Stony Brook University Bridge to the Doctorate Alumni

Vincent Alford
Student in the Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology Doctoral Program

Vinnie is originally from Coral Springs, FL. He obtained his bachelor degree in Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida. As an undergraduate student, he worked on a research projects examining pKr, an RNA-dependent protein kinase, and how the microflora content of the GI tract modulates Type I Diabetes outcome and severity. Vinnie currently works with Dr. Jian Cao. His current research seeks to investigate genes and signaling pathways involved in maintaining  cancer stem cell pluripotency as this phenotype is associated with chemoresistance. Outside of his student life, some of his hobbies include swimming and herpetology. He also takes part in many volunteer activities pertaining to the American Cancer Society.

 

Patricia Enmore
Student in the Neuroscience Doctoral Program

Patricia is worked with Dr. Craig Evinger. Her doctoral research focused on the role of the cerebellum in controlling gain changes in blink circuit and how the basal ganglia regulate these changes. Besides research, her hobbies include listening to music, cooking, and reading. During her time at Stony Brook University, Patricia did a great deal of outreach to groups historically underrepresented in science fields. Patricia successfully defended her dissertation, titled "Neuronal Activation with Gain Modification in the Trigeminal Blink Circuit" on November 29, 2016.

 

Coreyn Goddard, M.S.
Graduate of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Master's Program

Coreyn studied Geology, with a minor in Mathematics, at the City University of New York, York College and was awarded the LSAMP scholarship during her time there. Her research at York College involved arsenic contamination in sea water, ground water, and sediments. Coreyn has presented her research at various conferences and has won several awards. During her time as a graduate student at Stony Brook, Coreyn was advised by Dr. Henry Bokuniewicz (School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences) and Dr. Gilbert N. Hanson (Department of Geosciences). Coreyn received her master's degree in Geosciences in May, 2016. She currently works as a Project Administrator at Metro Environmental Services where she supports the management and administration of the groundwater sampling / remediation system operations and monitoring program.

Moises Guardado, M.S.
Graduate of the Biochemistry and Cell Biology Master's Program
Current: Student in the Genetics Doctoral Program

Moises received his B.S. in Biochemistry from Stony Brook University. As a master's student, he worked with Drs, Paul Bingham and Zuzana Zachar, conducting research that focuses on cancer chemotherapy. His project involved working with Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals to test a drug that was developed in the Bingham/Zachar Lab. The drug is a lipoate analog derivative that hijacks the metabolism in cancer cells, effectively killing them without affecting noncancerous cells. Moises received his Master's in Biochemistry and Cell Biology in the Summer of 2014 and was admitted into the Genetics Doctoral Program in the Fall of 2014, where he continues to work with Drs. Bingham and Zachar.

Adairé T. Heady, M.S.
Graduate of the Geosciences Master's Program

Adairé T. Heady is a native Delawarean.  She received her B.S. in Physics/Engineering Emphasis from Delaware State University.  Her interactions in undergraduate research internships, specifically at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), motivated her to join Stony Brook University’s Geosciences Master's program. During her time at Stony Brook, she worked on designs for an internal resistively heated diamond anvil cell for diffraction studies at simultaneous high pressure and temperature, which will be utilized at synchrotron radiation facilities such as the National Synchrotron Light Source II at BNL and PETRA III at Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron. Adairé received her Master's in Geosciences in the Summer of 2014.

Stephan E. Jean
Alumnus of the Mechanical Engineering Master's Program

Stephan is originally from Brooklyn, NY. He obtained his Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering at Stony Brook University in May 2013.  He also has an Associate in Science in Physics from Kingsborough Community College. Stephan has conducted research for the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP) on Digital Hydraulics Designs and Microcontrollers, and for the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering of Purdue University on Design of High-Speed High Flow Valve Enabled by Kinetic Energy. 

 

I. Nii Mensah
Student in the Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology Doctoral Program

Nii is originally from Poughkeepsie, NY. He studied Neuroscience, Nutrition, and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania. His undergraduate research focused on circadian rhythms and olfactory deficits in the elderly. After completing his undergraduate studies, he worked as a research coordinator at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, focusing on epigenetic modifications and neuropharmacology in drug addiction. Nii currently works in the laboratory of Dr. Isaac Carrico, where he examines the molecular biology of neurodegenerative diseases to develop therapeutic interventions. His interests outside of science include photography, modeling, snowboarding, and electronic music festivals.

