Steven Emanuel: 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 in 2001 from The Richard Stockton College of NJ, with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. My mentor is Dr. William T. McAllister who is the Chair of the Department of Cell Biology at the School of Osteopathic Medicine. I research T7 RNA polymerase (RNAP), which recognizes two classes of termination signals: structure dependent (class I) signals in which the nascent RNA forms a stem loop structure (similar to intrinsic signals utilized by bacterial RNAPs), and sequence specific (class II) signals in which there is no apparent secondary structure in the RNA. The mechanism of class II termination has remained elusive due to the dynamic nature of this process and the difficulty in establishing a model system. During phage growth, the class II signal found in the concatamer junction (CJ) of replicating DNA is thought to cause the RNAP to pause. This pause is extended in the presence of T7 lysozyme, and the complex then recruits other proteins required for processing and packaging of the mature genome into the phage capsid. Other class II-like signals have been identified which have a more extended U-rich region downstream, and these serve as efficient termination signals, even in the absence of lysozyme. Using templates that contain the natural pausing sequence (CJ), we have determined that the addition of T7 lysozyme results in an extremely stable paused (or arrested) complex which may be similar to complexes just prior to termination. Upon graduation, I would like to rejoin the work force in either government or an industrial laboratory.

Eli Levin: 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 2nd 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 2005 from The College of New Jersey, summa cum laude, with a B.S. in Biology. My mentor is Dr. Robert Nagele who is at the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging. I am exploring Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, specifically the role of blood brain barrier breakdown on intracellular amyloid accumulation and neuronal cell death. To this end, I am examining human AD brains as well as mouse and pig models using various techniques: immunohistochemistry, slice cultures, light, confocal, and electron microscopy. As the mechanism by which AD induces its neurodegenerative effect becomes elucidated, potential therapeutic targets should be revealed. Upon completing my D.O. and Ph.D. degrees, I hope to match in a competitive residency at an academic institute that will allow me to pursue my research interests while completing my postgraduate medical education. I am been inducted into The Foundation of UMDNJ Society of Research Scholars.

Vadim Molodtsov: I am a 4th 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 the A.I.Herzen Russian State Pedagogic University (St. Petersburg, Russia) in 2003 with a major in Biology and minor in Chemistry (Specialist Degree which is an equivalent of a Master Degree). Immediately after my graduation I entered the Ph.D. program in Human and Animal Normal Physiology at the Lab of Neuroendocrynology, I.M.Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry (St. Petersburg, Russia) where I studied regulation of age-dependent apoptosis in the murine brain. After two years of research on apoptosis, I quit the program and entered the Ph.D. program in Cell and Molecular Biology at UMDNJ. My mentor is Dr. William T. McAllister who is the Chair of the Department of Cell Biology at the School of Osteopathic Medicine. I study various aspects of transcription by bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase. Specifically, I study transcript slippage during the elongation phase and molecular basis for transcription termination. After completing my thesis research I am going to find a postdoctoral position to continue my research in molecular biology. My final goal is to get a faculty position in academics.

Jonathan C. Sedeyn: I am a 3rd 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 in 2006 from The Richard Stockton College of NJ, with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. My mentor is Dr. Venkat Venkataraman who is a member of the Department of Cell Biology at the School of Osteopathic Medicine. I work on elucidating the mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease. We believe there are several 'hits' that must occur in tandem in order for AD to manifest itself. Currently, I am working on two of these; blood-brain barrier breaches and alterations in Ca2+ transduction within affected neurons. We have developed an animal model to test out hypothesis in the transgenic S100B KO mouse. Possible future in academia, I also hope to attend SOM after completing my Ph.D.