2019

Imani Robinson, BS, SFSU

Genentech Foundation Scholar

Currently MS Candidate at SFSU, Márquez-Magaña lab (2020)

​

Jennifer Kim, MS, SFSU

Thesis: DNA methylation as a candidate mechanism of nociceptive sensitization in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Currently PhD Candidate at UBC (2019)

​

Rebecca Melton, MS, SFSU

NIH RISE Scholar

Thesis: De novo transcriptome assembly from neural tissue of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta after injury-induced sensitization

Currently PhD Candidate at UCSD (2019)

​

Rima Singh, MS, SFSU

Thesis: Immune response to tissue damage in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Currently Research Associate II at Atreca (2019)

Pending: PhD Candidate at UC Irvine (2020)

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Andrew Mahoney, MS, SFSU

NIH RISE Scholar

Thesis: Developmental checkpoint identified during the last larval instar triggers developmental delays in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

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JC Herrera, BS, SFSU

Project: Allometry changes associated with tissue damage in M. sexta

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Sergio Ramirez, BS, SFSU

NIH MARC Scholar

Project: The role of protein synthesis in sensitization in M. sexta

Currently MS Candidate at SFSU/UCSF, Wendell Lim lab (2019; NIH RISE Scholar)

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2018

Manuel Rosero, MS, SFSU

NIH Bridge to PhD & Genentech Dissertation Scholar

Thesis: Juvenile Hormone is uncoupled from critical weight after imaginal disc damage in the holometabolous insect, Manduca sexta - PUBLICATION

Currently PhD Candidate at U Washington (2018)

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Alicia Rice, MS, SFSU

NIH RISE Scholar

Thesis: The role of the insect peptide, Pyrokinin, and opioids in modulating sensitization in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Currently PhD Candidate at U Washington (2018)

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Janna Basahr, MS, SFSU

Thesis: Assessing systemic developmental responses to imaginal disc cell damage in
the hornworm, Manduca sexta - PUBLICATION

Currently PhD Candidate at UW-Madison (2018)

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Brenda Cisneros, MS, SFSU

NIH RISE Scholar

Thesis: The effects of imaginal disc damage on developmental delays and hemocyte populations
in the hornworm, Manduca sexta - PUBLICATION

Currently PhD Candidate at U Michigan (2017)

 

Erica Mai, MS, SFSU

NIH RISE Scholar

Thesis: The role of PTTH and ecdysteroids in the developmental delays associated with imaginal disc damage in Manduca sexta

Currently Clinical Lab Assistant at Zuckerberg SF General Hospital (2018)

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Kevin Lopez, BS, SFSU

Project: Phenotypic changes after repair from x-ray induced tissue damage in M. sexta

Currently Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator at UCSF (2020)

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Maribel Juarez, BS, SFSU

Project: Phenotypic changes after repair from x-ray induced tissue damage in M. sexta

Currently Medical Scribe at ScribeAmerica (2018)

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2017

Ben Abdon, BS, SFSU

Lab technician

Project: Developmental changes associated with imaginal disc damage in the insect, Manduca sexta - PUBLICATION

Currently PhD Candidate at U Michigan (2017)

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Rachel Bhaskar, MS, SFSU

Thesis: Immune Responses During Tissue Regeneration of Imaginal Discs in Manduca sexta

Currently Research Associate at Kite Pharma (2018)

​

Ryan Marder, MS, SFSU

Thesis: Manduca sexta as a Model Host for Gut Microbiome and Invasion Studies

​

​

Shreen Ghaleb, BS, SFSU

Project: Immune Responses During Tissue Regeneration of Imaginal Discs in M. sexta

Currently CEO and Founder of Collabful (2019)

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Jhony Zavaleta, BS, SFSU

Project: Body allometry after irradiation in M. sexta - PUBLICATION

Currently MS Candidate at SFSU, Rohlfs Lab (2019; NIH RISE Scholar, 2020; Genentech Foundation Scholar)

