Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology

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Principal Investigator

Laboratory Members

Microgravity University

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Laboratory Members

Members of the Lab | Lab Parties and Fun | Lab Travel

Members of the Lab

Principal Investigator

John Pierce Wise, Sr. is the Principal Investigator for the Laboratory. His research interests include toxicology of metals and particulates, marine toxicology, and molecular epidemiology. His recreational interests include soccer, basketball, coaching, snorkeling and motivating lab members to produce more data.

Staff Members

	Marni Bickford is a high school science teacher in the Laboratory with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology from the University of Southern Maine. Her research interests include genetics, toxicology, and impacts of toxicants on chromosomes. Her hobbies are making stained glass windows, playing with her animals, attending soccer games, and explaining to her teenagers that they do not know everything.
	Chris Gianios serves as the Information Technology Director for the Laboratory with degrees in computer systems, and information systems from the University of Maryland. He came to our lab after many years at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Washington D.C. where he enjoyed the hot summers. His research interests include management systems and structures, database design and the interface of bioscience and information technology. His interests include books, technology, and keeping his wife Charlene happy.
	Britton Goodale is a Research Associate in the Laboratory with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from Tufts University. Her research interests include environmental toxicology and marine ecology. Her hobbies include ceramics, hiking and playing the violin, but she has been known to spend the majority of her free time chasing Frisbees up and down the east coast.
	David Kirstein is the Administrative Director of the Laboratory with degrees in Biology from Bates College and Villanova University. He came to our lab after many years at the Trudeau Institute in Saranac Lake, NY, where the winters are even colder than in Maine. His interests include working with spouse Linda to send the last of their three children to college and trying to get out more often. Around the lab, you can find him running to keep up with everyone else.
	Sandra Wise is the Director of Cytogenetics and Genomic Instability in the Laboratory. She holds a national certification in Cytogenetics. Her research interests include mechanisms of metal-induced chromosome damage and genomic instability, neurotoxicology, and comparative toxicology of humans and marine animals. Her hobbies are reading, travel, watching the many sporting events of her children, and cringing in the passenger seat while she teaches her teenage children to drive.

Faculty

	Nancy Gordon is an Emerita Professor visiting in the Wise Laboratory. She recently retired from teaching in the USM Chemistry department and has a Ph.D in Inorganic Chemistry from Boston University. Her research interests include the health effects of air pollution, specifically particulate matter component effects on lung tissue, and the bioinorganic chemistry of heavy metals, particularly chromium and lead. Her hobbies include hiking, dog walking, tennis and chasing her grandchildren but rarely catching them.
	John Lechner, PhD is a Visiting Libra Scholar visiting in the Wise Laboratory. He recently moved here from the Comprehensive Cancer Center of The Ohio State University. His research interests are in cancer prevention with extracts of berries and red beets. He is also interested in translating basic research to commercial endeavors that will enhance industry in Maine. His hobbies include wood working and making stained glass windows.
	Hong Xie is an Assistant Research Professor in the Laboratory with a Ph.D. in Toxicology from the University of Southern Maine/University of Maine. Her research interests are heavy metal-induced carcinogenesis. hepatoxicity, nephrotoxicity and genotoxicity. Her hobbies are reading (no time) and traveling (no money).

