Department of Medicinal Chemistry

Stephen Slauson, Ph.D., 2009
Synthesis of Polymer-Supported(-)-Sparteine Derivatives as External Chiral Ligands for Asymmetric Synthesis
Dissertation director, Dr. John M. Rimoldi
Current Position: Post-Doctoral Associate, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kansas (Prof. Jeff Aube)

Monica Love, Ph.D., 2009
Dissertation director: Dr. John S. Williamson

Tuwanda Simmons, Ph.D., 2009
Dissertation director: Dr. Mitchell A. Avery

Sanju Narayanan, Ph.D., 2009
Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel Selective Sigma-2 Receptor Ligands
Dissertation director: Dr. Chris McCurdy
Current Position: Research Scientist, Arena Pharmaceuticals, San Diego CA.

Prasanna Sivaprakasam, Ph.D., 2009
Targeting Signal Transduction Pathways: Farnesyltransferase and Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Inhibitors.
Dissertation director, Dr. Robert Doerksen
Current Position: Research Scientist, Bristol-Myers Squibb

Young B. Kim, Ph.D., 2008
Heteroatom Insertion Reaction of Metal Carbenoids: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation for Protein Kinase C.
Dissertation director, Dr. John M. Rimoldi
Current Position: Post-Doctoral Associate, Department of Chemistry, Texas A & M University (Prof. Brian Connell)

Jessica Adkins, Ph.D., 2008
Analytical Methodology for the Quantitation of Mitragynine and the Fingerprinting of Crude Extracts of Mitragyna speciosa.
Dissertation director: Dr. Chris McCurdy
Current Position: Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Office of Research & Sponsored Programs, University of Mississippi

David Weldon, Ph.D., 2008
The Design, Synthesis, and Biological Results of Novel Peptidomimetics for the Inhibition of Falcipain-2.
Dissertation director: Dr. Mitchell A. Avery
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda, CA.

Tiffany Clark, M.S., 2008
Development of Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Hypoxia Inducible Factor Activation through Pharmacophore Model Development.
Thesis director: Dr. Mitchell A. Avery
Current Position:

Prasenjit Mukherjee, Ph.D., 2008
Use of Molecular Modeling Tools in the Elucidation of Ligand Macromolecular Interactions and Their Applications in Structure-Based Drug Design.
Dissertation director: Dr. Mitchell A. Avery
Current Position: Research Scientist, Novartis

Anand Sridhar, Ph.D., 2008
Structure-Toxicity Relationship Studies of the Sesquiterpene Lactone Repin.
Dissertation director: Dr. John M. Rimoldi
Current Position: Post-Doctoral Associtate, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Illinois, Chicago (Prof. Gregory Thatcher)

Nick Hammond, Ph.D., 2008
Isolation, Semi-synthesis, and Synthesis of Agents for Cancer, HIV, and Malaria.
Dissertation director: Dr. Mitchell A. Avery
Current Position: Chief Technology Officer, Ablitech, Inc.

Nakul Telang, Ph.D., 2007
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Isoflavones as Antigiardial Agents.
Dissertation director: Dr. Mitchell A. Avery
Current Position: Post-Doctoral Associate, University of Richmond.

Akshay Patny, Ph.D., 2007
Design, Molecular Modeling, and Biological Evaluation of Dual Activity Ligands for Angiotensin II Receptor and Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Gamma
Dissertation director: Dr. Mitchell A. Avery
Current Position: Pfizer Global R & D, Structural & Computational Chemistry

Nidhi Singh, Ph.D., 2007
Part A: Protein Modeling in Rational Drug Design: Case Study with Deoxyxylulose Phosphate Reductoisomerase Enzyme. Part B: Delineating a Powerful Virtual Screening Approach for GPCRs: Application to Salvinorin A, a Selective Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonist.
Dissertation director: Dr. Chris McCurdy
Current Position: Post-Doctoral Associate, Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California (Prof. Arieh Warshel)

Neha Vyas Philip, Ph.D., 2007
Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Neuropeptide FF Receptor Ligands.
Dissertation director: Dr. Chris McCurdy
Current Position:

Seoung-Ryoung Choi, Ph.D., 2006
Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Inhibitors of Lactate Dehydrogenase from Plasmodium falciparum.
Dissertation director: Dr. Mitchell A. Avery
Current Position: Post-Doctoral Associate, Department of Chemistry, University of Utah (Prof. C. Dale Poulter).

