Student News

2019 Graduate Student Leaders

We would like to say a big thank you to our graduate student leaders for 2019 and those serving on the GECO committee. Also a big shout out to our student who co-founded the Shadow A Scientist in 2018.

Congratulations to Wolfgang Bergmeier our new DGS beginning January 1 2020

Wolfgang Bergmeier has been serving the department with Dale Ramsden as the co-director of the Graduate Studies program for the past 6 months. Dr. Bergmeier will become the Director of Graduate Studies beginning January 1, 2020.

Hanna Trzeciakiewicz selected to receive Horizon Award for 2020

Graduate students, recent graduate alumni within numerous programs earn honors for research benefiting North Carolina.

2019 Student Defenses

Congratulations on this years’ graduate students who defended their theses and earned their Ph.D.’s.

New Cryo Electron Microscopy (Cryo EM) Core website

Cryo Electron Microscopy (Cryo EM) Core launches website.

UNC Chromatin and Epigenetics Program launched

The UNC Graduate School as announced a certificate program in Chromatin and Epigenetics available to all students working on their PhD. This effort was spearheaded by Brian Strahl, PhD, professor and vice chair in the UNC Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.

October 2019 Boo!

Welcome to the October 2019 edition of “On the Record with LP.” October was full of fun, especially with the department Halloween party.  Carolyn Clabo is working hard with our IT department on a newsletter and on a new and improved website, so “On the record” will go “off the record” temporarily until the New Year.

From cleaning beakers to doing cutting-edge research

Sophomore Amiee Littlejohn got more than she bargained for when she took a job cleaning beakers in a lab at Carolina. Now she’s pursuing a career in cancer research.

Frank Teets receives his PhD

On November 1, 2019, Frank Teets (Hahn and Kuhlman labs) successfully defended his thesis.

Congratulations 2019 Retreat Presentation Winners

Announcing our presentation award winners from our 2019 research retreat.

Graduate students record Science Seminar Preview podcasts for Biochemistry 701

Podcasts are becoming more and more important for science communication. Please listen to our students’ projects.

September 2019 Highlights

The third edition of “On the Record with LP.”

Stephan Kudlacek awarded F31

Stephan Kudlacek, a graduate student in Brian Kuhlman’s Lab was awarded an F31 on Sept. 1st, 2019.

Membership still open for Fall 2019 BCBP Synergy Meet-ups

To participate in BCBP Synergy, please contact the organizers, Adam Luthman (aluthman@email.unc.edu) and Beverly Errede (errede@email.unc.edu), to get started.

August 2019 Welcome to the New Semester

The second edition of “On the Record with LP.”

BBSP Graduate Student Rotations available

Welcome new incoming BBSP Students. Rotation projects are available in cardiovascular disease and cancer to 1) translate lipid inhibitors of platelet aggregation into therapeutics to prevent thrombotic events and 2) use targeted and systems biology approaches to explore CIB1 in cancer cell and endothelial cell biology.

Why Join Biochemistry and Biophysics Graduate Program?

July 2019 Launch of Chair’s Blog “On the Record with LP”

My new blog will go beyond the news stories on our website to capture more of the many wonderful accomplishments of our members.

Incoming BBSP Students can sign up for Bioc 706

Biochemistry of Human Disease: Learn contemporary biochemical principles, cutting edge approaches, literature analysis, and current and future treatments of human disease.

Incoming BBSP Students invited to sign up for Bioc 701

Critial Analysis & Communication in Biochemistry: Develop a range of communication skills including science podcasting, oral presentations, and roundtable deliberation coupled with in-depth analysis of seminar speaker research over a free lunch.

BCBP Synergy Launched!

To facilitate meetups and networking between members of BCBP, we launched BCBP Synergy.

Justin Rectenwald Awarded the 11th Annual “Diane Harris Leadership Award”

Congratulations to Justin Rectenwald a graduate student in Biochemistry and Biophysics, who was awarded the Diane Harris Leadership Award for exemplary public service.

