Selected for the competitive LIFT fellowship providing 5 months of entrepreneurship training for scientists innovating in the aging space. Developing an original business idea in the biotech sphere and will pitch this to UMass M2D2 community. Gaining experience in solving complex business problems, competitive analysis, regulatory strategy, intellectual property, and venture financing.

Using innovative, stem-cell based models, I investigate the role that activity plays in the development of neuron and glia populations in the human spinal cord. I work in three-dimensional human iPSC-derived organoid cultures using genetic and functional techniques such as single cell RNA sequencing, viral transfection, optogenetics, flow cytometry, and organoid assembly. I am a student in the lab of Dr. Jimena Andersen in the Department of Human Genetics.

I work to support the operations of lab work at AxoSim, including creating automated systems for costing, study planning, and data analysis.

-Served as Assistant Study Director for human BrainSim platform, a 3D brain organoid recapitulating cortical cell types-Optimized a 3D cell culture model of a human motor nerve containing both glial cells and neurons which grow axons in an organized fashion, allowing for several cellular assays as well as electrophysiological readings-Maintained, characterized, and banked several human iPSC lines simultaneously-Differentiated human neural progenitor cells from iPSCs with a focus in quantifying cellular quality

-Operated 24-hour central dispatch between housing departments, residents, and emergency response teams-Coordinated a team of 25 student employees to service a residential community of more than 12,000 students -Produced detailed, clear, and chronological documentation of interdepartmental emergency or maintenance response within the housing network-Conducted interviews and directed training for new hires in OCH Dispatch responsibilities and expectations-Developed best practices for cohesive and organized interdepartmental environment

-Investigated the effect of oligodendrocytes on mouse cortical axons within microfluidic chamber system -Utilized cells derived from ALS-implicated hSod1-G93A mutated mice-Crafted microfluidic chambers, maintained cell cultures, and collected data via two-photon microscopy-Analyzed data into figures in FIJI and Prism-Synthesized work into presentation at NIH Summer Poster Day