Undergraduate Researchers Trained in the Montelione Lab

  1. Mark Olszyk (Biology, Rutgers University) Computational Biology 1990 – 1991.  Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis: “New Computational Methods for Homology Modeling of Proteins.” Received his MD from Columbia University. Currently VP for Medical Affairs/Chief Medical Officer at Caroll Hospital Center, Baltimore, MD. 
  2. Rajiv Prasad (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Computational Biology 1990 – 1992. “Development of New Computer Graphics Tools for Molecular Modeling.”  Received his MD from The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Currently an Assistant Professor and Emergency Medicine Physician at Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens, NY. 
  3. Yasir Ahmad (Chemistry, Rutgers University) Computational Biology 1992. “Computer Analysis of Protein Structures.” Received his MD from Spartan Health Science University. Currently practicing Psychiatry at Hackensack UMC.
  4. Haicheng (Heather) Li (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Biomolecular NMR 1992 – 1995. Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis: “Homology Modeling of DNA-Binding Proteins.” Howard Hughes Graduate Fellowship. NSF Graduate Fellowship (declined). Currently an SVP, Global Healthcare Senior Equity Analyst at TCW. 
  5. Valerie Schannen Cavett (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Computational Biology 1993 – 1994. “Structural Analysis of IgG – Protein A Complexes Using Computer Graphics.” Worked as a Research Assistant at Scripps Florida. Currently a Specialist at the University of California, Irvine.
  6. Lorraine Snyder Dougherty (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 1992 – 1995. “Development of High Level Recombinant Expression System for the Alzheimer’s Precursor Protein Protease Domain.”  Received her MD from The University of Pennsylvania Medical School. Currently specializes in hematology for Alliance Cancer Specialists, Sellersville, PA. 
  7. Staci Lieberman Bodner (Chemistry and Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Biomolecular NMR 1993-1996.  Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis:  “NMR Solution Structure Determination of the Murine Homeodomain Protein MSX-1.” Received her MD from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Currently a Pediatrician at Manhattan Pediatrics, New York, NY. 
  8. Shabbar Danish (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Biomolecular NMR 1995 – 1997. Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis:  “Biophysical Studies of CspA, the Major Cold-Shock Protein of Escherichia coli”. Received his MD from The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in 2001.  Currently Chief, Section of Neurology, Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Director, RWJ Gamma Knife Center, and Laser Ablation Treatment Center.  shabbar.danish@rutgers.com  
  9. Lisa Seufert (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 1995 – 1997.  Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis: “Expression and Purification of 15N-enriched Alzheimer’s Amyloid β-Protein Precursor Kunitz Inhibitor Domain (APP-KI).” Attended The University of Pennsylvania Medical School, and is a practicing Psychiatrist in Philadelphia, PA. 
  10. Mousumi Roy (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 1997. “Molecular Modeling of Protein Structures.”. 
  11. Michael Mehnert (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Computational Biology 1997 – 1998. “Bioinformatic Analysis of Protein Domain Structures”. Received his MD from The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Currently at a member of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. 
  12. Alexandra Gardino (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Computational Biology 1998 – 1999. Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis: “Clusters of Orthologous Groups: Applications in Bioinformatics, Structural Biology, and Structure-Based Functional Genomics.” Received her PhD from Brandeis University. Worked as a scientist at Blueprint Medicines, Cambridge, MA.  Currently Associate Director at Accent Therapeutics, Lexington, MA.
  13. Ram Mani (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 1997 – 2000. Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis: “Structural Genomics of Conserved Gene Families.” Received his MD from Dartmouth Medical School. Currently and Assistant Professor of Neurology at Rutgers University. 
  14. Reza Y. Akhtar (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 1999 – 2000.  Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis:  “High Throughput Homology Modeling for Structural Genomics.”  Received his MD from Tufts University School of Medicine. Currently a Gastroenterology at Shore Gastroenterology Associates, PC, Oakhurst, NJ.
  15. Manju Goyal (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Computational Biology 2000 – 2001.
  16. Bonnie Cooper (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2000 – 2002. Received her MA from The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
  17. Rebecca Liu (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2001 – 2002.  Received her DS from Columbia University. Currently in practice with Smile Central Dental. 
  18. Gurmukh Sahota (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Computational Biology 1999 – 2002.  Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis:  “Solution NMR Structure of the BRCT Domain of Thermus thermophilus DNA Ligase.”  Received his MD/PhD from Washington University St Louis MO. Currently an Attending Anesthesiologist at University of Pennsylvania Health System. 
  19. Jennifer Chen (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2002 – 2002.  Currently a Product Manager at Velos, Inc. Freemont, CA.
