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Alicia Blaker |
I did my undergraduate work at the University of Northern Kentucky, where I majored in Biology. My initial interests were in marine biology, and I studied marine cave isopods that my mentor discovered on San Salvador Island, Bahamas. Later I became more interested in the molecular aspects of creatures and gained training in the identification of putative magnesium transporting p-type ATPases. The combination of these undergraduate research experiences left me with an appreciation for the whole animal, but wanting an understanding at the molecular level. This appreciation guided me to the Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, where we study both.
My current lab focuses on cardiovascular physiology and pathology. I study Serum Response Factor, a transcription factor that is required for expression of nearly all of the vascular smooth muscle genes. We have identified post-translational modifications in SRF that stimulate aberrant changes in the smooth muscle phenotype and have used SRF -/- murine embryonic stem cells to study these changes.
During my time at the University of North Carolina I have had many opportunities to participate in focus-related training programs. I am currently a member of the Developmental Biology Training Program, which holds bi-weekly meetings and hosts an annual symposium with nationally recognized, student-invited speakers. The Cell and Molecular Physiology Department also hosts student-invited speakers and weekly seminars with experts in all areas of physiology. The University of North Carolina is an exceptional hub of science and is also rich with cultural diversity, music, and outdoor activities. Living here has been a great experience. |
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I came from China. I completed
my undergraduate study in the School of Life Sciences at the
University of Science and Technology of China, where I received
extensive education in biological sciences. I did some research
work in a lab focused on molecular oncology, where I found my
great interest to be in cell biology. When I applied to graduate
schools, I was looking for a field where I could combine cell
biology and human physiology and I found that the Department
of Cell and Molecular Physiology was an excellent choice. I
did my first rotation in Dr. Cheney's lab, where I was always
excited by the beautiful and amazing cell movements under the
microscope. I completed my second rotation in Dr. Snider's
lab, where I will conduct my dissertation work on the mechanism and
function of some proteins in the human's most complicated organism,
the brain, and, to a more specific cell biological level, the
neurons. |
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I earned my B.S. in the Department of Agricultural Chemistry and M.S. in the Graduate Institute of Molecular Medicine at the National Taiwan University, Taiwan. My work in the master's degree program was to identify and clone GP135, an apical membrane protein expressed in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line with unknown function and sequence. After receiving my master's degree in 2003, I decided to continue advanced graduate studies in the biosciences. Luckily, I got the chance to enter the Program of Cell and Molecular Physiology at UNC. After one year of rotation, I joined Dr. Susan Smyth’s lab to study the signaling of lipid molecules in the development of cardiovascular diseases. At the end of my second year in the program, my mentor, Susan, accepted a job in the University of Kentucky, and our lab shifted to Lexington.
My life in the Department of Cell & Molecular Physiology and in Chapel Hill had been an exceptionally great one. Although I live in Lexington now, I still get to come back to Chapel Hill every once a while for activities such as the annual progress report and Research Day. I always look forward to coming back to catch up with friends and enjoy the terrific atmosphere of our program. |
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I am a third year MD/PhD student and after finishing two years of Medical School, I decided to join the Faber lab where we study mechanisms of vascular growth and remodeling. My primary area of interest is in the process of arteriogenesis. Embryologically, specialized arteriole-to-arteriole anastomoses are formed which connect two parallel arteries. In the adult, if one of these parallel arteries becomes stenosed, or blocked, arteriogenesis occurs resulting in the positive (outward) remodeling of these pre-existing arteriole-to-arteriole anastomoses. Arteriogenesis also involves new growth (de novo) of blood vessels and their subsequent maturation into conduit arteries. Unlike angiogenesis, little is known about the mechanism or regulation of arteriogenesis. Because arteriogenesis provides a crucial endogenous bypass system, it is imperative to identify growth pathways that may be potential targets for therapeutic intervention. I am studying the role of VEGF signaling in the growth of these specialized vessels. In the lab, we use genetic and pharmacological approaches, combined with physiological measurements of blood flow, tissue perfusion, and blood pressure, to better understand the mechanism of arteriogenesis. I graduated from Temple University (Philadelphia, PA) with a BS in Biochemistry and Chemistry. Before and during my undergraduate career, I spent several summers in the lab of Dr. Alan Hinnebusch at the NIH in Bethesda, MD, studying the protein-protein interactions of various sub-units of eukaryotic translation initiation factors. While at Temple, in Dr. Trevor Douglas' lab, I studied the kinetics of a novel iron binding protein in the thermophilic bacteria, Thermotoga maritima. |
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I began my training as a biologist at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where I obtained a BS in cell and molecular biology. During my sophomore year, I entered a program called the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), which matches students who have an interest in research with investigators who want to help expose undergraduates to scientific research. Through UROP, I joined a lab that was studying the molecular mechanisms of Inflammatory Breast Cancer. For the next three years, I worked to help develop a transgenic mouse model of Inflammatory Breast Cancer. During this time, I developed a great passion for biology and research; therefore, I decided to apply to graduate school as the next step in my career path.
