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Background: I began as an undergraduate student researcher in the lab of Linc Sonenshein (Dept. Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts Univ. School of Medicine) studying bacterial RNA polymerase. I carried out my doctoral research in Gary Borisy's lab (Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Univ. Wisc.-Madison) studying the polymerization kinetics of microtubules. My post-doctoral research was conducted in Deric Bownds' lab (Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Univ. Wisc.-Madison) where I began my ongoing fascination with the regulation of the visual signaling pathway in rod and cone photoreceptor cells.
Other interests: Teaching aerobics/strength-training classes, cinema, cycling, and spending quality time with family and friends. Current research interests: A major focus of our lab is the regulation of photoreceptor phosphodiesterase (PDE6), the central enzyme in the visual excitation pathway. We are also interested in the molecular organization of PDE6 with its binding partners, the molecular evolution of the PDE superfamily, and the pharmacology of PDEs with applications to parasitic nematode control. See the variety of projects being carried out by members of the lab on the Research pages of this site. |
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Background: My undergraduate studies were at St. Joseph College where I received a BS in Biology and Chemistry and performed undergraduate research at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Donald Kreutzer’s immunology group. My doctoral research in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry with Gordon Carmichael’s lab in the Health Center focused on the regulatory control of the late promoter of Polyomavirus. I then transitioned into industry by taking a post-doc position at Molecular Therapeutic, Inc. in Bradley Zerler’s lab studying chimeric mouse/human antibodies. This position led to a permanent position at Bayer Pharmaceuticals working in their Research Technologies group on projects ranging from generating transgenic mice producing b-amyloid proteins to producing recombinant proteins for high-throughput drug screening.
Other interests: cooking, vegetable and perineal flower gardening, yoga/Pilates, skiing, boating, book club – all done in the company of family and friends. Current research: One of my projects is to express the regulatory domains of PDE6 for crystallographic and biochemical characterization in order to better understand the regulation of PDE6 during visual excitation, recovery, and adaptation. I am also leading the effort to study the phylogeny and evolution of the phosphodiesterase superfamily to identify structural differences that underlie the catalytic and pharmacological properties of the various PDE families, as well as to gain a better understanding of the molecular evolution of vertebrate vision. Background: I received my bachelor’s degree at UNH in Pre-Veterinary Medicine in 1981. I worked for a number of years in veterinary hospitals in the area, and during that time had two wonderful children. After working on my own as a riding instructor and barn manager, I started working for Corning Life Sciences designing applications for the development and testing of plastic laboratory disposables used for molecular biology. I also managed a project to determine the parameters for the use of large-scale cell culture products that were currently in development. In 2004, I joined the Cote lab where I have served as lab manager for our research group.
Other interests: Horseback riding, boating, swimming, camping, painting, and relaxing down at the lake. Current research: I have been involved in numerous projects during my time in the Cote lab. Currently, I am studying the PDE6 interacting protein, GARP2, and its effects on the regulation of PDE6 during visual transduction. Background: I obtained a B.S. in
Medicinal Chemistry from the University at Buffalo (2009), and subsequently worked as an Analytical/Surface Chemist at Bausch and Lomb in Rochester, NY.
Other interests: I am a former Division I swimmer, and currently compete in triathlons. Current research: My research investigates the use of PDE inhibitors as potential nematicides. I am taking a molecular evolutionary approach to understand whether the drug binding sites of nematode PDEs are likely to differ significantly from vertebrate PDEs with the hope that inhibitor compounds might be designed that are highly selective for nematode PDEs. I am also studying the ability of PDE inhibitors to disrupt the locomotion and chemosensation of C. elegans in vivo, with the goal of applying this information to disrupting the life cycle of plant parasitic nematodes. Background: I obtained my bachelor degree from Jilin University and my master degree from Sichuan University in China before starting my doctoral research in the Biochemistry Program at UNH. My master's research used crystallographic methods to study the structure of important proteins in the major caries pathogen, Streptococcus mutans.
Other interests: hiking in the woods, going to beach in the summer, playing badminton and tennis, and working out in the gym. Current research: My project focuses on the structural elucidation of PDE6 and its complex with transducin (Tα) in order to understand the regulation of PDE6 in its inactive and activated states. To circumvent the difficulty of structure determination of PDE6 and its complex with Tα using conventional methods, I use chemical cross-linking, MS analysis, and structural homology modeling to obtain structural information about the PDE6 holoenzyme and subunit-specific interactions with Tα. My long-term goal is to identify unique structural features of PDE6 in different states of activation/inactivation, in order to offer insights into therapeutic directions for treating retinal diseases caused by defects in PDE6 structure/function. Background: I am currently enrolled in the undergraduate program in Biochemistry, Molecular, and Cellular Biology. I have completed two summer internships at Envirologix in Portland, Maine. During my time there, I concentrated on learning how to express/purify recombinant protein, including taq polymerase, DNA nickase, and reverse transcriptase. These enzymes were then used in the company’s isothermal DNA amplification systems for detection of agricultural and veterinary pathogens.
Other interests: Spending time with family and friends, playing basketball and volleyball, skiing, and working on my car. Current research: I am currently working on the expression and purification of recombinant PDE catalytic domains from C. elegans, with the goal of characterizing their pharmacological properties to PDE inhibitors originally designed to target human PDEs. Background: I am currently a freshman undergraduate student enrolled in the Biochemistry, Molecular & Cellular Biology major, with the intention of going on to medical school following graduation.
Other interests: active drummer/musician, playing soccer and tennis, hiking, running, and skiing. Current research: General lab assistant at present, with the hope to develop my own independent research project in the future. |