There were three recipients for Physiology graduate student awards; two for the J. Paul Quigley Memorial Scholarship Award and one for the Dorothy K. and Daniel L. Gerwin Graduate Scholarship Award. Recipients of the J. Paul Quigley Memorial Scholarship Award were Ms. Mitzi Dunagan and Ms. Himabindu Penmatsa, and Mr. Damodaran Narayanan received the Dorothy K. and Daniel L. Gerwin Graduate Scholarship Award.
Presenter: Dr. Gabor Tigyi, Chair of Physiology
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Mitzi Dunagan is a third-year student in the Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences. She graduated summa cum laude (4.0 G.P.A.) from Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN in 1993 with a double major in Elementary Education and Integrated Math/Science. She taught seventh and eighth grade math and science for over 9 years in Sumner and Robertson Counties of Middle Tennessee, earning "Teacher of the Year" for her school the first year she was eligible (1999). While teaching she earned an M.S. in Biological Sciences from Vanderbilt University(2002), through a summer program allowing teachers to learn modern molecular biology techniques and participate in research. Participation in the program at Vanderbilt inspired her to return for a Ph.D., and an opportune job transfer brought her to Memphis. Her current work has already enabled her to speak at two international conferences (Digestive Disease Week in San Diego, CA, and cicBioGUNE 3rd International ALPD Symposium in Bilbao, Spain). She looks forward to the unique opportunities available through her experiences at U.T.
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| Himabindu Penmatsa is a fourth-year student in the Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences. She has a bachelors in biochemistry (3.93 G.P.A), a masters in biotechnology (4.0 G.P.A) and an advanced diploma in bioinformatics (4.0 G.P.A) from INDIA. She worked as a lecturer and later as a project trainee in Bioinformatics in INDIA. She joined IPBS program at UT in Aug-2005. Her passion for research in protein biochemistry and urge to understand the role of protein-protein interactions in health and disease led her to join Dr. A. P. Naren's lab in dept of physiology in Jun-2006. She finished her required course credits for PhD program (3.99 G.P.A). She received a pre-doctoral fellowship from AHA for 2008-2009. She has two first author publications in BBRC from INDIA and a co-author publication in CELL from Dr. A. P. Naren's lab at department of Physiology, UT. Her current projects gave her the oppurtunity to speak at Biological Transport meeting (Jamestown, KY, 2008) and present a poster at Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (Orlando, FL). She believes that her doctoral training will help in establishing a career in research. |
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Damodaran Narayanan is a fourth-year student in the Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences. He completed his M.B.B.S. (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) degree from The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University in Chennai, India in June 2004. During his medical education, he developed an interest for research in basic biomedical sciences, and this made him pursue a Ph.D. He joined the IPBS program at UT in Aug 2005. He identified Dr. Jonathan Jaggar’s laboratory to pursue his Ph.D. because of the cardiovascular research performed. His dissertation project is to determine the physiological function of calcium waves in smooth muscle cells of cerebral arteries. He aspires to have a career in academic research in the field of cardiovascular biology.
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Updated: Nov. 14, 2008 |
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