Second Year Graduate Students
Jenna Benson
jenna.benson@umontana.edu
PhD Program, Toxicology
Research Advisor - David Shepherd
I was born and raised in the suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota. I attended the University of Minnesota-Morris where I received a B.A. in Chemistry with a subfield in Biochemistry. By participating in several undergraduate research opportunities, I decided that I would like to pursue a Ph.D. in Toxicology. My research involves the investigation of immunotoxicological effects of natural products on the mucosal immune system.
Jing Guoback to top
jing.guo@umontana.edu
MS Program, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Research Advisor - Chuck Thompson
Beth Hayes back to top
beth.hayes@umontana.edu
PhD Program, Biomedical Sciences
NIH-Graduate Partners Program
BMED Research Co-Advisor - Elizabeth Putnam
I was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and lived there until I move to Montana. I graduated with a BS in Biochemistry from Baylor University. I came to Montana specifically for the Graduate Partnership Program between The University of Montana and the NIH Rocky Mountain Labs (RML) in Hamilton. I’ve always wanted to work for the NIH, and this program is an excellent way to get my foot in the door. I currently live in Hamilton, where I work at RML full time in a Molecular Genetics lab studying Borrelia burgdorferi.
Katie Hoffman back to top
katie.hoffman@umontana.edu
PhD Program, Neuroscience
Research Advisor - Michael Kavanaugh
Thomas Simones back to top
thomas.simones@umontana.edu
PhD Program, Toxicology
Research Advisor - David Shepherd
I am from Craig, Colorado, but now consider Montana to be home. In 2005, I graduated with a BA in chemistry from Western State College of Colorado in Gunnison. I took some time off before deciding to go back to school to work in the field of toxicology. I came to The University of Montana for both the toxicology program and the outdoor activities. I'm interested in the immune system and how environmental pollutants can adversely disrupt normal immune responses.