Following my time at Michigan, I entered the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences Program at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. While in this first-year program, I completed three rotations in three different departments, one of which was Cell and Molecular Physiology. At the end of my first year, I decided to join Richard Cheney's lab, where we study unconventional myosin motor proteins and their cell biological roles. Specifically, I am studying the role of myosin-X in phagocytosis and leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions. While I am a hard-core cell biologist at heart, I find the integration of basic cell biology and human physiology fascinating and of great importance to the progression of biomedical research. The Cell and Molecular Physiology department provides me with the ideal environment to participate in exciting cell biological research as well as to be trained in both cell biology and human physiology. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in North Carolina and at UNC so far. When I am not in the lab, I enjoy several hobbies and local events. I am an avid volleyball player and have found many places around the triangle to play throughout the year. In addition, I frequently travel to the beach, attend local events in Carrboro and Chapel Hill, and spend time with friends I have made here in NC. |
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The journey that brought me to UNC was a bit untraditional. I started my secondary education by obtaining a business degree and then spent some years working in various related industries. After realizing that this might not have been the best fit for me, I reentered college and began to study biology. During my undergraduate studies at University of Missouri at St. Louis , I began working in a molecular biology lab that investigated the mechanisms behind alternate splicing and discovered that I had a passion for bench work. Though I found the research I was doing with yeast interesting, I desired studies that were integrated into more complex systems. The CMP program here at UNC was a perfect fit for me in the way that it marries the bench work of molecular sciences with the big picture thinking and analysis of being a physiologist. Since moving here from St. Louis , I have been very pleasantly surprised by the weather and the scenery as well as how I can easily continue my leisure time activities of mountain biking and rock climbing. It is also very nice being a short drive away from lovely beaches as well as beautiful mountains. I feel absolutely at home here due to both the surrounding environment and the comradeship within the department. |
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I completed my undergraduate work at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. There I received a B.S. in both biology and chemistry, with a minor in philosophy. During that time, I developed an abiding interest in Cystic Fibrosis (CF). I applied to UNC-Chapel Hill because it is home to one of the largest CF/Pulmonary Medicine Research Centers in the nation. After the interview process, the friendly environment, ample supply of research opportunities and resources, and cooperative atmosphere convinced me that this was the graduate program I desired. My research now focuses on studying the protein MARCKS, purported to be involved in the regulated mucin secretory pathway. This is an aberrant pathway in CF, thus of critical importance to understand. |
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Originally from New Hampshire, I received my BA in Biology from Assumption College in Worcester, MA. Before joining the Cell and Molecular Physiology graduate program here at UNC, I conducted research for two years in Boston, MA, in the laboratory of Dr. Sean Colgan. The top three things I enjoy about the program are the collaborative relationships, the access to various resources, and the student support. Since joining the program in 2005, I’ve learned to incorporate basic science with knowledge of integrative systems in order to conduct research that is most relevant to disease. My project has been facilitated by an HHMI-funded Translational Medicine training award, which I received in my second year. As part of my translational training, I am mentored by principal investigator Dr. Kay Lund, as well as clinician-scientist Dr. Robert Sandler. This mentoring combination has helped me focus my project on defining clinical relevance of my basic science findings. I am currently working on defining the role of Suppressors of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS) in colorectal cancer. Specifically, I am using both in vitro and in vivo approaches to define the underlying mechanisms by which SOCS3 may limit tumor formation in the colon. Based on these findings, I am conducting studies in patients attending routine colonoscopy screening to better understand how differences in SOCS3 expression may predict colon cancer risk. |
