MAMMALIAN TOXICOLOGY, BIOLOGY 666, SPRING 2003

Student Roster and Introductions

CAS

Diana Esshaki Posted: Feb-06-03 at 1:39 PM by Kenneth Campbell

My name is Diana Esshaki, and I am a student in the Graduate Program in Biology (MS) at UMass. I was just accepted into the program for Spring 2003.

Last semester I was a non-degree student enrolled in Microbial Physiology with Professor Shiaris.

I am conducting my research at UMass Medical School (a branch in JP) doing work in Research and Development, specifically in vaccines against Clostridium difficile (primarily a nosocomial infection).

This semester I am taking both Mammalian Toxicology and Advanced Immunology.

I graduated from college in the Boston area (majoring in biology and classics), and now I live and work within the Boston area as well. I love it here.

Eric Faulkner Posted: Feb-06-03 at 3:34 PM by ERIC FAULKNER

I am a part time graduate student at UMASS Boston working on a MS in Biotechnology and Biomedical Science. I have been working in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry for the last nine years. I currently work at a company called Biogen. I am an Associate Scientist in their formulations group developing parentrals. I deal with proteins everyday. I had taken Medicinal Chemistry last semester and enjoyed it very much especially the PK/PD and toxicity sections. I am interested in taking this class to learn more about the role of toxins and the impact they play in mammalian systems.

Erin Valentine Posted: Feb-06-03 at 1:37 PM by Kenneth Campbell

My name is Erin Valentine. I am in my third semester as a full time graduate student here at Umass-Boston in the Master's program for biotechnology and biomedical sciences. I am working in Dr. Steven Ackerman's Plant Molecular lab on a project involving a particular transcription factor. I am a 26-year-old mother of two. My daughter is 3 and my son is 15 months. I am teaching two sections of second semester freshman biology labs, and taking two other grad classes this semester. My progress on my lab work is beginning to move forward as well. As you can see, I've become quite the juggler lately! I look forward to a fulfilling and educational semester with mammalian toxicology. I am taking this class to broaden my understanding of toxicology, which is at present negligible. I believe this course will be of great value to me in future career situations in the biotechnology and biomedical industry. I believe the relevance of this subject is far-reaching into aspects of my potential career position, my role as a parent, and in general as a member of the scientific community.

CCDE

Elizabeth Antonellis Posted: Feb-07-03 at 8:24 AM by Elizabeth Antonellis

My name is Elizabeth Antonellis and I am a Research Technologist at Bayer Health Care. I work for the Nucleic Acid Diagnostics team and my job is to investigate any materials or testing failure in our bDNA products. I graduated from Umass Boston with a double major in Biology and Anthropology. I am taking this class not only because it gives me the perfect opportunity to go back to school while working full time, but also because Toxicology is a very important part of the health-care industry and will give me a better understanding of my everyday job. When I am not working I like to do creative things like restoring antiques, and wood ship modeling.

Despina Felis Posted: Feb-07-03 at 2:33 PM by DESPINA FELIS

My name is Despina Felis. I graduated from UMass Boston with a BS in Biology and Minor's in Chemistry and Criminal Justice in 2001. I am currently employed at ArQule, Inc as an Associate Scientist primarily working on R&D Drug discovery. I am interested in Forensic Science and I plan on going to graduate school to obtain a Masters of Science in Criminalistics in the near future. Meanwhile, not being quite ready for graduate school, I thought it would be a good idea to take a course in something that is of interest to me. I have always liked learning new things, and honestly didn't realize how much I enjoyed school until I had been away from it. On my search for a class I discovered Mammalian Toxicology and to my surprise it was offered as an online course, which fits perfectly into my busy schedule. I look forward to having a great semester!

Michael George Posted: Feb-07-03 at 0:04 AM by Michael George

Hi, my name is Michael George. I graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Insitute (RPI) in Troy, NY with a BS in Chemistry/Biology. I live in Boston and work at Massachusetts General Hospital as a Medical Technologist. I perform mainly thyroid/endocrine assays for Mass General's clinical chemistry laboratory. I took Microbial Physiology last semester with Professor Shiaris as a nonmatriculated student. I took Mammalian toxiciology because I hope to be accepted into the Graduate program possibly full time for the Fall 2003. I also am interested in working in the Toxicology lab at Mass General so would like a better knowledge in Toxicology.

Dina Katz Posted: Feb-07-03 at 8:01 PM by DINA KATZ

I am a grad student here at UMB in the Teacher Education program and will be a high school Biology teacher. I graduated in 2000 with a BS in Biological Sciences and a minor in Computer Science. After college I worked for a while as a web developer in NYC, then decided to go back to what I'd loved doing all along, teaching. I think mammalian toxicology is the kind of topic that can serve as a hook to get kids interested in science ("Ooh, poisons! Cool!"). I also love to write, and perhaps I can get some ideas for mystery stories out of the class.

