Graduate Student Association Officers – 2009-2010
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Matthew Colombo, President – Matt hails from Westampton, NJ. He attended Widener University in Chester, PA, where he received his B.S. in Biology. Matt is now in his fifth year in the Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis program. He studies in the laboratory of Kishore Alugupalli, where he has been researching the B1b cell responses to bacterial pathogens, namely how B1b cells acquire a memory-like phenotype in the absence of T cell help. |
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Lori Cooper, Secretary – Lori grew up in Montrose, a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania. She went to Lafayette College where she divided her time between throwing javelin for the track and field team and majoring in Neuroscience. After graduating in 2007 with a BS degree in Neuroscience, she spent a year working at the NIH before entering Jefferson's Neuroscience PhD program. She is just starting her second year at Jefferson and will be working in Dr. Diane Merry’s lab researching SBMA. |
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Greg Dickinson, Treasurer – Greg is from the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. He attended the University of Maryland in College Park, where he graduated with a B.S. in Microbiology. Greg is beginning his 4th year in the Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis PhD program here at Jefferson. He works in the lab of Kishore Alugupalli, where he has been researching the role of different sensors of bacteria in the induction of septic shock. |
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Michelle Carll, VP Academic Affairs – Michelle is from a small town in South Jersey called Stow Creek Township. She attended The College of New Jersey, where she graduated with a B.S. in Biology. After graduating, Michelle attended Thomas Jefferson University for the Master of Science Program in Developmental Biology and Teratology. While doing her masters, she also worked full-time in the Business Development group at Charles River Laboratories in Horsham, PA. Michelle is currently a second year PhD student in the Cell and Developmental Biology program. Michelle is working in Dr. Phil Wedegaertner's laboratory, where she is investigating the role and regulation of a certain Rho guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (RhoGEF). |
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Emily Gomme, VP of Career Development – Emily Gomme attended Wilkes University where she majored in Molecular Biology. After graduation, Emily worked for two years as a Research Technician at Wistar Institute followed by two years at GlaxoSmithKline. She is now in her fourth year in the Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis PhD program. Emily works in the laboratory of Dr. Matthias Schnell where she is working on HIV vaccine development using a replication-deficient rabies virus vector.
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Rick Crist, VP Community and Cultural Affairs – Rick lives in Philadelphia, PA. He attended Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA, majoring in biology. Rick is in his 5th year of the Genetics PhD program. He works in the lab of Dr. Arthur Buchberg, researching genetic modifiers of colorectal cancer. |
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Tessa Lawrence, VP of Internal Affairs – Tessa spent the majority of her life in Hudson, OH and recently moved to her new home in sunny Philadelphia. She attended the University of Rochester in chilly Rochester, NY where she majored in Microbiology and rode for the Equestrian Team. Now a 2nd year student working in Dr. Schnell’s lab, Tessa devotes her energy to studying the use of the rabies viral vaccine vector against infectious diseases. In her spare time, she loves to explore the city. |
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Sandra Bonne-Annee, VP Special Events – Sandra Bonne-Annee is from Miami, FL. She attended St. John's University in Jamaica, NY where she majored in Biology. Sandra is in her 4th year in the Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis PhD program. She works in the laboratory of Dr. David Abraham studying the immune response to helminth parasites with an emphasis on the innate immune system. |
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Michael Powell, President Emeritus – Michael's undergraduate studies were held at Lycoming College, a small, private, liberal arts college located in Williamsport, PA where his concentrations included chemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry. Michael is currently a 5th year Genetics PhD student in Dr. Richard Pestell's laboratory within the Department of Cancer Biology. His research is centered around determining the function of Sirtuin proteins in multiple organ systems and disease states. More specifically, Michael studies the role of SIRT1 in prostate cancer, tissue development and differentiation, diabetes, autophagy, and neuroendocrine disorders. |
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