Liz Azzato   W&J College, Class of 2002

 B.A. in Biology

Currently a medical student at Duke University on a leave of absence to pursue a Ph.D. through the National Institutes of Health.

- Studying genetic epidemology at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)- University of Cambridge (UK) Graduate Partnership Program.

Garret Cooper   W&J College, Class of 2003

 B.A. in Cell & Molecular Biology and Psychology

Fourth year M.D./Ph.D. student at West Virginia University

- Studying in Dr. Ben Ramsden's lab in the Neuroscience Department

- Research focus deals with connectivity of neurons within the visual cortex, using techniques ranging from neurosurgical protocols, to computer programming, to immunohistochemical work on brain slices.

Kristen Ondecko Ligda    W&J College, Class of 2003

                           B.A. in Biology and Spanish

She is a fourth year medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, VA.  She is pursuing a career in Anesthesiology.  She presently serves as the Student Director on the Medical Society of Virginia Board of Directors and is the Immediate-Past Representative to the American Medical Association's Women Physician Congress Governing Council.  She was married on August 12, 2006.  She hopes to come back to PA to UPMC for her residency in anesthesiology.

Rocco Serrao   W&J College, Class of 2004

 B.A. in Biochemistry

Third-year clerkship in the Univeristy of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Liz Jenkins  W&J College, Class of 2004

 B.A. in Biology

Masters in Genetic Counseling, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health 2004-2006

- Currently working as a Genetic Counselor in Medical Genetics Department of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

- Focusing on children with various genetic conditions including inborn errors of metabolism, lysosomal storage diseases, connective tissue disorders, and basic dysmorphology.

Alex Sawchuk   W&J College, Class of 2004

 B.A. in Cell and Molecular Biology

Masters in Science Education, University of Pittsburgh

- Currently teaching Biology, Applied Sciene, and Environmental Science at Valley High School in New Kensington, Pennsylvania.

- Inducted into Pi Lambda Theta, the International Honor Society and Professional Association in Education.

- Engaged to marry fellow W&J Alum in June 2007

Justin Smith   W&J College, Class of 2005

 B.a. in Biochemistry

Second year Ph.D. graduate student at The John Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

- Conducting research in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) lab studying the cell wall stress integrity signaling pathway.

Kristina Tarasan   W&J College, Class of 2005

 B.A. in Biology

Working to obtain her Master's in Biology at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania with a focus on Conservation Biology and Environmental Education

- Spent a year off interning for the Roots & Shoots program at the Jane Goodall Institute after graduation

Emily Bloom   W&J College, Class of 2006

 B.A. in Conservation Biology (thematic) and Spanish, Minor in Environmental Studies

Serving a year as Watershed Technician with a local Americorps Chapter called the Pennsylvania Mountain Service Corp at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Freshwater Conservation Program located in Blairsville, PA.

- Responsible for visual assessments of stream habitats and identification of possible impairments, chemical, and macro invertebrate stream sampling, sorting and identification, data entry, and public outreach.

- Taking the lead on a Coldwater Conservation Plan for Laurel Run in Somerset County, funded by a grant from the Coldwater Heritage Partnership.

Chris Edwards W&J College, Class of 2006

 B.A. in General Biology

Currently working as a Lab Technician at Magee-Women's Research Institute as a part of a fellow alum Dr. Gary Silverman's research team located in Oakland, Pennsylvania.

- Focused on developing a skin infection model in serpinb3a knock-out mice in order to investigate the human squamous cell carcinoma antigen orthologue

- Applying to med school for matriculation in fall of 2007

- Received Walker Kirby scholarship award as one of the 16 finalists for the Draddy Trophy, the "Academic Heisman"

Steve Harper   W&J College, Class of 2006

 B.A. in Biology

Currently seeking the Doctorate in Pharmacy at the University of Charleston and slated for graduation in 2010.

Bonnie McGill   W&J College, Class of 2006

 B.A. in General Biology

Currently working as Dr. Saara DeWalt's lab technician at Clemson University, South Carolina. 

- Spends time both on campus in DeWalt's lab as well as on the tropical island of Dominica in the Lesser Antilles.  In Dominica, Dr. DeWalt and Dr. Kalan Ickes are investigating tropical forest dynamics by establishing long-term tree and liana plots at mid-elevation in tropical rain forest across the island.  While at Clemson, she is running samples in the lab on Dr. DeWalt's research involving the biogeography of the invasive Chinese Tallow Tree.  

- Will be doing field work on the reservoir islands in Lake J. Strom Thurmond and Lake Richard B. Russell this coming spring and summer as a part of Dr. DeWalt's study on the invasability of reservoir islands along the South Carolina/Georgia border.

- Also, she desgined and currently maintains Dr. DeWalt's new lab website(http://www.clemson.edu/biosci/sdewalt).