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 | Genesis Pagen Cabrera (2019) 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 | Hannah Dougherty (2019) 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) |
| Sabrina Cassuci, PhD | Industrial Engineering | Makayla Roma (2019) |
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) |
| Terry Connell | Microbiology and Immunology | Beatrice Gonzalez (2019) |
| Rajendram Rajnarayanan, PhD | Pharmacology and Toxicology | Jaleel Shepherd (2017) Angel Garcia (2016) |
| Tilman Baumstark | Microbiology and Immunology | Yuribel Rosario (2019) |
| Laura Feltri | Biochemistry | Destinee Bledsoe (2019) |
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) |
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
