Adam Abdulally
University of Pittsburgh, Bioengineering

Adam is interning with Garth Ehrlich, Ph.D., at the Allegheny Singer Research Institute, where his research will involve various aspects of bone tissue engineering, including using genetically engineered osteoblasts to test ability to promote bone growth in an animal model of bone nonunion.

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Shawn Badlani
Harvard University, Economics/Pre-Med

An intern with Johnny Huard, Ph.D., at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Department of Growth and Development Laboratory, Shawn is working on advance treatment in muscular disease such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Shawn will be a junior at Harvard University, Boston, and majoring in Economics and Pre-Med. He enjoys soccer, golf and writing. He would like to spend his weekends taking in a Pirate game, shopping and dining at the Waterfront.

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Joel Bigley
Grove City College, Molecular Biology

Joel completed his junior year at Grove City College this fall. His internship will be with Sudha Agarwal, MD, Ph.D., at the University of Pittsburgh, where his research will focus on the use of biocompatible and biodegradable materials for the preparation of tissue-engineered scaffolds to deliver autogenous cells and/or growth factors. Joel's hobbies are rock climbing, kayaking, playing the guitar and video games and he also enjoys whitewater rafting and a Pirates game on the weekends.

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Greg Botta
Carnegie Mellon University, Information Systems and Biomedical Health

A senior at Carnegie Mellon University, Gregory will be interning with Robert Parker, Ph.D., at the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Chemical Engineering. Gregory's work will involve mathematical modeling of the human body with a focus on insulin-dependent diabetes or cancer. With his free time, Gregory likes to scuba dive, cook and play football. The perfect weekend for Gregory would be rock climbing and spending the night on the town.

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Joseph Buccina
Williams College, Biology

Joseph will be a junior at Williams College, and is majoring in Biology. He is interning with Joseph Ahearn, MD, at the University of Pittsburgh, Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, where his research will focus on areas of immunology and autoimmune diseases. Joseph enjoys ultimate Frisbee, squash and politics. He would like to spend his weekends at a Pirates game or a softball game with lunch or dinner.

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Pauline Cichon
John Carroll University, Biology/Pre-Med

A biology/Pre-med major, Pauline (nicknamed Polly) will begin her senior year at John Carroll University this fall. She will spend her summer working in the laboratory of Saleem Khan, Ph.D., at the University of Pittsburgh, where she will be investigating the E2 gene/protein of HPV for the gene/protein therapy of HPV-induced cervical cancers. Pauline enjoys tutoring elementary children and volunteering at nursing homes. She loves spending her weekends touring different hospitals.

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Erin Cobain
Davidson College, Biochemistry

Erin will spend the summer working in the laboratory of Leaf Huang, Ph.D., at the University of Pittsburgh, where her research will focus mainly on overcoming the inflammatory toxicity of cationic liposomemediated gene therapy. She is a biochemistry major, and will be a sophomore at Davidson College. Erin enjoys playing the piano, singing, dancing, and listening to classical music.

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Dana Furst
Allegheny College, Biology

This summer will find Dana working with Christopher Niyibizi, Ph.D., at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine. She will be a senior at Allegheny College in the fall, where she is majoring in biology. Dana enjoys reading and music. One of her favorite activities for a weekend afternoon in Pittsburgh is shopping, dinner and a movie, she also enjoys a Pirates game, plays, or shows.

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William Ross Green
Lehigh University, Bioengineering

William is an intern with Lars Gilbertson, Ph.D., at the University of Pittsburgh this summer. The project that William will be involved with is entitled, "Tissue Engineering the Intervertebral Disc", and it involves in-vitro organ cultures of the rabbit disc. A junior this fall at Lehigh University, majoring in Bioengineering, William enjoys, swimming, biking, and basketball. He also enjoys a sandwich at Primanti Brother's.

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Dominic Mantella
Carnegie Mellon University, Biology

A senior this fall at Carnegie Mellon University, majoring in Biological Science, Domenic will intern with Paula Clemens, M.D., at the University of Pittsburgh. His focus will be gene delivery to striated muscle. Baseball, golf , music, and movies --especially action and comedy -- are among Domenic's interests. He believes that a fun afternoon Pittsburgh includes a ride on the Duquesne incline or a trip to the Carnegie Science Center.

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Emily Miner
University of Pittsburgh, Bioengineering

Emily is an intern this summer with David Vorp, Ph.D., at the University of Pittsburgh, and is working on isolation, characterization and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells for use in vascular tissue engineering. Emily interests include: lacrosse, soccer, running, and �just being� with friends. On a weekend afternoon in Pittsburgh, Emily likes to attend either a Steelers or Pirates game.

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Kristen Moffat
Carnegie Mellon University, Materials Science and Engineering

Kristen will intern with Savio Woo, Ph.D., at the University of Pittsburgh, where she will focus on novel ways to enhance the understanding of mechanisms of ligament healing. She will be beginning her senior year this fall at Carnegie Mellon University, where she is majoring in Biomedical and Health Engineering. Her future plans include attending graduate school. Kristen also enjoys exercising and going to Kennywood or Sandcastle.

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David Montag
Case Western Reserve University, Biomedical

David will be a senior at Case Western Reserve University, whose major is biomedical engineering. This summer, he is working with Yunhua Hu, Ph.D., at Carnegie Mellon University, where he will be researching tissue engineering approaches to regenerate bone defects, which involves laboratory produced constructs that consist of porous biomimetic matrix, osteo-potential cells within the matrix, and appropriate �cueing� growth factors. David enjoys Taekwon-Do. A great weekend get-away would include a trip to the museum

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Matthew Niederst
Allegheny College, Biology/Engineering

A biology major, Matthew will begin his junior year at Allegheny College this fall. He will spend his summer working in the laboratory of Yingtian Pan, Ph.D., at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine. He will assist in research projects focused on biological tissue imaging/endoscopy; microscopy; image acquisition/analysis; and documentation as related to cancer detection and the noninvasive assessment of engineering tissue growth and incorporation. Matthew's hobbies are track and golf. He believes the best way to spend a weekend in Pittsburgh is at PNC Park watching a Pirate game.

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Nicole Paga
Rochester Institute of Technology

Nicole will be a junior at Rochester Institute of Technology, majoring in biology/biotechnology. She is interning with James Wang, MD, Ph.D., at UPMC Musculoskeletal Research Center, where she will gain knowledge as related to the basic mechanism of tissue wound healing, utilizing a tissue engineering approach. Her investigations will entail a study of the fibroblast construction using cellular tone monitor.

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Miranda Sarachine
Allegheny College, Biology

An intern with Richard Somiari, Ph.D., at the Windber Research Institute, Miranda's focus will be finding cures for genetic and metabolic diseases with a large area of research focused on breast cancer diagnostics and treatment. Miranda will be a junior at Allegheny College this fall, majoring in biology. Her interests are volleyball, running and sorority-Alpha Chi Omega. She future plans include attending medical school.

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Sean Sullivan
University of Notre Dame, Chemical Engineering

Sean will spend the summer working in the laboratory of William Federspiel, Ph.D., at the University of Pittsburgh's Biotechnology Center, where he will assist in research on the next generation of artificial lung technology. He is a chemical engineering major at the University of Notre Dame. Sean enjoys basketball, football, and movies.

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Brad Tebbets
Rochester Institute of Technology, Biotechnology

Brad, who will be a junior this fall at Rochester Institute of Technology, is majoring in biotechnology and will intern with John Doctor, Ph.D, at Duquesne University. His research focus will be on bone regeneration using adult mesenchymal stem cells. Brad enjoys basketball, the Simpsons, baseball, and chatting on AOL instant messenger. He believes some of the best ways to spend a weekend in Pittsburgh is to picnic, take in a Pirates game, or golf.

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Charles Joseph Vukotich, III
Northwestern University, Biomedical Engineering

Charles completed his junior year at Northwestern University in June and is looking forward to his senior year. He is interning with Kacey Marra, Ph.D., at Carnegie Mellon University, Institute for Complex Engineering Systems. During his summer internship, under the tutelage of Dr. Marra, Charles' research will focus on fabricating polymer microspheres for drug/growth factor encapsulation and assessing release kinetics of growth factors in presence of fibrin clot. Charles' future career and education considerations include either attending a graduate program involving prosthetics, enabling him to move into industry or research, or attending medical school.