Current Students
Graduate Student Awards
The Van Liere Research Convocation is an annual competition featuring scientific presentations from basic science Ph.D. students and medical students.
The Julie Betschart Research Award is given annually to the Cellular and Integrative Physiology Student who best presents their research abstract in an oral format.
Current Physiology Graduate Students
Allison White
Started: 2019
Degree: Ph.D. Candidate
Advisor: Vincent Setola
Research: I am interested in finding novel treatments and/or treatment strategies for substance use disorder. My dissertation research has largely focused on understanding the role that Regulator of G protein Signaling 12 (RGS12) plays in modulating monoamine transporters.
Other Interests: I am an avid mountain biker, hiker, and runner.
Amber Mills
Started: 2020
Degree: Ph.D. Candidate
Advisor: Mark Olfert
Research: My research looks at the consequences of maternal e-cigarette use during pregnancy on offspring vascular health and we want to see if changes in device wattage impact the severity of dysfunction to offspring.
Other Interests: My other interests include acrylic painting and embroidering on canvas, camping/hiking, and being a good puppy mom.
Beethi Sinha
Started: 2022
Degree: Ph.D. Candidate
Advisor: Matt Dietz
Research: My research endeavors will center around addressing osteolysis induced by prosthetic joint infection, delving into its mechanistic pathways, and exploring strategies for mitigating osteolysis through the utilization of murine model.
Other Interests: Hiking, gardening and cooking
Ben Menarchek
Started: 2023
Degree: Ph.D. Candidate
Advisor: M. Bridi
Eliana Aerts
Started: 2019
Degree: Ph.D. Candidate
Advisor: Stan Hileman
Research: I am researching where estradiol acts in the brain to control the timing of puberty onset. I also study what neuronal circuits are controlling the decrease in estrogen negative feedback associated with development.
Other Interests: Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, backpacking, running, and reading horror books.
Heather Connery
Started: 2022
Degree: Ph.D. Candidate
Advisor: Scott Levick
Research: The cardioprotective role of the histamine-3 receptor in adverse remodeling.
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Max Griesgraber
Started: 2019
Degree: Ph.D. Candidate
Advisor: Stan Hileman
Research: I research the importance of hypothalamic neuronal populations and neuropeptides, such as kisspeptin, in the generation of the luteinizing hormone surge. Other research topics include puberty onset and the integration of metabolic status into the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
Other Interests: Outside of the lab I enjoy listening to and playing music as well as hiking and trying new craft beers.
Subhakhi Pal
Started: 2023
Degree: Ph.D. Candidate
Advisor: Venky Sundararajan
Teresa Gluth
Started: 2023
Degree: Ph.D. Candidate
Advisor: Lizzie Bowdridge
Research: My research involves investigating the protective role of Febuxostat, a Xanthine oxidase inhibitor, in improving poor reproductive and generational health outcomes caused by gestational exposure to occupational levels of aerosolized nano titanium dioxide (TiO2).
Other Interests: Outside of lab, I enjoy hiking/camping, weight lifting, crocheting or cross stitching, and playing a little video games