Milestones

C. David Allis, a grant from the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation, for research on tumor suppressor activities of ATRX and Daxx mutations through epigenomic profiling and animal models. Dr. Allis, the Joy and Jack Fishman Professor and head of the Laboratory of Chromatin Biology and Epigenetics, will collaborate with scientists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center on the $450,000, two-year project.

Jean-Laurent Casanova, the Seymour and Vivian Milstein Award for Excellence in Interferon and Cytokine Research, for his contributions to the field, including the discovery of a new group of genetic defects that predispose healthy individuals or populations to infection. Dr. Casanova is senior attending physician at The Rockefeller University Hospital and head of the St. Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases.

Robert B. Darnell and Thomas Tuschl, 2012 NIH Director’s Transformative Awards, prestigious five-year grants from the High Risk–High Reward program supported by the National Institutes of Health Common Fund. Dr. Darnell is senior attending physician at The Rockefeller University Hospital, Robert and Harriet Heilbrunn Professor and head of the Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-oncology. The award will support the study of the dysregulation of RNA using his lab’s HITS-CLIP technology and a new method, synaptic translational profiling. Dr. Tuschl, head of the Laboratory of RNA Molecular Biology, will study the interaction network of mRNA-binding transport and shuttling proteins. Drs. Darnell and Tuschl are both Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators.

Jeffrey M. Friedman, the 11th Endocrine Regulation Prize from the Fondation IPSEN, for his discovery of the hormone leptin and its role in regulating body weight. The French foundation awards the prize to a researcher or physician who has carried out work essential to understanding the role of neuroendocrine interactions in regulating metabolic function. Dr. Friedman is Marilyn M. Simpson Professor and head of the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator.

Xin Jin and Tamara Ouspenskaia, International Student Research Fellowships from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The graduate fellows are two of 50 promising individuals from 19 countries being awarded the $43,000 per year fellowship, which supports students from the third through fifth years of graduate school. Ms. Jin, from Cori Bargmann’s Laboratory of Neural Circuits and Behavior, will be exploring the molecular mechanism of food choice imprinting in C. elegans. Ms. Ouspenskaia, of Elaine Fuchs’s Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, will research the crosstalk between cell cycle and cytoskeletal rearrangements during hair follicle morphogenesis.

Daniel Kronauer, Gaby Maimon and Luciano Marraffini, 2012 NIH Director’s New Innovator Awards, prestigious five-year grants from the High Risk–High Reward program supported by the National Institutes of Health Common Fund, given to investigators who are within 10 years of their terminal degree or clinical residency and have not yet received an NIH Research Project Grant. Dr. Kronauer, head of the Laboratory of Insect Social Evolution, will use the grant to develop the ant Cerapachys biroi as a novel genetic model system to study the molecular components that enable individuals to function as a society. Dr. Maimon, head of the Laboratory of Integrative Brain Function, will examine how genes in fruit flies, through their effect on the electrical activity of neurons, influence behavioral choices. Dr. Marraffini, head of the Laboratory of Bacteriology, will study the molecular mechanism and possible applications of CRISPR immunity, a prokaryotic adaptive immune system, using Streptococcus pneumoniae as a model organism.

Jeffrey V. Ravetch, the 2012 Sanofi – Institut Pasteur Award, for discovering mechanisms by which antibodies carry out their diverse biological functions. The award honors four scientists with €120,000, or about $147,000, for their past or ongoing studies advancing understanding of the life sciences. Dr. Ravetch is the Theresa and Eugene M. Lang Professor and head of the Leonard Wagner Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology.

Michael W. Young, the 2012 Massry Prize, for his groundbreaking work on the molecular biology of circadian rhythms. Established by the Meira and Shaul G. Massry Foundation, the prize recognizes outstanding contributions to the biomedical sciences and the advancement of health. Dr. Young shares the honor with Michael Rosbash and Jeffrey C. Hall of Brandeis University, who also study circadian rhythms. He is Richard and Jeanne Fisher Professor and head of the Laboratory of Genetics.

