Virology Alumni Directory

Kristin Agopian, Ph.D., 2006

kristin_agopian@student.hms.harvard.edu

Background: Princeton University, Molecular Biology
Research Experience: 2 yrs at The Scripps Research Institute, in Cell Biology.
Dissertation Research in Dana Gabuzda’s laboratory.
After graduation: I will remain in the Gabuzda lab as a post-doc for a few months.

Michelle Arnold, Ph.D. 2007

mmarnold@gmail.com

Background: B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison (1999).
Research Experience: Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Wisconsin.
After Graduation: I am currently working for Dr. John Patton at the NIH, studying rotavirus subversion of the innate immune response.

Brent A. Appleton, Ph.D., 2004

brentappleton@yahoo.com

Background: B.S. in Biochemistry, UC Davis 1995
After graduation: Started Post Doc at Genentech
Current position:Research Scientist, Novartis Institute for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA. 

David Bartel, Ph.D., 1993

dbartel@wi.mit.edu

After graduation: Started research lab at Whitehead Institute
Current position: Professor of Biology, MIT
Member, Whitehead Institute
Investigator, HHMI

Susan Batson, Ph.D., 1991

susan_batson@yahoo.com

Background: B.S. in Biology from University of Connecticut.

After graduation: Worked as a Postdoc at the University of Iowa for 2 years and at the CNRS in Toulouse France for 3 years. I then moved to London and was a Science Information Officer working in the field of "Public understanding of Science" for 2 years. My daughter was born in London and when my husband, Paul Casaz and I moved back to the US, I elected to stay home with her. My son David was born in Boston.During this period, I taught General Biology and Intro to Anatomy and Physiology, part-time at a local community college.

Current position: Recently I went back to school at the New England School of Acupuncture to earn a Masters in Oriental Medicine and train to become an acupuncturist/herbalist. It is a three year program and I have just completed my first year.

Mark Brockman, Ph.D., 2001

mbrockman1@partners.org

Background: I was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, and earned a BA degree from Beloit College, Wisconsin, in 1995. While an undergrad, I spent one summer doing research in the Animal Virology division at the American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, VA), and two summers working in a human gene therapy research laboratory at Iowa Methodist Medical Center (Des Moines, IA). After college, I joined the Virology Program and completed my PhD research in the laboratory of David M. Knipe, studying the durability of immune responses to HSV and HSV-derived vectors using mouse models.

Current position:  I am currently a post-doctoral fellow with Bruce D. Walker at Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston).  My work focuses on two aspects of HIV infection in humans.  First, it is known that CTL immune pressure induces escape mutations in the HIV genome.  We are quantifying the impact of these sequence changes on viral fitness by introducing mutations into a lab strain of HIV and measuring replication capacity using in vitro assays.  Second, it is known that over the course of chronic HIV infection T cell activity becomes disrupted, however the particular functions necessary for immune control remain unknown.  We are comparing the functional activities and gene expression of T cell populations between a cohort of patients that spontaneously control HIV infection with those that have a more typical disease course in order to identify potential immune correlates that may explain this disparity in clinical outcomes.

Paul Casaz, Ph.D., 1993

paul.casaz@umassmed.edu

Background: Graduated from U. of Wisconsin with BS in Bacteriology. Graduate student with Ulla Hansen, where I looked at mechanisms used by SV40 T antigen to regulate late viral transciption.

After graduation: I went to France on a NATO fellowship and studied the bacterial cell division protein FtsZ, looking at its self association properties. Next I worked in London for three years on sigma 54, a subunit of bacterial RNA polymerase. I worked out methods to look at how its conformation changes during different stages of transcription initiation, from promoter binding to beginning elongation. I came back to boston and worked at a small company that develops novel antibotics and antibacterials.

Current Position: I work at Massachusetts Biologics Lab in Jamaica Plain. MBL is a nonprofit company that makes tetnus/diptheria vaccine and monoclonal antibodies to treat infectious diseases. My role here is in preclinical development of monoclonal antibodies. Antibodies are first identified by our research group that neutralize the target organism in animal and cell culture infection models. My group is responsible for running assays to insure the purity, potency and safety of larger scale production of the antibody, before it is give to patients in clinical trials. We are also responsible for developing biochemical assays designed to look at modifications of the antibody, the types of changes that might be seen as the antibody is breaking down (stability), batch to batch differences, or differences due to changes in cell lines. As the assays and manufacturing processes become established the assays are transferred to Quality Control. Our group is a central part of early phase development and we work closely with research, manufacturing, process development and quality control departments within the company.

