Supervisor: Dr. Jeremy Kay, PhD (Duke Eye Center).-Natural history of mouse models for Leber's Congenital Amaurosis-Transgenic mouse design

Investigated cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating the formation of retina neural circuits in the Lab of Dr. Jeremy Kay, PhD (Duke Eye Center). My doctoral studies focused on how proper function of neural circuits rely on cell-cell recognition molecules to guide developing neurons into complex spatial and laminar patterns. Understanding how these developmental events are coordinated represents an essential first step in devising regenerative therapies. I also assisted our labs bioinformatics group in identifying alternatively spliced gene isoforms that could serve as candidate gene therapies for blinding diseases.

Supervisor: Dr. Dan TraceyConducted molecular cloning of 9 FRET biosensor constructs to study small GTPase activity in mechanically sensitive neurons. Validated biosensor function in cell culture before they were used to make 9 transgenic Drosophila.

Supervisor: Dr. Melissa RollsApplied molecular biology and Drosophila model organism approaches to identify proteins regulating microtubule polarity in developing and regenerating neurons. Assisted in managing laboratory resources and Drosophila stocks.