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Our Faculty

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    Barry D. Waterhouse, Ph.D., Professor & Chair, Cell Biology & Neuroscience

    • Role of the central monominergic systems in brain function & behavior.


    Rowan Medicine Building, Suite 2200: 856-566-6407
    Science Center, 226: 856-566-6039
    waterhouse@rowan.edu

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    Carl E. Hock, Ph.D., Professor, Senior Associate Dean for Research & GSBS

    • Effect of humoral mediators and inflammatory cells in the pathophysiology of ischemic states
    • Effects of dietary lipids on cardiovascular function
    • Response of the young and aging heart to ischemia and reperfusion


    RowanMedicine Building, Suite 2200: 856-566-6073
    hock@rowan.edu

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    Michael Anikin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

    • Mechanisms of transcription
    • RNA polymerase structure and function; mitochondrial transcription


    Science Center, 207B: 856-566-6326
    anikinmi@rowan.edu

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    Sergei Borukhov, Ph.D., Associate Professor

    • Molecular mechanisms of transcription and its regulation
    • Structure and function of bacterial transcription factors GreA, GreB, Gfh1 and DksA that modulate the catalytic activities of RNA polymerase


    Science Center, 108B: 856-566-6271
    borukhse@rowan.edu

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    Rocco V. Carsia, Ph.D., Associate Professor

    • Regulation of adrenocortical function in lizards and birds
    • Mechanisms of adrenocortical remodeling with stress and endocrine alterations


    Rowan Medicine Building, Office 3910: 856-566-6811
    carsiaro@rowan.edu

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    Daniel J. Chandler, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

    • Organizational & functional properties of the central monoaminergic projection systems.
    • How central monoaminergic projection systems adapt in response to stress.


    Science Center, 217: 856-566-6054
    chandlerd@rowan.edu

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    David Devilbiss, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

    • Role of neuromodulators in shaping the neural dynamics of cognitive and behavioral flexibility.
    • Electrophysiological signatures of cognitive dysfunction and therapeutics.
    • Mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction following concussion and mild traumatic brain injury.


    Science Center, 220: 856-566-6813
    devilbiss@rowan.edu

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    Jeremy Francis, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

    • Pathogenic mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases in an effort to identify avenues of therapeutic intervention
    • Gene and cell-based therapies in animal models of disease to create a foundation for possible clinical application


    Science Center, 253: 856-566-6905
    francijs@rowan.edu

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    Hristo Houbaviy, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

    • Functions of microRNA and other related short RNAs in embryonic stem cells during early embryogenesis in the mouse


    UEC Building, Office 1107: 856-566-6847
    houbavhr@rowan.edu

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    Paola Leone, Ph.D., Professor

    • Pathophysiology of Canavan Disease and Metachromatic leukodystrophy
    • Gene therapy of neurodegenerative diseases


    Science Center, 250: 856-566-6334
    leaonepa@rowan.edu

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    Jessica A. Loweth, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

    • Effects of chronic stress exposure on relapse vulnerability in an animal model of craving and relapse
    • Identifying neuroadaptations that promote resilience and reduce vulnerability to stress- and cue-induced craving and relapse


    Science Center, 290A: 856-566-7130
    loweth@rowan.edu

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    Daniel Manvich, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

    • Behavioral pharmacology of psychostimulants, opioids, and other drugs of abuse.
    • Neurobiological mechanisms underlying stress-induced relapse to drug use.


    Science Center, 206: 856-566-6424
    manvich@rowan.edu 

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    Dmitriy Markov, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

    • Factors that regulation yeast mitochondrial transcription in response to stress.
    • Mitochondrial metabolism and migration in neural tissue.
    • Regulation of catecholamine storage in response to neurostimulants.


    Science Center, 203B: 856-566-6915
    markovdm@rowan.edu

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    Sean Michael McBride, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor

    • Organizational & functional properties of the central monoaminergic projection systems.
    • How central monoaminergic projection systems adapt in response to stress.


    Science Center, 211A: 856-566-6847
    mcbrides2@rowan.edu

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    Rachel Navarra, Ph.D., Instructor     

    • Effects of catecholamine neurotransmission on electrophysiological indices of sensory signal processing.
    • Effects of performance enhancing drugs on behavior in preclinical rodent models of cognition.
    • The impact of the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine system on sensory-guided goal-directed behaviors. 


    Science Center, 226: 856-566-6829
    navarra@rowan.edu

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    Dimitri Pestov, Ph.D., Associate Professor

    • Mechanisms of ribosome assembly
    • Ribosome biogenesis in mammalian cells


    Science Center, 104B: 856-566-6904
    pestovdg@rowan.edu

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    Deborah Podolin, Ph.D., Associate Professor & Vice Chair of Education

    • Course Director of Medical Physiology.
    • Teaches Endocrine Pharmacology.
    • Lecturer in the Graduate School in Exercise Physiology, Pharmacology and Fundamentals of Systems Biology.


    Rowan Medicine Building, Suite 2200A: 856-566-6361
    podolide@rowan.edu

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    Benjamin Rood, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

    • Behavioral Neurobiology
    • Monoamine Transmitter Systems
    • Stress & Anxiety


    Science Center, 206A: 856-566-6918
    rood@rowan.edu 

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    Natalia Shcherbik, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

    • Investigation of mechanisms of ribosome degradation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
    • Regulation of protein expression via ubiquitination.


    Science Center, 145A: 856-566-6914
    shcherna@rowan.edu

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    Bernd W. Spur, Ph.D., Associate Professor

    • Synthesis and biological activities of lipid mediators of inflammation: Isoprostanes, Neuroprostanes, Phytoprostanes, Leukotrienes and Prostaglandins
    • Synthesis of lipid mediators of resolution: Lipoxins, Resolvins, Neuroprotectins and Maresins
    • Clinical studies in areas of inflammation including Autism, Asthma and Alzheimer's disease.


    Science Center, 102A: 856-566-7016
    spurbw@rowan.edu

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    Venkat Venkataraman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

    • Cell communication – how cells receive signals and decipher them to respond in an appropriate fashion
    • Communication in neuronal cells – both central and peripheral


    Science Center, 205: 856-566-6418
    venkatar@rowan.edu

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    James White, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

    Rowan Medicine Building, Suite 2200: 856-566-6231

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    Kingsley Yin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

    • Inflammation resolution in sepsis.
    • Beneficial effects of Lipoxin A4 in resolving inflammation during sepsis. 


    Science Center, 210: 856-566-6978        
    yinki@rowan.edu