Ryan received his undergraduate degree in Neuroscience from Furman University
in Greenville, SC. He entered the ECU Biology Master's degree program in fall of 2003.
He has recently received enrollment into the Brody School of Medicine Fall 2005 class.
As a Teacher's Assistant for the ECU Biology program he has instructed Biology 1051,
Introductory Biology Lab, as well as both sections of the Pre-Health Anatomy and
Physiology Laboratory courses 2141 and 2151.

His thesis research studies the signature peptide fingerprint of the Alzheimer's Brain. The
transmembrane protein Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) is subject to a number of
proteolytic cleavages resulting in a number of Amyloid Beta peptide species. Using
bio-analytically techniques including Immunoprecipitation of human brain tissue,
Electrophoresis, Western Blotting, RP-HPLC and Mass Spectroscopy, Ryan and his lab
study the unique species that create a fingerprint for the neuropeptide environment of
the sporadic and familial Alzheimer’s Brain.

As a temporary employee of the Brody School of Medicine, Ryan has served as both
co-creator and instructor for an online MCAT preparation course. As well, he served
as an MCAT instructor for the Brody SOM Summer Program for Future Doctors. He is
an active triathlete, soccer player, proud uncle of a beautiful niece and a lover of all
things Irish (particularly the occasional Guinness) and, of course, his ever faithful
and constant mutt, Tyson.

Khalief Edward Hamden
Vice-President

Khalief Hamden is a Master's Candidate at East Carolina University in the Molecular
and Biotechnology program.  Khalief received his Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional
Biology from Appalachian State University in North Carolina.  He is currently pursuing a
thesis concerning the entry of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) intotarget
cells and aspects of cellular signaling, under the auspices of Dr. Shaw Akula, in the
Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Brody School of Medicine.  KSHV,
also known as human hepesvirus-8, is the virus that is involved in a tumor-like condition
known as Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS).  As depicted in the movie Philadelphia, starring Tom Hanks,
KS is characterized by the presence of multiple lesions that originate from blood vessels and
is widely known because of its involvement in diseases of the immune system, such as AIDS. 
In healthy patients, KSHV infection is usually benign (except in certain populations of individuals
of Mediterranean descent and in some areas of central Africa) but is extremely problematic
and potentially lethal in immunosuppressed patients.

Khalief has earned authorship in several scientific papers and reviews that have been published
in peer-reviewed journals.  He is a volunteer student-assistant in the Department of Infectious
Disease at the Brody School of Medicine and also is an active volunteer at Pitt County Care Clinic,
a free clinic for underprivileged families.  Khalief has served as a teaching assistant for three
semesters in Introduction to Biology (1051), Human Anatomy and Physiology (2151) and
Survey of Human Anatomy (2131), respectively.

On the lighter side, Khalief is a fan of rock-and-roll music and attempts to showcase his own
brand of lab-inspired guitar rock at local open mic nights and graduate gatherings.  He enjoys
riding his motorcycle around town when the weather is nice (and enjoys it less when it is not)
and aspires to become a physician.
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Ken has lived most of his life in Raleigh, NC except for a three-year stay in Rome, Italy.
He went to high school at Leesville Road before coming to East Carolina University where
he doubled majored in Biology and Anthropology.  Ken received a B.S. degree in Biology
from ECU in 2003.  Now he is working on his Master’s degree of Biology in Dr. Capehart’s
Embryology Lab (C407).  He is currently engaged and is getting married during the
summer of 2005.

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Brent Eugene Hendrixson
Faculty/Staff Representative

Brent currently serves the BGSA as the Faculty/Staff Representative, acting as a liaison between
the faculty and students in the Department of Biology.  He came to ECU by way of the University
of Northern Colorado (BA) and West Texas A&M University (MS) where he studied field biology
with an emphasis in arachnology.  He is presently a third year PhD student investigating the
systematics and evolution of trapdoor spiders in Dr. Jason Bond’s lab, where his primary
research interests reside in the detection and delimitation of species boundaries using
morphological and molecular data.  Outside of school, Brent enjoys running and racing,
listening to exceptionally loud music, and is an avid Denver Broncos fan.

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Michael Chadwick Smith
Historian/Webmaster

Chad Smith completed a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from East Carolina
University in the Spring of 2002 with emphasis on ecology and marine biology,
which included a study abroad program to study Marine Field Ecology at the University
of Belize in Belize, Central America.  He began his career in the Biology Graduate
Program in the Spring of 2003. His research is focused on studying habitat utilization and
spawning pattern of anadromous fishes in Tar River, North Carolina.  He also enjoys teaching
Environmental Biology Lab, General Biology Lab for majors, Ecology Lab and assisting
with the "Fisheries Techniques" lab.  He is also the President and webmaster for the
ECU Student Subunit of the American Fisheries Society. 

Chad is an avid fan of "The Simpsons," especially Homer!  He also enjoys watching "Survivor"
and is determined to make it on one of its installments and will continue to submit contestant
applications.  He also seems to be a fan of trilogies being that two of his favorite
films are "Lord of the Rings" and "Star Wars."  He also enjoys listening to an assortment of
musical genres and going to concerts.  His hobbies include: piano; composing and recording
music; photography; cinematography; writing; web-design; world-traveling; cultural activities;
running (road racing) and graphic design.  Accomplishments include: Eagle Scout (1996),
John Philip Sousa Band Award (1998) and participation in various charity organizations
and volunteer services such as Habitat for Humanity and American Red Cross.

Chad hopes to receive his M.S. degree in December of 2005.  Although he is not sure where he
will go afterwards, he has displayed interest in working for science-based magazines such as Wildlife
in North Carolina or the pristine National Geographic where he can incorporate his interests in
photography, writing, web-design and science.