PhD Candidate, Mentored by Dr. Ewelina Bolcun-FilasProject 1: Identify the oocyte’s response to radiation-induced damage. Evaluated differentially expressed genes to identify radiation-responsive genes (RRGs) in the oocyte. Validated and generated knockout mouse models of candidate RRGs to determine if RRGs were beneficial or deleterious to oocytes when exposed to exogenous (radiation) or endogenous (aging) damage.Project 2: The role of TRP53 in the oocyte’s response to DNA damage. Identified a role for TRP53 in the ovarian response to radiation-induced damage. Evaluated whether intrinsic or extrinsic TRP53 triggers oocyte elimination within the primordial follicle. A larger form of TRP53 was identified and expressed exclusively in oocytes but not somatic cells. Determined if the larger form of TRP53 driving oocyte loss is due to a post-translation modification or isoform.Project 3: Transitioning from gamma to x-ray irradiation. A collaborative project to transition from x-ray to gamma irradiation. Genetically sensitive (wild-derived mice) and genetically resistant (inbred and knockout mice) mice were used to determine how different sources of IR affected oocytes.Key Techniques: mouse husbandry/colony management, PCR, organ culture, western blot, immunofluorescence staining, immunohistochemistry, cryo-sectioning, re-aggregate ovaries, Cre-LoxP system, capillary western blot, single-cell suspensions, immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, RT-PCR, qPCR, drug treatment, RNAscope, CRISPR-Cas9, whole-mount immunostaining, microscopy (light, fluorescent, confocal, two-photon)Highlights: Obtained three grants, published two first-author papers, selected for nine talks, and mentored three junior trainees pursuing careers in science.

Blog Post, Journal of Science Policy and Governance, 2022Wrote a blog covering an ongoing project on “Strengthening youth-centered policy and governance of digital transformation in health”.Factbook, Maine Educational Opportunity Association, 2022Assisted in developing a factbook on improving access to education for first-generation students.TRIO Policy Seminar and Capitol Hill Day¸ Council for Opportunity in Education, 2022Provided educational materials to Maine’s Senators and Representatives on the need for improved access to educational opportunities for historically underrepresented higher-education students. Advocated for establishing a McNair program to support first-generation students in Maine.Policy Memo, National Science Policy Network, 2023Wrote a policy memo on “Green Chemistry Initiatives to Address PFAS”.Judicial Training Fellow, Scholar Strategy Network, 2023Assisted in developing a workshop to educate researchers on how to work with litigators to facilitate research-informed reproductive health policies. Implemented the training program in a two-day workshop.Legislative Meetings, The Jackson Laboratory, 2022-2024Discuss reproductive health research and biomedical science training in Maine with visiting government officials and policymakers.

Co-Chair of JAX Graduate Student Organization, Jackson Laboratory, 2019 -2020Advised graduate student programming. Organized a career day with guests in academia, industry, government, and other career areas.Student Executive Committee (ExCom) for GSBSE, University of Maine, 2019 - 2022GSG representative (2021 – 2022)Liaisons between ExCom and GSG committees to address student needs and institutional policies.President (2020 – 2021)Led monthly meetings focused on career paths or professional development activities. Advocated for graduate trainees’ needs to GSBSE and University of Maine Administration (handbook, funding, DEI, training needs, and faculty involvement).Secretary (2019 – 2020)Maintained records of student monthly meetings. Developed a DEI statement for the GSBSE department with the ExCom President. Mediated student concerns and institutional policies about COVID-19.Grant Reviewer, Graduate Student Government, 2020 - 2022Attended grant reviewer training. Reviewed, scored, and provided feedback on grant proposals to be funded by GSG.Department Senator and DEI subcommittee Representative, Graduate Student Government (GSG), 2021 - 2022Representative the GSBSE department during biweekly meetings with the GSG, Dean, and Vice President of Research. Represented the DEI subcommittee to advise how the GSG can help with DEI initiatives and advocated for improved DEI policies.Science and Wellness Symposium Committee Member, GSBSE University of Maine, 2022 - 2024One of five graduate students to plan and implement a symposium focused on developing skills for managing wellness and mental health for graduate students across the five research institutes in Maine. Successful implementation, high attendance, positive feedback, and actionable institutional recommendations resulted in annual funding.

