The Illustrious Alumni of Our Department
Caleb Marceau
Degree(s) Received:
AS 2007 (SKC)
BS 2009 (UM)
PhD 2017
SKC Research Topic:
Sulfolubus extremophiles
Current Position:
(Scientist II) NGM Biopharmaceuticals in San Francisco
Josh Marceau
Degree(s) Received:
AS 2007 (SKC)
BS 2009 (UM)
PhD 2017
SKC Research Topic:
Sulfolubus extremophiles
Current Position:
Post-doc Fred Hutchinson
Katie McDonald
Degree(s) Received:
AS 2007 (SKC)
BS 2010 (UM)
MS 2013
SKC Research Topic:
Mercury in osprey & lake trout
Current Position:
Tribal Policy Advisor
Noel Higgins
Degree(s) Received:
AS General Science 2010 (SKC)
BS Education 2016 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
E. Coli source tracking
Current Position:
HS Teacher, Browning, MT.
Jamie Cahoon
Degree(s) Received:
ASN 2010 (SKC)
BS 2013 (SKC)
BSN 2014 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
1) E. coli source tracking. 2) Salix-based OChem education modules
Current Position:
Head, Diabetes Program, Conf. Salish & Kootenai Tribes
Amy Stiffarm
Degree(s) Received:
BS 2012 (SKC)
MPH 2017
SKC Research Topic:
1) Phage hunting/sequencing. 2) Flowering Rush genetics
Current Position:
Research Assistant, James Bell Associates, Missoula, MT.
Robert Bruton
Degree(s) Received:
AS 2012 (SKC)
BS 2014 (UW)
SKC Research Topic:
Mercury in seals
Current Position:
USDA research chemist
Wastewin Smiley
Degree(s) Received:
BS 2013 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
1) Ledum antioxidants. 2) Mercury in lake trout/seals.
Current Position:
Rachel Brown
Degree(s) Received:
AS 2014 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
Immune response to proteins isolated from extremophiles from the Berkeley Pit, Butte, MT
Current Position:
Joined military
Now deceased
Loretta Grey Cloud
Degree(s) Received:
BS 2015 (SKC)
MPH 2018
SKC Research Topic:
Phage infection genetics
Current Position:
Completed Post-bac – NIDCR
Trey Saddler
Degree(s) Received:
BS 2015 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
1) Hair mercury levels in indigenous populations. 2) Mercury in Lake trout/seals
Current Position:
Data Scientist – NIEHS
Marthe Van Sickle
Degree(s) Received:
BS 2015 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
Immune response to proteins isolated from extremophiles from the Berkeley Pit, Butte, MT
Current Position:
Completed post-bac - NIAID RML Entered law school in 2017 (UM)
AJ Somers
Degree(s) Received:
BS 2016 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
1) Repressor gene sequences in bacteriophages. 2) GC-MS analysis of PCBs in fish/seals
Current Position:
Associate Researcher, Bristol Myers Squibb
Meg Sherry
Degree(s) Received:
AS 2017 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
Protein expression from Pichia pastoris
Current Position:
Job in law enforcement, Polson, MT.
Mariah Friedlander
Degree(s) Received:
BS 2017 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
1) Isolation of proteins from extremophiles from the Berkeley Pit in Butte, MT. 2) DNA isolation for immune response tracking
Current Position:
Hydro-electric position through SKC tribal energy
Felicia Blandov
Degree(s) Received:
AS 2018 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
Detection of Hg methylators and demethylators in Flathead Lake
Current Position:
Transfer to University of Alaska in 2019-2020 (home community/dental program)
Japhanna Burns
Degree(s) Received:
BS 2019 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
1) Immune reactions of human lung cells from Hantavirus-like particles. 2) Detection of Hg methylators and demethylators in Flathead Lake
Current Position:
Montana State University, Dept. of Microbiology. Ph.D. program, Jan. 2020.
Audrey Romine
Degree(s) Received:
BS 2019 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
Hantavirus protein studies for innate immune reaction
Current Position:
Applying to Physical Therapy programs
Cheyne Littlesun
Degree(s) Received:
BS 2020 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
Comparison of soil microbiomes from natural & managed ecosystems on the Flathead Indian Reservation
Current Position:
Graduate School, Molecular & Cell Biology (MCB) at University of Washington
Mary "India" Ortgies
Degree(s) Received:
BS 2020 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
Inflammatory & growth response of human microglia after environmental chemical exposure
Current Position:
Graduate School, Industrial Hygiene at Montana Tech
Marshand Vasquez
Degree(s) Received:
BS 2021 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
1) Structure-function of mitochondrial TOM proteins. 2) Culturally responsive biomedical education.
Current Position:
Applying to medical school
Marietta Stringer
Degree(s) Received:
BS 2021 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish species in Flathead Lake
Current Position:
Phlebotomist; Applying to graduate school
Danny Obrecht
Degree(s) Received:
BS 2021 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
Digital production of biomedical information during the COVID-19 pandemic
Current Position:
Pharmacy School, University of Montana
Rachel Matt
Degree(s) Received:
BS 2021 (SKC)
SKC Research Topic:
Assessment of diabetic outcomes using the differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocyte cell model system
Current Position:
Pharmacy School, University of Montana