Named:

The American Association of Immunologists’ AAI-Steinman Award for Human Immunology Research, in honor of Ralph M. Steinman. The award, for which Dr. Steinman helped garner sponsorship when it was created in 2004, recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the understanding of immune processes underlying human disease pathogenesis, prevention or therapy. Steinman was senior physician at The Rockefeller University Hospital, Henry G. Kunkel Professor and head of the Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology.

Hired:

Eliza Adams, research assistant, Young Lab.
Sha-har Admoni, visiting student, Vosshall Lab.
Christian Albornoz, research assistant, Greengard Lab.
Roberto Alvarez del Blanco, visiting professor, Magnasco Lab.
Claire Atkinson, postdoctoral associate, Simon Lab.
Felix Baier, research assistant, Vosshall Lab.
Lindsey Baker, postdoctoral associate, Allis Lab.
Anat Barnea, visiting professor, Nottebohm Lab.
Christy Barrow, development assistant I, Development.
Cherise Bernard, assistant technology manager, Technology Transfer.
Ankit Bhatta, research assistant, Rice Lab.
Benedetta Bigio, scientific programmer, Hospital Medical Science.
Lauren Biller, legal assistant, General Counsel.
Alex Brody, research assistant, Greengard Lab.
Claudia Brunetti, postdoctoral associate, Rice Lab.
David Buchholz, postdoctoral associate, Hatten Lab.
Noreen Buckley, director of clinical operations for the vaccine center, Steinman Lab.
Claudia Buitrago Murcia, postdoctoral associate, Coller Lab.
Nathalie Burg, instructor in clinical investigation, Coller Lab.
Scott Campbell, member of the adjunct faculty, Young Lab.
Melanie Cheung, visiting fellow, Nottebohm Lab.
Hachung Chung, postdoctoral associate, Rice Lab.
Louis Cohen, instructor in clinical investigation, Brady Lab.
Mary Ellen Conley, visiting professor, Casanova Lab.
Joel Correa da Rosa, research associate, Krueger Lab.
Maria Cruz de Carvalho, postdoctoral fellow, Chua Lab.
David Darcy, visiting fellow, Simon Lab.
George David, research assistant, Coller Lab.
Molly Deutsch-Feldman, research assistant, Kreek Lab.
Nikhil Dhingra, visiting medical student, Krueger Lab.
Benjamin DiMatteo, development assistant, Development.
Jennifer Drayer, administrative assistant, Information Technology.
Katharina Essig, foreign research intern, Tuschl Lab.
Emily Fan, research assistant, Greengard Lab.
Stephanie Fernandez, dean’s office assistant & SURF coordinator, Dean’s Office.
Robert Finney, postdoctoral associate, Krueger Lab.
Peter Forgacs, instructor in clinical investigation, Pfaff Lab.
Julia Fram, research assistant, Greengard Lab.
Christine Friedman, research assistant, Shaham Lab.
Ilana Gabanyi, visiting student, Mucida Lab.
Cristina Ghenoiu, postdoctoral associate, Funabiki Lab.
William Gibson, research assistant, Papavasiliou Lab.
Melissa Giorgio, security guard, Security.
Erin Glennon, research assistant, McEwen Lab.
Gloria Gordon, lab technician, Vosshall Lab.
Jodi Gresack, research associate, Greengard Lab.
Jenieve Guevarra, research assistant, Tarakhovsky Lab.
Annie Handler, research assistant, Greengard Lab.
Dewi Harjanto, postdoctoral associate, Papavasiliou Lab.
Ryo Hayama, postdoctoral associate, Rout Lab.
Karen Hoary, clinical research nurse, Hospital Nursing Outpatient.
Ana Hocevar Brezavscek, fellow in physics and biology, Feigenbaum Lab.
Leeza Holguin, teacher, Child and Family Center.
Diedra Howson-Barker, manuscript coordinator, JCB, Rockefeller University Press.
A.F.M. Rizwanul Huq, research assistant, Freiwald Lab.
Zintis Inde, research assistant, Greengard Lab.
Michelle Itano, postdoctoral associate, Simon Lab.
Adrian Jacobo, postdoctoral associate, Hudspeth Lab.
David Jordan, postdoctoral associate, Leibler Lab.
Barbara Juncosa, postdoctoral associate, Fischetti Lab.
Aparna Junuthula, evaluation application developer, Hospital Biostatistics.
