Nicholas Hanovice Email & Phone Number

Worked in the laboratory of Dr. Benowitz leading two projects: (1) studying a newly-discovered interneuronal signaling network that links optic nerve injury to retinal ganglion cell degeneration, and (2) generating new insights into how modulating the interactions between axons and the injury environment can enhance regeneration.• Maintained mouse colonies, and carried out all intraocular injections and optic nerve crush surgeries• Lead multiple projects investigating the signaling pathways that lead to optic nerve degeneration and developing novel treatments that promote optic nerve regeneration• Formed collaborations internally and with faculty at UCLA, University of South Carolina, and University of Pittsburgh to develop viable funding proposals• Managed undergraduate research technicians: teaching them best practices in the analysis of experimental data and primary scientific literature• Worked independently as lead investigator on multiple collaborative projects, and effectively communicated with collaborators to set and achieve project goals

Greater Pittsburgh Area

Midway through my graduate career, my PhD advisor Dr. Jeffrey Gross moved the lab from Austin to Pittsburgh. I helped facilitate the move and set up the new lab space once we arrived. Once the lab was established, the second portion of my PhD research focused on developing a novel zebrafish model for macular degeneration. • Generated a novel model of macular degeneration using a zebrafish transgenic enabling the widespread ablation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)• Formed collaborations and gained expertise in a variety of methods to show RPE ablation results in rapid photoreceptor apoptosis, closely resembling photoreceptor degeneration in macular degeneration patients. • Excitingly, I found that the zebrafish RPE is capable of regenerating both the RPE and retinal damage, and characterized the cellular mechanisms underlying this process. • This work has resulted in a first-author publication and has laid the groundwork for developing novel insights into the genetic programs involved with RPE regeneration.

The first portion of my graduate career was undertaken at the University of Texas at Austin. While there, I focused on understanding the process by which RPE cells develop melanin, a critical event in the development of RPE cells. • I utilized next-generation sequencing, qPCR and molecular biology techniques to identify the causative mutation in two novel albino zebrafish mutants.• Used zebrafish embryology, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy techniques to show the gene nsfb is required for recycling vesicular fusion machinery. • I used a variety of molecular biology techniques (e.g. Gibson Assembly, Tol2 transgenesis) to generate ten novel zebrafish transgenics and made them available to the broader zebrafish community to facilitate the study of Rho GTPases during development and disease. • These projects resulted in two first-author peer-review publications, and were presented at local and international conferences.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Cellular And Molecular Biology

Dissertation title: "Pigmentation and regeneration of the zebrafish retinal pigment epithelium." (Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey M. Gross) Selected.

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Biology, Theatre