Current Students
HUNTER EBY (MD-PhD)
Thesis adviser: Rammohan Shukla/Robert Smith
Education: BS in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Toledo, MSBS in Bioinformatics
from the University of Toledo.
Research Interests: My main focus has been looking at the transcriptional profile of patients with schizophrenia
and performing large scale data analysis. I am also developing software in which I
hope to help researchers find new and unique gene sets with the help of Gene Set Enrichment
analysis and Text mining for hypothesis driving experimentation.
Contact: hunter.eby@rockets.utoledo.edu
Ali Imami (phd)
Thesis adviser: Dr. Robert Smith
Education: MB BS, Nishtar Medical College (Multan), University of Health Sciences (Lahore), MSBS
in Bioinformatics, University of Toledo.
Research Interests: In the Neuroscience domain, I am interested in understanding the pathogenesis of Schizophrenia
at the molecular level. In the Bioinformatics domain, I am interested in integrating
multi-omics data from "single"-ome data to generate network level insights. I am also
interested in developing applications to make it easier for biologists and the general
public to make sense of the deluge of data being generated on a daily basis in manageable
and meaningful way.
Contact: ali.imami@rockets.utoledo.edu
ALEXANDRA KRUZEL (BS-MSBS PIPELINE)
Thesis adviser: Dr. Robert Smith
Education: BS/in Biology from the University of Toledo
Research Interests: “Currently studying the relationship between phagocytosis and neurodegenerative diseases”
Contact: alexandra.kruzel@rockets.utoledo.edu
Jessica Tschantz (MS - MSBS Pipeline)
Thesis adviser: TBD
Education: Currently a third year student in the BS Biology-MS Bioinformatics pipeline program with a minor in Chemistry at the University
of Toledo
Research Interests: Applied research of bioinformatics/genomics in pharmacology
Contact: jessica.tschantz@rockets.utoledo.edu
emily crossly (ms-msbs pipeline)
Thesis Advisor: TBD
Education:
Reasearch Interests:
Contact: emily.crossley@rockets.utoledo.edu
william george ryan (msbs-PhD)
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Robert Smith
Education:
AA Lakeland Community College, BS in Biomedical Science with a minor in Chemistry
form the University of Akron
Research Interests: Currently, I'm a member of the Cognitive Disorders Research Laboratory studying "dark"
kinases and the importance of kinase networks.
Contact: William.Ryan2@rockets.utoledo.edu
Taylen oasis arvay (ms-msbs pipeline)
Thesis Advisor: TBD
Education: 
Currently Pipeline Student BS in Biology/MSBS in Bioinformatics
Research Interests: I research in the Crawley Cell Biology Lab here at UT. "I play violin in the University of Toledo’s Symphony Orchestra, as well as have an
interest in pursuing genetic research in the future. "
Contact: Taylen.Arvay@rockets.utoledo.edu
Gabby vento (PhD)
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Elissar Andari
Education: BS Neuroscience with Minor in Science from Bowling Green State University, MS in
Biology from
BGSU, Graduate Certificate in Bioinformatics from BGSU/UT.
Research Interests: Multimodal models of Autism Spectrum Disorder Subtypes using Multiomics approaches
Contact: Christopher.Vento@rockets.utoledo.edu
Jennifer Nguyen (phd)
Thesis Advisor: Dr. James Burkett
Education: Research Interests: BSPH in Clinical Trials Research at Kent State University, MS
in Biostatistics at Case Western Reserve University
Research Interests: Design multi-omics approach to identify and target genes associated with autism spectrum
disorder (ASD). Gene-environment interactions in ASD.
Contact: jennifer.nguyen@rockets.utoledo.edu
Marziyeh salehi jahromi (msbs)
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Hill & Dr. Robert Smith
Education: BS in Biology Mohaghegh University, Iran.
MS in Molecular Biology from Tehran University, Iran,
Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine from Shahid Beheshti Medical University, Iran.
Research Interest: Metabolism and Reproduction
Contact: Marziyeh.Jahromi@rockets.utoledo.edu