Master Student News

Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy

3/6/20 – Congratulations to Ronald Cutler, Master’s student in the Biotechnology track, for receiving a GSBS travel award for poster presentation on “The Role of
Microglia in Neural Stem Cell Loss in the Aging Subventricular Zone” at the Systems Aging -Gordon Research Conference at Vermont in May-June 2020!

Ronald is also the first author on a recently published review article:

Cutler, R., Kokovay, E. (2020) “Rejuvenating Subventricular Zone Neurogenesis in the Aging Brain” Current Opinion in Pharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coph.2019.10.005

Congratulations also to his mentor, Erzsi Kokovay!

1/6/20 – Congratulations to Michael Nipper, recent alumni of our Master’s program, for co-authoring two papers:

1. Xu Y, Liu J, Nipper M, Wang P. Ductal vs. acinar? Recent insights into identifying cell lineage of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. in Ann. Pancreat. Cancer
2. Liu J, Gao M, Nipper M, Deng J, Sharkey FE, Johnson RL, Crawford HC, Chen Y, Wang P. Activation of the intrinsic fibroinflammatory program in adult pancreatic acinar cells triggered by Hippo signaling disruption. in PLoS Biol (Impact Factor: 8.386)

Michael was the recipient of the 2018 Armand J. Guarino Award of Excellence in Graduate Studies. The Guarino Award, named after the founding dean of GSBS, is the highest student award given by the Graduate School and recognizes outstanding performance by a student during his/her training. Michael is currently a doctoral student in the IBMS program here at UT Health San Antonio.

Congratulations also to Dr. Pei Wang, Michael’s mentor!

1/6/20 – Congratulations to Jordan Tanner and Beeran Jethwa, recent alumni of our Master’s program, for acceptance of their manuscript entitled” “A Three-Dimensional (3D) Print Model of the Pterygopalatine Fossa Significantly Enhances the Learning Experience” in Anatomical Sciences Education (ranked 3/41 in Education/Scientific Disciplines). Jordan is the first author on the manuscript and Beeran is a co-author.

Jordan was the recipient of the Rennels Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies and Beeran received an award of excellence for outstanding performance in the Interprofessional Human Gross Anatomy course.

11/11/19 – Congratulations to all our Master’s students and their team (CSA Heart Throbs; captained by Jasmine de Mange & Ronald Cutler) for participating in the American Heart Association – Heart Walk on Saturday.
The team collected $824 for the walk (ranked 4th among 14 teams at UT Health San Antonio)!  Ronald Cutler, second-year MS student in the Biotechnology track, ranked overall first in the 5K race as well as first in the male category!

11/05/19 – Interprofessional STEM Scholars Program Teaches 4th/5th Graders About Cancer

11/05/19 – Interprofessional STEM Scholars Program Teaches 4th/5th Graders About Alzheimer’s Disease

10/30/19 – Interprofessional STEM Scholars Program Teaches 4th/5th Graders About Diabetes

08/21/19 – Candidacy Ceremony & Convocation 2019: Finding a Legacy  Congratulations to one of our recent graduates from the Master’s program, Macie Mattila, for receiving the 2019 Armand J. Guarino award for Academic Excellence during the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences convocation today! The Guarino Award, named after the founding dean of GSBS, is the highest student award given by the Graduate School and recognizes outstanding performance by a student during his/her training.

08/16/19 – Congratulations also to Ivan Rubalcava, second year Master’s student, who was co-awarded the 2019 Robles Leadership award! The Robles Leadership Award is presented in honor of General Joe Robles (USAF ret), and his wife Patty and recognizes a graduate student (MS or PhD) in good academic standing who demonstrates excellence in leadership and service within the local and/or at UT Health community.

08/10/19 – Our Master’s students, Morgan Bucknor, Ronal Cutler, Jasmine de Mange, Erica Evans and Ivan Rubalcava showcased our virtual microscope and a 3D model of the pterygopalatine fossa (developed by Jordan Tanner, a Master’ student in CSA, and Dr. Ramaswamy Sharma (link), at the THINK SCIENCE & DISCOVERY DAY event at the TOBIN Center for the Performing Arts, organized by Texas Public Radio. The Graduate School invited various UT Health San Antonio entities such as Biomedical Research Awareness Day, the Addiction Research Treatment and Training Center and the Office of Recruitment & Science Outreach, and the Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy to lead interactive exhibits and booths. Free and open to all, the event was well-attended by kids and adults.