UNC Lineberger’s research symposium draws more than 500 attendees

Can scientists wake up sleeping tumor suppressor molecules in cancer cells? What are the genetic features of cancer cells that contribute to some forms of prostate cancer developing resistance to multiple lines of treatment? Those were some of the topics covered at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center’s 43rd Annual Scientific Symposium at the William & Ida Friday Center … Continued

UNC Lineberger to hold 43rd annual scientific symposium April 29-30

The University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center’s 43rd annual Scientific Symposium will feature talks by scientists from UNC Lineberger and from around the country, including three recipients of the prestigious Lasker Award, on the topic of dysregulated signaling in cancer. The symposium, which will be held April 29-30 at the William and Ida Friday Center for … Continued

Researchers discover potential attack strategy for aggressive breast cancer

UNC researchers including Leslie Parise, PhD and doctoral student Alex Chung have designed a novel way to attack an aggressive breast cancer. By working with a drug development company, they hope their laboratory discovery will translate to a new treatment combination in the clinic in the future.

Graduate Student Pedro N. Pozo Publishes in Molecular Biology of the Cell and receives his PhD

Pedro N. Pozo, graduate student in Cook lab publishes his first-authored paper in MBoC and he receives his PhD.

UNC Undergraduate Research Week November 5 – 9

Sierra Archibald in Aziz Sancar lab works along side of senior researchers whose work focuses on DNA damage repair, cell cycle checkpoints, circadian clock.

Student Defenses for 2018

Graduate students: AMY BYRNES, LIOR VERED, SHARON GUFFY, and PEDRO N. POZO gave their defenses this year.

Congratulations to Aspen Gutgsell who was awarded a Predoctoral Fellowship by the AHA and winner of best poster at the Southeast Lipid Research Conference!

Aspen was awarded a Predoctoral Fellowship by AHA, and the best graduate student poster at the Southeast Lipid Research Conference in Nashville, TN on November 2, 2018, as well as the best poster at our departmental research retreat in October 2018.

Juanita Limas on planning committee for 4th Annual Diversity in STEM conference

One of the key strengths of our program is the ability for graduate students to become an integral part of planning committees such as the Diversity in STEM and coordinating other scientific events on campus.

Courtney Vaughn awarded the Scott Neil Schwirck fellowship

Courtney Vaughn, MD-PhD student in the lab of Aziz Sancar, MD, PhD, was awarded the Scott Neil Schwirck fellowship.

Pumpkin Carving Madness

Taking a short break from research and books Pumpkin Carving with graduate students.

Alex Chung Makes it to Three Minute Thesis finals

Well wishers came to cheer on the finalists of the UNC Graduate School’s Three Minute Thesis competition in Bondurant Hall G100 Tuesday October 30. Of the ten finalists, three are are from UNC School of Medicine departments: Alex Chung in the Parise lab, and Susanna Harris and Bhawana Shrestha in microbiology and immunology. The Three Minute … Continued

Graduate students record Science Seminar Preview podcasts

Fall 2018, second year graduate students: Cari Koerner (Neher Lab), Adam Luthman (Ramsden Lab), Nick Martinez (Campbell Lab), and Keean Braceros (Calabrese Lab) learned valuable science communication skills from Biochemistry 701.  This course helps students gain proficiency in evaluating limitations and alternative approaches in the literature, receive exposure to experimental methods, and practice communicating science … Continued

Limas named 2018-19 Gilliam Fellow by HHMI

Juanita Limas will receive $50,000 to support her biomedical research in the Cook lab.

Putting the Brakes on CRISPR by Nicholas Martinez

UNC Graduate student, Nicholas Martinez, contributor to The Pipettepen

Graduate Student Ben S. Roberts first authored paper in The EMBO Journal

Ben’s paper explores the role of LMF1 in redox homeostasis.

Maness lab news and updates

Vishwa Mohan and Sarah Wade published a new paper in Cerebral Cortex, 2018, 1-15, “Temporal Regulation of Dendritic Spines Through NrCAM-Semaphorin3F Receptor  Signaling in Developing Cortical Pyramidal Neurons.” Vishwa Mohan, Chelsea S. Sullivan, Jiami Guo, Sarah D. Wade, Samarpan Majumder, Amit Agarwal, Eva S. Anton, Brenda S. Temple, and Patricia F. Maness. A new paper … Continued

Large Aggregates of ALS-causing Protein Might Actually Help Brain Cells

UNC School of Medicine scientists led by Nikolay Dokholyan, Michael Hooker Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, add to evidence that small aggregates of SOD1 protein are the brain-cell killing culprits in ALS, but the formation of larger, more visible, and fibril-like aggregates of the same protein may protect brain cells.

