Lisa Miller

Lisa Miller is a biophysical chemist at the National Synchrotron Light Source and an adjunct Associate Professor in the Departments of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering at Stony Brook University. She obtained her B.S. in Chemistry from John Carroll University in 1989, her M.S. degree in Chemistry from Georgetown University in 1992, and her Ph.D. in Biophysics from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1995. Her Ph.D. research involved using x-ray and infrared light to study the binding of oxygen and carbon monoxide to hemoglobin and myoglobin. After graduating, Lisa worked at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory where she used x-rays to probe the manganese ions in photosynthesis. In 1999, Lisa became a staff scientist at BNL, where she is currently focusing on applications of synchrotron x-ray and infrared imaging to diseases such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. In her spare time, Lisa enjoys backpacking, hiking, running, and photography.

Randy Smith

Randy Smith is Science Associate at the NSLS. He obtained his B.S. in Chemistry and Olivet Nazarene University in 1998 while working at Reedy Scientific Instruments, where he helped develop a microFTIR technique to analyze GC effluents cryogenically captured in an Argon matrix. In 2001, Randy obtained his M.S. in Chemistry at Washington State University, where his researched visible and near-infrared photoluminescent properties of Mn2+:ZnS nanocrystals under high pressure using diamond anvil cells. After graduating, he worked as a Technical Support Engineer American Xtal Technology, Inc (Fremont CA) where Randy investigated processing problems in the manufacture of GaAs and other III-IV semiconductor substrates. In 2003, Randy took his current position at the NSLS, where he develops beamline instrumentation and general impovements on several infrared beamlines. He also serves as local contact for beamlines U10B and U4IR where he instructs visiting scientists on beamline operation and support users in integrating experiments to beamlines.

Meghan Ruppel

Meghan Ruppel is a graduate student at Stony Brook University, currently pursuing her PhD in Biomedical Engineering. Meghan received her Bachelors of Engineering in Engineering Science in 2004 and her Masters of Science in Materials Science in 2005, both from Stony Brook University. Meghan has been performing research at the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory since the summer of 2003, when she started working under the advisement of Dr. Lisa Miller in the Science Undergraduate Research Internship (SULI) program. Meghan has used synchrotron infrared microspectroscopy to study bone composition in various diseases such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Meghan also helped design and implement a fluorescence-imaging accessory for beamline X26A, which assists in data collection for many of the group's projects. Meghan’s PhD project consists of growing bone cells and studying how they are affected by osteoporosis treatment. In addition to performing research at the NSLS, Meghan is also a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research. In her spare time Meghan enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with family and friends and driving her MINI Cooper.

Andreana Leskovjan

Andreana Leskovjan is a PhD student in the Medical Physics track of Biomedical Engineering at Stony Brook University, where she also obtained her B.S. degrees in Physics and Psychology in 2001. After graduating, Andreana worked in the Medical Department at BNL using functional neuroimaging to research cocaine addiction in human subjects, and obtained her M.S. in Medical Physics from SBU in 2005. Andreana is currently working towards her Ph.D. as a Research Assistant at the NSLS under the direction of Dr. Lisa Miller. She is involved in a project using spectroscopic techniques in vitro to obtain information about how metal ions (zinc and copper) in the brain are involved in amyloid beta misfolding and aggregation in Alzheimer’s disease. This research will eventually progress to an in vivo study using a mouse model. In her spare time, Andreana enjoys traveling, playing the piano, swimming, poker, and is a huge Miami Dolphins fan (Go Fins).

Megan Bourassa

Megan Bourassa is a graduate student in the Chemistry Department at Stony Brook University, working towards her Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry. In 2007, she obtained her BS degree in Chemistry from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA. Megan is currently a Research Assistant in Dr. Lisa Miller’s lab at the NSLS. Her research involves an in vitro model of Alzheimer’s disease to study the interactions between zinc and amyloid-beta in neurons. She is also developing a method for the FTIR imaging of live cells using attenuated total reflectance. This technique may later be applied to her study of Alzheimer’s disease and neurons. In her spare time, Megan likes to run, travel, and play tennis.

Alvin Acerbo

Alvin Acerbo is a graduate student at the Biomedical Engineering program at Stony Brook University, pursuing his Ph.D. degree. In May 2006, he received B.S. degrees in Biochemistry and Computer Science at Iona College in New Rochelle, NY. He is currently working towards his Ph.D. as a research assistant at the National Synchrotron Light Source under the guidance of Lisa Miller and Larry Carr. His research involves improving the contrast and resolution of images obtained through Fourier Transform Infrared imaging using point spread function deconvolution, determining the biological effects of boric acid on melanoma cells, and elucidating the mechanism behind the formation of small mineral nodules in the early stages of bone growth. In his spare time, Alvin likes to travel abroad, hike trails along the Hudson Valley, and spend time with friends.

Ryan Tappero

Ryan Tappero is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Synchrotron Light Source.  Ryan serves as a local contact for Beamline X27A, a hard X-ray microprobe, and works as a postdoc in the Life and Environmental Sciences Division under the supervision of Lisa Miller.  Ryan obtained his B.Sc. in Soil Science in 2001 and his M.Sc. in Soil Chemistry in 2003, both from California Polytechnic, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly).  During his graduate study at Cal Poly, Ryan worked as a regulator for the CA Regional Water Quality Control Board.  Ryan obtained his Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry from the University of Delaware in 2008.  His Ph.D. research involved using X-ray and electron microscopies to study the molecular speciation of heavy metals in hyperaccumulator plants used for remediation of contaminated soil and sediment.  At the NSLS, Ryan provides scientific and technical support for X27A users and works on the development of environmental sciences applications at the facility.  In his spare time, Ryan enjoys hiking, fishing, backpacking, snowboarding, boating, sunrise or sunset on the beach, playing guitar, and walking the dog.

Simone Park

Simone Park is a senior at Stony Brook University majoring in physics. She is interested in becoming a biophysicist to continue investigating biological processes such as diseases and plant physiology with the aid of physical tools. During the summer of 2007, she worked as a SULI student under Lisa Miller at the NSLS. She also collaborated with Chang Jun Liu of Brookhaven’s Biology Department to develop a high-throughput method of screening mutant Arabidopsis thaliana plants using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. In line with the nation’s quest to develop alternative fuels, degrading excess lignocellulosic biomass into ethanol can be a good alternative. One way to degrade lignocelluloses is to modify specific genes in the plant that hinder their breakdown. This project aims to find mutants that are deficient in acylesterases and acyltransferases, enzymes that help to maintain the recalcitrance of cell walls. By experimenting with sample preparation and by interpreting FTIR’s specific information, Simone hopes to reveal a method that will efficiently screen mutants that are good candidates for use in bioethanol production.

Group Alumni