In the lab of Samie Jaffrey I have been exploring RNA modifications through a series of personal and collaborative projects. Modifications such as m6A and m6Am can have profound impact on mRNA biology. I have developed and applied a range of cutting-edge techniques to understand the molecular impact of these modifications, and how they affect processes such as mRNA stability or translation.My major contributions have involved the development of new NGS methodologies and accompanying computational analyses. Notable published examples include understanding the role of m6Am, resolving the writers and impact of m6A in the ribosomal RNA and determining the contribution of m6A to gametogenesis. Unpublished projects are focusing on another "hidden" feature of mRNA that can have significant effects on translation and stability, and how this changes across tissues and during pathophysiological conditions.

As a PhD student in the lab of Martin Bushell (now at Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK) I discovered that RNA "invades" its DNA locus when that DNA is damaged. These DNA:RNA hybrids are a component of the repair response, unlike the spontaneous and dangerous hybrids that form elsewhere during transcription. These projects required development of new NGS methods and analyses. As a PhD student, I learned and refined my skills to meet the demands of these projects, which I have now built upon in my current work.