Nicholas Seitz Email and Phone Number

Designed and carried out projects investigating cell signaling/proliferation and molecular endocrinology. Characterized a previously unidentified parathyroid hormone receptor (PTH2Rb) in embryonic vertebrate development. (Rubin lab)o RNA/DNA isolation from tissue samples, cDNA sequencing via 5’ RACE, Sanger, and Next-Gen sequencing (SOLiD).o mRNA detection via in situ immunohistochemistry - zebrafish embryos.o Analysis of PTH2Rb ligand-receptor pharmacokinetic response (cAMP reporter) in HEK293 cell culture.o Routine molecular techniques (PCR, qPCR, plasmid construction, bacterial transformation) for sequence evaluation, cloning, and screening.Investigation of tyrosine kinase activity in the Hippo cell signaling pathway using the Drosophila egg chamber model. (Edwards lab)o Performed genetic knockdown via RNAi and CRISPR-Cas9 to evaluate protein-protein (kinase) interactions.o Analyzed the 3D intracellular membrane-associated phosphorylated proteins in follicle cells by immunofluorescence and confocal imaging (Leica SP8 system).

• Investigated the genetic crosstalk between regulatory elements of the cirdadian rhythm and the innate immune system utilizing the A. thaliana plant model.• Performed studies to characterize pathogen susceptibility and immune response in genetic knockouts of the lux-1 circadian regulator.• Demonstrated impact of lux-1 loss-of-function on the innate immune system's ability to defend against bacterial infection by HPLC, cell death marker analysis, tissue analysis, and pathogen quantitation.