In this position, I am investigating the atomic level structures of phytochromes in microorganisms and plants using recombinant protein expression and purification, cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, FPLC, SEC. I actively formulate research hypotheses and research goals, develop experimental protocols, coordinate with related ongoing experiments, perform data collection and analysis, and identify new directions for the project.

In this role, I dissected the molecular regulation of septin-mediated plant invasion by the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. The scientific goals of this project were to gain fundamental new insight into the molecular mechanisms by which incipient septin disc-like structures assemble in the base of appressoria and are dynamically remodeled into toroidal rings, and how these cortical structures organize the penetration interface for plant invasion. I actively designed and executed the experiments, analyzed the results and mentored trainees/visiting scholars in the laboratory.

I completed my Ph.D. in the Division of Biology at Kansas State University (2022). My doctoral research involved identifying and characterizing post-translational regulation of Class IV homeodomain leucine-zipper (HD-Zip IV) transcription factors (TFs) in Arabidopsis. Using cycloheximide chase experiments, I uncovered a novel role for the leucine-zipper dimerization domain (ZLZ) in destabilizing GLABRA2 (GL2), a representative HD-Zip IV TF. Additional experiments implicated the Ubiquitin/26S proteasome system in the degradation of unstable HD-Zip IV proteins resulting from mutations in their lipid-binding START domain. I used machine learning tools to predict ubiquitination and SUMOylation sites in addition to SUMO-interacting motifs (SIMs) in HD-Zip IV TFs and evaluated these sites by conducting immunoprecipitation, site-directed mutagenesis, and yeast two-hybrid assays in conjunction with confocal microscopy.Teaching and mentoring: I taught Concepts of Biology (BIOL101; Fall 2021, Spring 2022), Principles of Biology (BIOL198; Fall 2017, Fall 2020, Fall 2022), General Microbiology (BIOL455) Lab (Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021) and Pathogenic Microbiology (BIOL530) Lab (Fall 2018) for a total of 11 semesters. I was involved in designing course materials and experimental procedures, grading exams, quizzes, homework, and lab reports as well as proctoring. Additionally, I mentored junior trainees/students in the laboratory.