  20. Taylor Graham (Biotechnology, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2002 – 2003. 
  21. Helen Chow (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2001 – 2003. Currently a pharmacist with PTENET Solutions in Lake Hiawatha, NJ.
  22. Nadia Khan (Biology, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2002 – 2003. Currently attending St. George’s University – Grenada Medical School. nadeensmile@yahoo.com 
  23. Marvin Bayro (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Computational Biology 2000 – 2003.  Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis: “AutoProc: Automated Processing of Protein NMR Data Through a Generalized Experimental Model in a Relational Database Approach.” Received his PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Currently an Assistant Professor at University of Puerto Rico. marvin.bayro@upr.edu
  24. Zeba Wunderlich (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Computational Biology 2001 – 2003.   Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis: “HOMA, Homology Modeling Automatically, and ZebaView: Two Bioinformatics Applications for Structural Genomics.” Received her PhD from Harvard University. Currently an Assistant Professor at University of California, Irvine.  zeba@uci.edu
  25. Nadeem Riaz (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Computational Biology 2002 – 2003.  Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis: “Automated Analysis of Peak Patterns in Multidimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.” Received his MD from Stanford University. Currently a Radiation Oncologist and Associate Director of Genomics Operations, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
  26. Raymond Mirasol (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Protein Purification 2002 – 2003. Currently practicing Internal Medicine at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ.
  27. Kate Drahos Moreau  (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University). Molecular Biology 2001 – 2004.   Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis: “Protein Expression and Folding Optimization for High Throughput Proteomics.” Currently a Senior Associate, RA Capital Management.
  28. Lingyue Lee (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2002 – 2004.
  29. Tatiana Borissova (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Biomolecular NMR 2002 – 2004.  Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis: “Protein Stability Measurements Using Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange, Mass Spectrometry, and NMR Spectroscopy.”  Currently a biochemical technician in the pharmaceutical industry.
  30. Kellie Cunningham (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2002 – 2004. Currently a Resident Cardiac Surgeon, University of Pittsburgh, General Residency Program.
  31. Melissa Ciano Byler (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology   2002 – 2004. Received her MS in Genetic Counseling at University of South Carolina School of Medicine.
  32. Timothy Byler (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2002 – 2004.  Currently Assistant Professor of Urology, SUNY Upstate University Hospital, Syracuse, NY.
  33. Pavithra Shivakumar. (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry and Computer Science, Rutgers University) Computational Biology 2004-2005. Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis: “AutoQF Software for Validation of Protein NMR Structures.” Received her PhD in Bioinformatics from Yale University. Currently Senior Lead Scientist at Booz Allen Hamilton, Frederick, MD.
  34. Chioma Nwosu (Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Protein Production 2004 – 2006. Received her MD from George Washington University Medical School and is currently practicing at Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY.
  35. Danielle Belsky Krause (Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University) Aresty Research Center Summer Science Research Fellow, 2006. Currently an Executive Search Professional in the Financial Services Sector.
  36. Pooja Dharia (PharmD, Rutgers College of Pharmacy) Molecular Biology 2004 – 2006. Currently an Associate Regulatory Scientist at Booz Allen Hamilton, Rockville, MD. 
  37. Michael Fakhry (Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Computational Biology 2005 – 2006.
  38. Brian Radvansky (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2004 – 2006. Received his MD from UMDNJ and is Currently a Resident Physician at University of Pennsylvania Health Systems.
  39. Dong Yup (Dan) Lee (Genetics, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2006 – 2007. Currently a Research Associate at City University of New York.
  40. Colleen Ciccosanti (Genetics, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology, 2004 – 2007. Currently an Endocrinology Resident at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. 
  41. Kate Stokes (Biotechnology, Rutgers University) Protein Production 2005 – 2007. Received her PhD in Immunology from Emory University. She is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Pennsylvania.
  42. Keith Hamiliton (Biology, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2005 – 2007. Currently enrolled in Columbia University PhD program in Molecular Biophysics.
  43. Rushabh Vakharia (Biology, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2006 – 2008. Currently a Resident Oncologist at Saint Peters University Hospital.
  44. Taral Patel (Biology, Rutgers University) Protein Purification 2006 – 2007. Currently Chief Anesthesia Resident at Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ.
  45. Norain Siddiqui (Biology, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2006 – 2008. Currently Executive Director, Strategic Programs, IKS Health, New York, NY.
  46. Alisa Reznikov (Biological Sciences, Rutgers University) Protein Purification 2007 – 2008. Project Title: “Protein Aggregation Screening and Analysis.” Currently A Resident Physician at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School – CentraState Medical Center.
