformatics) The Chloroplast Unfolded Protein Response (cpUPR) to Lincomycin
Advisor: John McLaughlin (Plant Biology)
Reader: Sonia Arora (Plant Biology)
Zhongrui Zhang (Biotechnology) In Silico Studies of Compounds Present in the Plant Ocimum Sp.
Advisor: Sonia Arora (Plant Biology)
Reader: Paul Meers (Plant Biology)
Jessica Bixha (Nutritional Sciences - Dietetics) Changes in Food Pantry Services During COVID-19
Advisor: Nurgul Fitzgerald (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Debra Palmer-Keenan (Nutritional Sciences)
Kaeley R. Fiorentino (Nutritional Sciences - Dietetics) Impact of COVID on Nutrition and PTSD in Low-Income Countries
Advisor: Daniel Hoffman (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: James Simon (Plant Biology)
Corinne P. Lima (Nutritional Sciences - Dietetics) 12-Year Cross-sectional Trends of Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating Among College Students
Advisor: Virginia Quick (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Kaitlyn Eck (Marywood University)
Chris Malcolm Lynsung (Biological Sciences) American Youth and BDSM: Mediations, Community and Commodities
Advisor: Louisa Schein (Women and Gender Studies/Anthropology)
Reader: Carlos Decena (Women and Gender Studies)
Brooke M. Margolin (Public Health) The Implications of Community-Centered Policies, Programs, and Urban Revitalization on Food Insecurity in New Brunswick, New Jersey
Advisor: Mark Robson (Plant Biology)
Reader: Sara Elnakib (Rutgers-NJ Agricultural Experiment Station)
2023 George H. Cook Scholars
Animal and Human Biology: Cancer and Neurology
Anjalika Bandaru (Biotechnology) The Effect of CHPG, an mGluR5 Agonist, on the Differentiation of Human Oligodendrocytes
Advisor: Hiroko Nobuta (RWJ-Neurology and Cell Biology)
Co-Advisor: Lori White (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Cheryl Dreyfus (RWJ-Neurology and Cell Biology)
Mia N. Bersalona (Biology/Anthropology) Possible Role of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway in the Metabolic Regulation of Sleep: Studies Using Drosophila as a Model System
Advisor: Isaac Edery (SAS – Molecular Biology and Biochemistry)
Co-Advisor: Lori White (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Lori White (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
William C. Feng (Bioinformatics/Computer Science) Effects of Mutations on TP53 Alternative Splicing and Pathogenicity
Advisor: Chang S. Chan (Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey)
Co-Advisor: Sonia Arora (Plant Biology)
Reader: Wenwei Hu (Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey)
Abigail Gamboa (Animal Science) Effects of Fetal Alcohol Exposure on the Development of Pituitary Tumors in Male Rats
Advisor: Dipak Sakar (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Fnu Shaista (Animal Sciences)
Andrew J. Lie (Biotechnology) The Role of Long Noncoding RNAs in α-Synucleinopathies
Advisor: Eunsung Junn (RWJ - Neurology)
Co-Advisor: Lori White (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Lori White (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Talia M Madura (Biological Sciences/ Philosophy) Disease Manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 Linked to Function of RIG-I Receptor Protein
Advisor: Smita Patel (RWJ-Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
Co-Advisor: Kyle Murphy (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Marc Gartenberg (RWJ-Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
Fizza Syed Naqvi (Biochemistry) The Role of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) and RAS/RAF Signaling Cross-Talk on MMP-1 and CYP1A1 in Melanoma
Advisor: Kyle Murphy (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Natalya Voloshchuk (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Andrew D. Sam (Biochemistry/Physics) Investigating Disorder, Aggregation, and Fibrillation in Ancestral Synuclein
Advisor: Jean Baum (SAS - Chemistry and Chemical Biology)
Co-Advisor: Arek Kulczyk (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Sagar Khare (SAS - Chemistry and Chemical Biology)
Chenyue Zhao (Biochemistry) Identifying Novel Neural Inputs to the Drosophila Pars Intercerebralis Using Anterograde Tracing Methods
Advisor: Anika Barber (SAS Molecular Biology and Biochemistry)
Co-Advisor: Sharron Crane (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Morgan Jones (RWJ – Psychiatry)
Animal and Human Biology: Metabolism and Reproduction
Chintan T. Bhavsar (Nutritional Sciences/Exercise Science) Mechanisms of High-Fat Diet Induced Liver Steatosis During Asparaginase Exposure
