Student Achievements

Devin Snyder (center) successfully defended her thesis on January 28, 2020. Dr. Snyder was presented with a copy of her first author paper framed to commemorate this milestone. Devin is surrounded by her committee including (from left to right) Timothy O’Connor (UMSOM), Maricel Kahn (UMBC), David Kaetzel (mentor, UMSOM), Thomas Hornyak (UMSOM) and Qun Zhou (UMSOM). Devin will be moving to California to pursue a postdoctoral position.

Patrick Bailey (center) successfully defended his thesis on May 7, 2019. Dr. Bailey was presented with a copy of his first author paper framed to commemorate this milestone. Patrick is surrounded by her committee including (from left to right Stuart Martin (mentor, Chris Jewell, Amy Fulton, Patrick Bailey, Katia Kontrogianni and Antonio Passaniti.

Janelle Geist Hauserman successfully defended her thesis on May 16, 2019. Dr. Hauserman was presented with a copy of her first author paper framed to commemorate this milestone. Janelle is surrounded by her committee including (from left to right Chris Ward, Janelle Hauserman, Katia Kontrogianni (mentor), Martin Schneider, Bob Bloch, and Bradford Peercy.

Sausan m. jaber taha successfully defended his thesis on november 16, 2018. dr. taha was presented with a copy of her first author paper framed to commemorate this milestone. sausan is surrounded by her committee including (from left to right) songon an, brian polster (mentor), tibor kristian, gerald wilson and richard thompson.

Benjamin Portney successfully defended his thesis on May 22, 2018. Dr. Portney was presented with a copy of his first author paper framed to commemorate this milestone. Ben is surrounded by members of his committee including (from left to right), Dr. Alex Drohat, Dr. Michelle Starz-Gaiano (UMBC), Dr. Mariusz Karbowski, Dr. Michal Zalzman (mentor), Dr. David Kaetzel and Dr. Tony Passaniti.

Dan Grun successfully defended his thesis in December, 2017.  Dr. Grun was presented a copy of his first author paper by his advisor Dr. Richard Eckert to commemorate this milestone.  Dr. Grun is currently continuing his research in Dr. Eckert’s lab.

Chris Coey defended his thesis in April 2017. To commemorate this milestone, Dr. Coey received a framed copy of his first paper from his mentor, Dr. Alex Drohat. Also pictured are other members of the thesis committee, including (left to right) Dr. A-Lien Lu-Chang, Dr. Elsa Garcin (UMBC), Dr. Mike Matunis (Johns Hopkins University), and Dr. Gerald Wilson. Dr. Coey accepted a postdoctoral position at the National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, MD).

Zephan Melville successfully defended his thesis on, April 5, 2017. Dr. Melville was presented a copy of his first author paper by Dr. Richard Eckert to commemorate this milestone. Dr. David Weber served as Zephan’s mentor while at UMSOM. Zephan will be moving on to Columbia University for his postdoc.

Matt Fisher successfully defended his thesis on December 6, 2016. Dr. Fisher was presented with a copy of his first author paper framed to commemorate this milestone.  Matt is surrounded by his committee (from left to right), Dr. David Kaetzel, Dr. Richard Eckert (Mentor), Dr. Toni Antalis, Dr. Jianfei Qi and Dr. Charles Bieberich. Matt is currently doing a postdoc at Cold Spring Harbor, NY.

Patrick Desmond successfully defended his thesis on December 17, 2015. Dr. Desmond was presented a copy of his first author paper by Dr. Richard Eckert to commemorate this milestone. Patrick is surrounded by his committee including (from left to right) Chris Ward, Robert Block (mentor), Elsa Garcin (from UMBC), Martin Schneider and Katia Kontrogianni.

Christina Ross successfully defended her thesis on September 21, 2015. Dr. Ross was presented with a copy of her first author paper framed to commemorate this milestone. Christina is surrounded by her committee including (from left to right), Dr. Songon An (UMBC), Dr. Myram Gorospe (NIA), Dr. Richard Eckert, Dr. Gerald Wilson (her advisor) and Dr. Tony Passaniti. Dr. Ross will be doing a post-doc position at the NIH.

Congratulations to Dr. Ross and Dr. Wilson!

Presenting a framed 1st author paper to Dr. Gabriel Eades is (right to left), Dr. Qun Zhou, his mentor, and Dr. Richard Eckert, Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Congratulations to Dr. Eades, who defended his Thesis in February, 2015.Gabriel Eades, PhD., accepted a post-doc fellow position at UCSF.  Congratulations to Dr. Eades and Dr. Zhou!

