Active Doctoral Research Projects: 2020 –

Characterization of neural network underlying social-context-dependent behaviors in zebra finches:

Optimization of a protocol for delivery of genetic material to live zebra finch embryos via electroporation:

PhD Rotation Research: 2019-2020

Optimizing a protocol for decellularizing neural tissue in mice and humans: I spent ten weeks as a PhD rotation student in Dr. Carmen Melendez-Vasquez’s neuroscience laboratory at CUNY Hunter College during my first year of graduate school. The Melendez-Vasquez laboratory is interested in the chemical and physical components of the neural environment that prevent axon remyelination in neurodegenerative diseases, such as muscular sclerosis. Here, I optimized a protocol for mouse and human neural tissue decellularization. The protocol for creating decellularized tissue matrices has provided an opportunity for the laboratory to study the molecular steps of human oligodendrocyte differentiation on a controlled, but natural, substrate. In the Melendez-Vasquez laboratory I strengthened my ability to independently initiate and optimize new protocols for technical skills. Additionally, I received foundational training on mouse perfusions, handling, and care.

Investigating a molecular mechanism for disruption of the blood brain barrier in advanced malaria: During the onset of the COVID-19 lockdown, I was a doctoral rotation student in Dr. Julio Gallego-Delgado’s laboratory at CUNY Lehman College. As in-person access to the laboratory was limited by CUNY and the COVID-19 pandemic – I performed this rotation online. In lieu of learning the technical skills required for the examination of the molecular mechanisms underlying severe malaria pathologies, I participated in a one-on-one weekly journal club to discuss key papers with Dr. Gallego- Delgado. From this I improved my ability to read scientific journal articles effectively and critically. Based on these discussions I designed an experiment to test the hypothesis that the mechanism for blood brain barrier disruption, as experienced in cerebral malaria, is a form of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition. If I pursued thesis research in this laboratory, I would have initiated this project.

Undergraduate Research: 2018-2019

Characterizing the role of chromatin modifiers in temporal patterning of medulla neuroblasts: My first formal research experience spanned the last full calendar year of my undergraduate career. I worked directly under Dr. Xin Li in her developmental neuroscience laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign which investigates the regulation of neural progenitor temporal patterning and the subsequent generation of neural diversity in drosophila. In my project, I analyzed 18 transcription factor- GFP reporter lines that had previously been identified by a bioinformatics screen performed by a graduate student in the laboratory to be potential regulators of neuroblast development. From this screen, I highlighted five genes that may regulate the drosophila medulla neuroblast development stage defined by Eyeless expression. Additionally, I utilized RNAi to examine the regulatory properties of transcription factors, Lola and Dref, on medulla neuroblast development. I found that RNAi suppression of Lola repressed expected expression of known temporal marker Sloppy paired (SHOWN BELOW) and that RNAi suppression of Dref allowed for release from expected repression of Sloppy paired. This novel finding increased our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the tightly controlled temporal patterning of the drosophila medulla neuroblasts and was further explored by a graduate student in the laboratory after my graduation. Finally, I utilized MARCAM (mosaic analysis with a repressible cell marker) to identify Trithorax as both a suppressor of Sloppy paired and an activator of Tailless, two temporal patterning genes of medulla neuroblasts. My role in characterizing the underlying mechanisms of neural development may go on to support the development of personalized treatment of neurological disorders involving non-expected developmental patterning.