Undergraduate Researchers

Illias Shin, 2024-

Leon Li, 2023-

Ahmed Imami, 2023-

Enzo de Jong, 2022- (Chemistry)

Nicholas Edwards, 2021-2022 (Biological Sciences/Music)

Age and Task Modulate Olfactory Sensitivity in the Florida Carpenter Ant, Camponotus floridanus. Stephen T. Ferguson, Issac Bakis, Nicholas D. Edwards, and Laurence J. Zwiebel. Insects (2023)14, 724, https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14090724 Preprint: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.07.18.549561v1

Olfactory sensitivity differentiates morphologically distinct worker castes in Camponotus floridanus. Stephen T. Ferguson, Issac Bakis, Nicholas D. Edwards, and Laurence J. Zwiebel. BMC Biology (2023) 21:3 https://rdcu.be/c20yH. Preprint: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.04.01.486728v1

Katrina Schwensen, 2021 (Chemical Engineering/SyBBURE Searle Undergraduate Fellow).

Isaac Bakis, 2019-2021 (Honors), Currently: Medical Student, Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Advances in the Study of Olfaction in Eusocial Ants. (Review), Stephen T. Ferguson, Isaac Bakis and Laurence J. Zwiebel, Insects (2021) 12(3), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12030252.

Odor Coding of Nestmate Recognition in the Eusocial Ant Camponotus floridanus. Stephen T. Ferguson, Alexandra R. Ruff, Kyu Y. Park, Isaac Bakis and Laurence J. Zwiebel, Journal of Experimental Biology (2020) doi:10.1242/jeb.215400.

Maureen Ubani, 2018-2021. Currently: Medical Student. Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Winston-Salem, NC.

Mackenzie Barker, 2017- 2019 (VUSRP/Honors), Currently: Pediatric Resident, Vanderbilt Medical Center.

Localization of Ammonium Transporters in the Chemosensory System of the Malaria Vector, Anopheles gambiae Reveals Appendage-Specific Specializations. Zi Ye, Feng Liu, Huahua Sun, Mackenzie Barker, R. Jason Pitts and Laurence J. Zwiebel. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2020) May; 120:103360. doi:10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103360. Epub Feb 29, 2020.

Kyu Young Park, 2016- 2019 (VUSRP), Currently: Dentist, Vancouver, Canada.

Yuanchu (James) Yang, 2016-2017 (VUSRP).

Alexandra Ruff, 2014-2017, (Honors), Currently: Resident Physician, Atrium Health Carolinas, Charlotte, NC.

Emily Specht, 2014-2015. Next Position/Currently: Teacher, Brownsville, NY.

Nathan T. Day, 2012-13, Next Position/ Currently: Research Intern, UC San Francisco/Uganda.

Stephen L. Derryberry, 2011- 2013 (Honors, VUSRP), Next Position/ Currently, Surgical Resident, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville TN

Variant Ionotropic Receptors in the Malaria Vector Mosquito Anopheles gambiae Tuned to Amines and Carboxylic Acids. R. Jason Pitts^*, Stephen Derryberry^*, Zhiwei Zhang and Laurence J. Zwiebel. Scientific Reports, 2017 Jan 9; 7: 40297, doi:10.1038/srep40297.

Antennal-Expressed Ammonium Transporters in the Malaria Vector Mosquito Anopheles gambiae. R. Jason Pitts^*, Stephen Derryberry^*, Fadi Pulous and Laurence J. Zwiebel, PLoS ONE 9(10): e111858. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111858.

Mutational Analysis of Cysteine Residues of The Insect Odorant Co-Receptor (Orco) From Drosophila melanogaster Reveals Differential Effects On Agonist- And Odorant/Tuning Receptor-Dependent Activation. Rebecca M. Turner, Stephen L. Derryberry, Brijesh N. Kumar, Thomas Brittain, Laurence J. Zwiebel, Richard D. Newcomb and David L. Christie, Journal of Biological Chemistry jbc.M114.603993. September 30, 2014, doi:10.1074/jbc.M114.603993.

Juan C. Malpartida, 2011-13 (Honors, VUSRP), Next Position/ Currently: Physician (Internal Medicine) Hamilton Medical Center, Dalton GA.

Odorant Receptor-Mediated Sperm Activation in Disease Vector Mosquitoes. R. Jason Pitts^*, Chao Liu^*, Xiaofan Zhou^* Juan C. Malpartida and Laurence J. Zwiebel, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (2014) 111 (7) 2566-2571, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1322923111. Epub 2014 Feb. 3.

Fadi Emad Pulous, 2010-12, Currently: Research Fellow, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA.

Sara Regina Skavroneck, 2010-11, Currently: Resident Physician, Internal Medicine, Carolinas HeathCare System, Charlotte, NC.

Winston Hale, 2010. Currently:

Colby Alexander Davis, 2007-09. Currently: Attorney at Law, Los Angeles, CA.

Patricia Smith, 2007-09. Next Position/ Currently: Teach America.

Catherine Hambelton (Davis), 2006-09, (VUSRP) Currently: General Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Baylor Scott & White Surgical Oncology Specialists – Dallas, TX.

Melissa Zhu (Murphy), 2006-2008. Currently: Anesthesiology and Pain Management, North Texas Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Grapeville TX

Laura Chretin, 2006-2008 (Honors, VUSRP), Currently: Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Fredericksburg, VA.

Taha Jan, 2004-2007 (Honors, VUSRP), Currently: Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology /Neurotology, Vanderbilt University Medical School, Nashville TN

A Functional Role for Anopheles gambiae Arrestin 1 in Olfactory Signal Transduction. William B. Walker, Elaine M. Smith, Taha Jan and L.J. Zwiebel. J. Insect Physiology (2008) April; 54(4): 680-690.

Daniella Buscariollo, 2005-2007 (Honors), MD, Vanderbilt University. Currently: Radiation Oncologist, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA.

The Molecular and Cellular Basis of Olfactory Behavior in Anopheles gambiae Larvae. Yuanfeng Xia^*, Guirong Wang^*, Daniela Buscariollo, R. Jason Pitts, Heidi Wegner and L. J. Zwiebel. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, (2008) Apr 29;105(17):6433-8. Epub 2008 Apr 21.

Brittany Guy, 2002-2005, (VUSRP) Next Position/ Currently: MPH student, Washington University, MO.

Jordan Knepper, 2003-2005 (Honors), Next Position/ Currently: MD, Vascular Neurosurgery, Jackson, Michigan.

Tracey Sherertz, 2001-2003 (Honors), Currently: Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco.

Odorant-Specific Requirements for Arrestin Function in Drosophila Olfaction. Elaine C. Merrill, E.C., Tracey Sherertz, William B. Walker and L.J. Zwiebel, J. Neurobiology (2005) 63(1) 15-28.

The Zwiebel Lab