My PhD work in molecular biology consists of two large questions: 1. Why are some targets of RNA interference easier to silence than others? and 2. How does small RNA-based regulation control nuclear size?Throughout my independent work on this project, I have learned project management, how to learn new techniques, and how to approach science with both rigor and creativity. My training focused on not only skills at the bench, but also prioritized written and verbal communication skills, as well as mentoring of other students. Techniques include but are not limited to: CRISPR Cas-9-based genome editing, Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS, for genomics and transcriptomics), bioinformatics, transmission electron microscopy, RNA interference.Some of this work has been published here: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.97487.1

Laboratory TA, BSCI 201 (Human Anatomy), lead two laboratory sections with responsibilities including lecturing, leading dissections, grading and holding office hours

Undergraduate researcher in Dan McKay's lab at UNC Chapel Hill (volunteer/for class credit). My independent project involved understanding how two temporally-expressed transcription factors epistatically regulated one another and how these factors contributed to wing development in Drosophila.

Exploration into host-directed treatments for tuberculosis. My project involved investigating an alternative treatment for antibiotics for tuberculosis using zebrafish and mycobacterium marinum as model systems. My work during this time lead to a publication on which I am the second author.

Volunteer who helped organize the lab space and learned basic molecular techniques such as PCR. Principal Investigator for the lab: Kathleen Conway-Dorsey.