Daphne Meza
Student in the Biomedical Engineering Doctoral Program

Daphne Meza is originally from San Pedro Sula, Honduras. She did her undergraduate studies in University of New Orleans, where she obtained a Mechanical Engineering degree. Before coming to Stony Brook, she worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory for the past three summers. Her ultimate goal was to conduct research in Biomedical Engineering, which is what she is currently focusing on at Stony Brook. Daphne is currently by Dr. Wei Yin.

 

 

Camillia Monestime
Student in the Neuroscience Doctoral Program

Camillia Monestime graduated from City University of New York, Brooklyn College with a B.S. in Biology; the research she did as an undergraduate focused on the seasonal hormonal effects, specifically estrogen, on the catecholaminergic pathway of the auditory system in the plainfin midshipman.  She is currently pursuing her Doctoral in Neurobiology and is interested in studying systems and behavior. Camilia's advisor is Dr. Howard Sirotkin.

 

 

Christian Ruiz
Student in the Genetics Doctoral Program

Christian is originally from Pereira, Colombia. He completed his Bachelor of Engineering in Bio-medical Engineering at The City College of New York. He did research in nanotechnology for the department if Bio-medical Engineering at Stony Brook University as a part of an REU internship. Other previous research include characterizing the mechanistic relationship of arsenic contamination and UVB exposure in human skin cells and the designing surgery simulators for Memorial Sloan Kettering. Christian is currently working in Dr. Geoffrey Girnun's lab, where he studies cancer metabolism.

Melissa Sims, M.S.
Graduate of the Geosciences Master's Program
Current: Student in the Geosciences Doctoral Program

Melissa has bachelor’s degrees in Physics from the College of Charleston and Geophysics from the University of South Carolina. She is part of a group that is writing software modules to be collected in a code repository and used for the data acquisition and analysis software package at the X-ray Powder Diffraction (XPD) beamline at NSLS-II. She researches high pressure mineral physics using synchrotron facilities worldwide. Melissa received her Master's in Geosciences in the Spring of 2014 and was admitted into the Geosciences Doctoral Program in the Fall of 2014 where she works with Dr. Lars Ehm.

Steve R. Tsotras, M.S.
Graduate of the Biochemistry and Cell Biology Master's Program
Current: Student in the Genetics Doctoral Program

Steve is local from here on Long Island. He received his B.S. from Cornell University, majoring in Biology with a concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology. Steve is currently in Dr. Benjamin Martin’s lab. The lab focuses on developmental biology, using zebrafish as model organisms. Steve’s current project involves shedding light on the mechanism by which the transcription factor Sox2 represses Wnt-induced signaling in certain embryonic stem cells to ensure their proper differentiation into neural cells rather than a mesodermal fate. Steve is presently applying to a number of doctoral programs, but plans to remain here at Stony Brook to pursue his PhD. Steve was admitted into the Genetics Doctoral Program in the Fall of 2014, where he continues to work in the laboratory of Dr. Martin.

Edward Turner, M.S.
Graduate of the Applied Mathematics and Statistics Master's Program
Current: Student in the Applied Mathematics and Statistics Doctoral Program

Edward is originally from Queens, NY.  He completed this undergraduate work at Stony Brook University, where he was awarded an LSAMP scholarship.  Currently, he is studying how to address mathematical and engineering problems by using computational methods and how these computational methods may be optimized.  His goal is to pursue a Doctoral in Mathematics so that he can study various deterministic and stochastic processes, develop computational methods to analyze these processes, and optimize these methods.  Outside of his studies, his hobbies include working out and playing the guitar. Edward was admitted into the Applied Mathematics and Statistics Doctoral Program in the Fall of 2015.

Jinelle Wint, M.S.
Graduate of the Biochemistry and Cell Biology Master's Program
Current: Student in the Molecular and Cellular Biology Doctoral Program

Jinelle is originally from Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  She received her B.S. in Biology and Studio Art from the University of Miami.  As a master's student, she worked with Dr. J. Peter Gergen conducting research that focuses on gene transcription in Drosophila embryogenesis. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, photography and ceramics. Jinelle was admitted into the Molecular and Cellular Biology Doctoral Program in the Fall of 2014, where she works in the laboratory of Dr. Howard Sirotkin.