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Unconventional myosins (non-muscle, actin-based molecular motors) are the focus of Dr Cheney’s lab, and my research is mostly focused on a class V myosin, myosin 5c. Myosin 5c associates with secretory organelles and is involved in regulated secretion from epithelial cells and I am taking a high resolution imaging approach to study the role of Myosin 5c on stimulated secretion in human breast cancer cells. I also research myosin 10, which is a class of myosin that is involved in filopodia formation, cell adhesion, and possibly guidance during cellular migration, again taking an imaging approach in high spatial and temporal resolution.
I obtained my BS in biology and a minor degree in chemistry from Fort Lewis College, which is a small liberal arts institution in Durango, Colorado (AKA great skiing, mtn biking, hunting, fishing etc.). The Physiology department here at UNC, despite being part of a major, world-class research institution has a small, very friendly feel to it, much like the small school I came from. Personally, this aspect of the physiology department, in combination with the research, really set it apart from the other schools I interviewed with, and this is a direct reflection of the faculty, staff and students.
I enjoy living in Chapel Hill due to the luxury of being very close to a major city (Raleigh, 25 minutes away), yet still have that “rural” setting, which I like a lot. My recreational activities consist of hiking, biking, hunting and fishing, most of which I am able to do in the Chapel Hill area. I hope to finish my PhD in Spring 2008. Future aspirations include teaching undergraduates at a small college or university and being involved in minority recruitment/retention, while also maintaining a research program. |
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My interest in science developed through walks with my father, as we discussed varied subjects from astronomy to chemistry and biology. My interests led me to St. Joseph 's College of Arts and Science, Bangalore, India. There I completed a B.Sc. in microbiology, chemistry and botany and took honors courses in entomology, biotechnology and genetics. During this period I developed an interest in biochemistry and moved on to pursue M. Sc. in biochemistry from the prestigious M.S. University at Baroda, India. During my master's, I studied the rearrangement of the nifD element of Anabaena in E.coli. In addition, I took an elective course in neurobiology. It was during this time that I developed a keen interest in cell and molecular physiology and neurobiology.
I came to UNC Chapel Hill eager to start my journey as a scientist. During my first year here, I rotated in Dr. Sealock's lab and Dr. Ben Philpot's Lab. While in Dr. Sealock's lab, I learnt about gene regulation by microRNAs (miRNAs) and undertook a project to look for miRNAs at the neuromuscular junction. In Dr. Philpot's lab I undertook a developmental study of the expression of the NR3A receptors in the visual cortex of mice. At present, I'm in Dr. Jenny Ting's laboratory where my project involves exploring the role of a novel member of the CATERPILLER gene family - Cryopyrin (CIAS1) - in neuroinflammation. I have enjoyed my time in this department and Chapel Hill. The department has a very friendly environment – the faculty are amiable, encouraging and inspiring and the office staff is very helpful. The weather in Chapel Hill is ideal for outdoor activities. I enjoy going for walks with my husband who is a post doctoral research fellow in the Microbiology Department here. Chapel Hill has a large Indian student community and we get together often for picnics, to celebrate festivals, and to watch Hindi movies in a theatre nearby. |
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My interest for life science research was sparked during my Bachelor's studies in India. I was eager to learn biology not just from books but from the bench. Very soon after that, I came to the US for an M.S. program in Microbiology at Michigan Technological University. After graduation, I spent 3 years working on both animal and plant research projects until I realized my passion was studying the biology of human disease at the molecular level.
