Alumni Directory
2023
Randa Abboud
Previous Institution/Home Country: College of Wooster, USA
Thesis Mentor: Joshua Halpern, MD
Matriculation Year: 2021
Graduation Year: 2023
Project Title: Fertility Preservation in Transfeminine Patients
Pooja Devrukhkar
Previous Institution/Home Country: Government Medical College, India
Thesis Mentor: Francesca Duncan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2021
Graduation Year: 2023
Project Title: Identifying and profling cellular senescence in the human ovary on a microphysiologic platform
Feng Fei
Previous Institution/Home Country: Case Western Reserve University, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2020
Graduation Year: 2022
Project Title: Investigating the influence of estrogen on notch signaling in reproductive tissues
Isabelle Fox
Previous Institution/Home Country: Iowa State University, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2022
Graduation Year: 2023
Project Title: "Characterization of vascular defects in placental development in a rat model of preeclampsia"
Cassandra Huerta
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
Thesis Mentor: Julie Kim, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2021
Graduation Year: 2023
Project Title: Investigating directed differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells from endometriosis
Jenna Jacoby
Previous Institution/Home Country: Widener University, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Hoi Chang Lee, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2022
Graduation Year: 2023
Project Title: Investigating the relationship between zinc spark and post ovulated aging in mouse egg
Drew Klemann
Previous Institution/Home Country: St. John's University, Minnesota, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Hoi Chang Lee, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2022
Graduation Year: 2023
Project Title: Sperm Safes: Maximizing the preservation and recovery of limited numbers of male germ cells
Yuna Lee
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2022
Graduation Year: 2023
Project Title: Examining interactions between notch and activin signaling in ovarian granulosa cells
Katya Macias
Previous Institution/Home Country: Illinois Benedictine College, USA
Thesis Mentor: Mary Ellen Pavone, MD
Matriculation Year: 2021
Graduation Year: 2023
Project Title: Paternal Body Mass Index May Be Associated with Alternations in Embryo Morphokinetics During In Vitro Fertilization
Ria Marathe
Previous Institution/Home Country: University Of California-Davis, USA
Thesis Mentor: Kara Goldman, MD
Matriculation Year: 2021
Graduation Year: 2023
Project Title: Exploring the role of the mTOR pathway in physiologic reproductive aging of the intrafollicular environment
Saafia Masoom
Previous Institution/Home Country: Wellesley College, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2022
Graduation Year: 2023
Project Title: Characterization of vascular defects in placental development in a rat model of preeclampsia
Jessica Miller
Previous Institution/Home Country: Northwestern University, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2022
Graduation Year: 2023
Project Title: Examining interactions between notch and activin signaling in ovarian granulosa cells
Paige Naples
Previous Institution/Home Country: Randolph College
Non-Thesis Mentor: Hoi Chang Lee, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2022
Graduation Year: 2023
Project Title: Investigating the relationship between zinc spark and post ovulated aging in mouse egg
Olivia Printy
Previous Institution/Home Country: Manhattan College, USA
Thesis Mentor: Monica Laronda, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2021
Graduation Year: 2023
Project Title: Optimizing Conditions of Tubule-Like Structures in Testicular Organoids That Will Support Spermatogenesis
Gillian Rubenstein
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Michigan- Ann Arbor, USA
Thesis Mentor: Kara Goldman, MD
Matriculation Year: 2021
Graduation Year: 2023
Project Title: Examining the mTOR pathway in pathology-related and latrogenic accelerated ovarian aging
Tahlia Smith
Previous Institution/Home Country: Penn State University, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Hoi Chang Lee, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2022
Graduation Year: 2023
Project Title: Sperm Safes: Maximizing the preservation and recovery of limited numbers of male germ cells
Priyanka Suryavanshi
Previous Institution/Home Country: Sophia College, India
Thesis Mentor: Mary Ellen Pavone, MD
Matriculation Year: 2021
Graduation Year: 2023
Project Title: Analysis of Inflammatory Cytokine Profile of Follicular Fluid from Patients with Endometriosis and its Impact on Sperm Motility
Shani Zelenko
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Puget Sound, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2022
Graduation Year: 2023
Project Title: Investigating the influence of estrogen on notch signaling in reproductive tissues
2022
Kelsey Andersen
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Pittsburgh, USA
Thesis Mentor: Emily Miller, MD, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2020
Graduation Year: 2022
Project Title: "Examining the Tryptophan/Kynurenine Pathway to Understand Inflammaging and Perinatal Depression"
Asma Giornazi
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Colorado, Boulder, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Hoi Chang Lee, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2021
Project Title: Investigating changes in zinc dynamics in in vitro post-ovulatory aged oocytes.