  47. Justin Nistico (Biology, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2006 – 2008. Project Title: “Developing Purification Technologies and Optimization Buffer Solutions for the Full Length NS1A Protein Constructs and Complexes with Both the F2F3 Domain of CPSF-30 and dsRNA.” Currently a practicing DO in Staten Island, NY.
  48. Danielle DiStefano (Biology, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2006 – 2007. Currently a podiatrist at Foot Health Center LLC, Montclair, NJ.
  49. Will Buchwald (Biology, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2008 – 2009. Currently a Scientific Associate II at Novartis Institute for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA.
  50. Dayaben Patel (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Protein Purification 2008 – 2009. Currently a Research Scientist at Merck and Company, Kenilworth, NJ.
  51. Joseph Wong (Genetics, Rutgers University) Protein Purification 2007 – 2009. Received his MD from The George Washington School of Medicine and is a Resident Physician at Lehigh Valley Health Network.
  52. Paul Harvilla (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology and NMR 2007-2009. Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis: “Structural and Biophysical Studies of NonStructural Protein 1 of Influenza A and B Viruses.” Currently enrolled in Columbia University PhD program in Cell, Molecular, and Biophysical Studies.
  53. Gautam Singh (Computer Science, Rutgers University) Bioinformatics 2007 – 2010. Currently enrolled in Rutgers University PhD program in Computational Science and Molecular Biophysics.
  54. Curtis Schauder (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2008 – 2010. Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis: “Biophysical Characterization of Influenza NS1A Protein’s Ability to Self Associate and Bind to the p85beta Subunit of PI3K.” Received his PhD from Yale University. Currently an Associate Consultant at Strategic Decision Group, Palo Alto, CA. 
  55. Seema Sahdev (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2008 – 2013. Currently attending Rutgers Biomedical & Health Sciences Physician Assistant program.
  56. Brendan R. Amer (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2008 – 2011. Honors Thesis: “The Characterization of the Influenza Viruses Non-structural Protein 1 and Its Interactions Leading to the Minimization of the Host Cell’s Immune Response.” Received his PhD from University of California, Los Angeles. Currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at University of California, Los Angeles.
  57. Teddy John Wohlbold (Cell Biology & Neurology, Rutgers University) Protein Purification 2007 – 2011. Honors Thesis title: “The Biochemical Characterization of Influenza A Nonstructural Protein 1 (NS1A) and Its Interactions with Host Cell Proteins Involved in the Innate Immune Response.” Currently enrolled in Mount Sinai School of Medicine MD/PhD program.
  58. Hoi Wun Au (Biomathematics, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2008 – 2011. Currently enrolled in graduate school at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
  59. John Cafaro (Biology, Rutgers University) Protein Production 2008 – 2010. Currently attending Rutgers University Medical School, Newark, NJ.
  60. Rokhsareh Eyvazkhany (Chemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2008 – 2011. Currently a Physician Assistant at Orange Regional Medical Center, Middletown, NY.
  61. Eitan Kohan (Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School joint BA/MD program, Biological Sciences, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2008 – 2010. Currently a Resident at Washington University, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St. Louis, MO.
  62. Wylie Lopez (Biological Sciences, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2009 – 2011. Currently an Orthopaedic Resident at Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge, MA.
  63. Ari Sapin (Cell Biology & Neurology, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2008 – 2011. Currently a Resident Surgeon at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, NJ.
  64. Irina Fridman (Biological Sciences, Rutgers University) Protein Purification 2008 – 2009.
  65. Dhaval Ghandi (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Protein Purification 2010 – 2011. Honors Thesis: “Characterization of Complex Formation Between nSH2, iSH2 and cSH2 Domains of p85 Subunit of Pi3K with Different Non Structural Protein 1 (NS1) Strains of Influenza Virus.” Currently a Production Operator at LifeCell-Kaztronix.
  66. Tina Bijlani (Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Rutgers University) Protein Purification 2009 – 2011. Honors Thesis: “High-throughput Screening for Refolding Human Proteins from Inclusion Bodies.” Currently at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine and working as a Clinical Information Manager at Emergency Medical Associates, New Jersey.
  67. Hy Le (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Protein Purification 2011 – 2013. Honors Thesis: “Purification, Characterization and Expression of Novel Oxidoreductase from Zygosaccharomyces rouxii.”
  68. Ahmed Gad (Biology, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2011 – 2013.
  69. Chelsea Stahl Sapin (Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2011 – 2012.
  70. Alex Bendik (Chemical Engineering, Rutgers University) Protein Purification 2011 – 2012. Currently a Technical Services Team Lead at Epic Services, Madison, WI.
  71. Katherine Carrino-Bednarski (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2011 – 2012. Currently a Senior Laboratory Technician at Janssen, Inc. Bridgewater, NJ.
