Other degrees: B.S. in Biology

Degree(s) earned from our Department (and year): M.S., 1996; Ph.D., 2005

Thesis/dissertation titles:

MS: Cytogenetic Analysis of Allgrove Syndrome

Ph.D.: Mechanisms Leading to Chromosomal Instability in Oral Cancer Cells

Mentor: Susanne M. Gollin, Ph.D., FFACMG

Current positions:

Assistant Director of Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics
Department of Laboratory Medicine
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Columbus, Ohio 43205

Assistant Professor of Pathology (Clinical), The Ohio State University

Why did you choose the University of Pittsburgh for graduate school?

I am from Pittsburgh and wanted to return to my hometown for graduate studies; after working several years I decided to return to go on to my Ph.D. since I already began my coursework at GSPH with my M.S.

Why Human Genetics?

I excelled in my undergraduate genetics course and became interested in taking more courses related to genetics and human disease.

How did your coursework and training prepare you for your career?

Truly an amazing education. I still use methods learned in my graduate studies and feel that University of Pittsburgh has one of the strongest programs for preparing individuals for laboratory leadership.

Where have you worked, and what have you worked on, since graduating?

2007-2008 Clinical Molecular Genetics Fellow
Department of Human Genetics
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Advisors: Soma Das, Ph.D., FACMG
Stuart Schwartz, Ph.D., FFACMG

2005-2007 Clinical Cytogenetics Fellow
Departments of Medicine and Human Genetics
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Advisors: Stuart Schwartz, Ph.D., FFACMG
Michelle M. LeBeau, Ph.D., FACMG

2001-2005 Graduate Student Researcher, Cancer Cytogenetics
Department of Human Genetics, GSPH- Ph.D. work

1999-2001 Cytogenetic Technologist, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
1998-1999 Technical Specialist (laboratory supervisor)
Department of Pathology, Cytogenetics laboratory
West Virginia University Hospitals, Inc.
Morgantown, WV

1996-1998 Senior Research Technologist
Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology
Chicago, IL

1994-1996 Graduate Student Researcher in Cytogenetics
Department of Human Genetics, GSPH- M.S. work

Do you have any advice for potential students and trainees?

I can say that if you choose the University of Pittsburgh Dept of Human Genetics for graduate studies, you will not be disappointed. My department was made up of individuals who themselves were legendary in the field and were in close contact with others of similar caliber. All of my professors were extraordinary individuals, were extremely knowledgeable, and were genuinely interested in helping their students achieve success. I am still in touch with many former professors and now consider them to be valuable colleagues.

What were the highlights or fondest memories of your time as a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh?

The yearly department retreats were wonderful, as was the ASHG annual meeting in which the entire department would attend wherever it was being held. There were many highlights!

Select publications (generated from your graduate work)

1. Martin CL, Reshmi SC, Ried T, Gottberg W, Wilson JW, Reddy JK, Khanna P, Johnson JT, Myers EN,Gollin SM: Chromosomal imbalances in oral squamous cell carcinoma: Examination of 31 cell lines and review of the literature. Oral Oncology 2008; 44:369-382.

2. Reshmi SC, Roychaudhry S, Yu Z, Feingold E, Potter D, Saunders WS, Gollin SM: Inverted duplication pattern in anaphase bridges confirms the breakage-fusion-bridge (BFB) cycle model for 11q13 amplification. Cytogenet Genome Res 2007;116:46-52.

3. Reshmi SC, Huang X, Schoppy DW, Black RC, Saunders WS, Smith DI, Gollin SM: The relationship between FRA11F and 11q13 gene amplification in oral cancer. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2007; 46:143-154.

4. Wittschieben JP, Reshmi SC, Gollin SM, Wood RD: Loss of DNA polymerase zeta causes chromosomal instability in mammalian cells. Cancer Res 2006; 66:134-42.

5. Cook J, Aguilera N, Reshmi S, Huang X, Yu Z, Gollin S, Abbondanzo S, Swerdlow S: Deletion 6q is not a characteristic marker of nodal lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 2005:162:85-88.

6. Reshmi SC and Gollin SM: Chromosomal instability in oral cancer cells. (Review) J Dent Res 2005:84:107-17.

7. Reshmi SC, Saunders WS, Kudla DM, Rose Ragin C, Gollin SM: Chromosomal instability and marker chromosome evolution in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2004: 41: 38-46.

8. Rose Ragin C, Reshmi SC, Gollin SM: Mapping and analysis of HPV16 integration sites in a head and neck cancer cell line. Int J Cancer 2004: 110: 701-709.

9. Cook JR, Aguilera NI, Reshmi-Skarja S, Huang X, Yu Z, Gollin SM, Abbondanzo SL, and Swerdlow SH: Lack of PAX5 Rearrangements in lymphoplasmacytic lymphomas: reassessing the reported association with t(9;14). Hum Pathol 2004: 35:1-8.

10. Gollin SM and Reshmi Skarja S: Mitosis: Chromosomal Rearrangements During. In: Encyclopedia of the Human Genome. Nature Publishing Group, London. Vol. 4, pp. 23-27, 2003.

11. Reshmi Skarja S, Huebner A, Handschug K, Finegold DN, Clark AJL and Gollin SM: Chromosomal fragility in patients with triple A syndrome. Am J Med Genet 2003: 117A:30-36.

Last Updated: April 25, 2011