UNC Scientists Discover Proteins Keeping Stem Cells in their Undifferentiated State

The lab of Jean Cook, PhD, in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, found how a chain of proteins called an MCM complex could enable the fast cell-division that makes some forms of cancer so dangerous. The study first author Jacob Matson, a PhD candidate in the Cook lab performed most of the experiments.

Graduate student Tom Lane receives his PhD

Tom Lane under the direction of Dr. Kevin Slep, successfully defended his dissertation on November 3, 2017 and received his PhD!

Halloween 2017 – special thanks to…

Thanks to students Hanna Trzeciakiewicz (Cohen Lab) and Aaztli Coria (Laederach Lab) and office staff Jamie DeSoto, Lynn Ray, and Susan Sarvis for organizing a fun Halloween party. Prizes for best individual costume went to Dr. Edward Moreira Bahnson with the white skeleton face and bow tie. Best group costume went to the Parise Lab with the mice costumes. Winner of the Pumpkin weight contest went to Bobby Lee (Bergmeier Lab). Actual weight was 33 pounds. Winner of the Candy Corn Count went to Aleksandra Skrajna (McGinty Lab). Actual count was 1340 candy corns.

Grad Student Cassandra Hayne receives her PhD!

Hayne successfully defended her dissertation and received her PhD on August 31, 2017.

Congratulations 2017 Presentation Winners

Congratulations to Cassandra Hayne, Jacob Matson, and Mahmud Hussain, PhD 2017 Research Retreat Talk and Poster winners!

Grad student Mahmoud Shobair receives his PhD

Mahmoud successfully defended his dissertation and received his PhD on April 20, 2017.

Grad student Bradley Falk receives his PhD

Bradley successfully defended his dissertation and received his PhD on April 17, 2017.

Grad student Benfeard Williams receives his PhD

Benfeard successfully defended his dissertation and received his PhD on March 24, 2017.

Two biochemistry and biophysics grad students awarded NSF Fellowships

Congratulations to Candice Crilly and Hanna Trzeciakiewicz for receiving Predoctoral Fellowships from the National Science Foundation!

Grad student Seth Zimmerman receives his PhD

Seth successfully defended his dissertation and received his PhD on March 17, 2017.

UNC research helps answer why genetic mutation leads to decreased triglycerides in blood

Cassandra Hayne, working with Saskia Neher, PhD, found that a specific mutated version of a lipoprotein binds more effectively to liver cells, thus explaining decreased levels of triglycerides in blood.

Grad student Alka Das receives her PhD

Alka successfully defended his dissertation and received her PhD on April 7, 2016.

Grad student S. Niranj Chandrasekaran receives his PhD

Niranj successfully defended his dissertation and received his PhD on March 11, 2016.

Grad student Onur Dagliyan receives his PhD

Onur successfully defended his dissertation and received his PhD on March 4, 2016.

Grad student Mahmoud Shobair has a paper of the week in JBC

Congratulations to Mahmoud, a graduate student in the lab of Nikolay Dokholyan! His paper was selected as the paper of the week in the February 19, 2016 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Grad student Andrew Monteith receives a 2016 GEAB Impact Award

Sponsored by UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School’s Graduate Education Advancement Board, the Impact Awards recognize graduate students whose research provides special benefits to the citizens of North Carolina. Congrats to Andrew!

Grad student Andrew Monteith receives his PhD

Andrew successfully defended his dissertation and received his PhD on November 20, 2015.

Deepak Jha receives a 2013 Lineberger Fellow award

Congratulations to Deepak Jha, former graduate student in the Brian Strahl lab, who received a 2013 Lineberger Predoctoral Fellow Award in the Basic Sciences.

Potential drug target identified for aggressive breast cancer type

In a new pre-clinical study published today in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, researchers from the Parise lab show they can exploit cancer’s reliance on a particular protein to help fight triple negative breast cancer. They believe the protein could be a potential new drug target.

Mrinalini Ramanan awarded an NIH fellowship

Congratulations to Mrinalini (Minu) for receiving a Predoctoral Fellowship from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of NIH.

