In addition to having had a lot of very talented students in my lab over the years, I'm also faculty co-advisor to the Rho Eta chapter of the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society.
current and former research students
Nadia Belverio (2022)
Independent Study project (Spring 2022): "Introducing foreign DNA into Drosophila embryos via electroporation"
Ashley Hercik (2022)
Independent Study project (Spring 2022): "Using CRISPR/Cas9 to create a model for the neurodevelopmental disease PCCA2 in Drosophila"
Madison Malsch (2022)
Independent Study project (Spring 2022): "Using CRISPR/Cas9 to create a model for Parkinson disease in Drosophila"
Jowel Abboud (2022)
Independent Study project (Fall 2021): "Assessing Copper as an Anti-Epileptic in Drosophila"
Ashlynn Forney (2021)
Honors project (2020–2021): "The Impact of Bang-Sensitivity and Induced Seizures on the Longevity of Drosophila melanogaster"
Dan Faudree (2021)
SOAR project (Summer 2020): "Lumbricus terrestris Genome Assembly"
Honors project (2020–2021): "Lumbricus terrestris Genome Assembly"
Tyra Wentz (2021)
Honors project (2020–2021): "Endurance Exercise Outcomes of Drosophila melanogaster as Determined by Cardiac Health and Dietary Composition"
Setareh Alipour (2020)
SOAR project (Summer 2019): "The Effect of Intensity of Visual (Light/Dark) Cues in Drosophila melanogaster Larval Learning and Memory"
Independent Study project (Spring 2020): "Assessing Copper as an Anti-Epileptic in Drosophila"
Nicole Murtsef (2020)
Interdisciplinary project (Spring 2020): "The Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs on Drosophila melanogaster"
Robert Scheirer (2020)
SOAR project (Summer 2018): "Effects of seizure susceptibility on a complex behavior in Drosophila melanogaster"
Independent Study project (Winter 2018–19): "Statistical Analysis of Courtship Behavior in Drosophila"
Independent Study project (Spring 2019): "Creating Precise Mutations in Drosophila"
Leanna Talotta-Altenburg (2018)
SOAR project (2017): "Electroporation of DNA into Drosophila melanogaster Embryos"
Honors project (2017–2018): "CRISPR-Mediated Mutation in Drosophila melanogaster Embryos Using Electroporation "
Mary-ann Malke (2017)
Independent Study project (Spring 2017): "Mapping New Bang-Sensitive Mutations in Drosophila"
Guatam Kanakamedala (2017)
SOAR project (Summer 2016): "Intergenic Effects of Bang-sensitive Mutations in Drosophila melanogaster"
Honors project (2016–2017): "Isolating Protein Products from Bang-sensitive Genes and Identifying Protein Antibodies"
Christina Marinaro (2017)
Honors project (2016–2017): "Mapping the bas Gene in Drosophila melanogaster"
Jon Raso (2017)
Independent Study project (Fall 2016): "Cryogenic Preservation of Drosophila melanogaster Embryos"
Kayli Silimperi (2017)
SOAR project (Summer 2016): "Effect of Bang-sensitive Mutations on Memory in Drosophila melanogaster"
Honors project (2016–2017): "Investigation of Anti-Seizure Compounds in Fruit Flies"
Brandon Dimick (2017)
SOAR project (Summer 2016): "Effect of a Temperature-sensitive Mutation on Bang-sensitive Mutants in Drosophila melanogaster"
Independent Study project (Spring 2017): "Targeted Mutation of the white Gene in Drosophila melanogaster Using a CRISPR/Cas9 System"
Independent Study project (Fall 2017): "Mapping Potentially Novel Bang-Sensitive Mutations in Drosophila melanogaster"
Jennifer Francesco (2017)
Honors project (2016): "Identification of Novel Bang-Sensitive Genes through Mutagenesis"
Daniel Costello (2016)
SOAR project (Summer 2015): "Electroporation of DNA into Drosophila melanogaster Embryos"
Natalie Herb (2016)
SOAR project (Summer 2015): "Learning and memory in bang-sensitive Drosophila melanogaster"
Honors project (2015–2016): "Courtship Behaviors of Adult Bang-Sensitive Drosophila melanogaster Males"
Kaitlin Raseley (2016)
