Genetics, Genomics & Cancer Biology

Program

Name: Lucia Languino, PhD
Position: Program Director

233 South 10th Street
Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Suite 506
Philadelphia, PA 19107

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Contact Admissions

Contact Number(s):

Program Coordinator

Name: Danielle Park
Position: Program Coordinator
Organization: Jefferson

1020 Locust Street
M-46 JAH
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Connect with Us

       

Current Students


Sarah Ahr
Sarah.Ahr@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Fall 2022
Thesis Advisor: Karen Bussard, PhD
Project: TBD


Hyun Hwan An (MD/PhD)
HyunHwan.An@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Spring 2022
Thesis Advisor: Christine Eischen, PhD
Project: TBD


Geethanjali Annamalai (MD/PhD)
Geethanjali.Annamalai@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Spring 2022
Thesis Advisor: Andrew Aplin, PhD
Project: TBD


Gavin Bond (MD/PhD)
Gavin.Bond@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Spring 2021
Thesis Advisor: Christine Eischen, PhD
Project: TBD


David Deming
David.Deming@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Fall 2016
Thesis Advisor: Alexander Mazo, PhD
Project: TBD


Kristen DeRosa
Kristen.DeRosa@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Fall 2023
Thesis Advisor: Andrew Aplin, PhD
Project: Identifying changes in the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) caused by TEAD inhibition in cutaneous melanoma


Victor Diaz-Barros
Victor.Diaz-Barros@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Fall 2023
Thesis Advisor: Ubaldo Martinez-Outschoorn, MD, PhD
Project: My research focuses on understanding the role of MCT4 in both cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment, specifically in head and neck cancer. I aim to uncover how MCT4 impacts immune cell metabolism and immune evasion, contributing to improved therapeutic strategies


Erin Gallagher
Erin.Gallagher@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Fall 2023
Thesis Advisor: Claudia Capparelli, PhD
Project: Studying the role of SOX10-deficient melanocytes in UV radiation-induced DNA damage and melanoma initiation


Erin Gray
Erin.Gray@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Fall 2023
Thesis Advisor: Christine Eischen, PhD
Project: TBD


Adam Hetzelson
Adam.Hetzelson@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Fall 2024
Thesis Advisor: Marja Nevalainen, MD, PhD
Project: TBD


Megan Keller
Megan.Keller@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Fall 2023
Thesis Advisor: Luis Sigal, DVM, PhD
Project: TBD


Jessica Kopenhaver
Jessica.Kopenhaver@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Fall 2019
Thesis Advisor: Scott Waldman, MD, PhD
Project: TBD


Justin Myers
Justin.Myers@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Summer 2022
Thesis Advisor: Emad Alnemri, PhD
Project: TBD


Drithi Patel
Drithi.Patel@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Fall 2024
Thesis Advisor: TBA
Project: TBD


Francis Picone
Francis.Picone@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Fall 2024
Thesis Advisor: TBA
Project: TBD


Douglas Ralph
Douglas.Ralph@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Summer 2021
Thesis Advisor: Richard Pomerantz, PhD
Project: TBA


Laura Reynolds 
Laura.Reynolds@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Summer 2021
Thesis Advisor: Hien Dang, PhD
Project: TBD


Samuel Sey
Samuel.Sey@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Fall 2024
Thesis Advisor: TBA
Project: TBD


Siddharth Shah
Siddharth.Shah@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Fall 2024
Thesis Advisor: Isidore Rigoutsos, PhD
Project: TBD


Solmaz Shirjang
Solmaz.Shirjang@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Fall 2023
Thesis Advisor: Marja Nevalainen, MD, PhD
Project: TBD


Ross Staudt
Ross.Staudt@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Fall 2020
Thesis Advisor: Adam Snook, PhD
Project: Investigating the use of GUCY2C-directed CAR-T cells as a therapeutic for upper-GI cancers.


Bernadette Tiberi
Bernadette.Tiberi@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: 
Fall 2022
Thesis Advisor: Sara Meyer, PhD
Project: TBD


Francis Waltrich
Francis.Waltrich@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Fall 2020
Thesis Advisor: Andrew Aplin, PhD
Project: Identifying new therapeutic strategies for melanomas harboring both GNAQ and GNA11 mutations. 