Hahk-Soo Kang, postdoctoral associate, Brady Lab.
Shengdong Ke, postdoctoral associate, R. Darnell Lab.
Mariko Kobayashi, postdoctoral associate, R. Darnell Lab.
Khalil Koiner, laboratory helper, Media & Glassware Resource Center.
Fabien Lafaille, postdoctoral fellow, Casanova Lab.
Kaamashri Latcha, research assistant, Friedman Lab.
Lily Lau, teacher, Child and Family Center.
Manuel Leonetti, postdoctoral associate, MacKinnon Lab.
Sagi Levy, postdoctoral associate, Bargmann Lab.
Wanhe Li, postdoctoral associate, Young Lab.
Xiangqing Li, research support assistant, Transgenic Services.
Xiaochun Li, postdoctoral associate, Blobel Lab.
Marianne Lovendorf, visiting scientist, Krueger Lab.
Jad Maamary, postdoctoral associate, Ravetch Lab.
Margaret Markey, head teacher, Child and Family Center.
Caitlin McCready, administrative assistant, Office of Academic Affairs.
Michiel Mommersteeg, visiting student, Rice Lab.
Carine Monnier, postdoctoral associate, Ruta Lab.
Juan Monteagudo, visiting scientist, Coller Lab.
Patricia Murphy, member of the adjunct faculty, Young Lab.
Miho Nakajima, postdoctoral associate, Heintz Lab.
Syan Nandi, visiting fellow, Tuschl Lab.
Patrick O’Donoghue, mechanic III, Plant Operations Power House.
Fena Ochs, foreign research intern, de Lange Lab.
Thomas Oh, postdoctoral associate, Rice Lab.
Lynda Olender, director of nursing and patient care services, Hospital Administration.
Joseph Osmundson, postdoctoral associate, Darst Lab.
Joon Seok Park, visiting student, Tarakhovsky Lab.
Frances Quiroz, assistant teacher, Child and Family Center.
William Ramirez, research support assistant, Transgenic Services.
Allison Richards, research assistant, Strickland Lab.
Camille Rogacion, clinical research nurse, Hospital Nursing Outpatient.
Brad Rosenberg, postdoctoral associate, Rice Lab.
Yuki Saito, postdoctoral fellow, R. Darnell Lab.
Roberto Salazar, teacher, Child and Family Center.
Poulami Samai, postdoctoral associate, Marraffini Lab.
Lisa Sandmann, visiting student, Rice Lab.
Kierstin Schmidt, postdoctoral associate, Rice Lab.
Artem Serganov, research assistant, Tuschl Lab.
Elizabeth Sharer, teacher, Child and Family Center.
Syed Shehab, research assistant, Heintz Lab.
Stephen Shepherd, postdoctoral associate, Freiwald Lab.
Vishnuram Shiwpal, supply technician, Comparative Bioscience Center.
Amir Shlomai, instructor in clinical investigation, Rice Lab.
Naglaa Shoukry, visiting associate professor, Rice Lab.
Jessica Sigalow, assistant director, RU Council, Development.
Sulekha Singh, accounts payable analyst, Finance Accounting Services.
Subhash Sinha, member of the adjunct faculty, Greengard Lab.
Yitzhak Spiegel, visiting professor, Shaham Lab.
Ilene Spitzer, senior analyst, Investments.
Jenny Stanwix, clinical research coordinator, Hospital Program Direction.
Richard Stein, postdoctoral associate, Konarska Lab.
Emma Stevens, development assistant I, Development.
Hemant Suryawanshi, visiting student, Tuschl Lab.
Deniz Temel, visiting fellow, Rout Lab.
Mary Thompson, research assistant, Rout Lab.
Melanie Tobin, foreign research intern, Hudspeth Lab.
Alyssa Trochtenberg, research assistant, McEwen Lab.
Sarah Van Driesche, postdoctoral associate, R. Darnell Lab.
Nermarie Velazquez Gonzalez, visiting student, Friedman Lab.
Michael Virk, visiting fellow, Greengard Lab.
Taia Wang, postdoctoral associate, Ravetch Lab.
Benjamin Webb, postdoctoral associate, E.G.D. Cohen Lab.
Wendy Wenderski, research assistant, Allis Lab.
Laura Winzenread, visiting student, Bargmann Lab.
Shannon Wood, head teacher, Child and Family Center.
Leah Yanachek, teacher, Child and Family Center.
Ee-Lynn Yap, research assistant, Greengard Lab.
James Young, member of the adjunct faculty, Nussenzweig Lab.
Galit Yovel, visiting professor, Freiwald Lab.
Steven Zhang, research assistant, Tavazoie Lab.

