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Brittany Branch
Nanoscience & Microsystems
My advisor is Dr. Dimiter Petsev from Chemical Engineering and my co-advisor is Dr. LeAnna Cunningham
from Neurosciences. Our group has designed and fabricated a microfluidic device that implements electric fields
for a novel method of analyte focusing. We will use this device to preconcentrate stem cells and eventually separate
mitochondria from unwanted cell debris.
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Shayna Brocato
Chemical and Nuclear Engineering
In 2008 I received my Bachelors degree in Biochemistry from the University of New Mexico. I am
currently a graduate student in the Chemical and Nuclear Engineering department persuing a Ph.D. My advisors are
Plamen Atanassov (Chemical and Nuclear Engineering) and Margaret Werner-Washburne (Biology). I am currently researching
the interactions between single-wall carbon nanotubes, DNA, and enzymes for enzymatic biofuel cell or sensor applications.
This research will enable enzymes to be sequentially attached through self assembly along the length of each carbon
nanotube. Using biomimetics, the sequenced enzymes will lead to increased fuel cell or sensor efficiency.
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Carl W. Brown III
Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program
My lab is in the Center for Biomedical Engineering in the new Centennial Engineering Center,
under the direction of Dr. Steven Graves. My co-mentor is Dr. Larry Sklar, director of the New Mexico Center for
Molecular Discovery. My research is directed towards developing physiologically relevant assays of viral protease
activity. My project is specifically geared for Dengue virus, and the assays will be used for drug screening and
for exploring the polyprotein nanostructure. I will also be carrying on our lab's previous work on Botulinum neurotoxin
light chain protease work.
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Patrick Cutler
Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program
I am a PhD student in the Biomedical Sciences program. I am currently working on a project with
my advisor Diane Lidke in cell pathology and my co-advisor Keith Lidke in physics and astronomy. The biological
system that I am interested in involves immunoglobulin E (IgE) and its high affinity receptor (FceRI), which play
a major role in allergies. We are interested in the fundamental processes involved in signal initiation and membrane
receptor dynamics. We use single particle tracking (SPT) of quantum dots conjugated to IgE and other related techniques
to investigate this system. We are also currently developing a line-scanning hyperspectral microscope to further
expand our SPT abilities.
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Antoine Ho
Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program
I graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a B.S. in Genetics. After that, I
entered the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at UNM. I applied to the IGERT fellowship after getting a year
of research under my belt in the Edwards' Lab. My Advisor is Dr. Jeremy Edwards and my Co-Advisor is Dr. Susan
Atlas. I also enjoy long walks in the lab and pipetting by candlelight. I am interested in sequencing technology,
specifically advancing Polony Sequencing. My project has been to utilize a novel biochemistry to optimize a protocol
of Sequencing By Ligation that incorporates enzymatic digestions to extend read lengths. I am also interested in
anything that might advance sequencing technology, including nanolithography or DNA rolonies to increase DNA array
density.
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Andy Maloney
Physics & Astronomy
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Amber McBride
Physics & Astronomy
A Kansas native - I received my BS in Biology from Kansas State University in 2007, and a BA
in Political Science from The University of Kansas (Rock Chalk Jayhawk!) in 2004 - I am ecstatic to be a first
year PhD student in the Nanoscience and Microsystems department at UNM. At K-State, my research involved using
human umbilical cord stem cells as a delivery vehicle to carry PLGA-PEG nanoparticles engineered with a therapeutic
anti-cancer drug. After moving to Albuquerque, I worked in industry optimizing a lung cancer detection assay, and
as a research technician for UNM's Human Tissue Repository. Currently, I'm researching magnetic nanoparticles in
biological systems in the Osinski Laboratory. When not studying, I enjoy living in the mountains and riding my
horses..
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Laura Pawlikowski
Chemical & Nuclear Engineering
My research involves developing a cell-based microfluidic sensor. This is done through plasma
polymerization of a polymer. When the polymer is coated onto a glass surface and sealed with a microfluidic device
cells are grown within the channels. When the cells die, they detach, leaving behind the live cells. This cell
culture is analyzed to detect the toxicity of the sample. My advisor is Dr. Heather Canavan and my co-advisor is
Dr. Maggie Warner-Washburne.
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Jennifer Pelowitz
Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program
After earning B.S. degrees in Biology and Chemistry, I am now a Ph.D. student in UNM’s Nanoscience
and Microsystems program focusing on Nano-Bio interfaces. My advisor is Dr. Jeff Brinker from the Department of
Chemical and Nuclear Engineering at UNM and Sandia National Laboratories. My research involves exploring the state
of cells integrated in silica matrices and determining how we can manipulate those cells. This work could lead
to novel approaches in interrogating cellular processes, biosensors and even vaccines.
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