Student Members

Doctoral Students
	Tânia Li Chen is a Ph.D. student in the Laboratory with a Bachelor's Degree in Marine Biology from the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon (Portugal). Her research interests are focused on environmental toxicology in marine mammals and comparing these effects with humans. Her hobbies are walking around the city, chatting on MSN and doing her best to survive in freezing Maine!
	Amie Holmes Holmes is a Ph.D. student in the Laboratory with a Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science: Bioscience and Technology from the University of New Hampshire. Her research interests are focused on investigating the role of centrosome amplification in lead chromate-induced carcinogenesis. Her hobbies are rock climbing, tele-skiing, road biking and spending time upside down in her kayak.
	Julieta Martino is a PhD Student in the Laboratory with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the National University of Córdoba (Argentina). Her research interests include environmental contaminants and their effects on cetaceans. Her hobbies are swimming, dancing Caribbean music, playing capoeira and shivering in the laboratory.
	Qin Qin is a Ph.D. student in the Laboratory with a Bachelor's Degree in Information Engineering from Wuhan University of Technology, in China. Her research interests include environmental toxicology with a focus on cellular uptake of nanometals. Her hobbies are skating, listening to music, walking in the park, playing pingpong and avoiding the boss.
	Laura Savery is a Ph.D. student in the Laboratory, with a Bachelor's Degree in General Biology from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Her research interests include discovering the interactions of chromium and arsenic with human lung cells. Her hobbies are hiking, working out, playing the flute, and getting lost while traveling with her husband and cat.
	Jamie Young is a PhD student in the Laboratory with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Maine at Farmington. Her research interests include biomedical sciences and toxicology with a focus on chromate-induced carcinogenesis and the bypass of the spindle assembly checkpoint. Her hobbies include running, biking, camping, hiking, cooking, spending time with friends and family and enjoying mandatory laboratory rotations.
Master's Students
	Shouping Huang is a graduate student in the Laboratory working on a Master's Degree in Statistics from the University of Southern Maine. His research interests include microarrays and biostatistics. His hobbies include fishing, hiking, and explaining proper laboratory technique to Hong Xie.
	Joe Keierleber is a graduate student in the Laboratory working on a Master’s degree in Biology from the University of Southern Maine. His research interests include the toxic effects of chromium in human lung cells. His hobby is to spend his time chasing after his two-year-old daughter.
	Carolyne LaCerte is a graduate student in the Laboratory working on a Master's Degree in Applied Medical Sciences with a focus on Toxicology and Cancer Biology from the University of Southern Maine. Her research interests are in marine mammal toxicology and conservation. Her hobbies are photography, hiking, scuba diving, spending time with friends and family, playing sports and still being in the first decade of her life.
	Fariba Shaffiey is a graduate student in the Laboratory working on a Master’s degree in Biology from the University of Southern Maine. Her research interests are focused on metal toxicology and cell line development. Her hobbies are reading, finding good recipes, learning how to play classical guitar, and keeping track of all the ways her name has been mispronounced.
Undergraduates
	Matt Braun is an undergraduate student in the Laboratory working on a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry at the University of Southern Maine. His research interests include lunar dust, pharmacology, and biomedical science. His hobbies include tennis, piano, building forts on the beach, avoiding his parents as much as possible, and doing spin moves around random things (including people).
	Adam Courtemanche is an undergraduate student in the Laboratory working on a Bachelor's degree in Industrial / Information Technologies from the University of Southern Maine. His research interests include application development and systems scripting/programming. He provides systems administration, webite development, and technical support services to the laboratory. Adam loves music. He enjoys playing and listening to jazz, blues, country, and classic rock. During the warmer months he has a blast dirtbiking, motorcycling, rock climbing, and even off-road unicycling. During the winter months he enjoys watching movies with his girlfriend, skiing, and driving in the snow.
	Jane McKay is an undergraduate student in the Laboratory working on a Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Southern Maine. Her research interests include the environmental toxicology of marine animals. Her hobbies are 'TNTC' (too numerous to count), but she plays a lot of whiffle ball with her two children.
	Mark Okeny is an undergraduate student in the Laboratory working on a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from the University of Southern Maine. His research interest is biomedical science. His hobbies are playing soccer, working out, and acquiring as many AF1s (Air Force One shoes) as he can.
	Kamil Suja is an undergraduate student in the Laboratory working on a Associate’s degree in Chemistry from Southern Maine Community College. His research interests are in pharmacology and lunar dust. His hobbies are soccer, then more soccer, girls here and there, and spotting expensive cars from miles away.
	James Wise is an undergraduate student in the Laboratory working on a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the University of Southern Maine. His research interests are in frog biology and conservation, particularly red-eyed tree frogs and poison arrow frogs. His hobbies are lacrosse, computers, PlayStation 3, studying 1960’s-1980’s Rock n’ Roll and obsessing over Jim Morrison.
	John Pierce Wise, Jr. is an undergraduate student in the Laboratory working on a Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Southern Maine. His research interests include the toxicology of coral reef cells of the Caribbean and the toxicity of lunar dust in human cells. His hobbies are outdoor activities; playing sports (mostly soccer); reading Rolling Stone, Men's Health, and Scientific American, as well as books recommended by friends and professors; and enjoying life to the fullest (which usually involves falling from trees, cliffs, and out of planes).
High School Students
	Shannon Doeherty is a high school student in the Laboratory. Her research interests are marine biology and environmental. Her hobbies are soccer, intramural volleyball, and flag football, camping and eating Sour Patch Kids.
	Alex Doering is a high school student. He is interested in medical research as a career. He participates in numerous after-school activities and enjoys the outdoors. His favorite parts of science are cellular respiration and photoelectric chemical water splitting.
	Jenny Huang is a high school student in the Laboratory. Her research interests are in cellulose nanoparticles, biology and toxicology. Her hobbies are soccer, basketball, track and trying to convince her mother to let her drive.
	Nick Link is a high school student in the Laboratory. His research interests are in lunar dust and architectural design. His hobbies are soccer, surfing, guitar hero and the occasional homework assignment.
	Dan McGovern is a high school student in the Laboratory. His research interests are in marine biology, particularly bowhead whale cell biology. His hobbies include playing the cello, playing tennis, and being the best at everything.
	Patrick Martin is a high school student in the Laboratory. His research interests include general biology especially botany and zoology. His hobbies include playing the piano and the violin, singing in general and singing to his cat. He would like to remind everyone that if you're not part of the solution you're part of the precipitate.
	Allison Sample is a high school student in the laboratory. Her research interests include chemistry, toxicology and microbiology. Her hobbies are lacrosse, singing, art, watching Anthony Hopkins movies and playing darts poorly with friends while listening to Meatloaf.
	Catherine Wise is a high school student in the Laboratory. Her research interests are in marine mammals, particularly dolphin biology and toxicology. Her hobbies are soccer, basketball, track and trying to outdo her older brother.