Developed a mammalian reporter system to facilitate high throughput development of next generation gene editing strategies.

Utilized 11 mouse lines to define dystrophin domains critical for microtubule organization in skeletal muscle. Mentored 2 undergraduates in scientific experimentation, writing, and rationale for a cumulative 35 months, leading to 3 awarded undergraduate fellowships.National Institute on Aging T32 (2 years of funding), and National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases F31 (3 years of funding) predoctoral fellowships. Collaborative confocal microscopy studies determined protein localization at a single myofiber level resulting in 2 co-authored publications.Contributed to multi-department characterization of mini- and micro-dystrophin transgenic mouse models.

Perform market and secondary research for life science products and therapies. Consult with industry experts and prepare market landscape analyses. Authored large market report focused on the therapeutic progress and remaining barriers to effective treatments for the muscular dystrophies. https://www.nelsenbiomedical.com/market-reports/

Microbial pathogenesis studies on the gram-negative bacterium, Legionella pneumophila. My specific focuses were on two different facets of pathogenesis. The first was designing a salt screen to identify salt resistant L. pneumophila. It is known that salt resistance and defective type 4 secretion systems (T4SSs) are highly correlated in L. pneumophila. Therefore it is possible to generate chemical point mutations that result in a salt resistance phenotype. These same mutants should have a defect in their T4SS. This secretion system is responsible for L. pneumophila’s ability to infect human macrophages and cause severe pneumonia. Through whole genome sequencing the location of the point mutations causing a defective T4SS can be identified. These locations will give us new information on the genes involved in the T4SS.The second project is focused on gaining better understanding of the L. pneumophila effector protein SidD. This effector, as well as over 300 other effectors, is secreted through the dot/icm T4SS system mentioned above. It is known that during infection SidD function to remove AMPylation moieties from host Rab1 proteins. Through fluorescent microscopy I have ascertained the mechanism for SidD’s localization to the golgi and am now further seeking out a second hypothetical function of SidD.

Individual research on cell cycle regulation proteins of Toxoplasma gondii. Regulation in T. gondii will have implications in regulation of the cell cycle of other apicomplexans, including plasmodiums that cause Malaria.

Teach undergraduate students molecular biology research techniques extending from PCR (polymerase chain reaction) to protein expression tests.

Applied Structural GenomicsIndividual and group tasks in PCR; agarose gel electrophoresis; SDS PAGE gels; cell preparation, growth, and transformation; solution preparation; plasmid purification; restriction enzyme digests and ligations; and protein induction/expression.

Help students with exam preparation, study skills, and written and verbal presentation skills. Teach proper writing of laboratory reports.

Perform research on an individual project to characterize the natural immune response to ricin in mice. Techniques learned include laboratory animal care, injections, and tissue harvest as well as ELISA and ELISPOT assays. Future applications in ricin vaccine design.

Assist with instruction on Minnesota’s only university-sourced mobile laboratory that brings hands-on science experiments with industry level equipment to elementary and middle schools.