United States
Plan and execute studies investigating the function of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) in the CNS ▪ Develop a Cre-dependent targeting scheme via in-utero electroporation for OPC manipulation ▪ Evaluate the efficiency and function of small molecule compounds on PDGFRα dependent proliferation of OPCs ▪ Examine the mode of action of PDGF-BB on OPC proliferation ▪ Evaluate the requirement for Olig2 during oligodendrocyte development and differentiation in both normal and demyelinated states ▪ Investigate the proliferative control of OPCs through cell cycle regulators ▪ Study the effects of neuronal stimulation on OPC proliferation and maturation – Studied at the Center of Psychiatry and Neurosciences in Paris, France for two weeks ▪ Underwent training to learn implantation and procedures for optogenetic stimulation of the brain – Aid and guide other lab members to help overcome hurdles – Mentor and train undergraduate students as needed – Train new users on the department cryostat
- Explored the pathogenesis of heterotopic ossification (HO) including fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). Studies utilized a combinatorial approach of histological and lineage-tracing analysis of both muscle injury models and cell culture of cartilage and bone formation. – Analyzed the ablation kinetics of diphtheria toxin (DTA) variants in mice using TaqMan qRT-PCR and lineage-tracing. Further explored the effects of myogenic ablation on rib development.
Focused primarily on embryonic musculoskeletal development in the mouse. - Used Cre/loxP mediated ablation of myogenic cells expressing MyoD, to investigate the relationships of muscle regulatory genes during embryogenesis. - Investigated the influence of the surrounding muscle on axial skeleton development. - Researched the effects of injury on fiber type regeneration in the adult mice. - Performed experiments using immunoflouresence of both cryosection and paraffin embedded sections, confocal, fluorescence, and light microscopy, microdissection, and skeletal staining.
- Performed independent research in melanoma utilizing transfection assays, western blot analysis, and tissue cell culture of primary tumor lines. Also - Utilized molecular assays for HLA analysis, nucleic acid purification, PCR, gel electrophoresis, as well as performed general technician duties and data management.
Laboratory Assistant – Biology Department – Xenopus kidney morphogenesis Undergraduate Independent Research - Biology Department – Developmental Neurobiology - Investigated the effects of the lens on Xenopus retinal axon outgrowth and RGC development