Cassia S. Mizuno, Ph.D., 2006
"Design and Synthesis of Novel Dual PPAR gamma Agonist/Angiotensin II Antagonist for the Treatment of Type II Diabetes and Hypertension."
Dissertation director: Dr. Mitchell A. Avery
Current Position: USDA ARS

Lindsay D. Odom, Ph.D., 2006
"Reactions of Diazoketones Catalyzed by Rhodium (II): Synthesis of Functionalized Azetidines and Tetrahydrofurans as Potential Protein Kinase C Inhibitors."
Dissertation director: Dr. John M. Rimoldi
Current Position: Research Associate, Core Synthesis Facilty, Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina

Ashok Philip, Ph.D., 2006
"Design, Synthesis, Molecular Modeling and Biological Evaluation of Novel NOP (nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide) Receptor Ligands."
Dissertation director: Dr. Chris McCurdy
Current Position: Assistant Professor, LECOM School of Pharmacy

Li Ze, Ph.D., 2006
"Rational Design, Synthesis of Nonsteroidal Antiprogestins."
Dissertation director: Dr. Mitchell A. Avery
Current Position: Post-Doctoral Associate, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kansas

Ginger P. Powe, Ph.D., 2003
"Chemical Modifications of Spiramycin I at the C-6 Ethyl Aldehyde Position."
Dissertation director: Dr. John S. Williamson
Current Position: Assistant Professor & Coordinator, 2 + 2 Transfer Program
Department of Curriculum and Instruction, North Carolina A & T State University

Maralea Gourley, Ph.D., 2003
"Design and Synthesis of Baterial Type 1 Signal Peptidase Inhibitors."
Dissertation director: Dr. John S. Williamson
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Henderson State University, Arkansas.

Mark S. Levi, Ph.D., 2002
"Ibogaine Analogs as Novel Agents for Addiction Therapy."
Dissertation director: Dr. Ronald F. Borne
Current Position: Research Instructor of Pharm/Tox , University of Arkansas for Medicial Sciences.

Yogesh A. Sabnis, Ph.D., 2002
"Modeling, Design, and Synthesis of Parasitic Cysteine Protease Inhibitors."
Dissertation director: Dr. Mitchell A. Avery
Current Position: Senior Scientist, Pfizer UK.

Tomoko Mineno, Ph.D., 2002
"Rational Design and Synthesis for the Discovery of Novel Antigiardial Agents."
Dissertation director: Dr. Mitchell A. Avery
Current Position: Lecturer, Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sojo University, Kumamoto, Japan.

Mingwei Chen, M.S., 2002
"Synthesis and Bioactivity of Erythromycin Derivatives."
Thesis director: Dr. John S. Williamson
Current Position: Metabasis Therapeutics, San Diego, CA.

John Furr, Ph.D., 2002
"A Novel Method for 3D-QSAR Using Genetically Evolved Molecular Field Data and Artificial Neural Networks."
Dissertation director: Dr. Mitchell A. Avery
Current Position: Computational Chemist, Ensemble Discovery, Boston, MA

Aaron B. Beeler, Ph.D., 2002
"Part I: The Combanitorial Synthesis of a Novel Azetidine Library. Part II: The Parallel Synthesis of a Novel Oxamic Acid Libaray."
Dissertation director: Dr. John M. Rimoldi
Current Position: Research Assistant Professor & Assistant Director, Center for Chemical Methodology and Library Development (CMLD), Department of Chemistry, Boston University.

Theresa Johnson, Ph.D., 2001
"Inhibition of Lactate Dehydrogenase C4: The Design, Synthesis, and Testing of Ligands as an Approach to Male Contraception."
Dissertation director: Dr. Mitchell A. Avery
Current Position: Computational Chemist, Pfizer RTC, Biotherapeutics and Bioinnovation Center, Cambridge, MA

Hetal Mitra, M.S., 2001
"Rational Design and Synthesis of Helicobacter Pylori Urease Inhibitors."
Thesis director: Dr. John S. Williamson
Current Position:

Maria A. Gaston, Ph.D., 2000
"Rational Design and Economic Synthesis of Orally Active Analogs of Artemesinin as Potential Antimalarials."
Dissertation director: Dr. Mitchell A. Avery
Current Position: External Operations Consultant, Eli Lilly & Co., Indianapolis, IN

John Woolfrey, Ph.D., 2000
"Design and Synthesis of Potential Selective Progesterone Receptor Antagonists."
Dissertation director: Dr. Mitchell A. Avery
Current Position: Computational Chemist, Exelexis, San Francisco, CA