Madison Gowett
Previous Institution/Home Country: Binghamton University, USA
Thesis Mentor: Francesca Duncan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2020
Project Title: Mouse Extrafollicular Organoids as a Model for Studying Reproductive Aging in the Ovarian Stroma
Stephanie Head
Previous Institution/Home Country: Mount Union College, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD and Hoi Chang Lee, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2021
Project Title: Optimizing morphologic and morphokinetic analyses of mouse oocytes using the EmbryoScope+
Asia Ingram
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Rochester, USA
Thesis Mentor: J. Julie Kim, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2020
Project Title: "PCOS Ovary in LATTICE"
Pari Johnson
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2021
Graduation Year: 2022
Project Title: Characterization of vascular defects in a rat model of preeclampsia.
Khadija Snowber
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Chicago, USA
Thesis Mentor: Emily Miller, MD, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2020
Graduation Year: 2022
Project Title: Investigating Racial Differences in Screening and Treatment of Perinatal Depression
Claudia Stroupe
Previous Institution/Home Country: Kalamazoo College, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2021
Graduation Year: 2022
Project Title: Characterization of vascular defects in a rat model of preeclampsia.
Chanakarn Suebthawinkul, MD
Previous Institution/Home Country: MD - Chulalongkorn University; Thai Board Certification in Obstetrics and Gynecology - Chonburi Hospital, Thailand; Diploma of Reproductive Medicine - King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thailand
Thesis Mentor: Francesca Duncan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2020
Graduation Year: 2022
Project Title: "Establishing Live Imaging Time-Lapse Parameters of Oocyte Meiotic Maturation
and Cumulus Expansion using The EmbryoScope+"
and Cumulus Expansion using The EmbryoScope+"
Manuel Torres-Vélez, MD
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedra / Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, USA
Thesis Mentor: Kara Goldman, MD
Matriculation Year: 2020
Graduation Year: 2022
Project Title: Determining the Role of the mTOR Pathway in Accelerated Ovarian Aging
Victoria Zhu
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Washington, China
Non-Thesis Mentor: Hoi Chang Lee, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2021
Graduation Year: 2022
Project Title: Investigating changes in zinc dynamics in in vitro post-ovulatory aged oocytes.
2021
Hannah Anvari
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, USA
Thesis Mentor: Francesca E. Duncan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2019
Graduation Year: 2021
Project Title: Comparison of ovarian aging markers does not reveal differences between black and white women
Lauren Butler
Previous Institution/Home Country: DePauw University, USA
Thesis Mentor: Kara Goldman, MD, Francesca Duncan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2019
Graduation Year: 2021
Project Title: Investigating the impact of mTOR inhibitor treatment on offspring health and fertility
Ashley Diaz
Previous Institution/Home Country: Baylor University, USA
Thesis Mentor: Monica M. Laronda, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2019
Graduation Year: 2021
Project Title: Investigating the effects of processing ovarian tissue for cryopreservation on primordial follicle activation and integrin expression
Patrick Eckelkamp
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Missouri - Columbia, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2020
Graduation Year: 2021
Project Title: Investigating the relationship between zinc spark and post ovulated aging in mouse egg
Shelby Hophan
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Central Florida, USA
Thesis Mentor: Yong Wan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2019
Graduation Year: 2021
Project Title: The Driving Force behind Ductal Carcinoma in Situ Progression
Yair Lupovitch
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Maryland - College Park, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2020
Graduation Year: 2021
Project Title: Investigating the relationship between zinc spark and post ovulated aging in mouse egg
Norisha McCaddy
Previous Institution/Home Country: Syracuse University, USA
Thesis Mentor: Margrit Urbanek, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2019
Graduation Year: 2021
Project Title: The Impact of Anti Müllerian Hormone and Insulin on Ovarian Histology and Theca Cell Steroidogenesis
Madison Minette
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of North Dakota- Main Campus, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2020
Graduation Year: 2021
Project Title: Characterization of vascular defects in placental development in a rat model of preeclampsia
Zainab Taghvaei
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Oklahoma-Norman, USA
Thesis Mentor: Margrit Urbanek, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2019
Graduation Year: 2021
Project Title:
Impact of Rare PCOS-Associated AMH Variants on Hormone Expression & Processing
Katy Trotter
Previous Institution/Home Country: North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2020
Graduation Year: 2021
Project Title: Characterization of vascular defects in placental development in a rat model of preeclampsia
Karen Velez
Previous Institution/Home Country: Western Connecticut State University, USA
Thesis Mentor: Francesca E. Duncan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2019
Graduation Year: 2021