07/31/19 – Science Outreach at The Haven for Hope. Congratulations to Ivan Rubalcava, our second-year Master’s students in the Anatomical sciences track, who wrote the article in The Pipette Gazette, based on volunteering at the Haven for Hope!

04/01/19 – Jordan Tanner: My Love For Anatomy  The Pipette Gazette, April 1, 2019. Congratulations to Jordan Tanner on her “Meet The Researcher” article in The Pipette Gazette!

01/2019 – Congratulations to Beeran Jethwa, Master of Science student in Cell Systems & Anatomy, for outstanding performance in the Interprofessional Human Gross Anatomy course and receiving the Award for Excellence!   Congratulations also to his mentor, Dr. Omid Rahimi!

11/20/18 – Congratulations to Shalea Francois, our Master’s student in the Anatomical Sciences track, for successfully defending her thesis recently. Her thesis was titled, “Development of a Dynamic Three-Dimensional (3D) Model for Greater Understanding of the Actions of the Lumbricals and the Interosseous Muscles in the Hand”. Congratulations also to her mentors, Drs. Annette Occhialini and Omid Rahimi! November 20, 2018.

Congratulations to Michael Nipper who received the 2018 Armand J. Guarino Award for Excellence in Master’s studies during the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences convocation yesterday!  The Guarino Award, named after the founding dean of GSBS, is the highest student award given by the Graduate School and recognizes outstanding performance by a student during his/her training.  Congratulations also to Dr. Pei Wang, Michael’s mentor!

06/18 – Congratulations to the following Master’s students in our department who have successfully defended their thesis within the past month! Congratulations also to their mentors!

Kaitlyn Bejar, M.S., Anatomical Sciences track. Kaitlyn was mentored by Dr. Pei Wang and her thesis was titled, “Analyzing Mucin Profiles in Pancreatic Tumors and Monitoring Tumor Growth”. She received the Rennels Memorial Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies from our department and won Best Poster award among Master’s students at our recent departmental retreat. She was also the student representative on our MS-COGS. She has co-authored 2 manuscripts. She is planning to continue working at UT-Health while applying for medical school.

Sang Hyun Chun, M.S., Biotechnology track. Sang Hyun was mentored by Dr. James Lechleiter and his thesis was titled, “A Study of Astrogliosis and PERK in Mouse Models of Traumatic Brian Injury”. He will continue to work with Jim to complete his project.

Ellen Gaudet, M.S., Anatomical Sciences track. Ellen was mentored by Dr. Alan Sakaguchi and her thesis was titled, “Teaching the Lower Limb Using Three-Dimensional Printing”. While a student here, she received the Phyllis and Neil Bowie Student Community Service Award and was also inducted into the Student Legacy Circle as a representative of the graduate school. She will be attending the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, TX, starting July 2018.

Colleen Loza, M.S., Anatomical Sciences track. Colleen was mentored by Dr. Lily Dongand her thesis project was titled “Identification of Novel Factors Involved in the Wound Healing Process of Obese Patients”. Her thesis work will result in a manuscript. She intends to join the Physician’s Assistant program.

Michael Nipper, M.S., Biotechnology track. Michael joined Dr. Pei Wang’s lab and his thesis was titled, “Investigating Initiation and Progression Events in Pancreatic Cancer”. He has one co-author publication and will be a co-author on a second manuscript. He will be joining the PhD program at UT-Health San Antonio this Fall.

Yusheng Qian, M.S., Biotechnology track. Yusheng was mentored by Dr. Yidong Bai and his thesis was titled, “The Role of Grp75 in Mitochondrial Supercomplex Maintenance and Neurodegenerative Diseases”. Yusheng will join the PhD program at UT-Health San Antonio this Fall

Pragya Singh, M.S., Biotechnology track. Pragya was mentored by Dr. Yidong Bai and her thesis was titled, “Generation and Characterization of Retinal Ganglion Cell for Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy” or LHON. She has co-authored a paper and her thesis work will contribute to another manuscript. She will be matriculating into the Ph.D. program at UT-Health San Antonio this Fall.

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