Recent Graduates | Physiology | University of Nebraska Medical Center

Cassandra Moshfegh, PhD, 2022
Dissertation Title: The Role of Calprotectin in T-Lymphocyte Driven Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Psychological Trauma
Mentor: Adam J. Case

Upendra Chalise, PhD, 2022
Dissertation Title: Modulating Cardiac Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction
Mentor: Merry L. Lindsey

Safwan Elkhatib, PhD, 2021 (MD/PhD Scholar)
Dissertation Title: Psychological Trauma Alters T-Lymphocyte Inflammation and Redox Through Sympathetic Mechanisms
Mentors: Adam J. Case and Kaushik P. Patel

Sarah Schlichte, PhD, 2021

Dissertation Title: Mechanisms of the Superoxide Dismutase Mimic MnTnBuOE-2-PyP⁵⁺ and its Nanoformulation on Blood Pressure Regulation
Mentor: Matthew C. Zimmerman

Zhiqiu (Claire) Xia, PhD, 2021
Dissertation Title: Cardio-Renal Syndrome Type 2: The Role of Cardiac Spinal Afferent Reflex
Mentor: Hanjun Wang

Sumit Kar, PhD, 2020
Dissertation Title: Cardioprotective roles of hydrogen sulfide donor treatment in diabetic cardiomyopathy
Mentor: Paras Kumar Mishra
Current Position: Senior Manager, Translational Medicine, Deciphera Pharmaceuticals

Anyun (May) Ma, PhD, 2020
Dissertation Title: The role of central ACE2 and Nrf2 in sympatho-excitation: responses to central Ang II
Mentor: Irving H. Zucker
Current Position: Research Technologist, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

Ahmed Wafi, PhD, 2020
Dissertation Title: Exercise and Nrf2 in Chronic Heart Failure
Mentor: Irving H. Zucker

Cassandra Hays, PhD, 2020
Dissertation Title: Glutamate Release from Rod Photoreceptors
Mentor: Wallace B. Thoreson
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Education, Creighton School of Medicine, Omaha, NE

Songita Choudhury, PhD, 2018 (MD/PhD Scholar)
Dissertation Title: A Study of Acoustically Activated Nanodroplets
Mentor: Thomas R. Porter
Current Position: Pediatrics Resident, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

Michael Price, PhD, 2018 (MD/PhD Scholar)
Dissertation Title: Alcohol Drives Oxidation-dependent Desensitization of Airway Cilia Motility Responsiveness
Mentor: Joseph H. Sisson
Current Position: Otolaryngology Resident, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Kansas City, Kansas City KS

Bangchen Wang, PhD, 2018 (MD/PhD Scholar)
Dissertation Title: Mechanisms for the Potassium-Sparing Effects of Furosemide in Mice on High Potassium Diets
Mentor: Steven C. Sansom
Current Position: Pathology Resident, Duke University Medical Center, Pathology, Durham NC

Shamma Rahman, PhD 2018
Dissertation Title: Role of EPS15 Homology Domain-Containing Protein 4 (EHD4) in the Kidney
Mentor: Erika I. Boesen
Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Peter Ricci Pellegrino, PhD 2016 (MD/PhD Scholar)
Dissertation Title: Assessment and mechanisms of autonomic function in health and disease
Mentor: Irving H. Zucker
Current Position: House Officer, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

Duy Minh Ha, PhD 2016 (MD/PhD Scholar)
Dissertation Title: The development of transforming growth factor-β1 associated fibrosis in the gastrocnemius of peripheral artery disease patients and response to revascularization and exercise therapies
Mentor: Iraklis I. Pipinos and George P. Casale
Current Position: Medical student, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

Yuan Ying, PhD 2016
Dissertation Title: Molecular mechanism of necrotic cell death in ischemic renal injury
Mentor: Babu J. Padanilam
Current Position: Internal Medicine, Hematology/Oncology Fellow, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK

Bryan Becker, PhD 2015
Dissertation Title: Interaction between angiotensin II and BDNF in modulating sympathetic nerve activity
Mentor: Irving H. Zucker
Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Nephrology & Physiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL

Derek Passer, PhD 2015
Dissertation Title: Atypical protein kinase CV dependent polarized cell division is required for myocardial trabeculation
Mentor: Irving H. Zucker and Ibrahim Domian
Current Position: Anesthesiology Resident, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY

Urmi Basu, PhD 2015
Dissertation Title: Redox-sensitive calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα in angiotensin II intra-neuronal signaling and angiotensin II-mediated hypertension
Mentor: Matthew C. Zimmerman