SOAR project (Summer 2015): "Mapping a bang-sensitive gene in Drosophila melanogaster"
Honors project (2015–2016): "Mapping a bang sensitive gene in Drosophila melanogaster while analyzing the impact of nicotine on the survival of bang-sensitive flies"
James Kim (Parkland High School)
Science Fair project (2014–2015): "The Effects of Bioflavonoids on the Behavior of Drosophila"
Science Fair project (2015–2016): "The Effect of Photo-Activated Meso-tetra Porphyrin on the Amelioration of Alzheimer's Disease in Drosophila melanogaster"
Alexis Cowan (2015)
Honors project (2014–2015): "Developmental Effects of Silver Nanoparticles on Drosophila melanogaster"
Caitlin Hyland (2015)
SOAR project (Summer 2014): "Creating a model for the neurological disease PCCA in Drosophila melanogaster"
Honors project (2014–2015): "Retention of Olfactory Memory Through Metamorphosis in Drosophila melanogaster"
David Siepietowski (2015)
Honors project (2014–2015): "Investigating Visual Learning and Memory of Drosophila melanogaster using Color Association"
Ghazal Stity (2015)
SOAR project (Summer 2014): "Mapping a New 'Bang Sensitive' Gene in Drosophila melanogaster"
Honors project (2014–2015): "Characterization of a Novel Bang-Sensitive Gene in Drosophila melanogaster"
Anika Riaz (2014)
Honors project (2013–2014): "Investigation of Visual Learning in Wild-type and Presenilin Mutant Drosophila melanogaster Larvae"
Alex Servin (2013)
Honors project (2012–2013); co-mentored with Steve & Shari Dunham: "DNA Unwinding by Antitumor Active Dirhodium Compounds"
Hannah Kim (Parkland High School)
Science Fair project (2012–2013): "A Study on ApoE and TREM2 Allelic Variants and the Severity of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias"
Kyle Goodbred (2013)
SOAR project (Summer 2012) and independent study (Fall 2012): "Mapping a new bang-sensitive gene in Drosophila melanogaster"
Rania Hanna (2012)
Directed research project (Spring 2009): "The Effects of Food Composition on Survival, Fecundity, and Longevity in Drosophila melanogaster"
Independent study project (Fall 2010): "The Effects of Stress on Behavior in Drosophila Carrying a Mutation Linked to Schizophrenia"
Honors project (2011–2012): "Olfactory-Gustatory Associative Learning and Memory Differences Between Mutant Presenilin and Wild-type Drosophila melanogaster Larvae "
Tim Layng (2012)
Honors project (2011–2012): "Location of bang senseless, a Bang-Sensitive Gene, on the X Chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster"
Jackie Held (2012) & Stephen Wursta (2012)
SOAR project (Summer 2011; directed jointly with Prof. Carl Salter, Chemistry): "Creating a living zinc sensor using synthetic biology"
Michael Solomon (2011)
SOAR project (Spring & Summer 2010): "Genetic Engineering of the Presenilin Gene in Drosophila"
Honors project (2010–2011): "Using ΦC31 Integrase-Mediated Gene Targeting to Study Alzheimer's-Related Mutations in the Presenilin Gene of Drosophila melanogaster"
Ryan O'Donnell (2011)
Honors project (2010–2011): "The Effect of Multiple Bang-Sensitive Mutations on Drosophila melanogaster"
Jake Tazik (2011)
Honors project (2010–2011): "Mapping of the bas Gene in Drosophila melanogaster Using Deletion Crosses, Duplication Crosses, and Recombination Mapping"
Jessica Grochowski (2011)
SOAR project (Summer 2010): "Effects of Bang-Sensitive Mutations on Courtship in Drosophila"
Here's a .pdf file of the poster Jess presented at Moravian's 5th Annual Student Scholarship Day.
Louis Scalia (2012)
SOAR project (Summer 2010): "Studying Larval Learning and Memory in Drosophila"
Here's a .pdf file of the poster Louis presented at Moravian's 5th Annual Student Scholarship Day.
Alyssa Milano (2010)
Honors project (2009–2010): "The Effects of Rapid Cold Hardening on Courtship in Drosophila melanogaster"
Here's a .pdf file of the poster Alyssa presented at Moravian's 4th Annual Student Scholarship Day.
