Xun Li I graduated from Xiamen University in China in 2005 with a major in Biology. After that, with a strong interest in Cell and Molecular Biology, I entered the Ph.D. program at UMDNJ-Stratford. I joined the lab of Dr. Gary Goldberg to study how oncogene Src affects gene expression, intercellular communication, growth, and migration of transformed cells. I plan to pursue a career in Biomedical Sciences after finishing my Ph.D. study.

Xun graduated in May of 2009 with his Ph.D. and is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School.

Maria Savkina: I am a 5th year Ph.D. student in the Cell and Molecular Biology Program at the UMDNJ-Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the School of Osteopathic Medicine. I graduated from Moscow State Academy of Fine Applied Chemistry named after M.V. Lomonosov (Moscow, Russia) with a Master Degree in chemistry and technology of bioactive compounds in 2003. Later that year, I entered the Ph.D. program in Cell and Molecular Biology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY. I started my thesis research in the group of Dr. William T. McAllister. Dr. McAllister then moved to UMDNJ where he is now the Chair of the Department of Cell Biology at the School of Osteopathic Medicine. I decided to follow Dr. McAllister and transferred to UMDNJ to continue my thesis research. My work is focused on studying transcription by yeast mitochondrial RNA polymerase in vitro. After graduation I would like to stay in molecular biology at the post doctoral level.

Maria graduated in May of 2009 with her Ph.D. and is currently going to Canberra, Australia to do her postdoctoral fellowship at the Australian National University.

Randel L. Swanson II: I am a D.O./Ph.D. student who has already finished my first two years of medical school at the UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine and who is currently in my 3rd year of my Ph.D. studies in the Cell and Molecular Biology Program at the UMDNJ-Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the School of Osteopathic Medicine. I graduated in 2003 from Shepherd College as Chemistry/pre-med major with a Regents B.A. degree. My mentor is Dr. Venkat Venkataraman who is a member of the Department of Cell Biology at the School of Osteopathic Medicine. I am studying the role of calcium signaling in Circadian Rhythms and Mechanical signal transduction. My future plan is to pursue a career in academic medicine, with an emphasis on translational research and teaching. I would like to investigate the mechanisms of action underlying Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine techniques.

Randel graduated in April of 2009 with his Ph.D. and is currently going to back to the School of Osteopathic Medicine to finish the D.O. Program.

Erica Balzer: I graduated from The College of New Jersey in 2002, with a major in Biology and a minor in Forensic Science. With a gained interest in the biochemistry of forensic science and after several genetics and molecular biology courses, I decided to pursue my Ph.D. in molecular biochemistry. That Fall I entered the Ph.D. program at UMDNJ in Stratford. I am now working on my thesis, studying the molecular activity of Lin-28, a developmental timing regulator. Once finished, I wish to continue my career in the field of molecular biochemistry by pursuing a post doctoral position and eventually a faculty research position in academia.

Erica graduated in October of 2008 with her Ph.D. and is currently home recovering from adding a new member to her family.

Rich Balzer: I graduated from The College of New Jersey in 2002 with a major in biology and minors in philosophy and economics. That Fall I entered the UMDNJ Ph.D. program in Cell and Molecular Biology. Now in my third year, I am conducting my thesis research in the lab of Dr. Michael Henry. Using the budding yeast as a model system, we study the post-translational modification arginine methylation and RNA processing. Specifically, my work deals with proteins involved in meiosis-specific pre-mRNA splicing. After completing my thesis research, I hope to continue in molecular biology at the postdoctoral level and my ultimate goal is to attain a faculty position in academics.

Rich graduated in June of 2008 with his Ph.D. and is currently employed as a Scientific Writer.

Will Fazzone: Following my junior year at William Paterson University, I was accepted into the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) at the UMDNJ-SOM campus in Stratford, NJ. The SURE program helped me realize that graduate school was definitely the path I wanted to pursue. I graduated with a B.S. in biotechnology from William Paterson University in the spring of 2002 and began my graduate school education in the Ph.D. program in Cell and Molecular Biology at UMDNJ the following fall. While studying biology as an undergraduate I became interested in the mechanisms controlling gene expression. By conducting research in Dr. Robert Ladner's lab I was able to expand on these interests by studying the regulation of dUTPase, a gene involved in nucleotide metabolism. Dr. Ladner has since moved to USC in Los Angeles, CA, where I am conducting research to complete my thesis.

Will graduated in January of 2008 with his Ph.D. and is currently employed as a Scientific Writer.

Gilbert Siu: I graduated from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in 2000 with a dual-degree in biology and biochemistry. During my years in Stockton College, I was interested in medicine and research. Due to these interests, I wanted to pursue a career as a medical scientist, so I entered UMDNJ School of Osteopathic Medicine as a D.O./Ph.D. student. I have already finished my two years of medical school, and currently at my third year of Ph.D. studies. My current research is discovering the mechanism of Alzheimer’s disease, in which I am in the process of working on my thesis. Upon completion of my thesis, I will start my clinical rotations and then begin my clinical residency. My future plans are to work in academia with emphasis on clinical research and teaching.

Gil graduated in June of 2006 with his Ph.D., finished his D.O. at the School of Osteopathic Medicine in May of 2007, and is currently doing his residency at Temple.