Ph.D. Candidates

Michael Cozart, B.A.
Mentor: Fang Zheng, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Degree: Ouachita Baptist University

Research Interests: Determining the functions of canonical transient receptor potential channel 3 (TRPC3) in neurovascular coupling and stroke-induced neural damage. TRPC3 is a cation channel known to regulate intracellular calcium in neurons, astrocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and cerebral endothelial cells – all the principal members of the neurovascular unit. Blockage of TRPC3 has recently been shown to be neuroprotective in a hemorrhagic model of stroke. However, the role of TRPC3 remains unclear as other studies have shown that loss of TRPC3 function is associated with a loss of endothelium-dependent dilation of cerebral arteries, which should in theory lead to an increase in stroke-induced damage. Answering these questions may lead to a pharmacological target for stroke therapy.

Chuck Hay, M.S.
Mentor: Eric Peterson, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Degree: Cornell College; Master Degree: University of Nebraska Medical Center

Research Interests: Autoimmunity, pathogenesis, biologic drug development especially monoclonal antibodies as drugs, and drugs of abuse.

Julia Tobacyk, B.S.
Mentor: Lee Ann MacMillan-Crow, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Degree: Louisiana Tech University

Research Interests: Role of mitochondrial fusion regulators in renal transplant injury.

 

 

Chris Bolden, B.S.
Mentor: Eric Peterson, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Degree: University of Mississippi

Research Interests: Utilizing viral expressed scFvs to reduce Methamphetamine’s neuroinflammatory effects.

 

 

Lascelles Lyn-Cook, M.S.
Co-Mentors: Alison Harrill, Ph.D. and Philip Mayeux, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Degree: University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Masters Degree: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Research Interests: Diversity outbred mice may improve preclinical screening for drug-induced liver injury (DILI).

 

William Hyatt, B.A.
Mentor: William Fantegrossi, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Degree: Hendrix College

Research Interests: Effects of synthetic cathinones 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (α-PVP) on impulsivity and vulnerability to psychostimulant abuse.

 

Stephen Shrum, B.S.

Co-Mentors: Lee Ann MacMillan-Crow, Ph.D. and Nancy Rusch, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Degree: Hendrix College

Research Interests: The role of the mitochondrial BK channel in renal cold storage injury.

 

 

Brittney Garner, B.S.
Mentor: Nancy Rusch, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Degree: East Texas Baptist University

Research Interests: Ion channel remodeling in lymphedema.

 

 

Samantha McClenahan, B.A.
Mentor: Mike Owens,  Ph.D.
Undergraduate Degree: Vassar College

Research Interests: Exploring the effects of toxins and drugs at the whole-animal level.

 

 

Catheryn Wilson, B.S.
Mentors: Bill Fantegrossi, Ph.D. and Paul Prather, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Degree: University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Research Interests: Studying the effects of synthetic cannabinoids using in vivo and in vitro approaches.

 

Lauren Russell, B.S.
Mentor: Bill Fantegrossi, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Degree: Southern Arkansas University

Research Interests: Neuro degeneration

 

 

 

Laura Ewing, M.S.
Mentors: Igor Koturbash, Ph.D. & Annie Lumen, Ph.D. (NCTR)
Undergraduate Degree: University of Oklahoma

Research Interests: Interactions of diet and radiotherapy in improving cancer treatment outcomes.

 

Kyle Urquhart, B.S.
Mentor: Bill Fantegrossi, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Degree: University of Georgia

Research Interests: The effects of drugs of abuse on behavior and the biological mechanisms responsible for producing these effects. He is specifically focusing his training on the behavioral pharmacology of synthetic opiods.

 

Amal Shoeib, M.S.
Mentor: Paul Prather, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Degree: Misr International University (in Egypt)
Research Interests: Development of Cannabinoid receptor biased agonists for potential improvement of the safety and efficacy of therapeutic agents.

 

 

Christian Cabanlong, B.S.
Mentor: Paul Prather, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Degree: University of New Mexico

Research Interests: Signal transduction.

 

 

Pre-Candidate

David Henry, M.P.H.
Mentor: Sung Rhee, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Degree: Davidson College
Masters Degree: Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
Research Interests: The role of adrenergic receptors in leptomeningeal collateral arterial blood flow.