Advisor: Tracy Anthony (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Harini Sampath (Nutritional Sciences)
Dhruv C. Champaneri (Biotechnology) Retinoid Homeostasis in the Heart During the Transition from Fasting to Re-Feeding in Mice
Advisor: Loredana Quadro (Food Science)
Reader: Judith Storch (Nutritional Sciences)
Layiba S. Choudhry (Biotechnology) Hindbrain Neural Activation of Sibutramine in a Mouse Model of Obesity
Advisor: Nicholas Bello (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Suzanne Sukhdeo (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Lisa Chueh (Animal Science) ADAD2's Influence on the piRNA Pathway in Meiotic Male Germ Cells
Advisor: Elizabeth Snyder (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Sam Gu (SAS -Molecular Biology and Biochemistry)
Jason R. Diaz, Jr. (Biotechnology/Bioinformatics) Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Physiological Heart Growth
Advisor: Loredana Quadro (Food Science)
Reader: Igor Shmarakov (Animal Science)
Katherine H. Dinh (Biological Sciences) Role of Polyphenol Metabolites as an FXR Agonist
Advisor: Diana E. Roopchand (Food Science)
Reader: Karen Mae A. Bacalia (SAS – Division of Life Sciences)
Berk Inan (Biochemistry) The Effect of Obesity and Sucrose on Glutamine Synthetase Expression in Mice
Advisor: Malcolm Watford (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Tracy Anthony (Nutritional Sciences)
Ting-Ann Liu (Biochemistry) Potential Role of Phospholipids as Therapeutics for Niemann-Pick C Disease
Advisor: Judith Storch (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Joseph Dixon (Nutritional Sciences)
Archna Mahendru (Biochemistry) Effects of Enterocyte Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins (FABPs) on Adipose Tissue Cellularity in Female C57B1/6J Mice: Gender-Specific Differences Upon Liver FABP (LFABP) Ablation
Advisor: Judith Storch (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Loredana Quadro (Food Science)
Anjali M. Patel (Biological Sciences) Effects of Excess Exogenous Estrogen on the Expression of Nuclear Estrogen Receptors Alpha and Beta
Advisor: Martin J. Blaser (Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine)
Co-Advisor: Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Cassandra Nelson (SAS – Division of Life Sciences)
Sarah M. Sywanycz (Biochemistry/Nutritional Sciences) The Effects of the Menstrual Cycle on Oral Glucose Detection Thresholds
Advisor: Paul Breslin (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Sue Shapses (Nutritional Sciences)
Lingyi Zhu (Nutritional Sciences/Biochemistry) Altered Control of Muscle Growth and Metabolism in Mice Lacking BCKDK
Advisor: Tracy Anthony (Nutritional Sciences)
Reader: Malcolm Watford (Nutritional Sciences)
Animal Physiology and Behavior
Paula J. Agustin (Animal Science) Testing the Effectiveness of the GraphWear Monitor on Tracking Lactate Concentrations in an Exercising Horse
Advisor: Kenneth McKeever (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Karyn Malinowski (Animal Sciences)
Abanoub J. Armanious (Public Health/Cell Biology and Neurology) JA212: A Novel Preclinical-stage Small Molecule Being Developed for the Treatment of Binge Eating Disorder
Advisor: Morgan H. James (RWJ – Psychiatry)
Co-Advisor: Nicholas T. Bello (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Nicholas T. Bello (Animal Sciences)
Olivia M. Cospito (Animal Science) The Influence of Cesarian Section on Cognitive and Social Behavior in a Mouse Model of ASD
Advisor: Troy A. Roepke (Animal Science)
Reader: Aparna Zama (Animal Science)
Dhruvi Desai (Biotechnology) Whole Brain Mapping of Pre-optic Area Inputs
Advisor: David Barker (SAS - Psychology)
Co-Advisor: Thomas Leustek (Plant Biology)
Reader: Paul Meers (Plant Biology)
Ragavi Raman (Animal Science/ Microbial Biotech) Quantitative Behavioral Analysis of Horses Involved in Equine Assisted Activities
Advisor: Karyn Malinowski (Animal Sciences)
Reader: Kenneth McKeever (Animal Sciences)
Ecology and Atmospheric Science
Minahal Arif (Biology) Parasite Prevalence and Abundance in the European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) at Newark International Airport
Advisor: Suzanne Sukhdeo (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Michael Sukhdeo (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Miranda G. Barnes (Microbiology/Entomology) Living the Fly Life: Analyses of Mosquito Gut Bacteria and Host Colonization
Advisor: Dana Price (Entomology)
Reader: Dina Fonseca (Entomology)