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Andrew Mahoney, BS, SFSU

Project: Body allometry after irradiation in M. sexta

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Phil Kanarsh, BS, SFSU

Project: Imaginal disc transplant methods in Manduca sexta

Currently Behavioral Technician at Autism Learning Partners (2018)

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2016

Dennis Tabuena, MS, SFSU

Thesis: A novel model for sensitization of nociception in the caterpillar, Manduca sexta - PUBLICATION1 / PUBLICATION2

Currently PhD Candidate at U of Washington (2016)

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Kimmie Fung, BS, SFSU

Project: Purge response in the hornworm, Manduca sexta

​

Nick Farr, BS, SFSU

Project: Critical weight determination in the hornworm, Manduca sexta

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Ken Geraldi, BS, SFSU

Project: Response to capsaicin in the hornworm, Manduca sexta - PUBLICATION

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2015

Mitchell Lopez, MS, SFSU; PhD, UCSF

Thesis: Establishment and characterization of tissue specific response to irradiation damage in Manduca sexta

Currently in Biotech (2019)

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Michael Lindht, BS, SFSU

Student Helper​

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Allan Solis, BS, SFSU

Project: Electrophysiological characterization of nociception in an insect - PUBLICATION

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Michael Lee, BS, SFSU

Project: Developmental responses to imaginal disc ablation after injury

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Cody Burns, BS, SFSU

Project: Role of protein synthesis in nociceptive sensitization

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2014

Tiffany Hong, MS, SFSU

Thesis: Characterizing prothoracicotropic hormone response to X-ray tissue damage in Manduca sexta larvae

Currently PhD Candidate at UC Davis (2015)

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F Eric Arreola-Hernandez, BS, SFSU

Project: The role of cGMP in nociceptive sensitization in the hornworm, Manduca sexta - PUBLICATION

Currently PhD Candidate at UC Davis (2014)

​

Tyler Deniston, BS, SFSU

Project: Long-term pain responses in an insect

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Tigran Makunts, BS, SFSU; PharmD, UCSD

Project: Apoptosis after x-ray tissue damage in an insect - PUBLICATION

Currently Clinical Pharmacology and Machine Learning Flow at the FDA (2020)

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2013

Tracy Wadsworth, MS, SFSU; MD, American University of the Carribean

Thesis: Characterizing ecdysis behaviors, neuromodulation, and circadian rhythmicity in the stick insect, Carasius morosus - PUBLICATION

Currently Pathology Resident Physician, U. Illinois at Chicago (2018)

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Louie Ramos, BS, SFSU

Project: Identifying a Developmental Delay Inducing Factor in the Tobacco Hornworm, Manduca sexta - PUBLICATION

Currently RA at UCSF (2017)

​

Marie Stitt, BS, SFSU

Project: The role of insulin in delaying development in insects

Currently Quality Control Supervisor at BioMarin Pharmaceutical (2019)

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2012

David Canio, MS, SFSU

Thesis: Investigating the effects of brain removal on the behavior of ecdysis in Manduca sexta

Currently CA Regional Manager at IntraNerve Neuroscience (2019)

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Nicholas Silva, MS, SFSU; PhD, U. Michigan

Thesis: Systemic irradiation delays development by altering prothoracicotropic hormonal profiles to repair damaged tissue in the hornworm, Manduca sexta - PUBLICATION

Currently IRACDA fellow at UCSF (2019)

 

Roth Ea, MS, SFSU; Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, Rosalind Franklin U. of Medicine and Science

Thesis: The role of modulators in the regulation of ecdysis in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Currently Resident Physician, Franciscan Health (2017)

​

Ariel Aveo, BS, SFSU

Thesis: ETH activity during the intermolt period in Manduca sexta

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Vyron Tayag, BS, SFSU

Project: The role of the brain in ecdysis regulation in Manduca sexta

Currently Neurophysiologist at Elite Neurophysiology (2017)

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Cheikh Njie, BS, SFSU

Project: Apoptosis after tissue damage in Manduca sexta

​

2011

Cleopa Omondi, MS, SFSU

Thesis: Characterizing the systemic responses to tissue damage in Manduca sexta

Currently MPH Student (2012)

