Sarah Hilty, Ph.D. Email and Phone Number

Genetic Analysis Solutions; representing Applied Biosystems qPCR, dPCR, and CE instruments and consumables

Fisher Scientific, Research and Safety

Fisher Scientific, Research and Safety

Studied both the role of calcium signaling in mitochondria using adenoviral expression of a fluorescent biological probe targeted to the mitochondrial matrix and calcium signaling properties of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from control and CPVT-expressing mutant RyR subjects. Techniques involved cloning, adenoviral production, cell culture, immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy, total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, and electrophysiology. Responsibilities also included IACUC and IBC protocol submission and maintenance, DEA license maintenance, laboratory ordering, and general laboratory management.

Recipient of the Adrian Hogben Graduate Fellowship. Studied electrophysiology of sodium-calcium exchanger in shark ventricular myocytes and isolated total RNA and cDNA from hagfish in order to sequence the cardiac sodium-calcium exchanger and examine sequence homology between species.

Generated transgenic mice over-expressing shark sodium-calcium exchanger and evaluated calcium signaling properties using electrophysiology and imaging techniques. Created adenoviral model of shark sodium-calcium exchanger overexpression in order to study its effects in multiple species of cardiomyocytes. Learned skills in molecular biology including cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, western blot, immunocytochemistry, DNA and RNA isolation, RT-PCR, qPCR, confocal imaging, genotyping, mouse colony management, cell culture, electrophysiology, echocardiography, and acute cardiomyocyte isolation.

Recipient of a National Science Foundation REU. Performed organic synthesis of lanthanide chelates and other agents for possible use in molecular imaging of certain cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.