Morrisville, North Carolina, United States
I am a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology with double minors in Chemistry and Spanish for the Health Professions. As a pre-medical student, I am passionate about gaining clinical experience and contributing to research, particularly in the areas of cancer and autoimmune diseases. I am eager to expand my knowledge and deepen my understanding of these complex fields.
Worked with Sam Pledger on his research project investigating the role of sublining synovial fibroblast-specific enzymes in the crosstalk between fibroblasts and macrophages in rheumatoid arthritis. My work entailed passaging endothelial cells and RA fibroblasts, isolating monocytes, imaging tissues and analyzing the image outputs using the Cell DIVE technology, using Flow Cytometry to verify cell properties and density, and putting together organoid structures in hopes to mimic the lining layer of the joint synovoium.
Worked with Taylor Franklin in her research regarding the effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus cystic fibrosis-related diabetes. Created bacteria-agar beads and then processing the bacteria-infected mouse organs to be later sequenced to see varying reactions and antibiotic resistance.
Worked along side Medical Physics grad students JoJo Farina and Victoria Parker in their ongoing experiments with heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) in cancer cells and the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) to target cancer cell death. Aided in experimental work and research with the linear accelerator (LINAC) machines at Duke University Hospital and passaged MCF-10a and LNCaP cancer cells and maintained the growth for future radiation experiments. I prepared the respective cells for the first process of the Galium Uptake experiment to test radiation therapy on cancer cells.
Shadowed under Dr. Craig Lauder during his night shift at the Emergency Medicine Center at Wake Med Hospital. Aided in his visits with patients and observed his routine clinical processes throughout the night.