students

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 at Drosophila Conference 2008

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 at Honors poster session 2007

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 at Drosophila Conference 2005

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 at Drosophila Conference 2005

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 at Drosophila Conference 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"