Introducing the Pepling Lab
Lab Director
Melissa E. Pepling
Professor
110 Life Sciences Complex
315.443.4541
mepeplin@syr.edu
Faculty Profile
Current Lab Members
Suzanne Getman, MS, CPht
Pepling Lab Manager; Sue has worked in the Pepling Lab since 2012. She previously worked in pharmaceutical drug safety evaluation performing pre-clinical genetic toxicology testing in support of human drug candidates.
smgetman@syr.edu
Agnes Asubonteng
Graduate Researcher
Agnes’s research investigates the role of progesterone signaling through membrane receptors and insulin signaling on primordial follicle formation.
Katherine Loveland
Undergraduate Researcher, Katherine graduated in May of 2023 with a B.S. with a Distinction in Biology. Her undergraduate thesis investigated the effects of blocking maternal estrogen and progesterone synthesis on fetal primordial follicle formation. She was awarded the Robert A. Clark Biotechnology Student Research Award to fund her project. Kate was presented the Academic and Research award. Kate is currently working as a lab tech in the Pepling lab this summer. Kate plans on attending medical school in the future. kmlovela@syr.edu
Grace Flynn
Undergraduate Researcher, Grace is currently a Senior. Grace is conducting research investigating the role of insulin signaling in the regulation of primordial follicle formation for her distinction in biology. Grace’s research is funded by the John Miller Biology Research Award. gpflynn@syr.edu
Gabriella Cannistraci
Undergraduate Researcher, Gabriella is a senior dual majoring in Biology and Psychology on the Pre-Med track. She will be conducting a research project investigating the role of KIT signaling in primordial follicle formation.
Merces Tucker
Undergraduate Researcher, Merces is a senior majoring in Psychology and Forensic Science on the Pre-Med track. Merces will be investigating the effect of gestational diabetes on primordial follicle formation. Future plans of going to med school and becoming an OBGYN. mtucke09@syr.edu
Kathleen DiSalvo
Undergraduate Researcher, Kathleen is a Junior majoring in Biology. Her research focuses on understanding the role of the KIT tyrosine pathway in the regulation of primordial follicle formation.
Alumni
Christopher Bushnell – Undergraduate Summer Researcher, B.S., 2023
Chris joined the Pepling lab for two summers during his undergraduate education. His research investigated the role of autophogy in cyst breakdown and primordial follicle formation. Chris graduated from University of Rochester with a B.S. in Microbiology. Chris is attending SUNY Upstate School of Medicine to pursue his medical degree.
Maya Bolger-Chen – Undergraduate Researcher, B.S., 2022
During her time as an undergraduate researcher in the Pepling lab, Maya conducted research investigating the effects of blocking maternal progesterone synthesis on fetal primordial follicle formation. Maya graduated with her B.S. in Biology in 2022. Maya is currently working as a research technician at
Jessica O’Connell – Graduate Researcher, B.S., 2019; MS, 2021
Jessica Graduated from Syracuse university with a B.S. in Biochemistry. Jessica conducted research in the Pepling lab during her masters education. She investigated the role of autophogy, steroid hormone signaling, and MCL-1 in the regulation of primordial follicle formation. Additionally, she characterized cyst breakdown in B6 mice. Jessica graduated with her MS in Biology in 2021. She is currently working as a research technicain at Northwestern University.
Amanda Luke – Undergraduate Researcher, B.S., 2020; Graduate Researcher, MS, 2021
Amanda conducted research in the Pepling lab during her Undergraduate education as well as for her Masters in Biotechnology. Amanda investigated the role of insulin in the regulation of primordial follicle formation. Amanda graduated from Syracuse University with her B.S. with Honors and Distinction in Biotechnology in 2020. She then completed her MS in Biotechnology at Syracuse University in 2021. Recently, Amanda graduated from the Postbaccalaureate Premedical program at Columbia University in May 2023.
Jessica Toothaker – Undergraduate Researcher, B.S., 2017; PhD, 2021 – University of Pittsburg
Jessica graduated from Syracuse University with her B.S. with Honors in Biology in May, 2017. During Jessica’s time in the Pepling lab she completed her Capstone project characterizing cyst breakdown and follicle formation in a sterile, estrogen deficient mouse model. At commencement, Jessica was awarded the best Capstone in Science & Engineering for the Class of 2017. Jessica was also designated as a Syracuse University Scholar, the highest academic honor bestowed at the University. She then graduated with her PhD in molecular biology from University of Pittsburg in 2021.