Connie Chow, Ph.D., 1997

cchow@post.harvard.edu

Background: Microbiology, Brigham Young University. Dissertation research in Donald Coen's lab.

After graduation: Postdoctoral research, Dyann Wirth at HSPH; one-year adjunct teaching at Kathmandu University Medical School, Harvard College, Simmons College, UMass Boston; tenure track faculty at Simmons College, Boston (2003-2006). Co-founded the Massachusetts CEDAW Project.

Current position: (Beginning July 1, 2006) Executive Director, Science Club for Girls, Cambridge, MA. Oversee operations and personnel, expand the program through community partnerships and financial growth, review curriculum and evaluate program, establish local and national reputation for quality after school hands on science programming.

Cheryl Day, Ph.D., 2003

clday@partners.org

Background: I received my BS in Biology from Emory University before coming to the Virology program at Harvard. I did my PhD work in the laboratory of Bruce Walker looking at the role of virus-specific CD4 T helper responses in hepatitis C virus infection.

After graduation: I received a postdoctoral fellowship grant from the Royal Society in the UK. I did a postdoc at Oxford University in Paul Klenerman's lab, studying functionality of HIV-specific CD8 T cell responses in individuals with chronic untreated clade C HIV infection.

Current position: Instructor in Medicine at the Partners AIDS Research Center at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Although I am an employee of MGH, I am based at a collaborating lab at the University of KwaZulu Natal in Durban, South Africa. I have been studying HIV-specific CD8 T cell responses in chronically infected adults in Durban, and will be initiating a program to study TB-specific immune responses in individuals with HIV/TB coinfection.

Rebecca Dunfee, Ph.D., 2007

rdunfee@yahoo.com

Background: I graduated from Northeastern University with my B.S. in Biochemistry in 1999.  During my senior year of college, and for a year after graduation, I worked as a research technician in Ann Kiessling's lab at BIDMC.  I started in the Virology program in the fall of 2000.

Dissertation Research: My dissertation research in Dana Gabuzda's lab focused on envelope-receptor interactions of neurotropic HIV, specifically variants in brain-derived Envs that enhanced Env-CD4 interactions and HIV tropism for macrophages.

After Graduation: In September 2007 I will start a postdoc in Jeffrey Taubenberger's lab at the NIH, investigating molecular mechanisms of influenza pathogenesis.

Robert M. Freeman, Jr., Ph.D., 1995

bob_freeman@hms.harvard.edu

bobfreemanma@speakeasy.net

Background: Born and raised in the midwest, I moved to the east coast to attend Princeton for my undergraduate degree. In 1989, I received my A.B. cum laude in Molecular Biology and a minor in Russian Studies. That fall I entered the Virology program for my Ph.D. at Harvard. In addition to my studies, I have been doing computer programming as a hobby and interest for over 20 years.

After graduation: After graduating from the Virology program, I took an almost 10 year detour: As I wasn't sure that working at the bench was going to be the best vocation for me, I thought information technology would be the path. I worked for two years with the Department of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School as their scientific IT systems manager, working with research labs to more effectively utilize IT in their research. In 1997, I started the Research Computing Center, an HMS-wide department which provided research application support, training, and in-house consultation. In 2002, I left HMS to join a technology consulting company, which enabled me to work at the pharmaceutical company Biogen Idec, Inc.; this also provided me more time to start a small company which provides technology integration and computational biology research services. In 2004, I rejoined HMS as a part-time scientist.

Current position: I am currently a staff scientist in Mark Kircshner's lab in the Department of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School. I am part of a multi-geographic team working on the hemichordate Saccoglossus kowalevskii, also known as the Acorn worm. As a means to understanding the evolution of chordates and the early bilateral ancestor, we are studying the expression of key genes in particular tissues and organ systems in early development through EST sequencing, in situs, and microarrays. Most of this research is in the lab, though in September each year we travel to the Marine Biology Labs in Woods Hole, MA to work with live animals. The Acorn worm has been designated a model organism by the NIH, and we expect to have the genome sequenced by the end of 2006. My responsibilities are primarily informatics with some bench work: I am responsible for analyzing and managing all the sequence and expression data for our beast, and to design and deploy visualization tools for our team. I also am the lead person for the microarray design and analysis.

Craig Furman, Ph.D., 2001

furman@mit.edu

Background: Brown University, majored in biology, worked as a technician for 4 years in the Sodroski lab before graduate school.

Current position: Post doc in Frank Gertler's lab, MIT, Biology department.

Amanda Magdalene Goh (Chan), Ph.D., 2005

amgoh@imcb.a-star.edu.sg

Background: I graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Molecular Biology and a Certificate in German Language and Literature. I did my senior thesis research in Dr. Eric Wieschaus' lab (on Drosophila embryonic development).  While in college, I spent nine months studying in Tuebingen, Germany, which included internships at the Max-Planck Institute of Developmental Biology and at the Federal Research Institute for Animal Virus Diseases.

First (also current) position: Postdoctoral research fellow with Sir David Lane in the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Singapore.

Raul C. Gomila, Ph.D., 2006

rcgomila@post.harvard.edu

Background: University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus.  Received B.S. with a double major in Biology and Chemistry.

After Graduation: Short Postdoc in Lee Gehrke's lab.

Karen Hershberger, Ph.D., 2004

khershb@post.harvard.edu

Background: I graduated from Indiana University with a BS in microbiology in 1995.  In my thesis lab at Harvard (Norman Letvin), I studied the killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors of Old World monkeys.

After graduation: I worked at an anesthesia veterinary technician at Angell Animal Medical Center-Boston, while I applied to veterinary schools.

Current position: Post-doc in Yoshi Kawaoka’s lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying the CD8 T cell response in mice to H5N1 influenza. I will begin veterinary school at UW in the fall of 2006.

Geoffrey Holm, Ph.D., 2004

ghholm@yahoo.com

Background: Originally from Flagstaff, Arizona, I graduated in 1997 from Bates College, and joined the Virology program that fall. I participated in the Markey BiomedicalTraining program and received a M.S. in Medical Science in 1999. Following that, I joined Dr. Dana Gabuzda's laboratory and investigated mechanisms of bystander T cell apoptosis in HIV-1 infection. During my training, I was a teaching assistant for the graduate Introduction to Virology class, and served as a Teaching Fellow for the Harvard College Introduction to Cell Biology (BS54) class. I defended in 2004.

After graduation: Following graduation I was a Senior Teaching Fellow for the Harvard College Introduction to Molecular Biology (BS52) class. During this time, I applied for postdoctoral positions, and accepted a position in Dr. Terence Dermody's laboratory at Vanderbilt University, where I am currently.

Current Position:Postdoctoral Research Fellow. I am studying innate immune responses to reovirus infection.

Jay W. Hooper, Ph.D, 1995

jay.hooper@amedd.army.mil

Background (Undergrad school, major, research experience? Colby College, BA 1986, Biology

After graduation: I spent 2 years as a National Research Council Assoicate (NRC post-doc) at the United States Army Medical Resarch Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Ft. Detrick, MD.

Current Position: In 1998 I became a Principal Investigator in the Virology Division at USAMRIID studying poxvirus and hantavirus medical countermeasures (e.g. molecular vaccines).  I am still a Principal Investigator at USAMRIID and my titles include Research Coordinator for the Highly Lethal Viruses Task Area, Military Infectious Disease Research Program.  We engineer molecular vaccines and other medical countermeasures (e.g. antibodies) and test them for protective/therapeutic efficacy in animal models that we developed. I'm looking for a post-doc interested in using our hantavirus pulmonary syndrome model (hamsters infected with Andes virus) to elucidate the mechanism underlying the vascular leakage associated with HPS, and identifying strategies to treat the disease. This project involves working at the highest level of biocontainment BSL-4.

Heather Huet (Adkins), Ph.D., 2000

heather.adkins@biogenidec.com

Background: retroviral entry, tumor biology, cell signaling, antibody-based drug discovery .

After graduation: Post-doc at Biogen Idec.

Current position: Scientist II in the Oncology Discovery department at Biogen Idec. Project leader for the development of antibody/protein-based therapeutics for cell surface targets in oncology, with emphasis on solid tumors. Research in my lab is focused on initiating new proposals for discovery stage projects and supporting antibody selection through molecular and cellular assay development.

Christina Hughes, Ph.D., 2006

chughes@mail.rockefeller.edu

Background: Cornell University, B.S., 1999. Biology major. As an undergrad, worked part time for two years at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research for Dr. Alan Wood on protein glycosylation in insect cells.

After graduation: currently doing post-doctoral research in Dr. David Allis' lab at Rockefeller University.

Jennie G. Jacobson, 1992

jjacobson@lilly.com

Background: I received my BA in Biology from Swarthmore College, and then worked for two years with Dr. Martin Hemler in the laboratory of Jack L. Strominger at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

What you did after graduation: I did a post-doc with Dr. Fred Homa at Upjohn Laboratories in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where I performed structure/function studies to evaluate Herpes Simplex Virus UL28 as a possible target for antiviral therapy

Current Position: I work at Eli Lilly and Company as a medical writer. I write up the results of the clinical trials for publication in medical journals.

H. Toni Jun, Ph.D. 2000

tjun@amgen.com

Background: Thesis work: Tom Roberts Lab at the DFCI. Undergrad: University of Michigan, Rich Jove's lab (currently at the Moffit Cancer Center).

After graduation: Took a Scientist position at Kinetix Pharmaceuticals, a start up biotech company in Medford, MA.

Current position: Senior Scientist, Amgen, Inc, Department of Oncology Research, One Amgen Center Dr., Mail stop 14-1-B Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. I lead and/or participate on research teams focused on discovering novel cancer therapeutics.

Laura Kasman (Mundschau), Ph.D., 1992

kasmanl@musc.edu

Background, Native of Wisconsin. B.S. and M.S. in Agriculture from the University of Wisconsin in Madison

After graduation: Worked in Biotech Industry for several years in Boston. Then got married, moved, and went back into academia as a post-doc at the University of Georgia-Athens. Had a daughter, lived out of the country for two years as stay-at-home mom while husband did a post-doc. Re-entered academia at UC-Berkeley in great lab headed by Loy Volkman. Then moved to Charleston where my husband and I could both get permanent positions. Been in Charleston at the Medical University of South Carolina, since 1999.

Current position: Research Assistant Professor, Medical University of South Carolina - 95% research, 5% teaching of medical and graduate students. I work under two Principal Investigators. Current projects include murine cytomegalovirus infection as a model to study the immune function of the salivary gland, and gene therapy of bladder cancer utilizing adenoviral vectors.

Jocelyn S Kasper, Ph.D., 2005

jocelynkasper@gmail.com

Background: Undergrad in Biology, worked in Genetics lab prior to Virology program.

After graduation and currently: Post doc in cancer epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health and getting an MPH.

Brenna Kelley-Clarke, Ph.D., 2006

brenna@post.harvard.edu

Background: B.S. in biochemistry, B.A. in Italian language & literature, University of Washington 2000

After graduation/currently: post-doctoral position in the lab of Jaisri Lingappa at the University of Washington. 

Current projects include using biochemical approaches to study HIV-1 assembly and utilizing EM to analyze the effectivity of novel drug candidates for the treatment of WNV and related RNA viruses.

Maurits F. Kleijnen, Ph.D., 2001

maurits_kleijnen@hms.harvard.edu

After graduation:  Postdoctoral fellow, Cell Biology department Harvard Medical School, Dr. Daniel Finley (Ubiquitin Proteasome Field)

Current: Postdoctoral Fellow

Sara Klucking, PhD, 2003

klucking@post.harvard.edu

Background: BA from Macalester College studied Philosophy and Biology, Research technologist at University of Washington studied HIV Immunology, PhD from Harvard Virology studied Retrovirus Cytopathicity with John AT Young.

Currently and first job post graduation: Postdoctoral fellow with Mark Feinberg at Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, researching retroviral pathogenesis.

I should note that this is a period of transition for me. I am finishing my postdoc and I have accepted a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship with the Department of Homeland Security, Biological Countermeasures Portfolio. The fellowship is a 1 year appointment beginning in September. My contact information (klucking@post.harvard.edu) will remain the same but the job description is quite different as you can imagine.

Peter Kolchinsky, Ph.D., 2001

pkolchinsky3@evelexa.com

Background: Cornell University, B.A. - Biology '97. After starting graduate school at Harvard, joined Sodroski lab at Dana Farber and worked on HIV entry and receptor interactions. While in graduate school, co-founded Harvard Biotech Club, through which I made many industry connections.

After graduation: After graduating, I briefly consulted to several startups while looking for job. In mid-2001, I joined a former biotech executive who had just left his company after 12 years and now wanted to consult and invest in biotech. He was looking for someone with a science background who could complement his business expertise. By 2002, my primarily focus was on investing in biotech stocks. We did well and in 2004 converted the investing operation into a biotech hedge fund. As of 2006, the fund had over 20 investors.

Current Position: RA Capital Management. Managing Director, Portfolio Manager. RA Capital is a biotech hedge fund.As a "hedge" fund, our objective is to invest in the biotech companies we think are good while hedging out the fluctuations in the sector by also shorting the not-so-good ones (so that if the biotech sector crashes unexpectedly, we may lose money on the stocks we own but will also make money on the stocks we are shorting). Researching public biotech companies involves speaking with management, clinicians, scientists, and other investors, as well as reading primary scientific literature and reports from industry databases and investment banks.

Martha F. Kramer, Ph.D, 1995

martha_kramer@hms.harvard.edu

After graduation: Postdoctoral fellowship; NRSA

Current position: Staff Scientist, Research Associate, Harvard Medical School

Bruce S. Kristal, Ph.D., 1991

bkristal@burke.org

Background: BS in Life Sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1986.

After graduation: Post-Doc, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Department of Physiology. I worked on caloric restriction and aging in a laboratory primarily interested in free radical biochemistry. Moved up through the ranks to become a research assistant professor, then joined the Dementia Research Service of Burke Medical Research Institute in 1996 and subsequently the Departments of Biochemistry (1997) and Neuroscience (1998) at Weill Medical College of Cornell University as an Assistant Professor (Associate Professor in 2004).

Jason LaBonte, Ph.D., 2003

jlabonte@dresources.com

Background: I graduated from Princeton (undergrad) in 1997 with a degree in molecular biology. I went directly into the Virology PhD program, assuming that if I took time off from school I might never go back. I did my dissertation work in Joe Sodroski’s lab studying (a) the ability of HIV envelope to kill infected cells and (b) the potential of New World monkeys to serve as animal models for HIV infection. While at Harvard, I was also a co-founder of the GSAS Harvard Biotech Club, which was great for learning about the wider world of the pharmaceutical industry, drug development, venture capital, consulting, etc. While I had a fantastic experience doing my thesis research and Joe was a great advisor, I decided that a life on the bench wasn’t for me and after graduation I shifted to a job that still used my science knowledge, but combined it with other elements.

After graduation (and current position): Director of Metabolic Disorders and New Produces, Decision Resources (DR), Waltham, MA. I started as an Analyst in the infectious disease group where I quickly had to learn about every bacterial and viral disease other than HIV (which was the only one I knew much about). I moved up through the ranks, taking on a larger role in consulting cases and management of small projects until 2005. At that point I was put in charge of a new product that I helped shape and my title was changed from an analyst in the ID group to Senior Analyst in New Products (I was the only member). Over 2005 I built a small team in New Products and now oversee a broadening pipeline of ideas under development.

In the Fall of 2006 I was also asked to oversee DR’s Metabolic Disorders group, which had recently been left without a head. hough I knew nothing about diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis and a host of other disorders, I was happy to add on this job as well. (Luckily, by now I’m used to learning all about new diseases in a short time span and everything has worked out very moothly.) These new duties include managing my analysts’ schedules and deadlines; talking with clients about their needs; working with sales, marketing, and consulting to increase revenue; and a host of other business-oriented activities.

Michelle LaBonte, Ph.D., 2002

mlabonte@bridgew.edu

Background: I graduated from Princeton in 1997 with an AB in Molecular Biology. At Harvard, I did a rotation in Dr. David Knipe's lab before joining Dr. Norm Letvin's lab.

