Ph.D. in Epidemiology Students

Lisa Kakinami

I grew up in San Jose, California and received a B.A. in Psychology from UCLA. I am starting my third year in the program and am currently looking for a dissertation topic.

Research Interests: HIV/AIDS, with particular interest in metabolic complications due to HAART and consumer readiness for an HIV vaccine.

Vanessa Moore

I grew up in Rochester, NY and earned my BS in Microbiology from the University of Rochester. I am a fourth year student currently working on my dissertation project, entitled “Antibiotics and the Risk of Clostridium difficile- Associated Disease”. My [other] research interests include outbreak investigation, emerging and tropical infections, and bioterrorism. Expected graduation 2009.

Katherine Eisenberg (and Dylan)

I grew up in Ithaca and went to Princeton whereI majored in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. 3rd year in the PhD program, expected graduation date - 2010?
Research Interests: infectious disease, mapping, ecology

Jessica Franchino-Elder

I am from Rochester, NY and majored in Health Science (minor in biology) at SUNY Cortland. I completed a MPH at the University of Rochester and am beginning a search for dissertation topic.  Successfully completed qualifying exams in June 2006.

Research Interests: cardiovascular research; specifically nuclear imaging and prediction of plaque rupture in high-risk persons clinically asymptomatic for heart disease.

Jyoti Shankar

I am from New Delhi, India and attended med school at the Maulana Azad Medical College, University of Delhi. Currently in the 2nd year of the Ph.D. Epi program. Expected graduation: 2010

Research Interests: Cancer and Molecular Epidemiology with a focus on Breast Cancer.

Elizabeth Brownell

I am a first year student raised in Vermont.  Education:  MA in social anthropology from the University of Wales and BA in anthropology and history from St. Lawrence University.

Research interests: Reproductive epidemiology, vaccine implementation and mental illness.

Emelian Scosyrev

Country of Birth: Russia; Education: M.S. – Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, B.S. – Medical Technology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, A.A.S. – Clinical Laboratory Technology, Wallace State College. Second year PhD student.

Research Interests: laboratory method validation, diagnostic testing and decision analysis, cancer epidemiology.

Adam Simning
I grew up near Minneapolis, MN and received a B.A. in Molecular Biology at Pomona College in Southern California. I am currently a first year graduate student. Expected graduation: 2012.

Research interests/Dissertation topic: Late-life mental health issues, especially in regards to understanding the correlates and mediators of anxiety and depression.

Claire Hoffmire

I was born and raised in Victor, NY and received a B.S in Cell and Developmental Biology from the University of Rochester in 2006. I am currently a first year student in the Epidemiology Doctoral Program.

Research Interests: Reproductive and Cancer Epidemiology.

Denisse Licon
I was born and raised in Las Cruces, NM. I received a B.A in Psychology and MPH in Community Health Education from New Mexico State University. I worked for the New Mexico Department of Health in their Immunizations Program as the Health Educator for the New Mexico Statewide Immunization Information System. I am in my first year in the Epidemiology doctoral program.

Research interests/Dissertation topic: My research interests include infectious disease epidemiology and minority health disparities.

Amanda Lucas

I grew up in Dallas and then moved to Austin where I attended the University of Texas and completed my B.S.in Human Biology. For the past year, I worked in the tuberculosis lab at the state health department in Austin. This is my first year in the Epidemiology program.

Research Interests: infectious disease epidemiology, drug resistant pathogens, Mycobacterial infections

Lauren Parlett
I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland and received my B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Johns Hopkins University in late 2005. For a year and a half, I was the senior lab technician for two labs in the Biology department of Hopkins. Now, I am starting my first year of study in the Epidemiology PhD program.

Research Interests: infectious disease, outbreak investigation, and bioterrorism prevention.

Kathleen Spellane

For additional information, interested candidates should contact:

Susan G Fisher, MS, PhD.
University of Rochester
Community & Preventive Medicine
601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 644
4-W122
Rochester, NY 14642
Phone: (585) 275-8784

Application Materials