Joshua Burton – Graduate Researcher, PhD, 2021
Dr. Burton is currently pursuing his post doctorate at Weill Cornell Medicine in the Alonso lab. In the Pepling lab, Josh investigated the mechanisms that regulate oocyte numbers and follicle assembly in the mouse ovary, with particular focus on the KIT signaling pathway and the role of cell adhesion molecules.
Molly Bushnell – Undergraduate Summer Researcher, B.S., 2020; RN
Molly joined the Pepling lab for two summers during her undergraduate education. She graduated from St. Lawrence University in 2020, dual-majoring in Anthropology and Biology. She then recieved her B.S. in Nursing from University of Rochester and is currently working as a nurse in the NICU unit at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY.
Lindsey Banks – Undergraduate Researcher, B.S., 2018; M.S., 2020
As an undergraduate researcher in the Pepling lab, Lindsey optimized established antibody staining protocols to explore the role of paxillin in mouse oocyte development. Lindsay graduated from Syracuse University with her B.S. in Biology and Psychology in 2018, and her M.S. in Biomedical Forensic Science in 2020.
Ali Abdullah – Undergraduate Researcher, B.S., 2018
During his time in the Pepling lab, Ali’s research focused on the effects of insulin on oogenesis. Ali was chosen as a 2017-2018 Remembrance Scholar. Ali graduated with a B.S. with Honors in Biology in May, 2018. His honors capstone was titled “The Effects of Insulin Signaling on Follicle Activation and Development.” Ali is currently pursuing his medical degree at Temple University.
Margret McCoy – Undergraduate Researcher, B.S., 2018
Maggie’s undergraduate thesis focused on understanding the control of meiotic prophase one in the perinatal ovary.
Robin Jones – Graduate Researcher, PhD, 2013
Dr. Jones is currently a Neuroscience Lecturer in the Department of Biology at Syracuse University. In the Pepling lab, Robin examined the effects of MCL1, BCL2 and the KIT signaling pathway on cyst breakdown and oocyte survival in neonatal mice.
Deion Burks – Graduate Researcher, M.S. Biology, May 2017
The title of Deion’s thesis was “The Efects of Exogenous Hormones on the Progression of Oocytes through Prophase 1 of Meiosis”.
Shaylyn Tuite – Undergraduate Researcher, B.S. 2015
Graduate Researcher, M.S. Forensics 2016; D.O.
Shaylyn’s research focused on the effects of activin on oogenesis. She received her medical degree from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine and is currently completing her residency in psychiatry at University of Rochester.
Amanda Catchings – B.S. 2014, Undergraduate Researcher.
2016 M.S., University of Maryland School of Medicine. American Board of Genetic Counselors certified (CGC).
Amanda’s research focused on the effects of estrogen on cyst breakdown. She is currently working as a Genetic Counselor at Sloan-Kettering Memorial Cancer Center.
Dana Senderoff – B.S. 2014, Undergraduate Researcher.
Dana’s research and honors thesis project investigated the role of cell adhesion in early mouse oocyte development. Dana graduated with a B.S. in biology and a minor in nutrition. Dana was also designated as a Syracuse University Scholar, the highest academic honor bestowed at the University. She recieved her medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and is currently practicing as an obstetrician-gynecologist in Miami.
Marta Dzyadyk – B.S. 2012, Undergraduate Researcher; M.D.
Marta’s honors thesis project focused on progesterone signaling in early mouse oocyte development. She received her medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical College and is currently working as a hospitalist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer.
Fangjie (Jessie) Tang – M.S. December 2011, Undergraduate Researcher.
Jessie’s research focused on the mechanism of estrogen signaling in the neonatal mouse ovary, in particular, cyst breakdown and primordial follicle formation in estrogen receptors knockouts
Robert Zollo – B.S. 2015, Undergraduate Researcher.
Robert is a Graduate Researcher at SUNY Upstate in Syracuse, NY
Robert’s research focused on the Mcl1 family of proteins and their effects on oogenesis.
Jennifer Kang – Undergraduate Researcher, B.S. 2012. M.S. 2016 Occupational Therapy.
Jenn’s undergraduate thesis project focused on the mechanism of estrogen signaling in the neonatal mouse ovary.
Sudipta Dutta – PhD 2014
Sudipta investigated estrogen signaling in the developing mouse ovary. She is interested in the source of estradiol regulating cyst breakdown and primordial follicle formation as well as how estrogen affects arrest of oocytes in the diplotene stage of meiosis.