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Marissa Zubia McMackin, MS, SFSU; PhD, UC Davis

Thesis: Thresholds of nociceptive sensitivity in Manduca sexta - PUBLICATION

Currently Adjunct Lecturer at  at CSU San Marcos (2017)

 

Omid (Sayed) Miry, BS, SFSU; PhD, New York Medical College

Project: Determining hemocyte population changes after x-rays

Currently Postdoctoral fellow at Stanford (2017)

​

Louie Ramos, BS, SFSU

Project: Developmental delays after x-ray damage in Manduca sexta

​

Jared Geibig, BS, SFSU; MD Tufts University

Project: Regulation of cGMP levels during ecdysis in Manduca sexta

​

Pablo Salinas, BS, SFSU

Project: Localization of peptides in the stick insect CNS

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2010

Laura Mendoza, MS, SFSU

Thesis: Determining the neurotransmitter that inhibits the CNS during ecdysis in the hornworm

Currently Elementary School Teacher (2012)

​

Andrew Carriman, MS, SFSU

Thesis: Characterizing ecdysis behaviors in the stick insect, Carausius morosus - PUBLICATION

​

Sabrina Bera, MS, SFSU

Thesis: Activation of the ecdysis neural network by the brain in Manduca sexta

Currently MD Intern in Washington DC (2017)

​

Tyson Buis, BS, SFSU

Project: Electrophysiology of ecdysis motor programs in Manduca sexta

Currently Nurse Practitioner at Workit Health (2019)

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2009

Emily Merchasin, MS, SFSU

Thesis: Characterization of nociceptive sensitization in larval Manduca sexta

Currently in Biotech (2013)

​

Kenichi Iwasaki, BS, SFSU; PhD, U. Michigan

Project: Pain responses in late larval Manduca sexta

Currently Postdoctoral fellow at U. Michigan (2015)

​

Clelia Tommi, BS, SFSU

Project: Circadian rhythms in stick insects

​

2008

Arianna Tamvacakis, MS, SFSU

Thesis: Ecdysis Triggering Hormone is active in intermolt tobacco hornworm

Currently Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Arkansas (2019)

​

Allison Dias, BS, SFSU

Project: Measuring blood sugar levels in an insect

Currently in Biotech (2016)

​

Rocio Diaz, BS, SFSU

Project: LK-like immunohistochemistry in Manduca sexta

​

Ron Omino, BS, SFSU

Project: DH-like immunohistochemstry in Manduca sexta

​

2007

Hani El Shawa, MS, SFSU

Thesis: The actions of Ecdysis Triggering Hormone on the ventral nerve cord during ecdysis in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Currently CEO of Alpha Genomix Labs (2016)

​

Arthur Salmon, MS, SFSU

Thesis: Ecdysis Triggering Hormone & synthetic analogs: Electrophysiological analysis of fictive ecdysis behaviors in the larval hornworm CNS

Currently OPS Manager at Neuralink (2018)

​

Anna Drexler, MS, SFSU

Thesis: Molecular characterization and cell-specific expression of an ion transport peptide in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Currently WHO Scientist in Geneva (2014)

​

Ian Kimball, MS, SFSU

Thesis: Electromyographic analysis of ecdysis in the hornworm Manduca sexta

Currently PhD Candidate in UC Davis (2013)

​

Myra Grace dela Pena, BS, SFSU

Project: Distribution of CHH peptides in Manduca sexta

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Alba Gutierrez, BS, SFSU

Project: Circadia rhythms in stick insects

​

2005

Christina Harris, MS, SFSU

Thesis: Distribution of CHH in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Postdoc at Tulane (2016)

​

2003

Claudia Avala, MS, SFSU

Thesis: The effect of artificially prolonging ecdysis in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, on cGMP

​

2002

Marilyn Asuncion-Uchi, MS, SFSU

Thesis: Regulation of ecdysis in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Currently in Quality Control at Kaiser (2010)

​