Biological Sciences

Roberto M. Aguilar

Education: B.S., University of Texas at San Antonio, Biology; Ph.D., University of Texas at San Antonio, Biology

Dissertation: Characterization of Growth Hormone Receptors in a Neuronal Cell Line of Rat Hippocampal Origin (H19-7): A Model for Determining the Biological Actions of Growth Hormone in Neuronal Cells

Thesis Advisor: Luis S. Haro, Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio

Research Topic: Development of a Bilateral Cervical Contusion Model in Mice

Mentor: Oswald Steward, Professor of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine

Laura Bartley

Education: B.A., Swarthmore College, Biology; Ph.D., Stanford University, Biochemistry

Dissertation: Insights into RNA Tertiary Folding: Examination of Structure Formation between the P1 Helix and the Pre-folded Tetrahymena Group I Ribozyme

Thesis Advisor: Daniel Herschlag, Professor of Biochemistry, Stanford University

Research Topic: The Regulation and Roles of Transcription Factors in Rice Innate Immunity

Mentor: Pamela C. Ronald, Professor of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis

Wesley Clapp

Education: B.A., Oberlin College , Neuroscience; Ph.D., University of Auckland, (New
Zealand), Psychology/Neuroscience

Dissertation:  Non-invasive Induction of Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) in Human Sensory Cortex

Thesis Advisor:  Michael C. Corballis, Professor of Neuroscience, University of Auckland

Research Topic: Alterations in Neural Networks Underlying Attention and Memory in Cognitive Aging

Mentor :  Adam Gazzaley, Professor of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco

 Alberto Cruz-Martín

Education: B.S., Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Biology; Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, Neuroscience

Dissertation: Lack of balance between excitation and inhibition among synaptic connections of CA3 pyramidal neurons

Thesis Advisor: Felix Schweizer, Professor of Neurobiology, University of California, Los Angeles

Research Topic: Mechanisms responsible for deudritic spine abnormalities in fragile X syndrome

Mentor: Carlos Portera-Cailliau, Professor of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles

 Corinne Richards

Education: B.S., University of Michigan, Biology and Chemical Engineering; Ph.D., University of Michigan, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Dissertation: An Integrative Approach to the Conservation of Panamanian Golden Frogs

Thesis Advisor: L. Lacey Knowles, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan and Ronald A. Nussbaum, Professor of Biology, University of Michigan

Research Topic: Selection and the Evolution of Morphological Diversity Among Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago

Mentors: Jim McGuire, Professor of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Eileen Lacey, Professor of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley

Desiree Thayer

Education: B.S., University of Michigan, Chemistry and Biochemistry; Ph.D., The Scripps Research Institute, Chemical and Biological Sciences

Dissertation: Effects of Glycans on Peptide Antibiotics and Analytical Methods for Carbohydrate Sequencing and Binding Interactions

Thesis Advisor: Chi-Huey Wong, Professor of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute

Research Topic: Role of Glycosylation in Voltage-gated Potassium Channels

Mentor: Lily Y. Jan, Professor of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco