Fourth Year+ Graduate Students
Amy Erbe back to top
amy.erbe@umontana.edu
PhD Program, Toxicology
Research Advisor - Mark Pershouse
I moved to Missoula from Wisconsin where I received a B.S. in Chemistry with an Environmental Studies Emphasis. I am working toward my Ph.D. in Toxicology. Currently, I am studying the role of the tumor suppressor gene, NF2, in mesothelioma. Upon completion I hope to continue to work in the cancer field.
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.
Greg Leary back to top
gregory.leary@umontana.edu
PhD Program, Pharmacology/Pharmaceutical Sciences
Research Advisor - Michael Kavanaugh
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.
Terri Mavencamp back to top
terri.mavencamp@umontana.edu
BA Chemistry, Boston University, 2003
PhD Program, Pharmacology/Pharmaceutical Sciences
Research Advisor - Sean Esslinger
I grew up in Billings, Montana, and received my BA in chemsitry from Boston University. I moved to Missoula and entered the Neuroscience program. I continue to do chemistry but in a biological setting. It is motivating to see the effects of my work as well as to be surrounded by a diverse group of great scientists.
Sunyoung Park back to top
sunyoung.park@umontana.edu
PhD Program, Neuroscience
Research Advisor - Diana Lurie
Trideep Rajale back to top
trideep.rajale@umontana.edu
PhD Program, Biomedical Sciences
Research Advisor - Nicholas Natale
I grew up in Bhusawal, a small town in Maharashtra, India. After completing my masters degree in Organic Chemistry from Pune, India, I worked as a Research Associate in a pharmaceutical company (Dr. Reddy’s Lab. Ltd.) in India for about three years. It was my interest in Medicinal Chemistry that made me come here. I moved to The University of Montana from the University of Idaho in the summer of 2007. Currently, I am working in Dr Natale’s lab to develop new synthetic tools applying isoxazole chemistry to delineate the selectivity between glutamate binding proteins. The graduate program in the department is amazing as it provides a broad spectrum of courses in the area of pharmaceutical chemistry. I really like this place for its beauty, friendly people, and pleasant environment to live. Living in Missoula makes me feel at home.
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.
Aubrey Smartt back to top
BA Biology and Chemistry, Carroll College, 2004
PhD Program, Pharmacology/Pharmaceutical Sciences
Research Advisor - Elizabeth Putnam
I grew up in Great Falls, MT. In 2004 I earned by BA in Biology and Chemistry at Carroll College in Helena, MT. My original intentions were to go to medical school but decided in March 04 that research was more up my alley. After working in New York for a summer, I knew that I was not yet ready to leave Montana. I have always been drawn to Missoula and I was interested in pursuing research in the biomedical field. Under the direction of Dr. Liz Putnam, I am currently investigating gene polymorphisms that may influence an individual’s susceptibility to lung disease after asbestos exposure.