- B.S. Biology, Aquinas College (Grand Rapids, MI)
Areas of expertise
๐๐ด๐ฆ๐ถ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ข๐ด ๐ข๐ฆ๐ณ๐ถ๐จ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ด๐ข detection and transcriptional response to host-derived sphingolipids
BIO
I am a Ph.D. Candidate in Matt Wargo's laboratory where I study how the opportunistic pathogen, ๐๐ด๐ฆ๐ถ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ข๐ด ๐ข๐ฆ๐ณ๐ถ๐จ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ด๐ข, detects and responds to the host-derived lipid, sphingosine. Sphingosine is an antimicrobial lipid that is enriched in epithelial tissues and plays and anti-infectious role; however, using its sphingosine-responsive transcription regulator (SphR) and sphignosine-metabolizing enzymes, ๐. ๐ข๐ฆ๐ณ๐ถ๐จ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ด๐ข is capable of protecting itself from sphingosine's bacteriostatic effects. Specific questions I am asking in my research are: what are the molecular details that guide SphR sphingosine binding and specificity, and to determine whether sphingosine detoxification by ๐. ๐ข๐ฆ๐ณ๐ถ๐จ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ด๐ข functions as a public good, protecting susceptible bacteria in co-culture. In 2018, I graduated with from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan with a B.S. in Biology. As an undergraduate, I characterized the substrate profile of a novel ฮฒ-lactamase. under the guidance of Dr. Tim Henshaw. After graduating, I worked at Wayne State University School of Medicine with Karin List, Ph.D. studying the role of a type II transmembrane serine protease, TMPRSS13, in breast and colorectal cancer. Outside of the lab I enjoy hiking, fishing, and learning about all living things large and small.
Bio
I am a Ph.D. Candidate in Matt Wargo's laboratory where I study how the opportunistic pathogen, ๐๐ด๐ฆ๐ถ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ข๐ด ๐ข๐ฆ๐ณ๐ถ๐จ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ด๐ข, detects and responds to the host-derived lipid, sphingosine. Sphingosine is an antimicrobial lipid that is enriched in epithelial tissues and plays and anti-infectious role; however, using its sphingosine-responsive transcription regulator (SphR) and sphignosine-metabolizing enzymes, ๐. ๐ข๐ฆ๐ณ๐ถ๐จ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ด๐ข is capable of protecting itself from sphingosine's bacteriostatic effects. Specific questions I am asking in my research are: what are the molecular details that guide SphR sphingosine binding and specificity, and to determine whether sphingosine detoxification by ๐. ๐ข๐ฆ๐ณ๐ถ๐จ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ด๐ข functions as a public good, protecting susceptible bacteria in co-culture. In 2018, I graduated with from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan with a B.S. in Biology. As an undergraduate, I characterized the substrate profile of a novel ฮฒ-lactamase. under the guidance of Dr. Tim Henshaw. After graduating, I worked at Wayne State University School of Medicine with Karin List, Ph.D. studying the role of a type II transmembrane serine protease, TMPRSS13, in breast and colorectal cancer. Outside of the lab I enjoy hiking, fishing, and learning about all living things large and small.