inside - Pharmacological Sciences - Stony Brook University

Recommendations

Info

Convocation 2011The department graduated 17pharmacology baccalaureates ona sunny morning this May. SimonTong received the Sir James BlackAward for Excellence for achieving“the highest overall scholasticexcellence in course work and asenior research project.” Simonworked with Dr. Francis Johnsonon the zinc-binding properties ofdrugs and will pursue a Ph.D. inchemistry at SBU.Pharmacology Undergraduates Pursue MedicalResearchby Wahida AliThe pharmacology program at Stony Brook is an attractive major for scientificallyminded undergraduates for many reasons. When faculty member Dr. JessicaSeeliger spoke to students earlier this year, she took an informal poll on theirmotivation for choosing the pharmacology program. “I was surprised—andimpressed—by how many of them cited their interest in research as a decidingfactor.”In addition to rigorous coursework, pharmacology majors must write a researchthesis, an experience that introduces them to the bench and provides context fortheir classroom learning. With only around 25 students per year, the programis also attractive for the personal attention and guidance students receive fromdirector Dr. Bob Watson and administrator Janice Kito.Senior Victoria Pisarevskaya has enjoyed diverse research experiences as apharm major. As a member of the SBU honors program WISE (Women InScience and Engineering), Victoria started research as a freshman, working inthe bioengineering program on designing a transdermal vaccine patch.Dr. Frohman presents an award to Simon TongLisa Malone received the JeanM. Devlin Award for displaying“the greatest potential for makingsignificant future contributions tothe pharmacological sciences.”Lisa did her thesis research onstructures of kinase-inhibitorcomplexes with Dr. Markus Seeliger.She will pursue a masters degreein biotechnology at Albany Collegeof Pharmacy and Health Sciencesstarting this fall.Victoria Pisarevskaya (see right)sent her classmates on their waywith a rousing speech. “I, alongwith my fellow graduates, can’thelp but feel blessed for thisamazing opportunity to fillour minds with the invaluableknowledge that will allow us to goon and excel… to be the agents ofpositive change.”Her research interest took a very different turn after a summer internship workingwith children with autism piqued her interest in human psychological research.Upon returning to school in the fall, Victoria discovered the SBU Cody Center,a leading center for the diagnosis and therapy of pediatric autism. In hercurrent research with Dr. Eli Hatchwell (Dept. of Pathology), she is designingDNA chips with the goal of examining copy number variations in the brains ofautistic patients.In 2010, Victoria was an author on two papers papers in the European Journalof Neuroscience and Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology and BiologcialPsychiatry resulting from her research at SBU. After graduation, she hopes topursue an M.D./Ph.D. with a specialty in pediatric oncology.Undergraduate program director Dr. Bob Watson (Far right) with students from the pharmlaboratory class Arjun Tara, Rana Said, Victoria Pisarevskaya, Miti Gandhi, RubayyahAlamgir and in back, Brian Lebedinski, Mark Shehata, and James Jungwon Park.10 Summer | 2011 |
Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology Welcomes FivePh.D. Candidates for 2011This fall the graduate program in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology introducesfive students to the department. They bring with them diverse scientific interestsand experiences that include EGFR signaling in breast cancer, bacterial growthresponse to antibiotics, and the development of liposomes for drug delivery.MCP Class of 2011Matthew Burak University of Rhode Island Kingston Chemical Eng.Julie-Ann Cavallo Fordham University / UMDNJ Biology / Biomed SciStephanie Chapelliquen William Paterson University BiotechnologyMegan Cosgrove SUNY Geneseo BiochemistryGrace Tan Vassar College BiochemistryUndergraduates inPharmacology GarnerTop University HonorsPharmacology majors Leah Noroñaand Micahel Pulkoski-Grosswere both awarded the 2011Undergraduate Recognition Awardfor Academic Excellence. ThisUniversity honor is “given foracademic accomplishments that gobeyond the classroom experience.”Both juniors are pursuing researchwith pharmacology faculty: Leahwith Dr. Miguel Garcia-Diaz andMichael with Dr. Markus Seeliger.“Mike has shown great dedicationin the lab,” says Dr. Seeliger, “andthat work has already paid off—hewill be a co-author on our upcomingpaper on kinase-ligand structuralstudies.”Pharm Happy Hour!Top: Sherry Peng, Qun Gao, Grace Chen, Richard Bennett, Markus Seeliger,Bottom: Devi Evanayake, Yelena Altshuller, Mary Lou Previti, Ken Lee, Jason QuinonesCongratulations to the Undergraduate Class of 2011Leah also received a SBU 2011Minority Access to ResearchCareers Fellowship, which providestuition and stipend support tooutstanding undergraduatescommitted to a career in biomedicalresearch.Brand-new baccalaureates with faculty Dr. Iden, Dr. Berrios, program administratorJanice Kito, Dr. Watson, Dr. JohnsonSummer | 2011 | 11
Page 2 and 3: News and NotableCongratulations to
Page 4 and 5: New Pharmacology Faculty Add Expert
Page 6 and 7: Researcher Spotlight:Winnie Huangby
Page 8 and 9: MCP Ph.D.s 2010-2011Structurally Di
Page 12: Department ofPharmacologicalScience

inside - Pharmacological Sciences - Stony Brook University

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?