Theresa Gonzalez (2010)
Independent study project (Spring 2010): "A Study on Double Bang-Sensitive Mutations"
Brittany Deiling (2010)
Directed research project (Fall 2009): "The Effects of Food Composition on Survival, Fecundity, and Longevity in Drosophila melanogaster"
John Reese (2011)
SOAR project (Summer 2009): "Plasmid Transformation of Drosophila melanogaster"
Anthony Falco (2010)
Directed research project (Spring 2009): "Double Bang-Sensitive Mutants in Drosophila melanogaster"
Naomie Kachel (2009)
Independent study project (Spring 2009): "Raisins' Effect on Intra-Oral Bacteria"
Simon Tabchi (2008)
SOAR project (Summer 2007): "Mapping Drosophila melanogaster Bang-Sensitive Mutations"
Honors project (2007–2008): "The Genetic Mapping of the bas Mutation in Drosophila melanogaster"
Here's a .pdf file of the poster Simon presented at Moravian's 2nd Annual Student Scholarship Day.
Nate Tussey (2008)
SOAR project (Summer 2007): "Mapping Drosophila melanogaster Bang-Sensitive Mutations "
Honors project (2007–2008): "Genetic Mapping of the bss Mutation in Drosophila melanogaster"
Here's a .pdf file of the poster Nate presented at Moravian's 2nd Annual Student Scholarship Day.
Anastasia Yemelyanova (2008)
SOAR project (Summer 2006): "Effects of Alzheimer Mutations in Drosophila Presenilin"
Here's a .pdf file of the poster Anastasia presented at Moravian's 2nd Annual Student Scholarship Day.
Honors project (2007–2008): "Transformation of Drosophila with Mutated Presenilin via φC31 Integrase-mediated Cassette Exchange"
Here's a .pdf file of the poster Anastasia presented at the 49th Annual Drosophila Research Conference.
Lukáš Maršálek (visiting Merrill scholar)
Independent study project (Fall 2007): "Identification of Bacterial Samples Suspected to be Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)"
Dipesh Patel (2008)
Independent study project (Fall 2007): "Effect of Male Fruit Fly Size on Memory-deficient Female Fruit Flies"
LeeAnna Roberts (2007)
Honors project (2006–2007): "Community-acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) Among Division III Football Players at Moravian College "
LeeAnna won the John C. Johnson Award for Excellence in Student Research for her project at the regional Tri-Beta convention held at Elizabethtown College on March 24th.
Here's a .pdf file of LeeAnna's Honors poster.
Tiffany Jamann (2008)
SOAR project (Summer 2006): "Effects of Seizure on Drosophila melanogaster"
Jana Havranova (2005)
SOAR project (Fall 2003): "Isolation of Mutants in the Putative Thioredoxin Reductase Gene trxr-2 in Drosophila melanogaster"
Honors project (2004–2005): "Determining the Role of the Thioredoxin Reductase Gene trxr-2 in Drosophila melanogaster"
Here's a .pdf file of the poster Jana presented at the 46th Annual Drosophila Research Conference.
Tara Kiss (2005)
Honors project (2004–2005): "Transferring the presinilin Gene from Arabidopsis thaliana to Drosophila melanogaster"
Here's a .pdf file of the poster Tara presented at the 46th Annual Drosophila Research Conference.
John Loughney (2005)
Honors project (2004–2005): "Using RNAi to Mutate the slamdance Gene in Drosophila melanogaster"
Here's a .pdf file of the poster John presented at the 46th Annual Drosophila Research Conference.
Adrienne Kleintop (2004)
Honors project (2003–2004): "Evaluating Presenilin Function Using RNAi in Drosophila melanogaster"
Joe Moore (2004)
Independent study project (Spring 2004)
Nicole Sabaliauskas (2004)
SOAR project (Summer 2003): "Exploration of Factors Affecting Courtship in Drosophila melanogaster"
Honors project (2003–2004): "A Study of Learning, Memory, and Synaptic Morphology of the slamdance Mutation in Drosophila melanogaster"
Here's a .pdf file of the poster Nicole presented at the 45th Annual Drosophila Research Conference.
Becca Reyda (2005)
ad hoc project (Spring 2003) purifying GFP for a project in CHEM383 (Spectroscopy)
Rachael Ryan (2005)
Independent study project (2002–2003)
Amrita deZoysa (2003)
Honors project (2002–2003): "Can the Arabidopsis thaliana presenilin Gene Substitute for the Drosophila melanogaster presenilin Gene?"
Steve Rees (2001)
Independent study project (2000–2001)
Genevieve Williamson (2001)
SOAR project (Summer 2000): "Is the Arabidopsis presenilin Gene Really a Presenilin Gene?"
Jane Knisely (2000)
Honors project (1999–2000): "The Effects of Presenilin Overexpression on the Development, Morphology, and Behavior of Drosophila melanogaster"
