Our Students

Student Profiles

Students — undergraduates, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows — form an integral part of Dartmouth's Toxic Metals Research Program. Working closely with their mentors, students contribute to faculty researchers' work while also having the opportunity to pursue their own interests. In addition to working with researchers, students actively participate in all aspects of our outreach activities.

Below are profiles of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who have been part of the Toxic Metals Research Program since 1999. Undergraduate students involved in research and community outreach are included as well. In addition to each profile, many of the recent students are described in longer student-written features, which are geared toward a general audience.

Post-doctoral
Julie Gosse, PhD
Anne Spuches, PhD
Joseph Shaw, PhD
Anne Rich, PhD
Angeline Andrew, PhD
Björn Klaue, PhD

Graduate
Athena Nomikos
James Jukosky
Roxanne Karimi
Nicole Soucy
Paul Pickhardt, PhD
Stephen Peters
Ronald C. Kaltreider
Jennifer A. Shumilla
Hillary Young

Undergraduate
Kaili Temple
Alisa Davis
Lauren Kingsley
Caryn Barnet
Katherine Harrison
Bethany Fleishman
Peter Ostendorp
Audrey Campbell
Salil Sharma
Brian Zhao
Emily Sharp
Danielle Bird

PostDoctoral

Julie Gosse, PhD

Postdoctoral Researcher

Previous education: Cornell University, PhD

Mentors: Joshua Hamilton Ph.D, Department of Pharmacology/ Toxicology; Jack Bodwell Ph.D., Department of Physiology Thesis: Toxicogenomics of arsenic in telomerase-immortalized primary cell lines; Mechanism of endocrine disruption by arsenic

Research Focus: Julie is exploring toxicogenomics, the sub-discipline that combines toxicology (the study of the nature and effects of poisons) with genomics (the investigation of how the genome translates into biological functions), of long-term low-dose exposure to arsenic on normal (non-cancerous) human cells. Additionally, in a collaboration between Jack Bodwell's and Joshua Hamilton's labs, Julie is examining the molecular mechanism by which arsenic, a known endocrine disruptor, alters glucocorticoid receptor-mediated gene activation. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a cytosolic protein that becomes activated by the presence of steroids in the cell, moves into the nucleus and binds to specific gene promoters, starting the process of gene transcription. Julie is monitoring how this mechanism is affected by arsenic by using fluorescence polarization, a form of light spectroscopy, to measure the bond between the GR and the DNA promoter.

Anne Spuches, PhD

Anne M. Spuches, PhD

Postdoctoral researcher

Previous education: Yale University, PhD

Mentor: Dean Wilcox Ph.D., Department of Chemistry

Thesis: Thermodynamics of As(III)-Thiol Interactions: Arsenite and Monomethylarsenite Binding to Glutathione, Dihydrolipoic Acid and other Thiol Ligands

Research focus: Anne is using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) to understand the interactions between arsenic and thiols and the implications for arsenic toxicity in cells. Thiols are a group of sulfur-containing ligands, or molecules that bind to receptor proteins. Thiols bind easily to metals such as arsenic, and Anne is trying to understand how this affects the toxicity of arsenic in cells. Some thiols may play a role in reducing the toxicity of arsenic by binding to the metal and sequestering it. Other thiols are enzyme co-factors and if they bind to arsenic, enzyme activity can be disrupted—bad news for the cell. Isothermal titration calorimetry, or ITC, is a technique used to measure the minute temperature changes that occur when two molecules interact. In Anne's research, ITC is used to measure the heat absorbed or released when arsenic binds to different thiols. By measuring the heat, Anne can determine how strong and stable the interaction is, which will help her better understand exactly what these thiol-arsenic interactions mean for the cell. MORE-->

Joseph Shaw, PhD

Postdoctoral Researcher

Previous education: Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky, PhD

Mentors: Joshua Hamilton Ph.D, Department of Pharmacology/ Toxicology; Carol Folt Ph.D., Department of Biological Sciences Thesis: Toxicogenomics of metals in Daphnia; biomarkers development; effects of As on CFTR