  72. Nicole Brunck (Microbiology, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2010 – 2012. Currently working as a Medical Scribe at Saint Peter’s University Hospital.
  73. Janna Sloand (Genetics, Rutgers University) Protein Purification 2010 – 2013. Received her Masters in Bioengineering at University of Pennsylvania. Currently Graduate Fellow at Pennsylvania State University, Department of Bioengineering. 
  74. Ya-Min Chin (Rutgers University) Protein Purification 2011 – 2013. Currently attending Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
  75. Ashley Aya (Biology, Rutgers University) Protein Production 2011 – 2013. Currently attending Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA.
  76. Sultan Khawam (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2010 – 2013. Currently enrolled in Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine.
  77. Patrick O’Connell (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2013. Currently enrolled in Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine.
  78. Amy Suhotliv (Rutgers University, Biochemistry) Molecular Biology 2010 – 2013. Currently enrolled in Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ.
  79. Samyukta Bengeri (Rutgers University, Biotechnology) Protein Purification 2011 – 2013. Received her MS in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins. Currently a Chemist II at AbbVie, Worcester, MA.
  80. Emily Grasso (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2009 – 2014. Honors Thesis: “Characterization of the Small-molecule and Protein-Protein Interactions of the Influenza A Virus NS1 Protein.” Currently enrolled in Johns Hopkins PhD program in Molecular Physics.
  81. Aparna Tatineni (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2009 – 2014. Honors Thesis: “High Throughput Methods for the Isolation and Identification of Stable Protein Complexes.”
  82. Hersh Doshi (Biology, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2012 – 2014. Currently enrolled in Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
  83. Meenhaz Foysol (Neuroscience, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2012 – 2013. Currently an MIS Specialist with AT&T.
  84. Srushti Raja (Biology, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2012 – 2015. Currently enrolled in Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ.
  85. Ira Bhatnagar (Rutgers University, 2016) Protein Purification 2013 – 2015. Currently enrolled in Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Piscataway, NJ. 
  86. Gopal Govindraj (Biology, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2012 – 2015. Currently enrolled in Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ.
  87. Marium Javed (Biotechnology, Rutgers University) Protein Production 2012 – 2015.
  88. Kaustubh Kulkarni (Neurobiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2012-2013 NMR/Bioinformatics 2013 – 2015. Currently a Research Assistant at Aidekman Research Center, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ.
  89. Jason Lin (Biomathematics, Rutgers University) Bioinformatics 2012 – 2015. Currently enrolled in the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles.
  90. Adam Schwing (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Protein Purification 2012 – 2016. Honors Thesis: “Solution NMR Studies of the Complex Formed Between the Human Retinoblastoma-associated Protein and the Human Adenovirus E1A Protein.” Currently working as a Postbacculaureate Fellow at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
  91. Jennifer Wong (Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2013 – 2015. Currently enrolled in Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
  92. Tyler Zukofsky (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2013 – 2015.
  93. Natalia Patel (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2016 – 2017. Honors Thesis “The Key Interactions between Influenza A Viral Protein NS1 and Human Host Proteins are Mediated by RNA”
  94. Rachel John (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, High Honors, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2015-2019. Honor Thesis: The RNA-Binding Function of the Influenza Type B Non-Structural Protein 1″. Current Position: Medical Student, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Email: racheljohn624@gmail.com
  95. Carlie Hanlon (Biology, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2016 – 2019.
  96. Christopher Kim (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) Molecular Biology 2016 – 2019. Currently in Postbac Program at NIH.
  97. Jingzhou Hao (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rutgers University) NMR studies of the MLV IN – BRD3 ET complex 2018 – 2020. “Conformational dynamics of murine leukemia virus integrase in its complex with chromosomal bromodomain-containing protein 3”. Former Postbac student in Montelione lab at RPI. Currently Graduate Student in Molecular Biophysics at Johns Hopkins University.
  98. Chris Damone (Chemical Engineering, RPI). Programming. 2020 – 2022
  99. Monali Ardeshna (Chemistry and Chemical Biology, RPI). Structural Biology. 2021 -2022.
  100. John Liu (Chemistry and Chemical Biology, RPI). Computational Biology. 2021-2022.
  101. Reena Caplan (Biochemistry and Biophysics, RPI) 2023 – present.
  102. Suren Zakian (Biochemistry, RPI) 2023 – present.
  103. Jay McCoy (Postbaccalaureate training, Hobart and William Smith College) 2023
  104. Emma Gormley (Biochemistry/ Biophysics, RPI) 2023 – present.
  105. John Ricciardi (Chemistry, RPI) 2024 – present
  106. Vivek Sinha (Biomedical Engineering, RPI) 2024 – present
  107. Alexander White (Psychological Sciences, RPI) 2024 – present