Kamalika Saha a Toxicology graduate student is shown here with her mentor Dr. Richard Eckert.  Kamalika did her research in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and successfully defended her thesis in April, 2015.  Dr. Saha is continuing her work as a post-doc fellow in the Eckert Lab.  Congratulations Dr. Saha and Dr. Eckert.

Sunan Li successfully defended her thesis in July 2015.   Dr. Li was presented with a copy of her first author paper framed to commemorate this milestone.  Marey is surrounded by members of her committee including (from left to right), Dr. Edward Eisenstein (IBBR, College Park), Dr. Shengyun Fang, Dr. Mervyn Monteiro, Dr. Brian Polster, Dr. Mariusz Karbowski (her mentor), and Dr. Bret Hassel.  Dr. Li accepted a post-doc position at NIH/NINDS in Bethesda.

Congratulations to Dr. Li and Dr. Karbowski!

Nicole Perry, successfully defended her thesis in August 2014.   Dr. Perry was presented with a copy of her first author paper framed to commemorate this milestone.  Nicole is surrounded by members of her committee including (from left to right), Dr. Tony Passaniti, Dr. Elsa Garcin (UMBC), and Dr. Katia Kontrogianni (her mentor).  Dr. Perry accepted a post-doc position at Seattle Children's Research Institute.

Congratulations to Dr. Perry and Dr. Kontrogianni!

Presenting a framed 1st author paper to Dr. Jason Koontz, is Dr. Katia Kontrogianni, his mentor, and Dr. Dr. Gerald Wilson, Co-Director of the Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Dr. Koontz accepted a position as a scientist, US Army Center for Environmental Health Research.
Congratulations to Dr. Koontz and Dr. Kontrogianni!

Presenting a framed 1st author paper to Dr. Rob Wimmer, is his mentor, Dr. Martin Schneider.  Dr. Wimmer successfully defended his thesis in September, 2014.  Dr. Wimmer is continuing his studies to become a P.A. at Touro University Nevada.

Congratulations to Dr. Wimmer and Dr. Schneider

Marey Shriver successfully defended her thesis in August 2014.   Dr. Shriver was presented with a copy of her first author paper framed to commemorate this milestone.  Marey is surrounded by members of her committee including (from left to right), Dr. Richard Eckert, Dr. Ian Thorpe (UMBC), and Dr. Katia Kontrogianni (her mentor) Dr. Amy Fulton, Dr. Jeff Winkles, and Dr. Robert Bloch.  Dr. Shriver accepted a post-doc position at Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine.

Congratulations to Dr. Shriver and Dr. Kontrogianni!

Beth Zucconi, successfully defended her thesis in June, 2013.   Dr. Zucconi was presented with a copy of her first author paper framed to commemorate this milestone.  Beth is surrounded by members of her committee including (from left to right), Dr. Alex Drohat, Dr. Jian-Ying Wang, Dr. Phil Farabaugh (UMBC), Dr. Gerald Wilson (her mentor), Dr. Sarah Michel (School of Pharmacy) and Dr. Terry Rogers.

Dr. Zucconi accepted a postdoctoral position in the lab of Philip Cole at Johns Hopkins University.

Rebecca Hu, successfully defended her thesis in April 2013.   Dr. He was presented with a copy of her first author paper framed to commemorate this milestone.  Rebecca is surrounded by members of her committee including (from left to right), Dr. Martin Schneider, Dr. Katia Kontrogianni (her mentor) and, Dr. Terry Rogers.

Dr. Hu is continuing her research in the lab of Dr. Kontrogianni in a post-doc training position.  Congratulations to Dr. Hu and Dr. Kontrogianni!

Patrick Robison successfully defended his thesis in July 2013.   Dr. Robison was presented with a copy of his first author paper framed to commemorate this milestone by his mentor, Dr. Martin Schneider. Dr. Robison accepted a post-doc position at U-Penn. Congratulations to Dr. Robison and Dr. Schneider!

Stephanie Deasey, successfully defended her thesis in October 2013.   Dr. Deasey was presented with a copy of her first author paper framed to commemorate this milestone.  Stephanie is surrounded by members of her committee including (from left to right), Dr. Dudley Strickland, Dr. Ian Thorpe (UMBC), Dr. Richard Eckert, Dr. Maria Nurminskaya (her mentor) and Dr. Jim Du.