Research Focus: Joe is involved with several projects within the Toxic Metals Research Program. In the laboratories of Joshua Hamilton and Carol Folt he is exploring the mechanisms, as well as the limits of metal tolerance exhibited by some populations of Daphnia. Joe is a Co-PI on the NSF funded Daphnia Biocomplexity grant aimed at linking genomic and population -level responses of Daphnia exposed to metals. Through this project he is working to expand the 'genomic toolbox' for Daphnia. As part of this effort he and others from Dartmouth worked with an international group of scientists headed by Michael Lynch at Indiana University to form the Daphnia Genomics Consortium. Joe's work involves characterizing differences between physiological (short-term) acclimation and genetic (long-term) adaptation in laboratory and field populations of Daphnia exposed to metals. This includes resurrecting Daphnia cysts from up to 200 years ago and comparing their genomes to Daphnia of today. By bracketing these on either side of metal deposition events, Joe is able to track exposure and effects at a variety of biological levels across time. In the laboratories of Bruce Stanton and Josh Hamilton, Joe has been working with killifish to examine the effects and mechanisms of arsenic poisoning. This includes investigating the effects of arsenic on cortisol mediated expression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator. CFTR is one component in an ionoregulatory cascade that allows killifish to make rapid transitions between fresh and saline waters. MORE-->

Anne Rich, PhD

Post-doctoral fellowship completed 2003

Previous education: University College London, Post-doctoral fellowship

Mentor: Dean Wilcox Ph.D., Department of Chemistry

Thesis: Metal modification of transcription factor function

Research focus: Anne has been using isothermal titration calorimetry to monitor the thermodynamic changes that occur when zinc fingers interact with other metals, specifically cadmium, lead, and arsenic, in order to determine the affinities these metals have for replacing zinc. Zinc fingers, important components of transcription factor proteins, require highly specific conformation in order to bind properly with strands of DNA. Replacement of the stabilizing zinc ion by these toxic metals could explain, in part, their toxicity. MORE-->

Angeline Andrew, PhD

PhD completed 2001, Post-doctoral fellowship completed 2002

Previous education: Tufts University, BS

PhD mentor: Aaron Barchowsky, PhD, Department of Pharmacology/ Toxicology

PhD thesis: Mechanisms for the regulation of fibrinolysis and cytokine expression by nickel

Research focus: Angeline's research focused on increasing our understanding of the underlying cellular, biochemical, and molecular processes leading to nickel- induced disease. This research will aid the development of useful biomarkers for nickel effects and will increase the understanding of mechanisms for nickel-induced disease. MORE-->

Bjorn Klaue, PhD

Post-doctoral fellowship completed 2000

Previous Education: University of Hamburg, PhD

Mentor: Joel D. Blum, PhD, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Research Focus: Björn's background in analytical chemistry and particularly the analysis of toxic metals in airborne particulate matter was extremely important for the fast implementation of the Toxic Metals Research Program (Superfund Basic Research Program) at Dartmouth. Together with Paul Pickhardt, he initiated the use of enriched stable isotope spiking tank experiments, which will provide unambiguous data about the fate and transport of toxic metals through the aquatic food web systems. MORE-->

Graduate

Athena Nomikos

PhD completion expected 2009

Previous education: Boston University, BA

Mentor: Joshua Hamilton Ph.D

Research Focus: In Joshua Hamilton's lab, Athena has been investigating the conditions under which arsenic disrupts thyroid receptor-mediated gene transcription. Previous work has shown that arsenic is an endocrine disruptor which alters steroid receptor-driven gene activation. The thyroid receptor plays an important role in development and metabolism, so its dysregulation may have pathophysiological effects. She has shown that the transcription of endogenous thyroid receptor-driven genes is altered by arsenic. In addition to endocrine disruption, the Hamilton lab is interested in other biological effects of low-dose arsenic, including the question of whether or not it may serve an essential biological role. Currently there are no data strongly suggesting that arsenic is or is not essential, and any beneficial biochemical role is unknown. Athena and others are investigating the effects of low-dose inorganic arsenic in drinking water and of both organic and inorganic arsenic in food on mice. Tissue samples from the mice will be subjected to microarray analysis to determine differences in gene expression patterns among the treatment groups. These data will point to the molecular mechanisms of low-dose arsenic toxicology, including endocrine disruption, and will provide important information about any differences due to exposure route (food vs. water, organic vs. inorganic arsenic). Also, if arsenic is truly essential, biochemical pathways involved in its essentiality, in addition to its toxicology, will emerge from these sensitive toxicogenomic assays. Future plans involve careful whole-animal studies to look for reproductive or developmental problems due to a complete lack of dietary arsenic, as further key tests of arsenic's potential essentiality.

James Jukosky

PhD completion expected 2006

Previous education: University of New Hampshire, BS

Mentor: Carol Folt Ph.D, Department of Biological Sciences

Thesis: Comparing routes of mercury exposure and elimination in freshwater copepods and cladocerans Research focus: Jamie is currently investigating the roles that physiological parameters, such as metabolic rates and metal assimilation efficiencies, play in determining zooplankton mercury burdens. This research contributes to an overall goal of determining which zooplankton species are key conduits of mercury to fish and whether zooplankton species are a major factor in the lake to lake variation in fish mercury burdens.

Presentations during training: Seminar presentation, “Toxic Metal Accumulation in Freshwater Zooplankton,” September 2002. Department of Physiology, Dartmouth Medical School.

Roxanne Karimi

PhD completion expected 2006

Previous education: University of Pennsylvania, BA

Mentor: Carol Folt Ph.D, Department of Biological Sciences

Thesis: Trophic transfer of metals in littoral food webs

Research focus: Roxanne is investigating the mechanisms behind metal transfer in food webs on lake shores. She is currently involved in determining metal transfer pathways in macrophyte and detrital-based food chains through field studies. She is interested in the seasonal feeding preferences of fish, as well as bioaccumulation and transfer efficiencies of metals in macroinvertebrates. Roxanne is using trace metal clean techniques and stable isotope analysis to determine how metals move through this component of the food web.

Nicole Soucy

PhD completion expected 2003

Previous education: San Diego State University, MSPH

Mentor: Aaron Barchowsky Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology/ Toxicology

Thesis: Mechanisms of arsenite-induced vascular disease

Research focus: Nicole has been working since 2001 on determining the mechanisms by which arsenic in drinking water might be related to diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. Her RT-PCR analyses of pig aorta endothelial and smooth muscle cells indicate that genes such as PAI-1 and VEGF, which play a role in angiogenesis, are stimulated by the presence of arsenite. These experiments have been supplemented by work with chicken embryos, which display angiogenic activity at all times, and mouse matrigel models, for which arsenite treatments stimulate angiogenic activity as well. MORE-->

Paul Pickhardt, PhD

PhD completed 2002

Previous education: University of Wisconsin, BS

Mentor: Carol Folt Ph.D, Department of Biological Sciences Thesis: Zooplankton accumulation of trace metals: mechanisms and taxonomic con-sequences in freshwater pelagic systems

Research focus: Paul's research began in 1995 with a focus on possible morphological indicators of metal stress in freshwater copepods, and evolved into tracking metal transfer in zooplankton within mesocosm experiments. Paul took an active role in developing new methods for using stable metal isotopes to quantify metal uptake in different taxa of freshwater zooplankton, which have allowed experiments to be conducted on intact zooplankton communities at metal levels comparable to those seen in study lakes throughout the northeastern region of the U.S.A. This work was featured in a March 2002 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. MORE-->

Stephen Peters, PhD

Stephen Peters PhD

PhD completed 2001

Previous Education: Bates College, BS; Dartmouth College, MS

Mentor: Joel D. Blum, PhD, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Thesis: The Geochemistry of Arsenic in a Fractured Bedrock Aquifer

Research focus: Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping techniques, Stephen derived a relationship between high arsenic concentrations in drinking water, and a specific type of bedrock. This hypothesized relationship formed the basis of the research for a Toxic Metals Research Program project, and his preliminary data has generated significant interest in the scientific and regulatory community. He identified that wells drilled in granite bedrock containing arsenic had higher levels of arsenic. Stephen is continuing this investigation of the sources, fate and transport of arsenic in groundwater by applying novel geochemical analysis tools to understand the complex reactions which govern arsenic mobility. MORE-->

Ronald C. Kaltreider PhD

PhD completed 2000

Previous Education: York College, BS

Mentor: Joshua W. Hamilton, PhD, Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology

Thesis: Characterization of the molecular mechanism by which arsenic and chromium alter inducible gene expression Research focus: Ron's research centered on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which arsenic(III) and chromium(VI) selectively alter gene expression as a possible component of their mechanism of carcinogenesis in humans. He focused in particular on how these toxic metals alter signal transduction and transcription factor activity to alter gene expression.MORE-->

Jennifer A. Shumilla

PhD completed 1999

Previous Education: Bates College, BS

Mentor: Aaron Barchowsky, PhD, Department of Pharmacology/ Toxicology

Thesis: Cellular and molecular effects of chromium on the activity and expression of fibrinolytic proteins in epithelial cells

Research focus: Jen is the first graduate student to finish the Toxic Metals Research at Dartmouth training program. Her thesis research investigated cellular and molecular actions of chromium on human lung cells. These studies focused on the hypothesis that chromium induces pulmonary fibrosis by altering the expression of proteins in the fibrinolytic cascade. Her most significant findings were that chromium might promote fibrosis by decreasing the synthesis and activity of urokinase-type plasminogen activator. MORE-->

Undergraduate

Kali Temple

Kaili Temple

Dartmouth '01

Degree: BS Biology

Mentor: Joshua Hamilton, PhD, Department of Pharmacology/ Toxicology

Research: Kaili's research as part of the Hamilton lab primarily focused on determining which genes are altered in their expression in response to arsenic treatment of cultured cells, working with graduate student Ronald Kaltreider and postdoctoral fellow Amy Warren. Kaili is a co-author on a recent paper describing this research which was published in the scientific journal Environmental Health Perspectives (A.A. Andrew et al., Vol. 111, pp. 825-838, 2003).

Awards and fellowships: Kaili first joined Joshua Hamilton's laboratory in 1997 on a Women in Science Project (WISP) Fellowship that funded her to pursue independent research in her first year. She continued to work on the project throughout her four years at Dartmouth, also receiving a Presidential Scholars Fellowship to fund her research efforts in her third year.

Current education: Medical school

Alisa Davis

Dartmouth '01

Degree: BS Chemistry

Mentor: Joshua Hamilton, PhD, Department of Pharmacology/ Toxicology

Research: Alisa Davis joined Joshua Hamilton's laboratory in 1998 during her second year at Dartmouth and remaining there through her senior year. Alisa's research focused on two areas: the first was an examination of the effects of arsenic on hormone-regulated gene expression, working with graduate student Ronald Kaltreider. The second was an independent investigation into the effects of different forms of chromium on gene expression. In the latter case she discovered that chromium(III), which is the nutritional form of chromium, can stimulate a signaling pathway that had previously not been identified. Alisa is a co-author on six published scientific abstracts and two scientific papers including the first report that arsenic can act as a potent endocrine disruptor (R.C. Kaltreider et al., Environ. Hlth. Perspect. Vol. 109, pp. 245-251, 2001).

Awards and fellowships: During her tenure in the lab, Alisa received several prestigious awards including a Hughes Fellowship, a Waterhouse Fellowship and a Presidential Scholars Fellowship from Dartmouth; a nationally competitive Goldwater Fellowship, and a nationally competitive Beckman Foundation Fellowship.

Current education: Graduate school pursuing a Ph.D. in biophysical chemistry and toxicology

Lauren Kingsley

Dartmouth '04

Major: Chemistry

Mentor: Joshua Hamilton, PhD, Department of Pharmacology/ Toxicology

Research: Lauren's research in the Hamilton lab has focused on the mechanism by which arsenic disrupts hormone signaling. In particular, she is working with faculty member and project collaborator Jack Bodwell Ph.D. on structural studies to determine the precise sites on the hormone receptor that may serve as a target for arsenic binding leading to dysfunction of the receptor. Lauren is already the co-author on two published scientific abstracts resulting from her work. Following completion of her degree in Chemistry next year, she plans to attend medical school and pursue a combined M.D./Ph.D. in order to continue her interest in medically related environmental research.

