Fourth Year+ Graduate Students
Jaishree Bankoti back to top
jaishree1.bankoti@umontana.edu
PhD Program, Toxicology
Research Advisor - David Shepherd
Phillip Beske back to top
phillip.beske@umontana.edu
PhD Program, Neuroscience
Research Advisor - Darrell Jackson
I was born and raised in the wonderful city of Mankato, Minnesota. After graduating high school, I ventured off to the quaint town of Decorah, Iowa to pursue my B.A in Biology from Luther College. As an undergrad, an interest sparked in physiology and anatomy, particularly in the Central Nervous System. A neuroscience undergrad course with emphasis on neurodegeneration cemented my desire to become a neuroscientist, more specifically on understanding the pathology of CNS disease/injury. After visiting the University of Montana campus, I was immediately drawn to the scenic campus, the beautiful wilderness surrounding Missoula, and of course the research being done within the department. I currently work with Dr. Darrell Jackson in understanding some of the processes leading to structural and functional damage to CNS following ischemic/reperfusion injury (stroke). I feel privileged to work in such a laid back/open research setting, while being so closely situated to countless opportunities for outdoor recreation in my free time.
Loretta Bolyard back to top
loretta.bolyard@umontana.edu
PhD Program, Neuroscience
Research Advisor - Michael Kavanaugh
Teri Girtsman back to top
teri.girtsman@umontana.edu
PhD Program, Toxicology
Research Advisor - Kevan Roberts
I grew up in Ventura, a small beach town in S. California. I earned my BS and MS in Molecular Biology at San Francisco State University, and three weeks before I was to start Law School, realized I was not, nor would ever be ready to leave science. My masters advisor told me to apply to the tox program at UMT and being the good obedient grad student, I did. With no real intentions on living here in Big Sky Country, was completly swept in to the beauty of Missoula and the spectacular people here, at school and the community in general. I am working with the talented and witty Dr. Kevan Roberts, looking into the mechanisms underlying Th2 and Tregulatory interactions in autoimmune disease and allergic asthma. The hardest part of being here is knowing it will end some day. I love Montana.
Julie Hart back to top
PhD Program, Toxicology (part-time)
Research Advisor - Andrij Holian
Hi, my name is Julie Hart. I am a part time non-traditional student in the Toxicology PhD program. I reside in Butte, Montana with my husband and two young sons. I am an assistant professor in the Industrial Hygiene program at Montana Tech. I have a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health, a masters’ degree in Industrial Hygiene, and I am a certified industrial hygienist. I started working on a PhD in Toxicology on a part time basis in 2001. It has been a very enjoyable experience for me. While my background in industrial hygiene and public health exposure assessments is not a common one for students entering the field of Toxicology, it has complemented my studies at the University of Montana well. I have been fortunate to work with Dr. Ward on several projects in Libby, Montana. My current research interests include evaluating the human health impact of amphibole contamination in tree bark.
David Holley back to top
david.holley@umontana.edu
Philosophy/Economics, University of Virginia, 1990
Microbiology, University of Montana, 1999
PhD Program, Pharmacology/Pharmaceutical Sciences
Research Advisor - Michael Kavanaugh
My main focus is computational biology with an emphasis in protein modeling. I am currently using models of membrane transport proteins to help predict regions of functional significance.
Brent Lyda back to top
brent.lyda@umontana.edu
BS Chemistry, Montana State University, 2005
PhD Program, Pharmacology/Pharmaceutical Sciences
Research Advisor - Sean Esslinger
I have lived in Montana my entire life. I enjoy hiking, fishing, skiing, sledding and just about everything else there is to do in Montana. I am glad to be here to both further my knowledge in medicine/chemistry and to live in my home state. My current research interests include new drug/therapeutic design for battling cancer, disease and permanent injury; and most importantly, to discover new approaches and pathways for drug /therapeutic design. The Pharmaceutical and Biomedical department at UM is a great place to be. The department is helpful and caring towards their students, and there are some rewarding and exciting projects that are being worked on in many of the department's laboratories.
Sunyoung Park back to top
sunyoung.park@umontana.edu
PhD Program, Neuroscience
Research Advisor - Diana Lurie
I am working with Dr. Diana Lurie and my research focuses on Lead induced toxicity in the developing serotonin system especially within the central auditory nuclei.
Todd Seib back to top
todd.seib@umontana.edu
BS Biochemistry, Duquesne University, 1999
MS Biochemistry, University of Montana
PhD Program, Pharmacology/Pharmaceutical Sciences
Research Advisor - Richard Bridges
I came to Montana after I left Pennsylvania to study biochemistry. I am fascinated by the interface of chemical and biological interactions in toxicity and have chosen to explore the consequences of ischemic, oxidative, and xenobiotic insult to central nervous system function. Ultimately I would like to research reptilian toxicity and raise pack goats.