Graduate program: Biochemistry
Mentor: Kris DeMali
Personal interests
When I am not in the lab, I really enjoy cooking. I collect cookbooks and like the challenge of finding a new recipe and seeing it through.
Publications
Interplay between tight junctions and adherens junctions
Published in Experimental Cell Research, September 2017
Co-Authors: Jessica Maiers, Kris DeMali
Cell-cell adhesions are critical for the development and maintenance of tissues. Present at sites of cell-cell contact are the adherens junctions and tight junctions. The adherens junctions mediate cell-cell adhesion via the actions of nectins and cadherins. The tight junctions regulate passage of ions and small molecules between cells and establish cell polarity. Historically, the adherens and tight junctions have been thought of as discrete complexes. However, it is now clear that a high level of interdependency exists between the two junctional complexes. The adherens junctions and tight junctions are physically linked, by the zonula occludens proteins, and linked via signaling molecules including several polarity complexes and actin cytoskeletal modifiers. This review will first describe the individual components of both the adherens and tight junctions and then discuss the coupling of the two complexes with an emphasis on the signaling links and physical interactions between the two junctional complexes.
Awards
Smith-Gehring Fellowship and IDT Travel Award
Date Awarded: August 2018
Award Description: The IDT and Smith-Gehring Graduate Fellowships are awarded to three of the most meritorious second year Biochemistry graduate students based on academic and research achievements.
Comment: It is very beneficial to receive a travel award and be able to share your research with other scientists at conferences. It allows you to network with potential post-doc mentors and learn more about the cutting edge research being conducted in your field of study.
Conferences
Gordon Research Conference- Signaling by Adhesion Receptors
June 24, 2018 in Biddeford, Maine
Conference Description: Adhesive interactions amongst neighboring cells and between cells and their extracellular matrix drive structural, mechanical, and biochemical changes that are critical to all aspects of biology including development, physiology, and the pathogenesis of disease. The main objective of the 2018 Gordon Research Conference on Signaling by Adhesion Receptors is to provide an interdisciplinary forum to share the newest knowledge on cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesions and their mechanochemical signaling in cells; advances in how these fundamental processes are engaged in development and disease; and emerging topics and technologies to advance new frontiers in adhesion signaling.
Presentation Title: The role of PAK2 in force-induced apoptosis
Presentation Description: Both force transmission and apoptosis play prominent roles in the establishment and function of tissues, but it is unclear how they might be coordinated. It is well-established that too little or too much force can trigger cell death, yet the major determinants of force-induced cell death remain unknown. My project involves the mechanoprotective protein, PAK2. We show that PAK2 activation regulates cell death at various levels of forces.