Developing curricula for writing persuasive grant proposals, especially for beginning and non-native English-speaking Principal Investigators. Building pipeline programs for underrepresented minorities interested in pursuing STEM and healthcare careers.Research interests: developing metrics to evaluate improvement in writing skills

Guide new and non-native English-speaking principal investigators on developing and writing their first grant submissions.

Advised by Joyce Wong, PhD, Professor, Biomedical Engineering.Examined effects of patterning and mechanical conditioning to alignment, biochemical and extracellular matrix secretion, and mechanical properties on sheets of vascular smooth muscle cells to construct more robust blood vessel implants.2012-2013 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Training Grant. Project number NIH/NIAID 1T32AI089673-01A1. Postdoctoral Fellow trainee on Inflammatory Disorders Training Grant.2013-2015 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Postdoctoral Fellowship. Project number NIH/NHBLI 1 F32 HL115999. Mechanical Conditioning of Tissue Engineered Blood Vessels for Atherosclerosis.

Advised by Horst von Recum, PhD, Professor, Biomedical Engineering.In vitro construction of 3D cellularized cardiac patch for myocardial infarction by differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into cardiomyocytes and development of cell culture device that allows mechanical cell conditioning, followed by spontaneous nondamaging cell detachment.2008-2010 American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship, Great Rivers Affiliate. Project number 0815443D. Cardiac Patch Construction Using Mechanical Conditioning and Cellular Detachment. 2010-2011 American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship, One-Year Extension, Great Rivers Affiliate. Project number 10PRE3760087. Cardiac Patch Construction Using Mechanically Conditioned Layers of Derived Cardiomyocytes.2010 Recipient of the Society for Biomaterials Masters Student Award for Outstanding Research for Lee EL, von Recum HA. Cell culture platform with mechanical conditioning and nondamaging cellular detachment. J Biomed Mater Res A 2010;93:411-8.Thesis: Cell culture platform with mechanical conditioning and nondamaging cellular detachmentDissertation: Mechanical conditioning of cell layers for tissue engineering

Edited textbook manuscript to Bioengineering Fundamentals (Prentice Hall, 2006) by Ann Saterbak, Ka-Yiu San, and Larry V. McIntire. Based on course developed at Rice. Advised on text content and structure to enhance understanding of conservation principles to target audience.

Advised by K. Jane Grande-Allen, PhD, Professor, Bioengineering.Determined if hyaluronan (HA) turnover activity is a factor in developing myxomatous mitral valve disease. Found HA and its respective receptors colocalized with elastin in valve that may indicate hyaluronan lubricates the valve upon opening and closing. No positive correlation between HA, turnover activity, and diseased valve found. Investigated heterogeneous expression of valvular interstitial cell markers in normal porcine mitral valve tissue. Found some valve cells express higher contractile marker concentrations than in other regions.Improved in vitro biaxial stretching device for mechanical cell loading to allow for independently adjustable applied axial forces and stretching frequencies. Incorporated system to quantitatively measure cellular contractile response in real time.

Advised by Ralph Metcalfe, PhD, William E. Cohn, MD, and O.H. Frazier, MD.Designed system to visualize fluid flow problems in ventricles supported with different left ventricular assist devices. Characterized flow in ventricle under different conditions and with variations in design to assist devices.

Summer Medical And Research Training (SMART) ProgramAdvised by Monique L. Ogletree, PhD.Analyzed collagen content in porcine ventricular myocardium to determine its influence on myocardial contractility in different age groups. Data collected showed collagen content is greater in older pig hearts, but not significantly different between left and right ventricles.

Edited manuscripts for content, grammar, and style. Researched and wrote articles for quarterly newsletter targeted toward cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons. Observed open heart surgeries and animal studies.