Mox R. Engelman (Marine Biology/Visual Arts) Effects of Age, Sex, Size, and Mite Load on Coloration Attributes of Eastern Fence Lizards
Advisor: Henry John-Alder (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Grace Saba (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Nina M. Fedoryka (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) Nest Habitat Supplementation for Ground-Nesting Bee Populations in Urban Environments
Advisor: Kimberly Russell (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Suzanne Sukhdeo (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Allison G. Fink (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) Ground-proofing Satellite Imagery for Walrus Conservation and Wildlife Law Enforcement
Advisor: Jason Grabosky (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Anthony Fischbach (US Geological Survey Department)
Thomas M. Juliano (Meteorology) Impact on a Changing Climate on Monthly and Seasonal Snowfall Trends in the Northeast
Advisor: Anthony Broccoli (Environmental Science)
Reader: David A. Robinson (SAS - Geography)
Miah L. Manning (Biological Sciences) Characterizing the Variability of Phytoplankton on the West Antarctic Peninsula
Advisor: Oscar Schofield (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Reader: Grace Saba (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Angela N. Poulos (Meteorology) Mesoscale Structure of Cumulus-Coupled Marine Stratocumulus in the Eastern North Atlantic
Advisor: Mark Miller (Environmental Science)
Reader: Fernando Pareja (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Shakthi T. Sivaram (Animal Science) A Model for a Three-Species IMTA System
Advisor: Gal Hochman (Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics)
Reader: Michael DeLuca (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Jeffrey R. Uy (Biochemistry) Researching the Effects of Selected Micro(nano)plastics on Zebrafish Caudal Fin Regeneration
Advisor: Lori White (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Keith Cooper (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Mariel K. Vandegrift (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) Pollinator Response to Invasive Species Management and Cultivated Native Flora
Advisor: Kimberly Russell (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Reader: Jason Grabosky (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Microbiology
Daniel Ambrosio (Biochemistry/English) Investigatory Studies of Horse Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase through Dilatometry
Advisor: Natalya Voloshchuk (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Peter Kahn (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Eric A. Corradini (Biotechnology) Bringing Novel Soil Acidobacteria into Cultivation
Advisor: Max Haggblom (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Lee Kerkhof (Marine and Coastal Science)
Alexandra B Deutsch (Biochemistry/English) The Effect of Cesarean-Section on the Fecal Microbiome over Development in Two Mouse Models
Advisor: Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Melissa Woortman (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Dylan S. Klein (Biochemistry/Environmental Science) Computational Design of Nickel-binding Activity in a Helical Bundle Protein
Advisor: Vikas Nanda (Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine)
Co-Advisor: Kessler McCoy-Simandle (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Jennifer Timm (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Parth Modi (Biotechnology) Study on Wolf Pack Coordination in Lysobacter Enzymogenes
Advisor: Paul Meers (Plant Biology)
Reader: Sonia Arora (Plant Biology)
Lomaani S. Ranasinghe (Microbiology) Functional Assessment of the Regulon of the Ferric Uptake Regulator (Fur) in Staphylococcus aureus
Advisor: Jeffrey Boyd (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Costantino Vetriani (Marine and Coastal Sciences)
Jordyn B. Ruszczyk (Biological Sciences) O-Methylation of BPA, BPS, and BPF by Microorganisms
Advisor: Max Haggblom (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Donna E. Fennell (Environmental Sciences)
Sachit A. Sudharshan (Microbiology) The Transfer Ability of phi6 (a Surrogate Model for Enveloped Viruses) Between Surfaces and Gloves
Advisor: Donald Schaffner (Food Science)
Reader: Inan Rauschenbach (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Kayla Ventura (Microbial Biotechnology) Classifying Debrominating Bacteria Isolated from Marine Sponges
Advisor: Max Haggblom (Biochemistry and Microbiology)
Reader: Lee Kerkhof (Marine and Coastal Science)