Caring about lab safety

Researchers from the Parise lab participate in a campus-wide campaign that brings to attention the importance of lab safety.

Welcome reception for our 2014 entering class

The Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics holds a reception on August 11th to welcome in our new graduate students.

Grad Student Stephani Page receives Diane Harris award

Congratulations to Stephani Page who received the 2014 Diane Harris Leadership Award for her exemplary public service as doctoral student in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.

Meet the new student representatives for 2014-2015

Amy Howard (biophysics student) has joined Cassandra Hayne (biochemistry student) as the new student representative for the department.

Grad Student Jon Leano receives his PhD

Jon successfully defended his dissertation and received his PhD on July 1, 2014.

Grad Student Ivan Sabath receives his PhD

Ivan successfully defended his dissertation and received his PhD on June 23, 2014.

Meet our 2014 entering students!

Learn more about our new entering class of students and help us welcome them to the department.

Grad student Karen Plevock secures funds from ASCB and NCBC

Congratulations to Karen Plevock, graduate student from Biochemistry and Biophysics, who partnered with Rebecca Adikes, Vincent Boudreau, and Carlos Patiño-Descovich (Biology Department UNC), and Kaelyn Sumigray (post-doctoral fellow in Cell Biology at Duke) for securing funding for the organization of The Triangle Cytoskeleton meeting.

Grad Student Cassandra Hayne receives a Merchant Scholarship Award

Congratulations to Cassandra Hayne who received a Merchant Scholarship Award from her alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa.

Grad Student Justin Black named as a Graduate School Leadership Development Scholar

Congratulations to Justin Black who was named as a Graduate School Leadership Development Scholar by the UNC Graduate School.

Grad Student Yunus Annayev receives his PhD!

Yunus successfully defended his dissertation and received his PhD on April 17th, 2014

Grad Student Adam Roberts receives his PhD!

Adam successfully defended his dissertation and received his PhD on March 31, 2014.

Grad Student Jamie Campbell receives her PhD!

Jamie successfully defended her dissertation and received her PhD on March 27, 2014.

Grad Student Gauri Dixit receives her PhD!

Gauri successfully defended her dissertation and received her PhD on March 5, 2014.

Grad Student Elizabeth Proctor receives 2014 Dean’s Distinguished Dissertation Award

Elizabeth’s research at UNC utilized computational and experimental methods to explore the mechanism of protein aggregation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Grad Student Daul Cole receives his PhD!

Daud successfully defended his dissertation and received his PhD on December 3, 2013.

Grad Student Rachel Redler receives her PhD!

Rachel successfully defended her dissertation and received her PhD on December 6, 2013.

Grad Student Beezly Groh receives her PhD!

Beezly successfully defended her dissertation and received her PhD on November 8, 2013.

Grad Students 2013 Retreat Winners

Congratulations to Peter Thompson, Harsha Gunawarden, Seth Zimmerman, Tim Jacobs and Marino Convertino.

Grad Student Aaron Hobbs receives his PhD!

Aaron successfully defended his thesis and received his PhD on October 25, 2013.

Grad Student Rachel Creager-Allen receives her PhD!

Rachel successfully defended her thesis and received her PhD on October 1, 2013.

Meet our new department grad student reps for 2013-2014

Karen Plevock and Cassandra Hayne are the new Biochemistry and Biophysics student representatives for the term 2013-2014.

Grad Student Jonny Leano featured in a student profile by UNC BBSP

Meet Jonny Leano and learn more about his background, research, and accomplishments .

When science becomes personal: a role for personal life in advocacy

Learn more about Stephani Page, Biochemistry and Biophysics graduate student, via Nature blog’s Soapbox Science as she speaks out about her experiences and the importance of science advocacy.

Grad Students Jamie Campbell and Keith Miller receive the 2013 Diane Harris Leadership Award

Jamie Campbell and Keith Miller have both been awarded the 2013 Diane Harris Leadership Award for their exemplary public service as doctoral students in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.

Grad Student Justin Black awarded an AHA Predoctoral Fellowship

Congratulations to Justin Black, graduate student of Biochemistry and Biophysics, who was awarded a Predoctoral Fellowship by the American Heart Association!

