My academic career started as an undergraduate student at the University of Utah. Inspired by a high school mentor, I pursued a degree in exercise science as a part of the athletic training education program. While fulfilling general education requirements, I enrolled in a general biology course and became entirely fascinated. I quickly sought out a position as a laboratory assistant on campus to explore this interest.
For the next two years I worked in Dr. Kendal Broadie’s neurobiology laboratory studying the effects of Fragile X syndrome (an inherited mental retardation disease) in a fruit fly model, all the while balancing that work with the many clinical hours required for my athletic training program. Following graduation, however, the laboratory work had captured my imagination so much so that I took a job as a lab technician in the department of neurobiology and anatomy. After a year in the laboratory, still slightly unsure of where I wanted to end up, I finished my certification as an athletic trainer and took a job at a local high school/physical therapy clinic.
Assimilating my clinical experience with my fascination for science seemed the perfect combination when I was recently exploring post-graduate possibilities. This opportunity was presented to me this past year in the form of an acceptance to the MS/PhD program at UMASS, where I will be studying and conducting research in the muscle biology and imaging laboratory. I look forward to contributing the skills I’ve gained both as a researcher and clinical practitioner in order to accomplish great things.
In my free time, though it may sound cliché around here, I enjoy everything outdoors i.e. cycling, climbing, surfing, skiing etc. I strongly believe that a physically active lifestyle has the power to create a healthier, happier, and more productive life.
Awards:
•1st place 2002 bioscience symposium for undergraduate research
Presentations:
•Fragile X Syndrome (FRAXA) the most common inherited mental retardation disease. Presented as a poster at the bioscience symposium for undergraduate research, 2002 – University of Utah.
Grants:
•$2500 University of Utah Undergraduate Bioscience office “Drosophila Fragile X-Related Gene Regulates the MAP1B Homolog Futsch to Control Synaptic Structure and Function” : 1/2001, 7/2001.
•$2500 Undergraduate Research Opportunities (UROP) office “The Drosophila fragile X-related gene regulates axoneme differentiation during spermatogenesis” : 1/2002
