People

The Stratmann Group at Roopa Yalamanchili's Graduation

*Click on bolded names to view more information about that person

Current Group Members

• Dr. Sarah Refi Hind (Postdoctoral research associate)
• Derrick Scott (Ph.D. student)
• Carlton Bequette (Ph.D. student)
• Sarah Pulliam (undergraduate student)
• Azka Nazir (undergraduate student)

Previous Postdoctoral Researchers

• Dr. Pramod Kaitheri-Kandoth, 2004-2007
  Project: Characterization of Systemin-responsive MAP Kinases in Tomato
• Dr. Robert Malinowski, 2005 – 2007<
  Project: Regulation of SR160/tBRI1 by systemin and brassinosteroids.
• Dr. Deepak Shantharaj, 2008 - 2009
  Project: Role of the COP9 Signalosome in Defense Responses in Tomato

Previous Graduate Students

• Susan Holley, M.S. 2003
  Title of Thesis: Regulation of MAP Kinases During the Wound Response in Tomato.
• Roopa Yalamanchili, Ph.D. 2005
  Title of thesis: "Characterization of MAP Kinase Kinases and MAP Kinases Involved in Stress Signaling in Tomato".
• Wayne Miller, M.S. 2009
  Title of Thesis: 'Functional Analysis of MAP Kinase Kinases and a BRL in the Systemin Mediated Wound Response of Solanum lycopersicum by Virus Induced Gene Silencing'
• Rebecca Higgins, Ph.D. 2009
  Title of thesis: “Characterization of the wound-induced signaling pathway in tomato.”
• Sarah Refi Hind, Ph.D. 2010
  Title of thesis: Role of the COP9 Signalosome in Defense Responses in Tomato
• Stefanie Ranf, Dipl.-Biol.; visiting scientist 2003 - 2004
  Project title: 'Virus-induced gene silencing and functional characterization of tomato MAP kinases and MAP kinase kinases'
• Thomas Lockwood, M.S.; visiting scientist 2004
  Project title: 'Is the extracellular alkalinization response required for MAP kinase activation?’

Previous and Current Undergraduate Students

• Chris Henninger, Independent Study (Biol 399); (spring 2001)
• Nga Ta, Independent Study (fall 2001 and spring 2002)
• Susannah Bowling, Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Fellowship (summer 02)
• Natavia Middleton: SCAMP Fellow; Independent Study (summer 02, spring 03)
• Ph.D. from the University of South Alabama (2008).
• Fozail Imran Alvi, Independent Study (fall 2003)
• Sarah Refi Hind (2003-2005)
• SC Honors College Senior Thesis (2003 – 2005)
  Thesis title: Identification of LeMKK4-interacting proteins from tomato.
• First prize, Natural Science Division, Discovery Day at USC 2005
• Laura Grandits, NSF-REU student (summer 2004)
• Suchita Pancholi (2004-2007)
• Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Fellowship (fall 04 & spring 05)
• W. Gordon Belser Scholarship for Botany (2005)
• USC Magellan Scholarship (2006)
  Project title: Analysis of MAP Kinase Activity in Direct and Indirect Defense Responses in Tomato Plants.
• First prize, Natural Science Division, Discovery Day at USC 2006
• SC Honors College Senior Thesis (2007)
  Thesis title: Signal Transduction in Tomato Defense Responses to Herbivorous Insects
• Accepted into USC School of Medicine (2007)
• Wayne Miller
• Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Fellowship (2005/06)
• Independent Study (fall 2005)
• USC Magellan Scholarship (2006)
  Project title: The Role of MKK2 in the systemin signaling pathway in tomato plants.
• W. Gordon Belser Scholarship for Botany (2006)
• Danielle Motley, Independent Study (fall 2005)
• Mia Vatrice Taylor: SCAMP fellow (2006)
• Nekaiya Jacobs: SCAMP fellow (summer 2006; fall 2006 & spring 2007)
• Accepted into Medical University of South Carolina (2008)
• Stephen Bell, NSF-REU student (summer 2007)
• Azka Nazir (Fall 2007 until present)
• Independent Study (Fall 07, Spring 08)
• Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Fellowship (Summer 08)
• Summer 09: NSF-REU fellowship (2009)
• First prize, Natural and Environmental Sciences I, Discovery Day at USC (2010)
• USC Magellan Scholarship (2010)
  Project title: Using MAP Kinase Activity to Determine Responsiveness to Herbivore-Derived Elicitors in the Solanaceae Family
• SC Honors College Senior Thesis scheduled for Spring 2011
• John Yang, Independent Study (fall 2007)
• Sarah Pulliam (Spring 08 until present)
• NSF REU fellowship (2008)
• First prize, Biology and Environmental Sciences, Discovery Day at USC (2009)
• USC Magellan Scholarship (2009)
  Project title: Regulation of the COP9 Signalosome in Response to Stress in Tomato Plants
• Independent Study (Fall 2009)
• National Barry Goldwater Scholarship (2010)
• NSF REU fellowship (2010)
• SC Honors College Senior Thesis scheduled for Spring 2011

High School Students

• Jacqueline Stucker (2005/06)
• STEM program Dutch Fork High School
  Project title: Generation of transgenic tomato plants expressing MAP kinase kinases
• Laverne Piper (Summer 2007)
• Dutch Fork High School
  Project title: Sensitivity of tobacco cells to the wound signaling peptide systemin. (author on PMB 2009 paper)
• Kristina M. Drake (Summer 2009)
• STEM program Dutch Fork High School
  Project title: : 'Does the COP9 signalosome regulate plant responses to ultraviolet-B radiation?'
• Supported by NSF Research Assistantships for High School Students (RAHSS)