I am an instructor at Rowan University, where I investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). HAND affects half of the people living with HIV and impairs their quality of life and cognitive function. My research aims to uncover how HIV alters the expression and localization of aquaporin-4 (AQP4), a water channel protein involved in the glymphatic system, which is responsible for clearing metabolic waste and toxins from the brain.I have over eight years of experience in biomedical research, spanning the fields of neuroscience, cancer, and gene editing. I earned my PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Temple University, where I worked in the laboratory of Dr. Dianne Langford and published multiple peer-reviewed papers on HIV and AQP4. I also completed a two-year fellowship at the National Cancer Institute, where I improved the culturing of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer cells from patient-derived xenografts. I am certified by CITI Program in biomedical research, good clinical practice, and practice runs training. I am passionate about advancing translational science and developing novel therapeutic strategies for neurological and oncological diseases.