Haley Wilson
Haley.Wilson@students.jefferson.edu

Matriculation Term: Summer 2021
Thesis Advisor: Andrew Aplin, PhD
Project: Utilize 3D culture to elucidate the mechanisms of drug tolerant persister cells in cutaneous melanoma

Recent Graduates


Samantha Barnada 
Matriculation Term: 
Fall 2020
Thesis Title: 
"Uncovering Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Human Developmental Gene Regulation"
Advisor: 
Steven McMahon, PhD


Robert Carlson 
Matriculation Term: 
Fall 2018
Thesis Title: 
"Desmoglein 2 is a Safe and Universal CAR-T Cell Therapy Target for Solid Tumors"
Advisor: 
Adam Snook, PhD


Michael Lawler 
Matriculation Term: 
Summer 2018
Thesis Title: 
"INTERROGATION OF TLR INFLAMMATORY SIGNALING IN AML"
Advisor: 
Sara Meyer, PhD


Tyler Fenstermaker 
Matriculation Term: 
Fall 2014
Thesis Title: 
"Epigenetic Bookmarking During DNA Replication by the RNA Polymerase II Complex"
Advisor: 
Alexander Mazo, PhD


Pyung Hun Park
Matriculation Term: 
Fall 2020
Thesis Title: 
"Molecular Determinants of Invasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Insights from 3D Organotypic Models"
Advisor: 
Andrew South, PhD


Alexandra Redding 
Matriculation Term: 
Fall 2019
Thesis Title: 
"Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 determines Intercellular Heterogeneity of Stress Granules and Chemotherapy Response"
Advisor: 
Elda Grabocka, PhD


Brittiny Dhital 
Matriculation Term:
Fall 2018
Thesis Title: 
“Mechanisms of Gene Expression and Genomic Stability in Prostate Cancer: Cross-talk between Nuclear Pore Proteins and Mitotic Fidelity Genes”
Advisor:
Veronica Bravo-Rodriguez, PhD

Current Position: University of Texas-Southwestern, Postdoctoral Research Fellow


Brianna Hill 
Matriculation Term: 
Summer 2018
Thesis Title: 
"Dsg2-Regulated miRNA and lncRNA Dynamics in Wound Healing and Tumor Development"
Advisor: 
Mỹ G. Mahoney, PhD


Nicole Naranjo 
Matriculation Term:
Fall 2018
Thesis Title: 
"PROSTATE CANCER CELL-DERIVED SMALL EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES MEDIATE MONOCYTE PHENOTYPIC AND FUNCTIONAL CHANGES"
Advisor: 
Lucia Languino, PhD


Stephanie Renna 
Matriculation Term: 
Fall 2015
Thesis Title: 
"Guanylyl Cyclase C Vaccines for Secondary Prevention of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer"
Advisor: 
Steven McKenzie, MD, PhD


Tess Cherlin 
Matriculation Term: 
Fall 2015
Thesis Title: 
"Identifying, Characterizing, and Exploring Profiles of Ribosomal RNA Fragments (rRFs) and their Implications for Personalized Medicine Contexts"
Advisor: 
Isidore Rigoutsos, PhD


Marina Domingo Vidal 
Matriculation Term: 
Fall 2017
Thesis Title: 
"Metabolic compartmentalization as a driver of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma aggressiveness"
Advisor: 
Ubaldo Martinez-Outschoorn, MD


Rachel Hodge 
Matriculation Term: 
Fall 2012
Thesis Title: 
"Human Sex-Specific Synaptic Adhesion Proteins NLGN4X and NLGN4Y Regulate the Dual Innervation of Dendritic Spines"
Advisor: 
Matthew Dalva, PhD


Amir Hossein Saeidian 
Matriculation Term: 
Fall 2017
Thesis Title: 
"Investigating the Molecular Genetics and Viral Repertoire of Patients with Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis"
Advisor:
Jouni Uitto, MD, PhD


Alison Shupp 
Matriculation Term: 
Fall 2016
Thesis Title: 
"The Role of “Educated” Osteoblast-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles in Regulating Breast Cancer Proliferation"
Advisor: 
Karen Bussard, PhD