Published June 30, 2020
The PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (PPBS) recognized 14 students from the Class of 2019-2020 — 11 doctoral students and three MD-PhD Program students — who completed their first year in the program and are moving on to their research laboratory match.
The program’s fourth annual white coat ceremony was conducted June 11 as a virtual event due to the COVID-19 global health pandemic.
Anthony A. Campagnari, PhD, senior associate dean for research and graduate education, gave the opening remarks and extended “a very warm welcome to the family and friends participating in support of our students who are now taking the next step in their professional careers.”
One of the event’s sponsors, Laboratory Product Sales (LPS), presented two awards.
Emily Blair Ivey, a Katonah, New York, native who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Rochester, won the LPS Rotation Award, which recognizes a student for exceptional performance in a PPBS laboratory rotation.
The LPS Highest GPA Award, which recognizes the student with the highest cumulative grade point average at the end of their first year, was given to two students who both had perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point averages.
Christopher Raymond Handelmann is a native of Homer, New York, who earned his bachelor’s degree at SUNY Oswego. David Goich is a native of Syracuse, New York, and obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University at Buffalo.
The event’s other sponsor, the Medical Alumni Association (MAA), was represented by Daniel W. Sheehan, MD, PhD ’89, associate dean for medical curriculum, clinical professor of pediatrics and a member of the MAA board.
“I want to congratulate you on your program match. The Alumni Association is so proud to co-sponsor this fourth white coat ceremony because we know that only with your research, your creativity, your innovation and your dedication, can we take the biomedical sciences to the next level here in Buffalo, as well as beyond Buffalo,” he said.
Sheehan said he gratefully remembers the mentorship he received as a graduate student in UB’s doctoral program in physiology.
“It’s really my gold standard of mentorship, even though my path led me into medicine,” he said. “I am forever grateful for this mentorship that I had here, and I also know that you too will have great guidance and great mentorship throughout your training.”
“The Alumni Association wants you to keep in mind that along the way, there’s an incredible network here for you.”
The PPBS students are listed below, along with their departments and mentors:
| Student | Department | Mentor |
|---|---|---|
| Hongjoo An | Neuroscience | Yungki Park, PhD |
| Kiana Bynum | Oral Biology | Jason G. Kay, PhD |
| Dietta Luara Chihade | Pharmacology and Toxicology | Arin Bhattacharjee, PhD |
| Nicholas David Clark | Structural Biology | Michael G. Malkowski, PhD |
| David Goich | Microbiology and Immunology | John C. Panepinto, PhD |
| Christopher Raymond Handelmann | Biochemistry | Michael Buck, PhD |
| Emily Blair Ivey | Microbiology and Immunology | Spyridon Stavrou, PhD |
Molly Katherine Martin
| Neuroscience | Arin Bhattacharjee, PhD |
| Roopa Ravichandar | Neuroscience | Fraser J. Sim, PhD |
| Shaina Lorelle Rosenblum | Biochemistry | Daniel J. Kosman, PhD |
| Adam Michael Weaver | Neuroscience | Gabriela K. Popescu, PhD |
The ceremony also honored students in the MD-PhD Program.
The table below lists the students, their departments and mentors:
| Student | Department | Mentor |
|---|---|---|
| Armond June | Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center — Experimental Therapeutics | John Ebos, PhD |
| Seth Moore | Neuroscience | M. Laura Feltri, MD |
| Zachary Weinstock | Neuroscience | Michael G. Dwyer III, PhD |
The PPBS provides an entry portal and a common first-year curriculum, mentoring, hands-on opportunities and financial support.
With its laboratory rotation system, students can explore a variety of disciplines before committing to their specific area of research.