Alicia M. Schiller, PhD 2015
Dissertation Title: The role of the renal nerves in normal physiological and heart failure conditions in the conscious rabbit
Mentor: Irving H. Zucker
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

Prabuddha Chakraborty, PhD 2015
Dissertation Title: Mechanism of bone morphogenetic protein-2 regulation of primordial follicle formation and development
Mentor: Shyamal K. Roy
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

Ryan J. Cornelius, PhD 2014
Dissertation Title: The role of BK-α/β4 in high potassium and alkaline dietary conditions
Mentor: Steven C. Sansom
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Nephrology & Hypertension, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR

Mina Hanna, MS 2014
Mentor: Pamela K. Carmines
Current Position: Research Technician II, Department of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE

Cassie Hays, MS 2014
Mentor: Carol M. Toris
Current Position: PhD student, Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

Krupa Savalia, PhD 2014 (MD/PhD Scholar)
Dissertation Title: Examination of nanoformulated crosslinked polymers complexed with copper/zinc superoxide dismutase as a therapeutic strategy for angiotensin II-mediated hypertension
Mentor: Matthew C. Zimmerman
Current Position: Neurology Resident, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

Erin G. Rosenbaugh, PhD 2013
Dissertation Title: Delivery of nanoformulated superoxide dismutase to the brain for the treatment of angiotensin II-mediated hypertension
Mentor: Matthew C. Zimmerman
Current Position: Scientific Project Manager, Cape Fox Facilities Services (CFFS), Manassas, VA

Tamra Llewellyn, PhD 2013
Dissertation Title: The role of the subfornical organ in regulating sympathetic nerve activity during chronic heart failure
Mentor: Kaushik P. Patel
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Health & Human Performance, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE

Debra L. Irsik, PhD 2013
Dissertation Title: Estrogen receptors in diabetic nephropathy
Mentor: Pascale H. Lane and Pamela K. Carmines
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Physiology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA

Anindit Mukherjee, PhD 2012
Dissertation Title: Identification of a novel protein mediating estrogen action on the regulation of primordial follicle formation
Mentor: Shyamal K. Roy
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Liang Xiao, PhD 2012
Dissertation Title: Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 in heart failure: Regulation of sympathetic outflow
Mentor: Irving H. Zucker
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Sarah C. Clayton, PhD 2011
Dissertation Title: Neural regulation of renal blood flow during experimental heart failure
Mentor: Irving H. Zucker
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Des Moines University, Des Moines, IA

Jing Yang, PhD 2010
Dissertation Title: Causes and consequences of superoxide anion production by the renal medullary thick ascending limb during type 1 diabetes
Mentor: Pamela K. Carmines
Current Position: Research Associate, Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

Carmen M. Troncoso Brindeiro, PhD 2010
Dissertation Title: Potassium channel regulation of renal afferent arteriolar tone in kidneys from normal and diabetic rats
Mentor: Pamela K. Carmines
Current Position: Adjunct Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, River Valley Community College, Claremont, NH

P. Richard Grimm, PhD 2009
Dissertation Title: The role of BKβ1 in regulating extracellular volume
Mentor: Steven C. Sansom
Current Position: Research Associate, Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

Kurinji Singaravelu, PhD 2009
Dissertation Title: Mechanistic role of pro-apoptotic molecules, Siva and PERP, in eliciting apoptosis in ischemic injury
Mentor: Babu J. Padanilam
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Medicine/Nephrology, Harvard University / Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA

Kishor Devalaraja-Nirashimha, PhD 2008
Dissertation Title: Mechanisms of targeted necrosis of proximal straight tubular cells following ischemic renal injury
Mentor: Babu J. Padanilam
Current Position: Staff Scientist, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY

Allison Kleiber, PhD 2008
Dissertation Title: Sympathetic hyperactivity in chronic heart failure: Role of glutamatergic mechanisms in the paraventricular nucleus
Mentor: Kaushik P. Patel
Current Position: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Basic & Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO

Viswanathan Ragagopalan, PhD 2008
Dissertation Title: Role of ErbB (EGFR) tyrosine kinase receptors in adult & aging heart
Mentor: Irving H. Zucker
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Basic (Biomedical) Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, Jonesboro, AR

Qin Fang, MD, PhD 2005
Dissertation Title: The influence of nicotine on the cerebral microcirculation: Mechanisms of impaired vasodilation
Mentor: William G. Mayhan
Current Position: Physician, East Coast Nephrology Associates, Ormond Beach, FL

Jennifer L. Pluznick, PhD 2005
Dissertation Title: The BKβ1 subunit in the mammalian kidney
Mentor: Steven C. Sansom
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University