People

Current Lab Group

Lab Group Summer 2024. L to R: Roudro Saha (’25), Aanzan Sachdeva (’25), An Huang (’25), Prof. Donhauser, Lynn Mendez (’25), Ali Shamil (’27)

Former thesis students

Banpreet Bawa (’23) Biochemistry thesis: Characterization of pseudophosphorylated 1N4R and 0N4R tau Constructs
Current Position: Research technician at Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Ella Kolk (’22) Biochemistry thesis: Intermolecular interactions and structure of R5L tau
Current Position: Research technician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Institute

Zachary Henig (’21). Biochemistry thesis: The effect of phosphorylation on tau-tau intermolecular interactions 
Current position: MD student at NYU

Anna Sesonske (’21). Chemistry thesis: The relative acidities of weak organic acids: Solvent and solute effects on pKa
Current position: QC Analyst at Regeneron

Lukas Harries (’19). Biochemistry thesis: Phosphorylation’s impact on tau
MS in Analytics from Georgia Tech
Current position: Data Engineer at GRAIL

Cassidy Nealon, MEd (’19). Chemistry thesis: Relative pKas of water and various alcohols
Current position: Chemistry teacher in Oakland Unified School District

Dr. Zofia Siwicka (’18). Chemistry thesis: Investigating intermolecular forces in pseudophosphorylated tau
PhD from Northwestern University
Current position: Senior Research Specialist at Dow Chemical Company

Dr. Claudia Carcamo (’17). Biochemistry thesis: Using surface patterning to interrogate tau structure in various ionic strength conditions
PhD from Johns Hopkins University
Current position: Postdoctoral researcher at Merck

Amizhdini Eswaramoorthy (’17). Biochemistry thesis: Probing specific interactions in the tau protein projection domain

Dr. Alexandra Gittens (’17). Biochemistry thesis: Examining the function of the carboxyl-terminal domain with respect to tau structure and assemblage
PhD from Johns Hopkins University
ORISE Fellow at the Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Morrie Lam (’16). Biochemistry thesis: Determining the role of the carboxyl-terminal domain in tau protein function
Current position: PhD student at Harvard University

Drury McAlarney (’16). Chemistry thesis: Optimizing parameters for uCP of proteins
Current position: MD student at Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Dr. Christopher Rosenberg (’15). Biochemistry thesis: Purification of a pseudohyperphosphorylated tau mutant for analysis by SDS-PAGE and atomic force microscopy
MD from Stony Brook University
Current position: MD in Portland, OR

Dr. Samuel Verbanic (’15). Biochemistry thesis: Expression and purification of the tau projection domain
PhD from University of California Santa Barbara
Current position: Senior Scientist at 4D Molecular Therapeutics

Dr. Amer Hossain (’14). Biochemistry thesis: Construction of pseudohyperphosphorylated tau mutants for analysis by atomic force microscopy
PhD from The Rockefeller University
Current position: Research Fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Pedro Sepulveda (’14). Biochemistry thesis: Purification and characterization of novel constructs of the microtubule associated protein tau
Current position: JD student at City University of New York

Dr. Sarah Cheng (’13). Biochemistry thesis: Examining the structural and mechanical effects of microtubules doubly-stabilized with guanylyl 5′-a,b-methylene diphosphonate (GMPCPP) and paclitaxel
MD from University of California San Francisco
Current position: MD in San Francisco, CA

Dr. Jared Saunders (’13). Biochemistry thesis: Functional analysis of the projection domain of the microtubule associated protein tau
PhD from Princeton University
Current position: Associate Medical Publications Manager at Excerpta Medica Inc.

Dr. Visham Appadoo (’12). Chemistry thesis: Optimizing surface functionalization of mica and silicon with smooth silane films
PhD from University of Wisconsin-Madison
Current position: Senior Research Scientist at PPG Industries

Dr. Dennis D’Urso (’11). Biochemistry thesis:  Modification and functional study of tau’s projection domain
MD from Thomas Jefferson University
Current position: MD in Elizabeth, NJ

Nyanza Rothman (’11).  Chemistry thesis:  In vitro structural study of microtubules using quantitative fluorescence microscopy
Current position: Senior Scientist at Regeneron

Dr. Scott Pascal (’10). Biochemistry Thesis: The effect of tau protein and polymerization conditions on the radial elasticity of microtubules
MD from University of Massachusetts Medical School
Current position: MD in Miami, FL

Dr. Muhammad Haq (’09). Biochemistry Thesis: Purification and characterization of microtubule associated protein tau
MD from NYU School of Medicine
Current position: MD in Jersey City, NJ

Dr. Elysa Kliman (’08). Chemistry Thesis: Characterization of tubulin zinc sheets using UV-vis and AFM
DDS from University of Southern California
Current position: Dentist in Toronto, ON

Dr. Sean Boley (’08). URSI 2006. Chemistry Thesis: Determination of elastic modulus of rubber modified epoxy using atomic force microscopy
MD from Penn State College of Medicine
Current position: MD in St. Paul, MN

Dr. Philipose Mulugeta (’07). Biochemistry Thesis: Atomic force microscopy studies of the elastic properties of glutaraldehyde and paclitaxel stabilized microtubules
MD from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Current position: MD in Rockville, MD

Dr. Kathleen Munson (’06). Biochemistry Thesis: AFM studies of local structural properties of microtubules using paclitaxel and GMPCPP
PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Current position: Staff Scientist at Pacific Northwest National Lab

Saad Akbar (’05). Chemistry Thesis: Probing the surface of microtubules using atomic force microscopy

Former students: If you see your name on this page and you’d like me to make any changes, please let me know!

Some older lab photos: