University at Buffalo 
The Institute for Strategic Enhancement
of Educational Diversity (iSEED)
of Educational Diversity (iSEED)
iSEED Summer Mentors
Each year, iSEED scholars are paired with faculty mentors from seven UB schools whose interests align closely with their own in a wide variety of biomedical and STEM disciplines. The following faculty members served as iSEED Summer Research Mentors.
College of Arts and Sciences
| Mentor | Department | Student Mentee |
| Jennifer Read | Psychology | Jasmine McClain (2019) |
| Luis Colon, PhD | Chemistry | Kathia Molina Carrasquillo (2013) |
| Paul Cullen, PhD | Biological Sciences | Javier Muniz (2014) |
| Denise Ferkey, PhD | Biological Sciences | Javier Muniz (2014) |
| Kristin Gainey, PhD | Psychology | Daisy Zavala (2018) |
| Matthew Paul, PhD | Psychology | Nashali Massa (2019) Simone John-Vanderpool (2018) Rosanny Bivieca (2016) Berta Erika Luis Sanchez (2015) |
| Laura Rusche, PhD | Biological Sciences | Aylin Flores (2017) Elizabeth Penner (2015) |
| Stephen T. Tiffany, PhD | Psychology | Tiffany Long (2014) |
| Bernard Weinstein, PhD | Physics | Alyssa Yaeger (2013 |
| Hao Zeng, PhD | Physics | Lhamo Dorje (2016) Brett Blizzard (2015) |
School of Dental Medicine
| Mentor | Department | Student Mentee |
| Praveen Arany, PhD, DDS | Oral Biology | Jalen Bonitto (2019) LeDaniel Sims (2017 & 2018) Toneia Washington (2017) Ahmad Salah (2016) |
| Mira Edgerton, PhD, DDS | Oral Biology | Christine Breindel (2015) Gina An (2014) Adelaeda Barrera (2013) |
| Jason Kay, PhD | Oral Biology | John Lepore (2018) Janet Park (2015) |
| Chris Li, MD | Oral Biology | Rebecca Hojna (2016) Saiema Alam (2014) |
| Stefan Ruhl, PhD, DDS | Oral Biology | Kendall Sands (2013) |
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
| Mentor | Department | Student Mentee |
| Kevin Burke, PhD | Electrical Engineering | Akeem Francis (2013) Michael Singletary (2013) |
| Mark Ehrensberger, PhD | Biomedical Engineering | Stephanie Der (2014) |
| Ciprian Ionita, PhD | Biomedical Engineering | Melinda Tiao (2017) Toni Warnick (2017) Mariah Costa (2016) Lauren Shepard (2016) Stacie Arechavala (2015) |
| Debanjan Sarkar, PhD | Biomedical Engineering | Dominique Saddler (2014) |
| Wenyao Xu, PhD | Computer Science and Engineering | Chris Baker (2018) Gabriel Kelly (2015) |
| Jennifer Zirnheld, PhD | Electrical Engineering | Akeem Francis (2013) Michael Singletary (2013) |
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
| Mentor | Department | Student Mentee |
| Arthur Edelman, PhD | Pharmacology and Toxicology | Karla Boeta-Lopez (2015) |
| Tracey A. Ignatowski, PhD | Pathology and Anatomical Sciences | Adriana Pons Calvo (2017) |
| Te-Chung Lee | Biochemistry | Astrid Gutierrez (2018) |
| Jun-Xu Li, MD, PhD | Pharmacology and Toxicology | Courtney Turner (2013) |
| Supriya D. Mahajan, PhD | Medicine | Elizabeth Quaye (2016) |
| James Olson, PhD | Pharmacology and Toxicology | Mobolanle Adebesin (2014) Carmen Marable (2013) |
| John Panepinto, PhD | Microbiology and Immunology | Ashley Ann Rivera Rodriguez (2013) |
| Rajendram Rajnarayanan, PhD | Pharmacology and Toxicology | Jaleel Shepherd (2017) Angel Garcia (2016) |
School of Nursing
| Mentor | Student Mentee |
| Laura Anderson, PhD | Taylor Gietschier (2018) Amber Scott (2014) |
| Grace Dean, PhD, RN | Christina Moore (2015) |
| Suzanne Dickerson, DNS, RN | Christina Moore (2015) |
| Adrian Juarez, PhD, RN | Natalie Weimer (2015) Kirsten Adams (2014) |
| Carla Jungquist, PhD, ANP-BC, FAAN | John Pender (2013) |
| Robin Lally, PhD, RN, AOCN | Catherine Brooks (2013) |
| Rebecca Lorenz, PhD, RN | Tiffany Chen (2018) |
| Margaret Moss, PhD, JD, RN, FAAN | Samantha Manahan (2017) Dayhna Marti Ojeda (2016) |
| Deborah A. Raines, PhD, EdS, RN, ANEF | Jenelle Robinson (2016) |
| Ellen Volpe, PhD, RN, FNP-BC | Quinn Carroll (2017) |
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
| Mentor | Department | Student Mentee |
| Sathy Balu-Iyer, PhD | Pharmaceutical Sciences | Lauren Heinzinger (2019) Lindsey Euscher (2017) Jennifer Green (2013) |
| Marilyn Morris, PhD | Pharmaceutical Sciences | Blessing Hunsu (2018) Brianna Scotland (2017) Genevieve Stever (2013) |
| Juliane Nguyen, PharmD, PhD | Pharmaceutical Sciences | Yadilyz Caballero (2018) Sheyanne Santiago (2016) Yaritza Velez Burgos (2015) |
| James O'Donnell, PhD | Pharmaceutical Sciences | Karen Seo (2014) |
| Dhaval Shah, PhD | Pharmaceutical Sciences | Benita Okeke (2015) Alyssa Gbewonyo (2014) |
| Ying Xu, PhD | Pharmaceutical Sciences | Mebrhit Meheretab (2019) Nana Serwaa (2016) Karen Seo (2014) |
School of Public Health and Health Professions
| Mentor | Department | Student Mentee |
| Gregrory Homish, PhD | Community Health and Health Behavior | Amanda Gamwo (2019) |
| James Lenker, PhD | Rehabilitation Science | Malaike Addo (2019) |
| Lina Mu, PhD | Epidemiology and Environmental Health | Renato Quinones (2018) |
| Heather Orom, PhD | Community Health and Health Behavior | Kennethea Wilson (2016) |
| Xuefeng Ren, MD, PhD | Epidemiology and Environmental Health | Carina Abreu (2014) Oumou Keita (2013) |
| Jennifer L. Temple, PhD | Exercise and Nutrition Sciences; Community Health and Health Behavior | Briana McCloskey (2016) Rashaun Williams (2015) |
| Jean Wactaski-Wended, PhD | Epidemiology and Environmental Health | Ashirah Simpson (2018) |
| David Williamson, PhD | Exercise and Nutrition Sciences | Kaleish Ambris (2015) |
| Hong Xue, PhD | Epidemiology and Environmental Health | Jacob Khuri (2015) |
Please Note:
Students can apply to work with faculty in any of the participating schools.
Participating Schools and Departments
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
- Biochemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biomedical Informatics
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Pathology and Anatomical Sciences
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Physiology and Biophysics
- Medical Scientist Training Program
- Medicine
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
School of Public Health and Health Professions