Volunteer Judge, Maine State Science Fair, 2018 - 2022Judged high school student science posters and provided feedback to students. Recommended posters for Awards.Volunteer Scientist, Skype-a-Scientist, 2020 -2023Virtually connected with classes across to discuss mouse genetics, genetics, DNA damage, reproduction, and researchCareers in Science Panel, TRIO Upward Bound, University of Maine at Farmington, 2022Pursuing a PhD Panel, The Jackson Lanrtoaoty Summer Program, 2023Research Opportunities Presentation, “Research internship in Maine” University of Maine at Machias, 2024

The Maine Public Health Association (MPHA) serves as voices for public health professionals and organizations across Maine - advocating, acting, and advising on critical public health issues at the local, state, and federal levels.The public health policy ambassadors advocated and advised on critical public health issues in rural Maine. Address policy priority areas through engaging in policymaker education and grassroots outreach to the public. On specialty teams for maternal/fetal health, reproductive healthcare, PFAS, and education access for workforce development.

Worked on developing a training program to establish relationships between reproductive litigators and researchers to help facilitate research-informed federal reproductive health and rights policies. The fellowship goals are the following:1) Creating a curriculum with resources for researchers to be trained on building relationships with litigators and how they can best inform legal work with research, including a workshop on how to write an amicus brief.2) Conduct check-ins and interviews with litigators and researchers that have experience in reproductive law in order to identify some of the information gaps that could be filled by training or workshops.3) Host an in-person convening that brings together researchers and litigators in order to network and inform each other's work in reproductive health and rights

Graduate Rotation 1, Mentored by Dr. Pradeep Sathyanarayana, Sep. 2018 - Dec. 2018Maine Health Institute for Research | Scarborough, MEEvaluated whether miR-590-5p is regulated by the STAT5 pathway in leukemic cells with variable expression of STAT5.Techniques: miRNA extraction, cell culture (mouse and human), bone marrow extractionGraduate Rotation 2, Mentored by Dr. Ewelina Bolcun-Filas, Jan. 2019 - April 2019Jackson Laboratory | Bar Harbor, MECharacterized a knockout mouse that became sub-fertile after exposure to radiation treatment and optimized isolation of oocytes from ovarian tissue.Techniques: follicle identification, single-cell suspension, primary culture, nuclei prepsGraduate Rotation 3, Mentored by Dr. Dustin Updike, May 2019 - Aug. 2019Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory | Bar Harbor, MEEstablished C. elegan knockouts to study the contributions of Vasa homologs in the germline.Techniques: construct design, microinjections, DNA extraction, DNA sequencing, C. elegan husbandry, CRISPR

Placed 40+ first-generation students into career experience opportunities. Met frequently with students and their mentors to review career experiences. Used students’ and supervisors’ feedback to write customized letters of recommendation. Taught career development course to 13 Bridge Students. Mentored an advisor group of 10 students. Implemented educational programming for the 100+ student body including climate summit simulation, circadian rhythms in adolescents, and theater.

Research Assistant I, Mentored by Dr. Gerry ZegersTroubleshooted whether amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis could be used to identify genetically similar bacteriophages from environmental samples.Techniques: environmental sample collection and processing, DNA extraction, bacteriophage isolation, maintained Mycobacterium smegmatis, sequencing (Sanger, Ion Torrent, Illumina), electron microscopyUndergraduate Research Experience in Computation Genomics, Mentored byDr. Shallee PageConducted a phylogenetic analysis of known and novel bacteriophages. Identified a highly conserved cluster of mycobacterium phages, Cluster S.Techniques: genome assembly (Newbler and Consed), genomic annotations (Glimmer, GeneMark, NCBI Blast), bioinformatic analysis (HHpred, Phamerator), genomic alignment (JAGuaR)Senior Thesis in Research, Mentored by Dr. Sherrie SprangersStudied the effect of increasing temperature on the innate immune system stress response in D. melanogaster during development to understand the potential health impacts of climate change.Techniques: D. melanogaster husbandry, isolation and identification of hematopoietic cells, immunostaining

Supplemental Instruction leader for Introduction to Biology, General Chemistry I, and General Chemistry II.Served as a resource for student questions about scientific concepts and lab-based techniques. Prepare study sessions covering the challenging and critical aspects of the course. Taught study techniques to students, resulting in improved testing.

Teach assistant for a wet lab-based course called Phage Hunter. Prepared culture plates, bacteria, and needed media for the course. Actively guided students on both scientific concepts and technical laboratory skills.

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Mentored by Dr. Patrick Griffin and Dr. Timothy StrutzenburgEvaluated the structure of constitutively activated RORγ as an anticancer immunotherapy target.Techniques: affinity and size exclusion chromatography using FPLC, high-throughput co-crystallography screening, mutagenesis screen

INBRE Summer Research Fellowship, Mentored by Dr. Vicki LosickDetermined if Myc and Bantom are activated and dependent on YKI expression during wound-induced polyploidization of epithelial cells. Contributions to the project resulted in co-authorship of a publication. Techniques: microdissections, LacZ system, Gal4/UAS-RNAi System, immunostaining, confocal imaging