heather FIUMERA lab
@ Binghamton University
Principal Investigator
Heather L. Fiumera
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
she/her/hers
trailname: Powerhouse
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Science 3
Office: Room 102 Lab: Rooms 103,105,107,194
Binghamton University
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The Fiumera lab at Binghamton University investigates how natural genetic variation in mtDNAs influences mitochondrial physiology. Heather began her research in yeast mitochondrial genetics under postdoctoral training at Cornell University. She holds degrees in Microbiology (PhD, University of Georgia) and Chemistry (BA, Smith College).
Graduate Researchers
Jessica Beskid
Does selection for fast growth come at a cost for longevity? Jessica wants to know! Jessica received her BS in Biology from Binghamton University and is now a MS candidate in Biology.
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Josefina Rodriguez
Josefina is currently learning how to move mitochondria between yeasts and awaiting her first winter in the Northeast. Josefina received her BA in Biology from University of North Texax and is now a MA student in Biology.
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Undergraduate Researchers
Madison Muscente
Madeleine Panek
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M & M are helping J & J move mitos!
M&M
Join us!
Postdocs and Graduate Students
Interested postdocs and graduate students are encouraged to contact Heather!
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Undergraduates
Undergraduate researchers are an important asset to our research team. If you are interested in a potential research position, please contact Heather. Positions are dependent on current status of ongoing projects.
Alumni
We celebrate the successes and contributions of previous lab members!
Once a mitochondriac, always a mitochondriac!
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Graduate Students
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Gabrielle McMillan, MS , May 2022
Thesis: Mitochondrial DNA plays a significant role in the hybrids of two sister species of Saccharomcyes
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Austen Tinz-Burdick, MS , Dec 2021
Thesis: Stability of mitochondrial DNA is a complex trait influenced by nuclear and mitonuclear genotypes in Saccharomyces
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Tuc Nguyen, PhD, May 2021
Dissertation: Mitonuclear Coevolution and Mapping Strategies
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Margaret Geertz, MS, May 2019
Thesis: Mapping genetic variants that contribute to mitonuclear epistatic interactions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
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Franchesca Ramirez, MA, May 2019
Project: Replacing mtDNAs and Assaying Petite Frequency in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to Map Mitonuclear Interactions
Weiwei Liu, MS , May 2018
Thesis: Characterization of a novel recombinant collection of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
John Wolters, PhD, May 2018
Dissertation: “Functional variation in the mitochondrial genome of the yeast Saccharomyces”
University Distinguished Dissertation Award and Excellence in Research Award, NSF doctoral dissertation award
Meghan Lenhardt, MS, Aug. 2016
Thesis: “Building a recombinant population of Saccharomyces cerevisiae”
Swati Paliwal, PhD, Sept. 2015
Dissertation: “Mitochondrial-nuclear epistasis contributes to phenotypic variation in wild yeasts”
Mei-Yi Zheng, PhD, Aug. 2014
Dissertation: “In the absence of mitochondrial insertase, Oxa1, biogenesis of the Cox2 subunit of cytochrome c oxidase can be promoted through hydrophobic core mutations in Cox18”
Undergraduate Honors Researchers
Sargunvir Sondhi, BS in Biology, 2019
Honors Thesis: Evidence for selection of intraspecific mitonuclear epistasis within population structures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
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Alec Gaspary, BS in Biology, 2018
Honors Thesis: Recombination and the genetic architecture of mitochondrial fitness effects in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
2017 Summer Scholar and Arts Program
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Ray Futia, BS in Biology, 2015
Honors Thesis: Phenotypic and mitochondrial haplotype variation in a local population of wild yeasts
2014 Summer Scholar and Artists Program
Undergraduate Research Excellence Award
Undergraduate Presidential Award
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Fatima Nagaya, BA in Biology, 2011
Honors Thesis: Mitochondrial-nuclear interactions in Saccharomyces sensu stricto species
Undergraduate Alums
Gabrielle McMillan, Jan. 2021-May 2021
Aida Ahmed, Sept. 2019-Dec. 2020
Sonny Pohar, Sept. 2019-Dec. 2020
Austen Tinz-Burdick, Sept.2018-Dec. 2019
Michael Toledano, Sept. 2018-Dec. 2019
2019 Summer Scholar and Artists Program
Brooke Bonney, Sept. 2018-May 2019
Benjamin Gaebler, Sept. 2018-May 2019
Mark Schwartz, June. 2018-Aug 2018
2018 Biomedical Translational Science & Technology Development REU Scholar, home institution: Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO
Franchesca Ramirez, June 2018-Aug. 2018
2018 CSTEP Summer Scholar
Nina Pregosin, June 2018-Aug. 2018
2018 McNair Summer Scholar
Andrew Ziesel, Sept. 2016-May 2017
Jessica De Jesus, Jan. 2016- May 2017
LSAMP Intern, 2016 Summer Scholar and Artists Program
Bobbie-Angela Wong ,Sept. 2016-Dec. 2016
Bryanna DeJesus, Sept. 2016-Dec. 2016
Angela Federico, Sept. 2016-Dec. 2016
Gureep Lal, Sept. 2016-Dec. 2016
Seungyun Oh, Sept. 2016 -Dec. 2016
Kavita Dave Sept. 2014- Dec. 2014
Noelle Fischer, Sept. 2014- Dec. 2014
Abigail Weinberg, Sept. 2011- May 2013
Kamran Munawar, Sept. 2010- May 2011
Linda Kravchik, Sept. 2010- May 2011
David Levine, Sept. 2012- Dec. 2012
Stephen Savaoi, Sept. 2011- Dec. 2011
Piyal Alam, Sept. 2009- May 2010
Stefanie DeVito, Jan. 2008- May 2010
Naomi Tam, Jan. 2010- May 2010
Soe Thein, Sept. 2009-May 2010
Mei-Yi Zheng Jan. 2009- May 2009