I'm married (our first anniversary is coming up soon), no kids as yet; I'd like to get my teaching career up and running first.

Shaun McAuliffe Posted: Feb-06-03 at 5:23 PM by Kenneth Campbell

I am a native of Massachusetts. I received an undergraduate (BS in Zoology) and graduate (MPH) degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Since graduation, I have been employed as an environmental consultant. I am presently a National Programs Client Manager for ATC Associates Inc.

I am interested in pursuing a graduate degree in toxicology. This appeared to be a good place to start.

I presently live in Brookline.

When I am not in work, in school or at home, you can find me coxing a racing shell on the Charles River.

Lisa McIntosh Posted: Feb-06-03 at 1:38 PM by Kenneth Campbell

I am currently a human health/ecological risk assessor at Woodard & Curran, an environmental consulting and engineering firm located in Dedham, MA. My academic background includes a M.S. (from UMB) in environmental science and a B.S. in biology/chemistry. I've spent a good deal of time dwelling on aquatic toxicology in graduate school and at my job; now I feel like it's time to turn toward land and get a firmer footing in mammalian toxicology. When not telling people why they shouldn't really be playing at a hazardous waste site, I like to escape to the wilds of New England.

Marcus McLean Posted: Feb-07-03 at 9:26 PM by Marcus McLean

Hi, I am from North Carolina. I have a BS in biology and have worked in the biotech industry for the past 2 1/2 years. I am taking the class to gain a more in-depth understanding of toxicology. The subject interests me because of its relevancy to everyday life as well as to the biotech industry. I am considering enrolling into a graduate program for teaching science in the near future. I think this class will help me become a better teacher and will also apply towards the program when I choose to enter. I am looking forward to this semester.

Dropped

CAS

Ivana Djuretic Posted: Feb-07-03 at 1:16 PM by Ivana Djuretic

I have been an undergraduate at UMass Boston for 3 1/2 years and this is my final semester. I will be graduating with a B.S. in Biochemistry this May. I have been doing undergraduate research with Professor Richard White since 2001. The topic of my project is pigment migration in the eyes of tobacco moths. This project involves a lot of electron microscopy and biochemistry work (Western blots, immunostaining). I also have experience with small animal assays (injections, disections, enzyme activity assays on organs and specific parts of organs) which I gained as an intern for Genzyme. This is my third graduate class so far. One of the graduate classes that I took at Umass (Immunology) inspired me to pursue my graduate degree so I will be starting my PhD work in Immunology this fall. I am particularly interested in signal transduction in immune cells and I will probably be working on that when in grad school. I took this class because I wanted to learn something different before I become more "specialized" but I am also hoping to draw connections between toxicology and immunology when possible this semester (maybe through mechanistic toxicology?).

Smita Majumder (Debosmita) Posted: Feb-06-03 at 5:21 PM by Kenneth Campbell

I'm a senior at Umass Boston majoring in Biology...I'm hoping to get into Graduate school in fall. The course material for mammalian toxicology seemed very interesting and since my knowledge of toxicology and the related sciences is mainly from informal readings and journals, and a little bit from other courses, i thought it would be very helpful to take a course in the subject and further enhance my knowledge of the matter.

Thom Walsh Posted: Feb-06-03 at 2:59 PM by Charles T Walsh

My name is Thom Walsh. I'm a new grad student (PhD) this semester at UMass Boston in a new program named Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology. I'm married with three sons and I'm a transplant to New England from Northern California. I did my undergrad work at University of California, Santa Cruz and grad work at Chico State University. I've been here almost five years but felt at home from my first day. My research is in applying biotech to help solve environmental problems such as wetland and coastal pollution. My focus now is on studying microbial communities as possible agents of bioremediation. I'm taking Mammalian Toxicology because to me it seems to be at the heart of so many fields in biotechnology. When I'm not studying right now it seems I'm either eating or sleeping (not really) but hope soon to get back to running and hiking through the woods here in the South Shore.

CCDE

Linda Christle

Hanae Hiyoshi Posted: Feb-07-03 at 6:24 PM by Hanae Hiyoshi

I am currently a postgraduate student at UMass and taking some science courses, hoping to enroll in a graduate program in biology or environmental sciences in the future. I have received a BS degree in botany from Oregon State University. But I am also interested in learning about issues of human beings and animals so that I thought this course would give me some fun. Especially, I would like to know how food toxins and some medicine could effect on babies because I am getting married and want to have some children soon...I believe it is very ímportant to know what I should and shouldn't do while being pregnant and rasing babies.

Barbara MacEachern