Project Title: Identifying extremely long-lived proteins in the mouse ovary and oocyte
2020
Victoria Bakaturski, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Case Western Reserve University, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2019
Graduation Year: 2020
Project Title: Investigating signaling pathway interaction between Notch and Activin in ovarian granulosa cells
Andjela Dragojevic, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Lake Forest College, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2019
Graduation Year: 2020
Project Title: Investigating signaling pathway interaction between Notch and Activin in ovarian granulosa cells
Monica Elabed, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Northeastern Illinois University, USA
Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2019
Graduation Year: 2020
Project Title: Characterization of vascular defects in placental development in a rat model of preeclampsia
Emily Hayes, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Rochester, USA
Thesis Mentor: Teresa K. Woodruff, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2018
Graduation Year: 2020
Project Title: Investigating the Crosstalk Between Integrin Signaling and the Hippo and TGF-βPathways in Juvenile Murine Ovaries
Sarah Khan, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Northwestern University/Dominican University, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2019
Graduation Year: 2020
Project Title: Investigating the influence of estrogen on Notch signaling in reproductive tissues
Jamie Mara, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Purdue University, USA
Thesis Mentor: Francesca Duncan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2018
Graduation Year: 2020
Project Title: Ovulation and Ovarian Wound Healing are Impaired with Advanced Reproductive Age
Kaylee Massman, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Iowa State University, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2019
Graduation Year: 2020
Project Title: The Expression Patterns of ER, PR, HER2, AR, and 67LR in Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Jenna Mazur, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Loras University, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2019
Graduation Year: 2020
Project Title: Investigating relationship between chromosome structure and the basis of chromosome missegregation
Gabrielle Meyman, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Illinois, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2019
Graduation Year: 2020
Project Title: The Expression Patterns of ER, PR, HER2, AR, and 67LR in Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Noelle Ozimek, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Queen Mary and Westfield College, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2019
Graduation Year: 2020
Project Title: Investigating relationship between chromosome structure and the basis of chromosome missegregation
Mackenzie Roberts, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Oregon State University, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2019
Graduation Year: 2020
Project Title: Investigating the influence of estrogen on Notch signaling in reproductive tissues
Vanessa Rosa, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: College of New Rochelle, USA
Thesis Mentor: Kelly Mayo, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2018
Graduation Year: 2020
Project Title: Investigating the Role of Notch Signaling in Ovarian Granulosa Cell Function
2019
Julia Balough, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Santa Clara University, USA
Thesis Mentor: Teresa K. Woodruff, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2017
Graduation Year: 2019
Project Title: Investigating the role of intracellular zinc on murine embryo development and the effect on cell fate determination in the blastocyst
Seth Barishansky, MS, MD
Previous Institution/Home Country: Yeshiva University
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2018
Graduation Year: 2019
Project Title: Investigating the influence of estrogen on Notch signaling in reproductive tissues
Zhangying (Jennie) Chen, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: BS – Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, USA
Thesis Mentor: Serdar Bulun, MD
Matriculation Year: 2017
Graduation Year: 2019
Project Title: Utilizing Next-Generation Sequencing to Explore the Role ofH3K27me3in Endometriosis
Alexandra Fontaine, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Loyola College, USA
Thesis Mentor: Margrit Urbanek, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2017
Graduation Year: 2019
Project Title: The role of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in ovarian steroidogenesis
DreAna Heidenreich, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Dubuque, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2018
Graduation Year: 2019
Project Title: Investigating the influence of estrogen on Notch signaling in reproductive tissues
Kaitlin Hitt, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Lewis University, USA
Thesis Mentor: Serdar Bulun, MD
Matriculation Year: 2017
Graduation Year: 2019
Project Title: Silibinin: A Novel Treatment for Uterine Leiomyoma
Amber Kuhn, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Marshall University, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2018
Graduation Year: 2019
Project Title: Investigating the effects of a novel ECM scaffold on patient-derived 3D organoids of breast cancer cells
Anne Lenzo, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Winston-Salem State University, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2018
