Research Symposium
Students 2022
Summer Undergraduate
Biomedical Research Experience (SUBRE)
Jessa Anderson
University of North Dakota
PI: Aaron Mehus, Ph.D./ Sarmad Al-Marsoummi, Ph.D./ Scott Garrett, Ph.D./Seema Somji, Ph.D.
Project: Knockdown of KRT6 in As3+- Transformed UROtsa Cells Results in Upregulation of GRHL1 and Downregulation of EGFR and TFAP2A
Lily Gibson
University of North Dakota
PI: Rebecca Simmons, Ph.D.
Project: The Effect of Plant Biodiversity on the Gut Microbiomes of Pollinator Species
Ethan Bergeman
University of North Dakota
PI: Van Doze, Ph.D.
Project: Anti-Epileptic Effects of a1A Adrenergic Receptor Activation
Katie Harris
University of North Dakota
PI: Van Doze, Ph.D.
Project: a-1A Adrenergic Receptor Stimulation for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Justin Inglis
University of North Dakota
PI: Aaron Mehus, Ph.D./ Sarmad Al-Marsoummi, Ph.D./ Scott Garrett, Ph.D./Seema Somji, Ph.D.
Project: Knockdown of GRHL1 in Arsenite (As3+)-Transformed UROtsa Cells Decreases KRT5 Expression
Dylan Helm
University of North Dakota
PI: Aaron Mehus, Ph.D./ Sarmad Al-Marsoummi, Ph.D./ Scott Garrett, Ph.D./Seema Somji, Ph.D.
Project: Effect of Transient GRHL1 Knockdown on KRT6A, RXRA, GRHL1 and SOX2 in Arsenite-Transformed Urothelial Cells
Madison Jones
University of North Dakota
PI: Aaron Mehus, Ph.D./ Sarmad Al-Marsoummi, Ph.D./ Scott Garrett, Ph.D./Seema Somji, Ph.D.
Project: Knockdown of SOX2 in UROtsa Cells Transformed with Arsenite (As³?) Decreases the Expression of KRT6
Paul Joseph
University of North Dakota
PI: Aaron Mehus, Ph.D./ Sarmad Al-Marsoummi, Ph.D./ Scott Garrett, Ph.D./Seema Somji, Ph.D.
Project: Analyzing DSC2, DSC3, and DSG2 Expression After Stable Knockdown of KRT6 in Arsenite Transformed UROtsa Cells
Lauren Jorda
University of North Dakota
PI: Aaron Mehus, Ph.D./ Sarmad Al-Marsoummi, Ph.D./ Scott Garrett, Ph.D./Seema Somji, Ph.D.
Project: SOX2 siRNA Knockdown Upregulates CDH2, Downregulates CDH1, and Does Not Affect GRHL1 Expression in As3+ – Transformed Urothelial Cells
Anna Lambertz
University of North Dakota
PI: Amanda Haage, Ph.D.
Project: Focal Adhesion Patterns in Neural Crest Cell Differentiation
Hayley Qualley
University of North Dakota
PI: Rebecca Simmons, Ph.D.
Project: The Effects of Urbanization on the Solitary Hymenoptera Communities
Het Mehta
University of North Dakota
PI: Ramkumar Mathur, Ph.D.
Project: Mitochondrial Transcription Factor A in Immunological Aging and Cognitive Impairment
Mansib Rahman
University of North Dakota
PI: Ramkumar Mathur, Ph.D.
Project: Deregulated Gut Epithelial Fucosylation is Involved in Aging and Associated with Colon Cancer
Zachary Reamann
University of North Dakota
PI: Aaron Mehus, Ph.D./ Sarmad Al-Marsoummi, Ph.D./ Scott Garrett, Ph.D./Seema Somji, Ph.D.
Project: Expression of Proteasomal Genes Upregulated in HRTPT Progenitor Cells in Comparison to RPTEC/TERT1 and HREC24T Differentiated Cells
Hannah Rathgeber
University of North Dakota
PI: Aaron Mehus, Ph.D./ Sarmad Al-Marsoummi, Ph.D./ Scott Garrett, Ph.D./Seema Somji, Ph.D.
Project: The Expression of GATA3, KRT7, and KRT18 Upregulates in Response to Tretinoin Treatment in As3+ Transformed UROtsa Cell Lines
Mara Reyna
University of North Dakota
PI: Ramkumar Mathur, Ph.D.
Project: Detection of defects in human mtDNA on Parkinson’s disease patients by qPCR and stimulation of SH-SY5Y cells
Brooke Rossow
University of North Dakota
PI: Aaron Mehus, Ph.D./ Sarmad Al-Marsoummi, Ph.D./ Scott Garrett, Ph.D./Seema Somji, Ph.D.
Project: Treatment with Proteasomal Inhibitor (Bortezomib) Downregulates Expression of FGFR1, FGFR2, and FGF9 and Upregulates Expression of FGF2 in Kidney Progenitor Cells
Rayna Rice
University of North Dakota
PI: Aaron Mehus, Ph.D./ Sarmad Al-Marsoummi, Ph.D./ Scott Garrett, Ph.D./Seema Somji, Ph.D.
Project: Treatment of HRTPT Cell Line with Proteasomal Inhibitor (Bortezomib) Downregulates Expression of Progenitor Cell Markers (CD133 & CD24) and Proximal Tubule Marker (AQP1), and Upregulates Expression of Distal Tubule Marker (CALB1)
Paul Schwartz
University of North Dakota
PI: Jamie Foster, Ph.D.
Project: Effects of Carbachol on Palmitoylation of Dopamine Transporter
Bergen Stockstad
University of North Dakota
PI: Aaron Mehus, Ph.D./ Sarmad Al-Marsoummi, Ph.D./ Scott Garrett, Ph.D./Seema Somji, Ph.D.
Project: The Effect of Tretinoin Treatment on Expression of FOXA1, PPARG, KRT8, and KRT16 in Arsenite-transformed Malignant Urothelial Cells
Ethan Simons
University of North Dakota
PI: Turk Rhen, Ph.D.
Project: Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Their Effects on Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination in Chelydra serpentina
Tanner Whelan
University of North Dakota
PI: Aaron Mehus, Ph.D./ Sarmad Al-Marsoummi, Ph.D./ Scott Garrett, Ph.D./Seema Somji, Ph.D.
Project: Proteasomal Gene Expression Differences of PSMB2, PSMB7, PMSC1, PSMC4 among HRTPT, HREC24T and RPTEC/TERT1 Cells