After my first-year rotations in the labs of Dr. Kathleen Caron and Dr. Scott Randell, I joined the Caron lab where I am using gene-targeted mouse models to study the physiological role of RAMP2 (receptor activity modifying protein). The physiology department is great, composed of very nice people and offering unique training. I've been enjoying my stay at UNC so far and can't think of a better college-town than Chapel Hill.
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Designed to Rock, programmed to perform, and destined to change the world, I was sent back to this time period to learn from the greats: Hendrix, Slash, Optimus Prime, etc. Unfortunately, the scientists who assembled me miscalculated and I arrived roughly twenty years too late. Forced to cope with the unexpected surroundings, I immediately headed to North Carolina. I knew from my studies of this era that a certain small, college town regularly hosts the most talented up-and-coming Independent Rockers. In this time of Justins, Britneys, and American Idols, the only place I could accomplish my mission was Chapel Hill.
While carefully observing the steady stream of Rockers who rolled through town, I decided to moonlight as an amateur scientist. Fooled by my disguise as a typical graduate student, Richard Cheney has allowed me to apply my knowledge of computers, machinery, and biology to the study of molecular motors. This mundane occupation may seem like a waste of my circuitry, but I happen to know that one particular molecular motor, myosin-X, shares a destiny as great as my own. Like an intracellular tour bus, myosin-X ceaselessly travels along actin filaments in filopodia, the cell’s fingertips. Fueled by ATP and Mojo, myosin-X transports an entourage of proteins responsible for cell signaling, adhesion, and actin polymerization. What road maps does it follow to filopodial tips, who are its passengers, and how does it keep on truckin’? These mysteries are enough to inspire ballads, riffs, and drum solos. Perhaps when I return to my own time to spread the word of Rock, I will dedicate a few songs to myosin-X: “Hotel Filopodia,” “Get Your Motor Running,” “I Want To Hold Your Actin”… |
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I’m a first year student in the Physiology department. My college education began at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah, where I studied enzymes involved in the prevention of selenium-induced toxicity in brine shrimp from the Great Salt Lake. After graduating, I decided to pursue my non-brine shrimp related interest, neuroscience, at the National Institutes of Health, where I studied the role of voltage-gated potassium channels in synaptic plasticity under Dr. Dax Hoffman. I came to UNC this year and have rotated in a number of neuroscience labs where I have learned a great deal. When I’m not pipeting, the Chapel Hill area offers a decent combination of friendly people and a relaxed atmosphere to hang out in. The surrounding area and the great people in the physiology department led me to come to UNC to pursue my PhD. |
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My road to the Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology has been a circuitous one. I received a B.S. in Engineering from Princeton University. During my summers as an undergraduate, I returned to warmer weather, to my home town of Chapel Hill; I worked in a physics lab where I was introduced to myosin V, controlling its movements on a micropatterned surface. After college, I wanted the experience of living in another country, so I pursued a Masters in Bioengineering at Cambridge University, England. There I studied the mechanics of myosin VI, the reverse motor protein. In my case, all roads lead to home, and I again returned to Chapel Hill for medical school. Continuing on my tour of myosins, I spent a summer in the Cheney lab working on myosin X in microvilli. I enjoyed my experience in the lab and the department so much that I had to stay. The Physiology department appealed to me because of the diverse research interests of its labs and the flexible curriculum provided for its students who have come from a variety of academic paths. As for Chapel Hill, it’s a town with great bars and restaurants, sports teams, and an active arts and music scene. The beach and mountains are only a short drive away, which is great for me because there’s nowhere else I’d rather be (except for lab, maybe…) than on the Carolina beach. |
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In May 2004, I graduated with a BS in biology from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. Prior to graduation I was unsure about my post-college plan. I was interested in the sciences but undecided whether my interest was in medicine or research. To postpone any major decisions and gain research experience, I took a job at the University of Pennsylvania as a research technician at the Institute of Medicine and Engineering, a department aimed at the integration of the medical and mechanical sciences. It was a stimulating environment. I worked primarily with salmon coagulation proteins in various capacities, including purification for the development of wound bandages and for use as substrates for neuronal growth. While at UPenn I realized that research science was what I wanted to do, making the decision to get my PhD crystal clear. I applied to UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall of 2006 and was accepted for the fall of 2007. I love the environment at UNC, both of Chapel Hill and the department of Cell and Molecular Physiology. They are both tremendously friendly and welcoming. So far, the seven months I’ve been here have been challenging but great. I joined Dr. Ellie Tzima’s lab where we study the mechanisms endothelial cells use to sense blood flow. Specifically I am interested in the role of PECAM-1 in the eNOS-mediated anti-inflammatory response. I am looking forward to the future of my project and excited to see where it takes me. |
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I always knew that I would be a scientist and my journey has been a strange one. I am originally from Augusta, GA, though I lived in Atlanta for the last few years while I was in school. I received my B.S. in Applied Biology from Georgia Tech. At Tech, I was an undergraduate assistant for Dr. Radhakrishna and studied the signaling mechanisms of GPCRs, specifically the LPA receptors. It was there that I attended the first and second meetings of the Georgia Cancer Coalition and the start of my interest in cancer. While I began to understand the cellular basis of cancer, I wanted to bring my understanding to a more organismal level. I found myself at home in the Cell and Molecular Physiology department at UNC. I performed my first rotation in Kathleen Caron's lab where I worked on a project to determine the tissue expression profile of the RAMP proteins. I did my second rotation in Kay Lund's lab working on a project investigating the proliferative responses of SOCS3 conditional knock-out mice, and I elected to remain in the Lund lab. I feel very welcomed and enthusiastic about my studies here. I am excited about continuing my journey to be a scientist here at UNC in such an engaging learning environment and very supportive (and fun) faculty. |
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After obtaining an engineering degree in industrial biotechnology, I worked for a year in a cellular neurophysiology lab in India as a Junior Research Fellow. There I realized my obsession for neuroscience! My goal for graduate study is to be in an intellectually stimulating enviroment while doing neuroscience research, which I found in the Physiology department here at UNC. I was attracted to this department as it provides an integrated and interdisciplinary environment to learn science and carry out translational research. My first rotation was in the lab of Dr. Paul Manis where I worked on auditory cortex plasticity using whole cell patch clamp electrophysiology. My second rotation in Dr. Mark Zylka's lab involved characterizing channelrhodopsin to enable optical control of neural activity. I elected to join the Manis lab for my dissertation studies. |
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As an undergraduate, I majored in chemistry and biology at UNC-Chapel Hill. These departments offered undergraduate research programs that I took advantage of my junior year. My first exposure to a research was in Dr. Channing Der’s lab of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Following graduation, I began working in Dr. Tarran’s lab at UNC’s Cystic Fibrosis Center. I was encouraged by these positive experiences with research and the opportunity to contribute to advancing medical understanding. With this in mind I applied to the Cell and Molecular Physiology department, as this field naturally yields itself to translational investigations. To date I have rotated in Dr. Zylka’s lab and am currently rotating in Dr. Tzima’s lab. |
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I am in the laboratory of Dr. Joan Taylor, a professor in the Department of Pathology, where my research is focused on investigating the role of FRNK (Focal Adhesion Kinase-Related Non-Kinase) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). FRNK is an endogenously expressed, dominant negative form of FAK (focal adhesion kinase) that is selectively expressed in smooth muscle. This expression is predominantly in conduit arteries and veins and also in the bronchioles of the lung. In particular, I am trying to determine how FRNK expression is regulated in VSMC and the role it plays in controlling cell proliferation and migration in vascular disease. Before coming to Carolina, I earned my B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. I grew up in the suburbs of Baltimore, but I now enjoy calling Chapel Hill my home. Since moving here, I have taken advantage of what the area has to offer, including trips to the beach, unique shopping, and participating in a variety of music groups. |
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| Don’t let the picture fool you! I’ve been really happy here at UNC Chapel Hill for over 10 years and going. I graduated in Biology from UNC in 2002 and during that time I worked in Dr. Pagano’s lab as a Lab Assistant. After graduating, I became a Research Technician in Dr. Lund’s lab here in the Physiology department. In Dr. Lund’s lab, I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of many studies investigating gastrointestinal disease along with diet and obesity. I’ve recently become a graduate student studying intestinal regeneration after irradiation and identifying stem cell markers. Chapel Hill is a really fun place to live, and it’s great to be only hours from the beach and the mountains. |
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During my last year of medical school in Peru, I discovered through an elective rotation at UNC a new passion: research. This experience showed me a different perspective of health and disease, and prompted my decision to embark in a new career.
I joined the Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology at UNC because I found it to be the environment that would foster my curiosity, model my critical thinking, and teach me the necessary skills to go into academics. These expectations are being fulfilled through my classes and remarkable rotations. In Dr. Cheney's lab, my research focused on a novel unconventional myosin that localizes only in the mitochondria. In Dr. Anderson's lab, I discovered that one of the claudin 10 splice variants is ubiquitously expressed while the other is kidney-specific and its expression alters paracellular ion selectivity. During my rotation in Dr. Boucher's lab, I investigated the role of extracellular nucleotides in airway homeostasis. When I am not immersed in research I enjoy dancing (Merengue is my favorite!), cooking (mainly Italian and Peruvian food), and traveling to exotic places with my husband. I keep up with my affection for medicine by volunteering at the SHAC's Wednesday night clinics. |
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I became interested in science at the age of five when I started asking my mother, a doctor, to tell me ‘bedtime stories' about how food that we eat gets transformed in our bodies. She gave me the simple version of the digestion process, and I was hooked! I wanted to know more about how our body works and how mixing two things can give a third one. During school in my native Macedonia, I expressed interest in chemistry and I learned more about the properties of metals from my mother's medical books. I finished high school in the International Baccalaureate program in Greece. I received an honors scholarship from my high school to come to the US and pursue higher education. I received my bachelor degree in biological chemistry from Grinnell College, Iowa. As an undergraduate, I studied the allosteric binding properties of human nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and I also spent a semester at Oak Ridge National Lab, where I investigated the biochemical and biophysical properties of Photosystem I in photosynthesis.
I came to UNC in 2006 through the IBMS program and I joined Dr. John Rawls' lab in the Physiology department. I am very excited to finally pursue my childhood dream to study metabolism and nutrition. I am doing this by studying the transcriptional, microbial and nutritional factors that regulate the expression of fasting-induced adipose factor (fiaf) in zebrafish. |
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I received my BS from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM. While in my freshman year there, I decided that I wanted to go to graduate school and quickly pursued a job in a lab so I could get as much experience as possible. One of the people willing to take such a plucky undergrad was Dr. Brad Shuster, whom I worked with for all four years of college. Initially I had wanted to study Microbiology, but his projects involving cytokinesis in sea urchin embryos lured me away from bacteria, and I have been in love with cell biology ever since.
When it came time for me to choose a graduate school, I leaned toward the East Coast from the start. I have spent most of my life living outside of Philadelphia, PA, and wanted to return to this side of the country. I thought that UNC was the perfect blend for a transplant like me: the climate was milder than in areas further north on the coast, and for someone used to very warm weather, it was a nice transition; also, I thought Chapel Hill had the busy East Coast vibe without being too big and unfriendly. When I interviewed I knew right away that I wanted to go here. I joined the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) program in 2006, and joined the lab of Dr. Carol Otey in 2007.
In the Otey lab, we study palladin, a cytoskeletal protein. The interests of the lab are quite diverse and range from studying palladin in astrocytes to examining its role in the promotion of breast and pancreatic cancer. I have found the Cell and Molecular Physiology department to be one of the most welcoming and forthcoming places to work. The environment is very collegial and open, and I have a lot of freedom in terms of curriculum and projects. I am very happy that I chose this department. When I’m not in lab, I enjoy hitting the local bar scene on Franklin Street, attending live music shows, and spending time with the awesome friends I have made here in Chapel Hill. |
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| I am originally from Asheboro , NC and I received my BS in Biology here at UNC. As an undergraduate, I was initially interested in microbiology. My first laboratory work was done to investigate the importance of the Tat pathway in the secretory pathway of Mycobacterium tuberculosis under the direction of Dr. Miriam Braunstein. I quickly found, however, that the complexity of eukaryotic signaling mechanisms was more interesting to me. As a result, I began simultaneously studying the role of Igf-1 in migration and proliferation of aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. In order to continue studying vascular biology, I joined the Cell and Molecular Physiology department here at UNC and began my current work in Dr. Bill Arendshorst's lab where I am currently studying the role of the ADP ribosyl cyclase signaling pathway in renal hemodynamics. |
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After I earned my BS in microbiology, I worked for Promega Inc. and Johnson & Johnson Company in China for several years. I came to the United States in June 2002 and worked for Animal Model Core Facility in the Lineberger Cancer Center at UNC-CH for three years. There I developed several gene targeting mouse lines such as hemidesmosomal proteins BP180 knock-in and knock-out mouse and Calponin Homology-Associated Smooth Muscle protein (CHASM) conventional knock out mouse.
I enrolled The Cell and Molecular Physiology program because of its collaborative environment and friendly research atmosphere. Currently I am pursuing thesis project under the direction of Dr. Daniel Pomp. I am fascinated to uncovering genetic predisposition of obesity by combination of statistical methods and biological experiments. One of my potential thesis projects is to dissect the underlying genetic architecture of hotspots related to obesity during expression quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. Aside from science, I love exploring this beautiful country when I get a chance and have been to Seattle, San Antonio, Orlando, New York and of course beaches in North Carolina. I truly enjoy the beautiful weather and mild climate in Chapel Hill. |
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I come from Nanjing, one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in China. I got my Bachelor's degree in Biopharmaceuticals from China Pharmaceutical University, where I learned how drug therapies are created using biological technologies. But gradually I found that the molecular basis of a disease is more important than creating the drug itself. In 2003, with the hope of pursuing advanced degrees to enrich my knowledge and enhance my ability to do biomedical research, I came to the USA and joined Dr. Michal Zolkiewski's lab in the Department of Biochemistry at Kansas State University. My study there focused on a protein called TorsinA, which is the molecular origin of a neurological disease, early-onset torsion dystonia. In 2005, I joined the Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology at UNC to get closer to the studies that are related to human disease. After finishing two rotations in my first year, I have decided to join Dr. Snider's lab. Work in the Snider lab is directed at the role of neuronal growth factors in the development and regeneration of axons. I am currently studying the function and regulation of Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 in axon development. |
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Currently, I am a fifth year doctoral candidate in Dr. Ben Philpot's lab. The Philpot laboratory uses electrophysiology and biochemical techniques to investigate experience-dependent synaptic plasticity. Specifically, my research has focused on the effects of visual experience on NMDAR-mediated synaptic transmission. Theses data have recently been published in the journal of Neuroscience. My interest is now extending from fundamental mechanisms of synaptic plasticity to neurological diseases. Toward this end, I am studying a model mouse of a mental retardation.
My graduate studies at UNC have benefited from an exceptional collaborative environment both within UNC and the greater research triangle area. My dissertation project is a collaborative effort with a laboratory at Duke University. This collaboration has greatly enhanced my scientific ability. My previous experience working in the Japanese biotech industry has convinced me that elucidating molecular mechanisms of physiology are critical toward curing human diseases. UNC provides me the opportunity to conduct these investigations. |
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