I have always loved nature and the natural world. So it was no surprise when I learned a love of biology early in middle school. Biology became a fascinating thing to me at an early age and by the time I was at college I found myself in a molecular biology major at the University of New Hampshire.
It was here that I had my first taste of a research project. I had an excellent opportunity in Dr. Paul Tsang's lab from UNH's animal science department researching the localized expression of MMP-13 in cow corpus luteum, and had the opportunity to work with a great mentor: Bo Zhang, who helped and guided me along the precarious research path.
After graduating with my degree I went on to the University of Connecticut to pursue a master's degree in biotechnology. During this time I was exposed to many different types of subjects ranging from biochemistry to fermentation and biophysics. I had several stints in different research labs doing work on quorum sensing in bacteria found in the leech gut and started a project studying the protein folding of Salmonella bacteriophages.
I had an opportunity to continue with a PhD from UConn and decided to stay. At first I was in a biophysics lab, but after several months I was not exactly sure that biophysics was the right path for me. I was lucky enough to transfer to a newly established facility known as the Center for Regenerative biology with Theodore Rasmussen where I began studying epigenetics and stem cell's with a specific emphasis on the reasons why stem cells could do the amazing things that they do. From here I was able to do a summer internship with Pfizer's Stem Cell Center of Excellence.
From Uconn I transitioned to Abbott labs (now Abbvie) in Worcester Mass, tasked with the development of therapeutic antibodies and dual-variable domain IgG's.
As one can see I come from a varied background of scientific disciplines. I have always followed my passions in science, and I wish to utilize this blog space to write about the developments that I feel are important and interesting. I hope to use my experience to enrich your life with the knowledge of what's being done in the vast wide world of scientific research and why it will be important in your life one day.
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