Alumni
 Dr. Ruinan Yang

Ruinan Yang, Ph.D. – August 2018

Thesis: Polymeric Nanocarriers Delivering Anticancer Agents For The Treatment Of Chemoresistant Prostate Cancer And Lung Metastatic Melanoma
Mentor: Ram Mahato Ph.D.
Position: Senior Scientist, PPD
 Yi Chen

Yi Chen, Ph.D. – August 2018

Thesis: Development of polymeric carriers for the treatment of acute kidney injury
Mentor: David Oupicky, Ph.D.
Position: R&D, Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical Co., LTD.
Dr. Hashemi

Mohtadin Hashemi, Ph.D. – May 2018

Thesis: Molecular Mechanism of Early Amyloid Self-assembly Revealed by Computational Modeling
Mentor: Yuri Lyubchenko, Ph.D.
Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate at UNMC
 Dr. Zhou

Tian Zhou, Ph.D. – February 2018

Thesis: Next Generation of Translational Long-acting Cabotegravir
Mentor: Howard E. Gendelman, M.D.
Position: Formulation Scientist, Ascendia Pharmaceuticals, LLC., North Brunswick, NJ
Dr. Thakare

Rhishikesh Thakare, Ph.D. – December 2017

Thesis: In-vitro and In-vivo Models of Bile Acid Metabolism and Transport
Mentor: Yazen Alnouti, Ph.D.
Position: Senior Scientist, Sekisui XenoTech, LLC, Kansas City, KS
Dr. Boonsith

Suthida Boonsith, Ph.D. – August 2017

Thesis: Development of CXCR4 Inhibitors for Topical Treatment of Psoriasis
Mentor: David Oupicky, Ph.D.
Position: Faculty member at department of Chemical Engineering, Mahidol University, Thailand

Dr. Tallapaka

Shailendra Tallapaka, Ph.D. - August 2017

Thesis:  Development of C5AR-Targeted Nanoparticles for Delivery of Vaccines
Mentor: Joseph Vetro, Ph.D.
Current Position:  Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Kansas in Lawrence

Dr. Jia

 

Yinnong Jia, Ph.D. - May 2017

Thesis:  Development of Neurotensin-based Radiopharmaceuticals for Neurotensin-receptor-1-positive tumor targeting
Mentor: Jered Garrison, Ph.D.
Current Position:  TBD
Dr. Soni

Kruti Soni, Ph.D. - May 2017

Thesis:  Targeted Delivery of Drug Combinations via Nanocarrriers for Cancer Treatment
Mentor: Tantiana Bronich, Ph.D.
Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate in San Diego
Dr. Wen

Di Wen, Ph.D. - May 2017

Thesis:  Delivery of Small Molecule and RNA for the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes and Prostate Cancer
Mentor:  Ram Mahato, Ph.D.
Current Position:  Postdoctoral Research Associate at North Carolina State University
Dr. Steffensmeier

Calliste Steffensmeier, Ph.D. - August 2016

Thesis:  Stability and Kinetics of DNA Pseudoknots: Formation of T*A●T Base-Triplets and Their Targeting Reactions
Mentor:  Luis Marky, Ph.D.
Current Position:  Postdoctoral Research Associate at UNMC
Dr. Kumar

Virender Kumar, Ph.D. - May 2016

Thesis:  Polymeric nanocarriers for delivery of small molecules and miRNAs for the treatment of liver fibrosis and pancreatic cancer
Mentor:  Ram Mahato, Ph.D.
Current Position:  Postdoctoral Research Associate at UNMC
Dr. Mundra

Vaibhav Mundra, Ph.D. - December 2015

Thesis:  Polymeric Nanocarriers for Treatment of Melanoma and Genetically Modified Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Improve Outcome of Islet Transplantation
Mentor:  Ram Mahato, Ph.D.
Current Position:  Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, Manchester University
 Dr. Shi

 

Wen Shi, Ph.D. - August 2015

Thesis: Development of Polymer Peptide Conjugates for Enhanced Pancreatic Cancer Imaging
Mentor: Jered Garrison, Ph.D.
 Dr. Zhou  

Zhenyuan Zhou, Ph.D. - August 2015

Thesis:  Development of Hypoxia Trapping Enhanced BB2R-Targeted Radiopharmaceutics for Prostate Cancer
Mentor:  Jered Garrison, Ph.D.
Current Position:  Duke University
 Dr. Wakaskar  

Rajesh Wakaskar, Ph.D. - May 2015

Thesis: Effect of peripheral shell cross-linking on the efficacy of the hydrophobic vascular disrupting agent physically loaded in core-shell polymeric micelles
Mentor: Joe Vetro, Ph.D.
Current Position: Formulation Scientist at Insys Therapeutics, Inc.
 Dr. Karuturi  

Bala Vamsi Karuturi, Ph.D. - December 2014

Thesis: Development of EP67-based mucosal vaccines against cytomegalovirus infection
Mentor: Joe Vetro, Ph.D.
Current Position: Process Development Scientist at Mylan
 Dr. Ambardekar  

Vishakha Ambardekar, Ph.D. - August 2013

Thesis: Cholesterol-siRNA polyplexes of polycation-polyethylene glycol diblock copolymers for cancer therapy
Mentor: Vinod Labhasetwar, Ph.D.
Current Position: Research Scientist at Lupin Limited
Dr. Rao

Kavitha Rao, Ph.D. - February 2009

Thesis: TAT-Conjugated nanoparticles for the CNS delivery of Anti-HIV drugs
Mentor: Joe Vetro, Ph.D.
Current Position: Scientific Manager at Biocon Research Limited
 Dr. Davda  

Jasmine Davda, Ph.D. - September 2007

Thesis:  Pharmacokinetic Modeling of Therapeutic Antibodies
Mentor: Peter Gwilt, Ph.D.
Current Position:  Pfizer, Inc.
 Dr. Panyam  

Jayanth Panyam, Ph.D. - December 2003

Thesis:  Biodegradable nanoparticles for the prevention of restenosis
Mentor:  Vinod Labhasetwar, Ph.D.
Current Position:  Endowed Professor in Targeted Drug Delivery &
Head, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota
Dr. De

Sinjan De, Ph.D. - August 2003

Thesis:  Formulation, uptake, and cytotoxicity of biodegradable particulate delivery systems ofpaclitaxel
Mentor:  Dennis Robinson, Ph.D.
Current Position:  Perrigo Company
Dr. Sun

Haiyang Sun, Ph.D. - 2001

Thesis:  Characterization of active organic anion transport on drug distribution in the central nervous system
Mentor:  William Elmquist, Ph.D.
Current Position:  Director of PK Sciences, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
 Dr. Jonnalagadda

Kamal Jonnalagadda, Ph.D. - December 2000

Thesis:  The Design and Development of a Biodegradable Polylactide Reservoir for Controlled, Zero-Order Drug Delivery
Mentor:  Dennis Robinson, Ph.D.
Current Position:  Professor & Director, Pharmaceutics Graduate Program Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences