Raju Prasad

I grew up in Maplewood, NJ, and graduated with a B.A. in Cell Biology and Neuroscience from Rutgers University in 2005. I'm in the process of finishing my M.S. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Delaware as well. My interests lie in cardiovascular physiology with recent projects dealing with chronic heart failure, cardiovascular effects of diesel exposure, and vascular studies in obese-diabetic rats treated with Metformin. Outside of the lab, I play Ultimate Frisbee for a club team in the triangle area and enjoy other athletic pursuits.  

Jessica Dries

I graduated from Elon University with a B.S. in Biology in May 2006, and joined the Physiology Department that June.  Although I've lived everywhere, I consider Cary, NC my hometown.  Since joining the department, I've developed and combined my interests in cardiovascular physiology and regeneration while working in Dr. Jitka Virag's lab.  More specifically, we are interested in the remodeling process that the heart undergoes following a myocardial infarction (M.I.), and ways to enhance the revascularization that must follow in order to restore function.  Outside of the lab, I enjoy running, tennis, and wine tasting.

Elizabeth Fontenot

Elizabeth Fontenot is from Ville Platte, LA. She was an Aerospace Physiologist in the USAF for 5 years before joining the program at ECU and previously stationed at Kadena AB Japan and Seymour Johnson AFB, Goldsboro NC. Her area of interest is Cardiopulmonary Physiology. Hobbies outside of studying and conducting research include: running, cycling, reading and yoga.

Marcoita Gilbert

I am originally from Raleigh, NC, and recently received two B.S. degrees in Neuroscience and Biology from East Carolina University. I am currently a first year student. Currently, I am rotating in a number of labs, learning basic techniques such as gel electrophoresis, PCR, immunohistochemistry, and tissue extraction. My research interests are in neuroscience.

Todd Nolan

I am originally from Pennsylvania and received my B.S. in Biology from Slippery Rock University in 1999. After training in virology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, I came to East Carolina University in 2002 as a research assistant in the Department of Emergency Medicine to investigate the role of inflammation in neuropathic pain. I am currently working on my Ph.D. training in the laboratory of Dr. Kori Brewer. My primary research interest is the role of protein kinase C in phosphorylating opioid receptors during the development of neuropathic pain syndromes following spinal cord injury.

Sarath Vijayakumar

I come from New Delhi, India and have done my medical training from Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, India. I joined the PhD program in the Department of Physiology at ECU in 2004. I am presently working in Dr. Ding's laboratory. Our lab's interest is focused on understanding the mammalian circadian rhythms. In our lab, we use both behavioral and electrophysiology techniques including multi-electrode array recording systems to study cricadian rhythm activity.

Xiaoja Wang

I am originally from Chengdu, Sichuan, China and received a B.E. from Xihua University (China) and a M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Sichuan University (China). I joined the Physiology Department in August 2006. I currently work in Dr. Van Scott’s laboratory. My interest is pulmonary physiology, specifically nocturnal asthma. My hobbies include traveling, cooking, and karaoke.

Di Wu

I am an international student from China. My hometown, Chengdu, is located in the southwestern part of China and is famous for its delicious food. I graduated from Sichuan University with a B.S. in Biotechnology in June 2007, and I joined the Physiology Department in August 2007. I am currently doing my rotation in different labs and I am attracted by the beauty of neuroscience. I hope I can acquire more knowledge in this field. In my spare time, I have a love for literature, traveling, and delicious food.