Please welcome our newest graduate students, Vicki Brings and Bailey Zwarycz, who have joined the graduate program in cell and molecular physiology and will work with Mark Zylka and Scott Magness, respectively. In August, MD/PhD student Kelly Gewain will also join the department to work with Susan Henning and Chris Dekaney.

Vicki Brings:

“After growing up in Richmond, VA, I went to Roanoke College, a small liberal arts school, where I studied biology and French. At Roanoke I discovered my love for scientific research while working in a laboratory investigating lobster physiology. I spent three years examining lobsters’ cardiorespiratory responses to bacterial infection and exercise, and got to expand upon this research during visits with collaborators at the College of Charleston. I also had the opportunity to research hypoxia tolerance in turbots (a flatfish) while studying abroad in Brest, France. After graduating college, I returned to Richmond to work as a technician at Virginia Commonwealth University where I investigated genetic determinants of alcohol tolerance, using C. elegans as a model.

Now at Carolina, I’m working in Dr. Mark Zylka’s lab, exploring my interest in molecular physiology by researching key players in pain-sensing pathways. We aim to characterize the molecular mechanisms of pain signaling in hopes of developing treatments to help chronic pain patients. Outside of the lab, I enjoy sewing, playing with my dog, baking cookies, and going to any and all movies.”

Bailey Zwarycz:

“My parents live in Richmond, VA. I did my Bachelor’s (2010) and Master’s (2012) in Animal & Poultry Science at Virginia Tech. As an undergraduate I investigated the expression of the peptide transporter PepT1 in chickens from lines divergently selected for high or low body weights as well as investigate techniques for the creation of transgenic chickens. During my Master’s degree I studied the expression of peptide transporters (PepT1, PepT2 and PHT1) in the embryonic and post-hatch chick.

I have just joined the lab of Scott Magness where I plan to investigate the properties of the small intestine and colon, in order to recapitulate the anatomy and physiology in a bioengineered intestine for grafting and transplantation purposes.”