After graduation, I did a short post-doc in Dr. Michael Farzan's lab before giving birth to my daughter Emily. I stayed home full time for 5 months after my daughter was born and then began teaching biology at Pine Manor College and Framingham State College. We also have a son, Jack, who will be turning one in June.

Current Position: I am now an Assistant Professor of Biology at Bridgewater State College. I teach Cell Biology, Virology and Molecular Biology for majors, Introductory Biology for non-majors, and mentor undergraduate research.

Jeng-Shin Lee, Ph.D., 1995

jlee@receptor.med.harvard.edu

Background: MD, National Taiwan University, Taiwan 1990

After graduation:I received post-doctoral training with Dr. Richard Mulligan at Whitehead Institute, MIT, and Children’s

Hospital, Boston (1996-1999). I have been working at Harvard Gene Therapy Initiative since 1999.

Current position: Deputy Director of Harvard Gene Therapy Initiative, an organization founded in 1998 within Harvard Medical School with the objective of promoting the use of gene transfer technology in both research and therapeutic applications. Over the last seven years, my group has been primarily responsible for the development of three cell based products intended for cancer immunotherapy, development of both research and clinical grade production of adeno-associated viral vectors targeting neuromuscular systems, as well as newer generation lentiviral vector systems. The work has resulted in one approved investigational new drug (IND) application, and several more in progress, in collaboration with physician scientists at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and elsewhere.

John T. Li, Ph.D., 1995

jli@therionbio.com

Background: B.A., Molecular Biology, 1990, Univ. of California, Berkeley Ph.D.,1995, Harvard University; MBA, 1997, Cornell University; JD, 2002 Suffolk University

After graduation: Postdoctoral Fellow, Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center. Investigated HIV-1 vpr domain structure.

Cornell University, MBA, General Business; Suffolk University, J.D., Evening Section.Worked as a Patent Agent/Technology Specialist at Fish & Richardson, P.C. while attending Suffolk University in the evening. Then, joined Biogen/Biogen Idec Inc. as a Senior Patent Agent/Assistant General Counsel

Present Position: Therion Biologics Corporation, Director of Intellectual Property

Richard Lu, Ph.D., 2005

gecko74@post.harvard.edu

Background: I received my undergrad degree (B.S. in Biochemistry) from Rutgers University in New Jersey. There I worked in a biophysics lab studying the interaction of proteins with co-factors. I decided to turn my attention to pathogen-host interactions and came to Harvard to join the Virology program. My dissertation research was done under the mentorship of Dr. Alan Engelman where I studied the interactions of HIV-1 with the host more pecifically I examined the role of the HIV-1-encoded enzyme integrase during viral infection. Now, to continue my studies of the pathogen-host interaction, I've turned to bacteriology by joining Dr. Marcia Goldberg's lab where I study Shigella's modulation of host proteins.

After graduation: post doc in Marcia Goldberg's lab.

Current position: Post doc; setting up an assay to determine cellular factors that affect Shigella motility and spread.

Micah Luftig, Ph.D., 2003

micahluftig@gmail.com

Background: EBV transformation, NFkB signaling, crystallography.

After graduation: Started a postdoc at a Merck Research Lab site in Rome, Italy (IRBM P. Angeletti)

Current postion: In October of 2007 I began as an Assistant Professor at Duke University School of Medicine (http://mgm.duke.edu/faculty/luftig/index.htm) in Durham, North Carolina. There’s lots of great BBQ and apparently a lot of really good golf courses. I tend to only notice the drive from home to lab and back as I help Nikoma (my wife) stay sane while taking care of our three (yes, 3) little boys: Niccolo, Valerio, and Marcello. My work is focusing again on EBV transformation and in particular the host pathways that respond to EBV-induced oncogenic stress early after B cell infection. Please feel free to contact me if you are ever in the area or just want to chat (micah.luftig@duke.edu).

Elizabeth Mathiesen (McNamee), Ph.D., 2002

elizabeth.mathiesen@finnegan.com

Background: I did my dissertation work in David Knipe's lab studying DNA replication in Herpes Simplex Virus Type I

After graduation: Worked as Technical Specialist at patent law firm.

