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I am currently in my second
year in the Molecular and Cellular Pathology program, and came to UNC because
of my interest in cancer research. I grew up in sunny Ft.
Myers, FL although I am happy now to be living in a state with a change
of seasons! I received my bachelor’s degree in biological
sciences from Smith College, Northampton,
MA in May of 2004. While at Smith, I completed a minor in geology, traveling
to places of natural wonder like Death Valley, CA. My honors thesis involved
DNA sequence analysis of a number of dusky salamander populations, with
the hope of better characterizing cryptic species. I joined the graduate
program at UNC in Fall 2004. My first rotation was in the laboratory of
Dr. Frank C. Church, where
my rotation project focused on the migration and adhesion capabilities
of three kidney tumor cell types. I also rotated in the lab of Dr.
David G. Kaufman, where I looked at mTOR signaling in endometrial stromal
cells. I joined the lab of William
B. Coleman in May of 2005 and have begun working on a project investigating
the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) in the context of breast cancer.
In the few years since CIMP first was described in colorectal cancer, it
has been found in ovarian, gastric, liver, kidney, and pancreatic tumors
as well as leukemias, lymphomas, and neuroblastomas. Our objectives are
to determine if CIMP occurs in breast cancer and to identify the preferentially
methylated genes in this tumor system.
When not busy in lab I enjoy
decorating my apartment a la Martha Stewart, spoiling the sweetest cat
in the world, Elle, and exploring my new home state. I’m also a movie buff
and hockey fan (Go Everblades!)
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