Dr. Deasey accepted a position as a research project coordinator at the University of Maryland Medical Center.  Congratulations Stephanie!

Presenting a framed 1st author paper to Dr. Aparna Kishor, an MD/PhD student in the Molecular Medicine Program,  is (right to left), Dr. Gerald Wilson, her mentor, and Dr. Richard Eckert, Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,

Congratulations to Dr. Kishor, who defended her Thesis in June, 2012. She will continue on to finish up her rotations in Medical School with an anticipated graduation from Medical School in 2014.
Congratulations to Dr. Kishor and Dr. Wilson!

Tova Schachter, successfully defended her thesis in November, 2012.   Dr. Schachter was presented with a copy of her first author paper framed to commemorate this milestone.  Tova is surrounded by members of her committee including (from left to right), Dr. Iain Farrance, Dr. Paul Smith (UMBC), Dr. Katia Kontrogianni, Dr. Martin Schneider (her mentor) and Dr. William Randall.

Dr. Schachter accepted a position to teach at the Baltimore's Woman's Institute of Torah Seminary.

Presenting a framed 1st author paper to Dr. Laura Thompson is, (left to right), Dr. David Weber, her mentor, and Dr. Gerald Wilson, Co-Director of the Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Congratulations to Dr. Thompson, who defended her Thesis in December 2012. Dr. Thompson has accepted a position at University of Washington, Seattle as a protein design manager.  Congratulations to Dr. Thompson and Dr. Weber!

Presenting a framed 1st author paper to Dr. Melissa Liriano, an MD/PhD student in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program, is (right to left), Dr. David Weber, her mentor, and Dr. Dr. Gerald Wilson, Co-Director of the Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Congratulations to Dr. Liriano, who defended her Thesis in Spring, 2012. She will continue on to finish up her rotations in Medical School with an anticipated graduation from Medical School in 2014.
Congratulations to Dr. Liriano and Dr. Weber!

Tiffany Scharadin and Thesis Advisor Dr. Richard Eckert. Tiffany Scharadin was presented her first 1st author paper by her advisor Dr. Richard Eckert. Congratulations to Tiffany who successfully defended her thesis on March 29, 2012. Tiffany is currently a postdoc fellow at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, CA.

Presenting a framed 1st author paper to Dr. Brian McCranor is (right to left), Dr. Richard Thompson, his mentor, and Dr. Richard Eckert, Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Congratulations to Dr. McCranor, who defended his Thesis in June, 2011.

Brian McCranor, PhD., accepted a post-doc fellow position with the US Army Research Institute of Chemical Defense.  Congratulations to Dr. McCranor and Dr. Thompson!

Presenting a framed 1st author paper to Dr. Michael Morgan is (left to right), Dr. Alex Drohat, his mentor, and Dr. Richard Eckert, Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,

Congratulations to Dr. Morgan, who defended his Thesis in February, 2011, and Dr. Drohat.

Michael Morgan, PhD., will be starting a post-doc fellow at Johns Hopkins University in March.

Presenting a framed 1st author paper to Dr. Megan Fitzgerald is (left to right) Dr. Alex Drohat, her mentor, and Dr. Richard Eckert, Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Congratulatiosn to Dr. Fitzgerald who defended her Thesis in February, 2011

Megan Fitzgerald, PhD., will be starting a post-doc fellow at Yale University in March

Mariah Goodall, a Molecular Medicine student in the laboratory of Dr. Terry Rogers, completed her thesis in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology on November 30, 2010. A framed 1st author paper was presented to Mariah at her defense by Dr. Richard Eckert, Chair, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Congratulations to Dr. Goodall and Dr. Rogers!

Chairman, Dr. Richard Eckert presented Jade Bernstein with a framed version of her first 1st author publication on July 12, 2010, the day of her Thesis Defense. Also present was Dr. Eric Toth, Jade's mentor.

Chairman Dr. Richard Eckert presented Noelle Vargas with a framed version of her 1st author publication on November 9, 2009. Also present were (from left to right) Justine Johnson, administrator, Meyherhof program at UMBC; Dr. Summers, co-director of the Biochemistry Graduation Program; Dr. Eckert, Noelle, and Dr. Gerald Wilson, Noelle's mentor.

Benjamin Prosser received a first author publication plaque from Chairman Richard Eckert on November 20th, 2009. Prosser Graduated with his PhD from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. His mentor was Dr. Martin Schneider.