A Warm Welcome is Extended to our new Incoming Ph.D. Students for the 2011/12 Academic Year

Department of Epidemiology

As we start the new academic year our current faculty, graduate students and staff gathered to welcome our newest Ph.D. students, Citadel Cabasag, M.S. and Xian Zhang, M.S., who are now partners with us in our department's important research and educational endeavors.

The incoming students were provided with introductions to key faculty and their active research efforts, insights into the life of a Ph.D. student, their personal work space and a general tour of the department's facilities and resources.

Some of those participating in this orientation are pictured at right (l-r): Richard Ahn, M.A. (Current Ph.D. Student), Julie Strope, M.A. (Department Administrator), Hoda Anton-Culver, Ph.D. (Professor and Department Chair), Xian Zhang, M.S. (Incoming Ph.D. Student), Citadel Cabasag, M.S. (Incoming PhD Student) and Leona Bessonova, MS (Current Ph.D. Student).

Incoming Ph.D. student Citadel Cabasag recently completed her M.S. studies in an Interdisciplinary Natural Science program at the State University of New York at Buffalo before moving to Irvine, California.  She is now living on the UC Irvine campus in student housing designated for graduate students.  Ms. Cabasag earned her B.S. in Genetics and Cell Biology from the Washington State University.  Her doctoral research and studies will focus on the role genetics play in both chronic disease and in health outcomes.

Xian Zhang recently completed her M.S. studies in Physiology at the San Diego State University before moving to Irvine, California.  She is now living on the UC Irvine campus in student housing designated for graduate students. Ms. Zhang earned her baccalaureate degree in Medicine from China's Sichuan University Medical School.  Her doctoral research and studies will focus on the occurrence and causation of preventable chronic diseases coupled with efforts to educate the public in making better personal health choices.