Heidi Chen Email & Phone Number

Genomic improvement of plants cultivated for food, fuel, fiber, and greenhouse gas drawdown in the lab of Todd Michael

Understanding the DNA sequence basis of fin morphology in percomorph fish via computational and functional comparative genomics experiments in the labs of Dr. Gill Bejerano and Dr. David Kingsley

Department Of Biology, Red-Horse Lab

Life Sciences Research Assistant in the lab of Prof. Kristy Red-Horse to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in coronary artery development. Job responsibilities include (but are not limited to) managing a mouse colony (breeding, genotyping etc.), setting up new techniques from the ground up (in situ hybridization, co-immunoprecipitation + SDS-PAGE + western blotting, chick embryo New Culture, neonatal mouse AAV injection via open heart survival surgery) in our relatively young lab, performing whole-mount confocal microscopy, acting as lab (bio)safety and APLAC/IACUC adherence coordinator (writing protocols, understanding compliance requirements), assisting with manuscript drafting/editing/submission and figure preparation, training/mentoring new lab members, managing/performing experiments with collaborators, cell/tissue culture, assisting with experimental design, data analysis, presenting lab meeting/journal club.

Department Of Biology, Red-Horse Lab

Characterized coronary artery development using tissue culture and immunohistochemical techniques (confocal imaging of immunofluorescence-stained section and whole-mount tissue)

Lab Of Kari Alitalo, Wihuri Research Institute

Investigated the role of VEGF-C in sinus venosus-derived coronary vessel sprouting and in coronary artery stem development as a visiting researcher in the lab of Prof. Kari Alitalo. Methods of inquiry included the generation of VEGF-C knockout mice, whole-mount confocal microscopy, SDS-PAGE of immunoprecipitated ligands to explore extent of post-translational proteolytic processing.

Developmental Biology Department, Talbot Lab

Forward genetic screen in zebrafish to identify genes involved in microglia development and regulation using various genetic techniques (bulk segregant analysis, high-resolution mapping, candidate gene sequencing)

Herman B. Wells Center, Department Of Pediatrics, Yoder Lab

Used Cre-Lox technology to lineage trace Hand1 expressing cells (via a constitutively expressed Hand1 promoter-driven Cre recombinase crossed to a YFP reporter) in mice to determine if this transcription factor regulates formation of the hemogenic endothelium of the dorsal aorta. Methods of interrogation included cryo-sectioning, immunofluorescence staining, FACS analysis, confocal microscopy. Found that, indeed, Hand1 is expressed at the right time and right place in the dorsal aorta and, notably, in hematopoietic cells in the aortic lumen to suggest that it may be implicated in the development and/or function of the blood-forming endothelium in the early embryo.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Developmental Biology

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.) With Distinction, Biology/Biological Sciences, General

Activities and Societies: Viennese Ball Opening Committee