PhD candidate in biomedical sciences, training under Dr. Elena Ezhkova. Dissertation project: "Towards a Cell of Origin for Merkel Cell Carcinoma" exploring mouse modeling of skin cancer.Selected for funding under NIH/NCI T32 Training Program in Cancer Biology.

Performed research and conducted interviews to provide actionable policy recommendations on emerging gene drive biotechnology; supported Institute efforts to conduct and present research on other science & technology policy topics.

Internship offered by Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine. Performed ophthalmology research in the Petrash lab identifying adult stem cells in the lens epithelium and characterizing their role in ocular regeneration after cataract surgery. Attended career development and research presentation seminars. Poster presentation of research concluding the program won 3rd place out of 21 students. Performed cell culture, Flow Cytometry, and immunofluorescence assays using confocal microscopy… Show more Internship offered by Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine. Performed ophthalmology research in the Petrash lab identifying adult stem cells in the lens epithelium and characterizing their role in ocular regeneration after cataract surgery. Attended career development and research presentation seminars. Poster presentation of research concluding the program won 3rd place out of 21 students. Performed cell culture, Flow Cytometry, and immunofluorescence assays using confocal microscopy on primary cell culture, fresh tissue mounts, and tissue cryosections. Received mouse handling and euthanasia training, dissected, whole-mounted, and cryosectioned mouse eye and lens tissue. Show less

Guided tours and answered questions from prospective students and their families in-person and via panel interviews, telephone, and email. As a student leader, organized admissions events and trained new student representatives.

Worked in the Pitts lab on a self-guided research project developing potential colorectal cancer therapeutic treatments. Presented results of research to Anschutz Medical Campus community at a program poster session. Listed as a coauthor on a poster titled "Metabolic Reprogramming to Enhance the Efficacy of mTOR Inhibition in Colorectal Cancer" presented by Peter Klauck at the Western Medical Research Conference January 2018.Performed cell culture, Immunoblotting, quantitative real-time… Show more Worked in the Pitts lab on a self-guided research project developing potential colorectal cancer therapeutic treatments. Presented results of research to Anschutz Medical Campus community at a program poster session. Listed as a coauthor on a poster titled "Metabolic Reprogramming to Enhance the Efficacy of mTOR Inhibition in Colorectal Cancer" presented by Peter Klauck at the Western Medical Research Conference January 2018.Performed cell culture, Immunoblotting, quantitative real-time PCR, gene knockout via shRNA viral transfection and CRISPR Cas9, colony proliferation assays, Cell Titer Glo, SRB, and IncuCyte caspase 3/7 apoptosis and proliferation assays. Show less