Current position: Student Associate at patent law firm(I work 75% time at a patent law firm and attend law school in the evenings)

Robert E. Means, Ph.D., 1999

robert.means@yale.edu

Background: BS - Rochester Institute of Technology - Biotechnology

After graduation: Post-doc, J. Jung's Lab, Harvard Medical School.

Current position: Assistant Professor of Pathology, Yale Medical School. Full time bench scientist studying viral immune evasion mechanisms.

Andrew Mehle, Ph.D.,  2004

mehle@berkeley.edu

Background- My dissertation research investigated the mechanisms by which the HIV Vif protein enables virus replication by counteracting cellular defenses. After graduation  I continued research in my thesis lab (Gabuzda lab)  for a while before moving to a postdoctoral position in the Dounda lab at UC Berkeley

Currect position:   Postdoctoral researcher in the Dounda lab at UC Berkeley studying RNA/protein structure and function.

Gregory Melroe, Ph.D. 2006

gmelroe@hotmail.com

Background: Graduated from North Dakota State University in 2000 with a B.S. degree in Biotechnology. I did my dissertation research in the lab of David Knipe. We investigated the mechanisms by which HSV-1 inhibits the innate immune response.

Current position: I am doing postdoctoral research in the lab of David Nadal, affiliated with both the University of Zurich (Universitat Zurich) and the Children’s Hospital of Zurich (Universitats Kinderspital Zurich). We study the connections between gammaherpesviruses, the innate immune response, and cancer.

Stewart Mittler, Ph.D., 2000

stewart_mittler@millipore.com

After graduation: Practiced patent law

Current Position:Assistant Patent Counsel Millipore Corporation: draft and prosecute patent applications; assist in drafting and negotiating agreements; assist in due diligence relating to mergers and acquisitions.

Mary P. Mullen, M.D., Ph.D., 1991

mary.mullen@cardio.chboston.org

Current position: Assistant in Cardiology, Children’s Hospital.

Medical Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Service, Children’s Hospital.

Kimberly Myers, Ph.D., 2006

ks_myers@yahoo.com

Background: My undergraduate work was completed at Middle Tennessee State University, where I majored in biology (microbiology emphasis) and minored in chemistry. My dissertation research was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Max Nibert and focused on the viral entry mechanism of the nonenveloped mammalian reoviruses.

After graduation: I have accepted a Presidential Management Fellowship position. The Presidential Management Fellows Program is designed to introduce recent graduates from diverse academic backgrounds into career federal service (with a focus on public policy and program administration).I'll be working at the National Institutes of Health, designated to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). I will likely be doing a variety of things at the NCI, but hope to spend most of my time addressing science planning, policy, and legislative issues.

Andrea M. Olland, Ph.D., 2000

aolland@wyeth.com

Background Molecular Biology, X-ray crystallography.

After graduation: Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Ellenberger Lab

Current position: Senior Scientist II at Wyeth Research in Cambridge in the Structural Biology Department, X-ray crystallography group. Current responsibilities are to provide structural biology support for teams in a broad range of therapeutic areas to further the small molecule drug discovery effort. Most commonly this would be the structure determination of a protein target, and subsequent contribution to the establishment of structure/activity relationships for potential compounds and the guiding of drug design by determination of compound/target co-structures.

Freddie Peyerl, Ph.D., 2004

peyerl@post.harvard.edu

Background: While a graduate student in Dr. Norman Letvin’s lab, I explored the mechanisms of SIV escape from CTL.

After graduation: I moved to Denver to pursue a postdoc in the laboratory of Dr. John Kappler and Philippa (Pippa) Marrack

Danielle L. Poulin, Ph.D., 2005

danielle.poulin@gmail.com

Background:  Dartmouth College '99  Biology major, French minor. Graduate work in Jim DeCaprio's lab on SV40 T Ag

Pre-doctoral Intramural Research Training Fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD studied TGF-beta signaling

After graduation and current position: Post-doctoral Fellow, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA study basic science and novel therapeutic targets for hepatitis C virus

Mark Puder, M.D., Ph.D. 1998

mark.puder@childrens.harvard.edu

Background: MD degree in 1986. Trained 2 years of pediatric medicine then 3 year of surgery before attending graduate school. After graduation I finished general surgery training (2 more years) and compledted a 2 year fellowship at Children's Hospital, Boston in Pediatric Surgery.