Awards and fellowships: Lauren joined Joshua Hamilton's laboratory in 2000 on a Women in Science Project (WISP) Fellowship that funded her to pursue independent research in her first year. She has continued to work on the project over the past two years and plans to conclude her independent research next year with an Honor's Thesis in Chemistry. Lauren received the first annual Barbara E. Krute Memorial Fellowship to fund her research efforts in her second year, and has also received a Presidential Scholars Fellowship and a national Beckman Foundation Fellowship to continue her research into her third and fourth years. MORE-->

Caryn Barnet

Dartmouth '03

Degree: BS Chemistry

Mentor: Joshua Hamilton, PhD, Department of Pharmacology/ Toxicology

Research: Caryn joined Joshua Hamilton's laboratory in 2001 as a third year student. Her research focused on modeling the three-dimensional structure of the glucocorticoid receptor, a hormone receptor that is strongly affected in its function by arsenic treatment at very low doses. Caryn's goal was to determine the structural and chemical features of the receptor that make it susceptible to endocrine disruption by arsenic. This has led to new insights into the mechanism for these effects. Caryn is the co-author on a recently published scientific abstract describing this research.

Current training: research laboratory at a major cancer center with plans to attend medical school in 2004.

Katherine Harrison

Dartmouth '06

Major: Undeclared

Mentor: Joshua Hamilton, PhD, Department of Pharmacology/ Toxicology

Research: For her research in the Hamilton lab, Katherine is working with faculty member and project collaborator Angeline Andrew Ph.D. on studies to determine how arsenic causes cancer. They are specifically focusing on the very potent effects of arsenic in suppressing the ability of cells to repair DNA damage by other chemicals and radiation. Katherine is also interested in studying how arsenic increases risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, one of the future aims of the Hamilton lab. She plans to continue her independent research in the lab next year.

Fellowships: Katherine joined Joshua Hamilton's laboratory in 2002 on a Women in Science Project (WISP) Fellowship that funded her to pursue independent research during her first year.

Bethany Fleishman

St. Lawrence University '03

Degree: B.S. Biology

Mentor: Nancy Serrell, Associate Director for Outreach, CEHS

Projects: An outreach intern since 2001, Bethany developed the content of the Trace Element Analysis Laboratory web site, the Critters in the Connecticut web page, and in collaboration with Audrey Campbell, the Student Profiles section of the Dartmouth Toxic Metals Program web site. She has developed other outreach materials including a brochure and poster, again in collaboration with other interns. She has also contributed photographs to the CEHS and Toxic Metals web sites. She plans to pursue a career in environmental health particularly focusing on public health and environmental justice.

Peter Ostendorp

Dartmouth College '03

Degree: B.A. Engineering; returning in 2003-4 for BE, Thayer School of Engineering

Mentor: Nancy Serrell, Associate Director for Outreach, CEHS

Projects: Peter has been at the CEHS since the summer of 2001. Working with interns Hillary Young and Bethany Fleishman, he coded and helped design the web pages for the Molecular Biomarkers and Trace Elements Analysis Laboratories, and he did science writing for the Toxic Metals web site. He worked with middle-school students at the Newton School in South Strafford, Vermont, to develop their educational web site on the Elizabeth Mine, a former copper mine in the community that was recently designated a Superfund site. This led to his designing a citizens' web site with members of the Elizabeth Mine Community Advisory Group. Peter will be returning to Dartmouth in the fall of 2003 to finish his Bachelors of Engineering Degree.

Hillary Young

University of Pennsylvania '03

Degree: B.A. Psychology

Mentor: Nancy Serrell, Associate Director for Outreach, CEHS

Projects: With CEHS for the summer of 2001, Hillary developed the content for the Molecular Biomarkers Laboratory web site, as well as collaborating with intern Bethany Fleishman on designing a poster demonstrating the interrelationships of research projects in Dartmouth's Toxic Metals Research Program.

Audrey Campbell

Dartmouth College '02

Degree: B.A. Biology modified with Anthropology

Mentor: Nancy Serrell, Associate Director for Outreach, CEHS

Projects: Audrey worked at CEHS during the fall and spring of 2001, and came back as a part-time graduate intern in the fall of 2002. Her main project has been collaborating with Montshire Museum educator Lou-Anne Conroy on the Environmental Detectives environmental science curriculum. She took the lead on developing the Environmental Detectives web site and produced a report on educational outreach nationwide. Other projects include developing the Critters in the Connecticut brochure and booth as well as writing sundry news briefs and profiles. Her future plans include returning to school for a doctoral degree in ecology after a stint in Americorps.

Salil Sharma

Dartmouth College '05

Mentor: Laura Turner, Webmaster/Assistant to the Director, CEHS

Major: Double major in Computer Science and Economics

Projects: Salil began work with the Center in the summer of 2002, making technical improvements to the web sites produced by CEHS and the Toxic Metals Research Program. He re-coded most of the web sites for the entire program, including the main CEHS site and the Toxic Metals Research Program web site, creating platforms for easy maintenance. He then migrated the entire web content to a Linux environment in the CEHS office. He works mainly with Java, Javascript, and C++ to solve many of the computer difficulties in the CEHS web world.

Brian Zhao

Dartmouth College '07

Mentor: Dean Wilcox, PhD, Department of Chemistry

Major: Biophysical Chemistry

Projects: Brian is analyzing the effects of arsenic on two cell proteins: the glucocorticoid regulatory receptor protein (GR) and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). The glucocorticoid receptor is a signaling protein that facilitates gene expression, that is, the production of new proteins. Earlier research has shown that when arsenic interacts with GR, the expression of genes under the control of GR changes significantly. This can have a large impact on cell functions. For example, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a protein that assists in establishing a cell's osmotic equilibrium by facilitating the transport of ions across the cell membrane. If this balance is upset, ions are pumped in or out of the cell until the concentrations are in balance again. An imbalance through a faulty CFTR can result in people having a buildup of fluid in their lungs, inhibiting the lungs' ability to absorb oxygen. This is the mechanism that causes cystic fibrosis. Arsenic is known to inhibit the CFTR protein's ability to function although to what extent is unknown. Brian will be using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy to test for how quickly and how tightly arsenic binds with glucocorticoid and CFTR and he will be analyzing the results for the consequences and effects of this binding.

Brian's current research is made possible through a Presidential scholarship. He was also the recipient of the Rufus Choate Scholar Award both his freshmen and sophomore years.

Emily Sharp

Dartmouth College '05

Mentor: Nancy Serrell, Associate Director for Outreach and Translation, Dartmouth Toxic Metals Research Program

Projects: Emily worked as an Outreach Fellow after graduating from Dartmouth College in Spring 2005. She was involved in the Outreach and Translation Core's lead and arsenic projects. For the Manchester (New Hampshire) Health Department, one of the Core's community partners, Emily collected, processed and analyzed data examining the relationship between childhood lead poisoning cases in New Hampshire and the age of the houses that children were poisoned in. Emily produced GIS maps and other graphics for this project as well as several other projects including the Lead Screening Initiative, also with the Manchester Health Department.

Emily also worked with the Outreach and Translation team to survey arsenic treatment companies that serve New Hampshire. This data was compiled into a report that was distributed to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and EPA New England, among others. This report will also inform the Toxic Metals Research Program website that is being designed with and for private well owners in New Hampshire who have arsenic in their wells.

Emily is attending Duke University in fall 2006 to work towards her Masters Degree.

Danielle Bird

Dartmouth College '07

Mentor: Nancy Serrell, Associate Director for Outreach and Translation, Dartmouth Toxic Metals Research Program

Major: Environmental Studies and Anthropology

Projects: An outreach intern the summer of 2005, Danielle has been involved with the Outreach and Translation Core's arsenic and lead projects. With Emily Sharp, '05, she analyzed the relationship between childhood lead poisoning and the age of housing in New Hampshire. This information was used by the Manchester Health Department. Along with the rest of the Outreach and Translation team, Danielle has been involved in surveying arsenic treatment professionals working in New Hampshire. The results of this survey will inform the development of a website for owners of private wells in New Hampshire. Danielle also performed research on web accessibility in New Hampshire and demographic information, both of which will be used in developing the arsenic website.