Landscapes, Land Use and Infrastructure
Victor A. Aguilar (Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior) Achieving Equity in Watershed Management-Improving Accessibility in the Lower Raritan Watershed
Advisor: Daniel Van Abs (Human Ecology)
Reader: Angela Oberg (Human Ecology)
Sophia D. Banas (Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior) Restoration of the Atlantic Salmon Population to the Kennebec River in Maine
Advisor: Daniel Van Abs (Human Ecology)
Reader: Marci Meixler (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources)
Matan Rephael Dubnikov (Agriculture and Food Systems) Impacts on Traditional Agriculture by Urban and Climatic Stressors in the Huerta of Valencia, Spain Joint
Advisors: Pamela McElwee and Ethan Schoolman (Human Ecology)
Reader: Xenia Morin (Plant Biology)
Anna E. Forsman (Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior) At Home in the Adirondacks: Essays on Heartful Environmentalism
Advisor: Hildegaard Link (Human Ecology)
Reader: Marianne Patinelli-Dubay (State University of New York-ESF)
Kathleen R. Hammerdahl (Landscape Architecture) From Healers to Witches and Lunatics: Documenting and Representing Women's Relationship with Landscape Over Time
Advisor: Anita Bakshi (Landscape Architecture)
Reader: Richard Alomar (Landscape Architecture)
William H. Hendershot III (Landscape Architecture) The New Jersey Residential Landscape
Advisor: Steven Kristoph (SEBS – Continuing Professional Education)
Reader: Holly Nelson (Landscape Architecture)
Avery R. Kaplan (Landscape Architecture) Boystown, Chicago: The Legacy Walk Redesign
Advisor: Arianna Lindberg (Landscape Architecture)
Reader: Holly Nelson (Landscape Architecture)
Revathi V. Machan (Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior/Environmental Planning and Design) Harsimus Branch Embankment in Downtown Jersey City
Advisor: Frank Gallagher (Landscape Architecture)
Reader: Heather Fenyk (Human Ecology)
Nicole H. Trent (Environmental and Business Economics) Level of Success of Environmental Equity Policies in NJ Using a Pinelands Survey
Advisor: Ethan Schoolman (Human Ecology)
Reader: Cymie Payne (Human Ecology)
Plant Biology
Sebastian Gallon (Biotechnology) Unraveling the Chloroplast Unfolded Protein Response to Trichothecenes
Advisor: John McLoughlin (Plant Biology)
Reader: Christina Chisholm (Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement)
Alyssa K. Leung (Plant Science/Microbiology) PPR10 RNA Binding Protein for Seed-Specific Expression of Recombinant Proteins in Tobacco Plastids
Advisor: Pal Maliga (Waksman Institute of Microbiology)
Reader: Juan Dong (Waksman Institute of Microbiology)
Gia L. Masny (Biotechnology) Identification of Emerging Xanthomonas arboricola Pathovar Causing Bacterial Blight of Hazelnut in New Jersey
Advisor: Nrupali Patel (Plant Biology)
Reader: Thomas Molnar (Plant Biology)
Yash K. Patel (Biotechnology) Copper Resistance in Bacterial Pathogens
Advisor: Nrupali Patel (Plant Biology)
Reader: Donald Kobayashi (Plant Biology)
Jennifer Lin Schug (Environmental Engineering) Synergistic Antifungal Activity of Clove, Turmeric, and Nutmeg Against Cadida albicans and Aspergillus brasiliensis
Advisor: Ilya Raskin (Plant Biology)
Reader: Mirjana Seskar (Plant Biology)
Lance T. Scibilia (Plant Biotechnology) Environmental and Genotypic Associations within a Blueberry Germplasm
Advisor: Ira Herniter (Plant Biology)
Reader: Donald Kobayashi (Plant Biology)
Shruthi Yuvaraj (Biochemistry) Efficacy of Capsaicin and Tigogenin Saponins as Synergistic Antifungal Agents
Advisor: Ilya Raskin (Plant Biology)
Reader: Erica Cho (Plant Biology)
Public Health, Welfare and Policy
Stella T. Campbell (Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior) The Campaign to Divest from Fossil Fuels at Rutgers University: A Historical Analysis Through the Lens of Institutional Theory
Advisor: Karen O’Neill (Human Ecology)
Reader: Angela Oberg (Human Ecology)
Mackenzie G. Lawson (Public Health) Assessing the Role of Stigma in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health-Seeking Behaviors in Northwestern Botswana
Advisor: Francis Barchi (Bloustein School of Planning and Public Health)
Co-Advisor: Mark Robson (Plant Biology)
Reader: Gloria Bachman (RWJ – OB/Gyn Department)
Vanessa Thomas (Environmental Policy) Pulling the Plug on Student Energy Burdens: Energy Insecurity Experiences Among Rutgers Undergraduate Off-Campus Student Renters
Advisor: Rachel Shwom (Human Ecology)
Reader: Holly Berman Caggiano (Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment)