People of the Slug Lab

Members, Past and Present

Table of Slug Lab Members
Semester Student After Graduation Link Papers
2010 Fall – 2011 Spring Kristine Bonnick Med School, Loma Linda University Kristine Bonnick (Bonnick et al. 2012)
2010 Fall – 2011 Spring Patrycja Oleksiak MA Ultrasound Sonography, Northwestern University
2010 Fall – 2011 Spring Benora McBride Pharmacy School, Notre Dame of Maryland University Benora McBride (Bonnick et al. 2012)
2010 Fall – 2011 Spring Nadine Nitisusanta Dental School, University of Illinois at Chicago Nadine Nitisusanta
2010 Fall – 2011 Spring Laura Salazar Masters in Clinical Psychology, Illinois Institute of Technology Laura Salazar
2010 Fall – 2011 Spring Karolina Matel R&D Regulatory Affairs Associate Principal Scientist Karolina Matel
2011 Summer – 2012 Spring Karla Bayas Law School, University of Illinois Karla Bayas (Bonnick et al. 2012)
2011 Summer – 2012 Spring Michael Dove Med School, Thomas Jefferson University Michael Dove (Bonnick et al. 2012)
2011 Summer – 2012 Spring Vanessa Mendiola Masters in Education, Dominican University Vanessa Mendiola
2011 Summer – 2013 Summer Ashly Cyriac Optometry School, Salus University Ashly Cyriac (Bonnick et al. 2012; Cyriac et al. 2013; Herdegen, Holmes, et al. 2014; Holmes et al. 2014)
2012 Spring – 2013 Summer Jamie Lass Masters in Nutrition and Wellness, Benedictine University Jamie Lass (Bonnick et al. 2012; Cyriac et al. 2013; Holmes et al. 2014)
2012 Spring – 2015 Spring Samantha Herdegen Pharmacy, Midwestern University Samantha Herdegen (Herdegen, Conte, et al. 2014; Herdegen, Holmes, et al. 2014; Holmes et al. 2014; Conte et al. 2017)
2012 Spring – Summer Dmitry Belchenko DO from Touro University. PGY-1 Intern - St John Macomb-Oakland Hospital Dmitry Belchenko (Bonnick et al. 2012; Cyriac et al. 2013)
2012 Summer – 2013 Summer Geraldine Holmes PhD in Evolutionary Biology, University of Victoria, Canada (Cyriac et al. 2013; Herdegen, Holmes, et al. 2014; Holmes et al. 2014)
2013 Summer – 2015 Spring Jonathan Schuon Med School, University of Illinois Jonathan Schuon (Holmes et al. 2014)
2013 Summer – 2016 Spring Catherine Conte Physical Therapy, Midwestern University Catherine Conte (Herdegen, Conte, et al. 2014; Holmes et al. 2014; Conte et al. 2017)
2013 Summer – 2016 Spring Saman Kamal Med School, University of Texas Baylor Saman Kamal (Herdegen, Conte, et al. 2014; Conte et al. 2017)
2014 Summer Gail Gutman Med School, Tel Aviv University, Israel Gail Gutman
2015 Summer Jency Patel Med School, St. Kitts Jency Patel, Link (Conte et al. 2017)
2015 Summer – 2018 Spring Leticia Perez Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Leticia Perez (Conte et al. 2017; Patel et al. 2018; Perez et al. 2018)
2015 Summer – 2018 Spring Ushma Patel MA in Biomedical Illustration, University of Illinois Chicago Ushma Patel (Conte et al. 2017; Patel et al. 2018; Perez et al. 2018)
2016 Summer – 2017 Spring Marissa Rivota Manufacturing Supervisor (DS) Marissa Rivota (Conte et al. 2017; Perez et al. 2018)
2016 Summer – 2018 Spring Steven Farrel Lead Clinical Informatics Specialist/Scribe at Oak Street Health, Hammond Steven Farrell (Patel et al. 2018)
2016 Summer – 2019 Summer Melissa Nguyen Masters in Medical Sciences, Midwestern University (Patel et al. 2018; Rosiles et al. 2020, 2026)
2017 Summer Derek Steck Medical School, University of Wisconsin Derek Stek (Patel et al. 2018)
2017 Summer Athira Jacobs Podiatry School, Rosalind Franklin School of Medicine Athira Jacob (Patel et al. 2018)