Promoted (academic appointments):

Sean Brady, to associate professor and head of laboratory, Brady Lab.
Lars Brichta, to senior research associate, Greengard Lab.
Xiaofei Kong, to instructor in clinical investigation, Casanova Lab.
Ivo Melcak, to research assistant professor, Blobel Lab.
Manish Ponda, to assistant professor of clinical investigation, Breslow Lab.
Shai Shaham, to professor and head of laboratory, Shaham Lab.

Promoted:

Luz Alequin, to metabolic cook, Hospital Bionutrition.
Joseph Alonzo, to manager of building services and student housing, Housing Scholars Residence.
Selvin Barrett, to mechanic II, Plant Operations Power House.
Eddy Caraballo, to facility coordinator, Comparative Bioscience Center.
Emmeline Cardozo, to development associate, Development.
Brianna Caszatt, to senior copy editor, Rockefeller University Press.
Camille Clowery, to production coordinator, Rockefeller University Press.
Frank Colosi, to lead mechanic, Plant Operations Maintenance Shop.
Eric Davis, to associate network engineer, Information Technology.
Gina Dipiero, to head teacher, Child and Family Center.
Altiman Dyer, to CBC supervisor, Comparative Bioscience Center.
Maya Frank-Levine, to assistant production editor, Rockefeller University Press.
Cynthia Fuqua, to senior manager administrative post award, Sponsored Research and Program Development.
Carlen Gelfond, to assistant director, development, research and writing, Development.
Allison Goff, to research assistant, Vosshall Lab.
Adriana Gonzalez, to research specialist, Krueger Lab.
Evan Greene, to associate director, development MIS, Development.
Jeffrey Hayward, to associate director of user services, Information Technology.
Peh Hsia, to senior manager, training and program development, Sponsored Research and Program Development.
Betsy Joy, to accounts payable analyst, Finance Accounting Services.
Lisa Kressbach, to senior director, RU Council, Development.
Erika Layfield, to associate director, Parents & Science, Development.
Amanda Martinez, to associate director, Women & Science, Development.
Milorad Martinovic, to chief engineer and manager, Plant Operations Power House.
Mukul Mathur, to senior grants management specialist, Sponsored Research and Program Development.
Marivel Mendez, to senior employment specialist, Human Resources.
Alexa Pomales, to assistant director of the child and family center, Child and Family Center.
Amy Pomerantz, to director, Parents & Science, Development.
Anita Ramnarain, to laboratory manager, Papavasiliou Lab.
Nicholas Riedinger, to information security analyst, Information Technology.
Mark Rinaldi, to human resources associate, Human Resources.
Vincent Romano, to operations lead, Comparative Bioscience Center.
Frank Schaefer, to director, Laboratory Safety and Environmental Health.
Angelica Segui, to head teacher, Child and Family Center.
Peter Selestrin, to assistant chief engineer and assistant manager, Plant Operations Power House.
Naomi Seufert, to facility manager, Comparative Bioscience Center.
Rita Sullivan King, to communications coordinator, Rockefeller University Press.
Melinda Ternei, to research assistant, Brady Lab.
Marlowe Tessmer, to senior editor, JEM, Rockefeller University Press.
Christopher Vancil, to senior identity management and business process engineer, Information Technology.
Yakov Vizelter, to assistant director for helpdesk and AV/media, Information Technology.
Laura Votey, to development associate, Development.
Melvin White, to environmental assistant II, Laboratory Safety and Environmental Health.
Craig Douglas Winton, to voice communications manager, Information Technology.
Maria Woloshyn, to associate, Investments.
Zhu Xue, to research specialist, Roeder Lab.

This publication lists new hires, awards and promotions. Staff promotions are listed yearly; academic promotions and appointments are listed monthly.