Lightning Talks

Session 1: Friday, May 2, 2025

7:00-7:30pm

1 Joshua Fandel, Graduate Student, Niswander Lab, University of Colorado Boulder

Loss of Actin-related Protein 5 results in DNA damage and cranial cell death during mouse embryonic development

2 Michaela Dell’Orco, Associate Scientist, University of New Mexico HSC

The RNA-binding protein ELAVL4/HuD is essential for neuronal differentiation, nerve regeneration and synaptic plasticity by controlling developmentally-associated sets of genes and biological pathways

3 Sumira Phatak, Postdoc, Campen Lab, University of New Mexico HSC

Gestational ozone exposure drives cell type-specific alterations in brain transcriptomics: insights from single nucleus sequencing

4 Joseph Campanale, Assistant Professor, University of Nevada Las Vegas

Leaders can’t lead without followers: The discovery of a polarity regulated Rac activity pathway in follower border cells

5 Marycruz Flores Flores, Postdoc, Mosimann Lab, University of Colorado Anschutz

Functional Redundancy and Divergence of TBX4 and TBX5 in Zebrafish Cardiopharyngeal and Lateral Plate Mesoderm Development

6 Katalina Lopez, Graduate Student, Valenzuela Lab, University of New Mexico HSC

Long-Lasting Inhibitory Deficits in the Dorsal Subiculum Induced by Developmental Alcohol Exposure in Mice

7 Christiana Concepcion, Undergraduate Student, McQuate Lab, University of New Mexico

SIRT1’s Impact on Mitochondrial Calcium Signaling in Hair Cells of Danio rerio

8 Jeremy Martin, Graduate Student, Franco Lab, University of Colorado Anschutz

Making a Human Brain in a Mouse: How Olduvai Alters Mouse Cortical Progenitor Development

9 Job Flores, Undergraduate Student, Shull Lab, University of New Mexico

PRDM Paralogues Control Zebrafish Pectoral Fin Development

10 Qootsvenma Denipah-Cook, Research Assistant, Shull Lab, University of New Mexico

Investigating bcl9 Function in Craniofacial Development Using Zebrafish

11 Marissa Westenskow, Graduate Student, Gardiner Lab, University of New Mexico HSC

DNA Methylation Dynamics May Control Transcriptional Activity in the Vascular Endothelium during Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

12 Emma Harrison, Research Assistant, Mosimann Lab, University of Colorado Anschutz

Complete loss of Brachyury function in zebrafish

Session 2: Saturday, May 3, 2025

5:00-5:30pm

1 Narmin Musayeva, Research Scientist, Salinas Lab, University of New Mexico

Ontogeny of the organized nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue in rainbow trout

2 Viridiana Avila-Magana, Postdoc, McFall-Ngai Lab, Carnegie Science

Symbiont-induced epigenetic changes in the host genome during the initiation of the squid-vibrio partnership

3 Berenyce Gonzalez Marin, Postdoc, Recillas Lab, National Autonomous University of Mexico

CTCF Loss Disrupts Developmental Timing and Neural Organization in Drosophila melanogaster

4 Muthubharathi B. Chellammal, Postdoc, Ponomarova Lab University of New Mexico HSC

idh-1 neomorphic mutation impacts L1 cuticle collagen of Caenorhabditis elegans

5 Justine Zimmerly, Graduate Student, Milligan Lab, University of New Mexico HSC

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Mild Adolescent Stress Induce Anxiety Vulnerability to Mild Stress in Mice

6 Abdulqater Al-Nouman, Graduate Student, Curtiss Lab, New Mexico State University

The Drosophila melanogaster TENT5 homolog is required for individualization of spermatids during spermatogenesis

7 Amanda Garfield, Graduate Student, Mosimann Lab, University of Colorado Anschutz

The pericardium forms as a distinct structure during heart formation

8 Delaram Jafari, Graduate Student, Curtiss Lab, New Mexico State University

Understanding the role of Neprilysin on cell competition

9 Seth Jacobson, Research Assistant, Mosimann Lab, University of Colorado Anschutz

Zebrafish rbm8a Mutant Reveals Selective Defects in Lateral Plate Mesoderm Patterning 

10 Samantha Brazil, Undergraduate Student, Curtiss Lab, New Mexico State University

Using time-lapse microscopy during Drosophila melanogaster eye development to determine the role of the small GTPase Rap1 in morphogenesis

11 David Paz, Graduate Student, Quintana Lab, University of Texas El Paso

Generation and characterization of domain specific mutations in the zebrafish hcfc1b gene

12 Vanessa Pando, Graduate Student, Jaszczak Lab, New Mexico State University

TrpA1 and painless: A comparative analysis of nociception and resilence