Graduation Year: 2019
Project Title: Characterization of vascular defects in placental development in a rat model of preeclampsia
Xingyi Lyu, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Washington, China
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2018
Graduation Year: 2019
Project Title: Investigating the effects of a novel ECM scaffold on patient-derived 3D organoids of breast cancer cells
Jordan Machlin, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Brandeis University, USA
Thesis Mentor: Francesca Duncan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2017
Graduation Year: 2019
Project Title: Expression of the inflammatory cytokine TGFb3 increases in the human ovary with advanced reproductive age
Sharron Manuel, MS, MD, PhD
Previous Institution/Home Country: Drexel University, USA
Thesis Mentor: Francesca Duncan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2017
Graduation Year: 2019
Project Title: Examining the Age-Associated Relationship between Collagen and Hyaluronan Content in the Human Ovary
Hyebin Han Roh, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Olivet Nazarene University, South Korea
Thesis Mentor: Daniela Matei, MD
Matriculation Year: 2017
Graduation Year: 2019
Project Title: CRISPR-Cas9 editing of Tissue Transglutaminase in an Ovarian Cancer Model
Jennifer Rowley, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Washington University, USA
Thesis Mentor: Francesca Duncan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2017
Graduation Year: 2019
Project Title: Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronan Induces Inflammatory Gene Expression in Ovarian Stromal Cells and Impairs Gamete Development in vitro
Cynthia Salas, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Suny College Cortland, USA
Thesis Mentor: Christopher Payne, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2017
Graduation Year: 2019
Project Title: Using an optimized fructose incremental supplementation regimen (OFISR) to assess the impact of NUCC-0139131 on sperm motility in vitro
Nana Sarpong, MS, MD
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Ghana Medical School, Ghana
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2018
Graduation Year: 2019
Project Title: Characterization of vascular defects in placental development in a rat model of preeclampsia
Leah Simon, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Illinois at Chicago, India
Thesis Mentor: Francesca Duncan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2017
Graduation Year: 2019
Project Title: Age-specific fully-and hypo-glycosylated follicle stimulating hormone glycoforms are bioactive in isolated murine secondary follicles
Kristy Tse, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of California- San Diego, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2018
Graduation Year: 2019
Project Title: Investigating the effects of a novel ECM scaffold on patient-derived 3D organoids of breast cancer cells
2018
Azza Akasha, MS, MD
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Khartoum, Sudan
Thesis Mentor: J. Julie Kim, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2016
Graduation Year: 2018
Project Title: The effect of selective progesterone receptor modulators in breast cancer cells
Sergio Cardona-Gonzalez, MS, MD
Previous Institution/Home Country: Univ. of Puerto Rico Arecibo (USA) / Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2017
Graduation Year: 2018
Project Title: Characterization of vascular defects in placental development in a rat model of preeclampsia
Shelia Egan, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Illinois At Urbana (USA) / Dominican University, USA
Non-Thesis Mentor: Pamela Monahan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2017
Graduation Year: 2018
Project Title: Characterization of vascular defects in placental development in a rat model of preeclampsia
Allison Grover, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: McGill University/Northwestern
Thesis Mentor: Francesca Duncan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2016
Graduation Year: 2018
Project Title: Use of a Small Animal Radiation Research Platform (SARRP) facilitates analysis of systemic versus targeted radiation effects in the mouse ovary
Dana Kimelman, MS, MD
Previous Institution/Home Country: Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay
Thesis Mentor: Mary Ellen Pavone, MD
Matriculation Year: 2016
Graduation Year: 2018
Project Title: Aneuploidy screening with PGS in anIVF patient population
Atsuko Kato, MS, MD
Previous Institution/Home Country: Kyroin University, Japan
Thesis Mentor: Francesca Duncan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2016
Graduation Year: 2018
Project Title: Assessment of Egg Quality Parameters During the Prepubertal Transition
Yi Luan, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: China Agricultural University, China
Thesis Mentor: So-Youn Kim, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2016
Graduation Year: 2018
Project Title: Cyclophosphamide induces the death of primordial follicles, not ovarian follicle burnout
Megan Runge, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: Hampshire College, USA
Thesis Mentor: Teresa Woodruff, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2016
Graduation Year: 2018
Project Title: Mobile Health Technology for Reproductive Health Tracking and Education
Luhan (Tracy) Zhou, MS
Previous Institution/Home Country: University of Rochester, USA
Thesis Mentor: Francesca Duncan, PhD
Matriculation Year: 2016
Graduation Year: 2018
Project Title: O-GlcNAcylationis a prominent post-translational modification in bovine and human oocytes