Completed coursework covering intellectual property (IP) patenting and licensing, business development, entrepreneurship, management strategies, clinical pharmacology, and regulatory affairs. Currently completing Capstone project with senior FDA staff to explore potential public-private partnerships, strategic alliances, and other business models to promote development of medical products targeting neurological disorders.

Glutamate is the primary neurotransmitter found in the central nervous system (CNS). Following neuronal release of glutamate, this neurotransmitter is cleared from the synapse by a family of membrane proteins known as EAATs. Despite having crystal structures of a related bacterial transporter, GltPh, little is known about the conformational changes that must occur in order to accomplish substrate transport. Here I am using a variety of biochemical and biophysical techniques in order to probe this question.

My graduate work focused on visual arrestin, a soluble protein responsible for terminating signal transduction from the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) rhodopsin. Using mainly the technique of site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, I was able to determine many important characteristics of arrestin's structure in solution, as well as the conformational changes it undergoes upon binding to rhodopsin.

Characterized the biochemical properties of proteins involved in plant development and maturation, providing a foundation for studying the effects of chemical agents on fruit ripening.