2018 Summer Kayla Hall Medical School, University of Illinois Chicago
2018 Summer – 2019 Summer Everett Krause Masters in Environmental Engineering Everett Krause (Patel et al. 2018)
2018 Summer – 2019 Summer Tania Rosiles MSN Program, Loyola Tania Rosiles (Patel et al. 2018; Rosiles et al. 2020, 2026)
2019 – Summer – 2019 Fall Hannah Gordon PhD Program, Notre Dame Hannah Gordon (Rosiles et al. 2020)
2019 – Summer – 2019 Fall George Garcia General Contracting George Garcia (Rosiles et al. 2020)
2019 – Summer – 2019 Fall Kiara Rana Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, University of Illinois Chicago Kiara Rana
2019 – Summer – 2019 Fall Monica Duron Medical Assistant Program, Northwestern University Monica Duron (Rosiles et al. 2020)
2019 – Summer – 2019 Fall Lorena Juarez Medical Technologist, Rush Medical University Lorena Juarez (Rosiles et al. 2020)
2019 – Summer – 2019 Fall Annette Garcia Research Assistant at The Dry Eye and oGVHD clinic Annette Garcia (Rosiles et al. 2020)
2020 – Fall Catherine Klostermann Physician Assistant, Butler University Catherine Klostermann
2020 – Fall Lucas Eggers Medical School, University of Colorado Lucas Eggers
2022 – Summer Christian Gonzalez Lab Technician, Rush Christian Gonzalez
2022 – Summer Jaqueline Gutierrez Funded Post-Bac Program, University of Chicago
2022 – Summer – 2022 Spring Steven Proutsos National Health Core Member Steven Proutsos
2022 - Summer Octavian Calin-Jageman
2022 – Summer – 2022 Spring Emma Gray Medical School, ATSU Emma Gray
2022 – Summer – 2022 Spring Hannah Danha Dental Assistant / Need update! Hannah Danha
2022 – Summer – 2023 Summer Theresa Wilsterman PhD Program, Rush Medical (also Circus!) Theresa Wilsterman (Calin-Jageman et al. 2024, 2024)
2022 – Summer – 2023 Summer Zayra Juarez Graduated, need update! Zayra Juarez (Calin-Jageman et al. 2024)
2023 – Summer – 2025 - Summer Elise Gamino Graduated, studying for MCAT Elise Gamino (Calin-Jageman et al. 2024)
2023 – Summer – 2025 - Summer Diana Wittrock Graduated, need update! Diana Wittrock (Calin-Jageman et al. 2024)
2022 – Summer – 2023 Summer Anna Kurkowski Applying to PA schools Anna Kurkowski (Calin-Jageman et al. 2024)
2022 – Summer – 2023 Summer Leslie Valdez In PA School! Leslie Valdez (Calin-Jageman et al. 2024)
2022 – Summer – 2023 Summer Jashui Zarate-Torres Community organizer with Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project Jashui Zarate-Torres (Calin-Jageman et al. 2024)
2022 – Summer – 2023 - Summer Bryan Gonzalez Delgadillo Graduated, need update! Bryan Gonzalez Delgadillo (Calin-Jageman et al. 2024)
2023 – Summer – 2024 - Summer Nelly Musajeva Graduated, applying to graduate programs Nelly Musajeva (Calin-Jageman et al. 2024)
2026 - Summer Carys McFaul Graduated, applying to med school Carys McFaul
2025 - Summer - Present Eli Caron Not yet graduated Eli Caron
2025 Summer Armin Mrzljak Graduated, need an update! Armin Mrzljak
2025 Summer Charles Kasella Not yet graduated Charles Kasella
2025 Summer Karolina Kraj Graduated, need an update! Karolina Kraj
2026 Summer Alexa Guzman Villanueva Not yet graduated Alexa Guzman Villanueva
2026 Summer Layla Forrest Not yet graduated Layla Forrest
2026 Summer Vanessa Solis Not yet graduated Vanessa Solis

References

Bonnick, Kristine, Karla Bayas, Dmitry Belchenko, et al. 2012. “Transcriptional Changes Following Long-Term Sensitization Training and in Vivo Serotonin Exposure in Aplysia Californica.” PLoS ONE 7 (10): e47378. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0047378.
Calin-Jageman, Robert J., Bryan Gonzalez Delgadillo, Elise Gamino, et al. 2024. “Evidence of Active-Forgetting Mechanisms? Blocking Arachidonic Acid Release May Slow Forgetting of Sensitization in Aplysia.” eNeuro 11 (4). https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0516-23.2024.
Conte, Catherine, Samantha Herdegen, Saman Kamal, et al. 2017. “Transcriptional Correlates of Memory Maintenance Following Long-Term Sensitization of Aplysia Californica.” Learning & Memory 24 (10): 502–15. https://doi.org/10.1101/lm.045450.117.
Cyriac, Ashly, Geraldine Holmes, Jamie Lass, Dmitry Belchenko, Robert J. Calin-Jageman, and Irina E. Calin-Jageman. 2013. “An Aplysia Egr Homolog Is Rapidly and Persistently Regulated by Long-Term Sensitization Training.” Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 102 (May): 43–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2013.03.008.
Herdegen, Samantha, Catherine Conte, Saman Kamal, Robert J. Calin-Jageman, and Irina E. Calin-Jageman. 2014. “Immediate and Persistent Transcriptional Correlates of Long-Term Sensitization Training at Different Cns Loci in Aplysia Californica.” PLoS ONE 9 (12): e114481. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0114481.
Herdegen, Samantha, Geraldine Holmes, Ashly Cyriac, Irina E. Calin-Jageman, and Robert J. Calin-Jageman. 2014. “Characterization of the Rapid Transcriptional Response to Long-Term Sensitization Training in Aplysia Californica.” Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 116 (December): 27–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2014.07.009.
Holmes, Geraldine, Samantha Herdegen, Jonathan Schuon, et al. 2014. “Transcriptional Analysis of a Whole-Body Form of Long-Term Habituation in Aplysia Californica.” Learning & Memory 22 (1): 11–23. https://doi.org/10.1101/lm.036970.114.
Patel, Ushma, Leticia Perez, Steven Farrell, et al. 2018. “Transcriptional Changes Before and After Forgetting of a Long-Term Sensitization Memory in Aplysia Californica.” Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 155 (November): 474–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2018.09.007.
Perez, Leticia, Ushma Patel, Marissa Rivota, Irina E. Calin-Jageman, and Robert J. Calin-Jageman. 2018. “Savings Memory Is Accompanied by Transcriptional Changes That Persist Beyond the Decay of Recall.” Learning & Memory 25 (1): 45–48. https://doi.org/10.1101/lm.046250.117.
Rosiles, Tania, Melissa Nguyen, Robert J. Calin-Jageman, and Irina E. Calin-Jageman. 2026. “Transcriptional Changes Fade Prior to Long-Term Memory for Sensitization of the Aplysia Siphon-Withdrawal Reflex.” Eneuro, March 9, ENEURO.0477–25.2026. https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0477-25.2026.
Rosiles, Tania, Melissa Nguyen, Monica Duron, et al. 2020. “Registered Report: Transcriptional Analysis of Savings Memory Suggests Forgetting Is Due to Retrieval Failure.” Eneuro 7 (6): ENEURO.0313–19.2020. https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0313-19.2020.