Grad Student Jaime Campbell receives 2013 Dissertation Completion Award

Congratulations to Jaime Campbell, a graduate student of Biochemistry & Biophysics, for receiving the 2013 Dissertation Completion Award.

Grad Student Mahmoud Shobair receives 2016 Dissertation Completion Award

Congratulations to Mahmoud Shobair, a graduate student of Biochemistry & Biophysics, for receiving the 2016 Dissertation Completion Award.

Two biochemistry and biophysics grad students awarded NSF Fellowships

Congratulations to Cassandra Hayne and Rebecca Pollet for receiving Predoctoral Fellowships from the National Science Foundation!

Grad Student Eliza Peterson receives a 2013 GEAB Impact Award

“Eliza’s novel inhibitors will have a significant impact on the long-term efficacy of different antibiotics,” said advisor Scott Singleton, PhD. Congratulations to Eliza on her achievement!

Grad Student Stephani Page interviewed by ASBMB

Stephani Page is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As an undergrad, Page chose to attend North Carolina A&T State University, a historically black university, to study Chemical Engineering. That experience was a great influence over her personal and professional growth. Page loves her research and works hard to make herself and her family proud each and every day.

Grad Student Onur Dagliyan and Alakananda Das awarded HHMI International Research Fellowships

Congratulations to Onur Dagliyan and Alka Das, graduate students of Biochemistry & Biophysics who are recipients of 2012 HHMI International Student Research Fellowships.

Grad Students Edwards and Pollom receive the 2012 Diane Harris Leadership Award

Jonathan Edwards and Elizabeth Pollom have both been awarded the 2012 Diane Harris Leadership Award for their exemplary public service as doctoral students in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.

Grad Student Jon Edwards featured in “Issues & Perspectives” of Science

Making Translational Research Tangible – At the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (UNC), students are being encouraged to think like they’re in charge — and then to take charge. Some of these enterprising students are making the transition from trainee to entrepreneur as they complete their doctoral degree.

Grad Student Jin Hyup Lee receives a 2011 GEAB Impact Award

“I believe Jin has a great future in cancer biology and his research is likely to have an immediate impact on the health and welfare of the people of North Carolina,” said Aziz Sancar, M.D., Ph.D., Lee’s dissertation adviser. Jin is currently a graduate student in the Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics.

Grad Student Anh Nguyen receives a 2011 Diane Harris Leadership Award

Anh Nguyen, PhD Anh Nguyen has been awarded the 20101 Diane Harris Leadership Award for her exemplary public service as a doctoral student in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics. Anh is a recent graduate was presented with her plaque and award check during the 3rd Annual Graduate Student Recognition Awards event. The department elected … Continued

Grad Students Andrew Hemmert and Charles Davis awarded the 2010 Diane Harris Leadership Award

Congratulations to Andrew Hemmert and Charles Davis for being dual recipients of the 2010 Diane Harris Leadership Award.

UNC graduate students winners at 2010 Global Venture Challenge

Ben Hill, Andy Hemmert, and Jon Edwards (click on picture to view larger) Andy Hemmert, Jon Edwards, and Ben Hill comprised the team of UNC graduate students who competed and won third place and a $5,000 cash prize to be split amongst them at the 4th Annual Global Venture Challenge hosted by Oak Ridge National … Continued

Grad Student Andrew Hemmert receives 2010 GEAB Impact Award

Congratulations to Andrew Hemmert, doctoral student of Biochemistry & Biophysics whose research was recognized by the Graduate Education Advancement Board (GEAB) at UNC-CH.

Grad Student Erin Heenan receives the 2009 Diane Harris Leadership Award

Congratulations to Erin Heenan, graduate student of Biochemistry & Biophysics for receiving the second annual Diane Harris Leadership award.

Grad Student Scott Lujan Awarded the First Annual “Diane Harris Leadership Award”

Congratulations to Scott Lujan, recently graduated doctoral student in Biochemistry and Biophysics, who was awarded the Diane Harris Leadership Award.

Grad Student Thomas Mullen receives 2008 Dean’s Distinguished Dissertation Award

Congratulations to Thomas Mullen, a graduate student of Biochemistry & Biophysics, for receiving the 2008 Dean’s Distinguished Dissertation Award in the area of Biological and Life Sciences.