Current Position: I am a practicing Pediatric surgeon with a basic laboratory and also run clinical trials based on my laboratory research. Assistant Professor of Surgery.

Maryann Puglielli, Ph.D.,1996

mpugliel@post.harvard.edu

After graduation: Post-doc with Dr. Raft Ahmed at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Attended George Mason University Law School

Current Position: patent attorney

John Randell, Ph.D., 2003

jrandell@mit.edu

Current Position: Post-doc in Stephen P Bell's laboratory at MIT, studying the initiation of DNA replication in S. cerevisiae.

Carlo Rizzuto, Ph.D., 1999

carlo_rizzuto@mckinsey.com

Background: BA Biology 1992 UVA; PhD (virology) 1999 Harvard

After graduation: Post-doctoral fellowship with Linda Buck. Then, helped start engeneOS, a biotech company. Then, joined McKinsey where I've been for the last 3.5 years

Current position: Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company.

McKinsey is a management consulting firm that serves a diverse range of clients on their most challenging problems, ranging from strategy to organization to operations. As an Engagement Manager, I lead project teams consisting of McKinsey consultants and clients and serve as the day to day client contact. I have chosen to specialise in healthcare and serve clients predominantly in the pharmaceutical and payor/provider sectors.

Jeffrey Skaar, Ph.D., 2006

jskaar at gmail.com

Background: Princeton'99, Molecular Biology

Dissertation Research in DeCaprio Lab, Biochemical and Genetic Characterization of CUL7- and PARC-containing complexes.

After graduation: Postdoctoral Fellow, NYU School of Medicine, Pagano Lab

Suman Shirodkar, Ph.D., 1994

sumanshirodkar@aol.com

Background: Physician

After graduation: Healthcare consulting, pharmaceutical industry marketing

Current position: Director, Oncology Product Evaluation Group, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, New York

Jason Smith, Ph.D., 2004

jgsmith@post.harvard.edu

Background: I graduated from Penn in 1994 with a degree in anthropology and biochemistry. I was a technician for Stephen Eck at the Institute for Human Gene Therapy at Penn doing translational studies of gene therapy for cancer using adenovirus vectors until 1998 when I joined the Virology program. I did my dissertation research in Jim Cunningham's lab studying the mechanism of ALV entry.

After graduation:  I started a postdoc at the Scripps Research Institute in the laboratory of Glen Nemerow working on the mechanisms of neutralization of adenovirus by innate and adaptive immune effectors.

Travis J Taylor, Ph.D., 2002

ttaylor@post.harvard.edu

After graduation: I went directly into a postdoctoral position at Harvard Medical School.

Current position: I am an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Defense Policy Fellow. I act as a science advisor for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Biological Threat Reduction Program (BTRP). BTRP's mission is to reduce biological weapons proliferation within the Former Soviet Union (FSU). I have also assisted avian influenza response planning in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

Dawn P. Wooley, Ph.D., 1992

dawn.wooley@wright.edu

Background: B.S. in Microbiology with Honors in Molecular & Cell Biology, Pennsylvania State University, 1986. I performed undergraduate honors research on DNA tumor viruses with Dr. Richard Frisque at Penn State. My dissertation research on simian immunodeficiency virus was completed with Dr. Ronald Desrosiers.

After graduation: Postdoctoral researcher with Nobel Laureate Howard Temin at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, 1992-1995. With Dr. Temin, I studied the molecular mechanisms of mutation and recombination of retroviruses.

Current Position: Tenured Associate Professor of Virology and Director of the Biosafety Level 3 Laboratory at Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, 1995 to present. I serve as the principal investigator on projects related to AIDS and biodefense research. I study the molecular mechanisms of HIV-1 mutation, recombination, and pathogenesis. I also develop methods to detect, diagnose, and counteract biological agents that have the potential to be used as weapons of mass destruction. I hold professional certifications in biological safety: Specialist Microbiologist in Biological Safety from the National Registry of Microbiologists; Registered and Certified Biosafety Professional from the American Biological Safety Association.