Growing up in Reno, NV, I developed a fascination with science and math. In middle and high school, I was captivated by theoretical physics. I began my undergraduate studies at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), focusing on physics and completing advanced math courses like calculus III, differential equations, linear algebra, and statistics. Eventually, I pivoted to biochemistry and molecular biology, where I could generate data directly. I earned an honors degree in Dr. Patricia...
Growing up in Reno, NV, I developed a fascination with science and math. In middle and high school, I was captivated by theoretical physics. I began my undergraduate studies at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), focusing on physics and completing advanced math courses like calculus III, differential equations, linear algebra, and statistics. Eventually, I pivoted to biochemistry and molecular biology, where I could generate data directly. I earned an honors degree in Dr. Patricia Berninsone’s lab, studying systems glycobiology with C. elegans as a model.
Driven to lead my own lab, I pursued graduate studies at UNR, researching the molecular determinants of C. elegans feeding behavior with Dr. Alexander van der Linden. This work led to five peer-reviewed publications, three as the primary author. I also mentored ten undergraduates, guiding them through research projects and conference presentations. Teaching became a fulfilling part of my graduate experience; I taught cell and molecular biology lab courses, creating lesson plans, quizzes, and exams. Additionally, I gave lectures in Behavioral Genetics on topics like microbial parasites that modify host behavior. For seven years, I volunteered with the Society for Neuroscience, engaging the public in hands-on neuroscience demos with preserved neural tissue and basic electrophysiology on crickets and roaches.
To further my research and mentorship goals, I received an NIH F32 Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco, working with Dr. Andrei Goga on small RNAs in breast cancer pathogenesis. In 2022, I moved to Swarthmore, PA, with my wife for her position at Swarthmore College. Since then, I’ve been working with Dr. Andy Minn at the University of Pennsylvania, investigating cancer immunotherapy resistance. Through UCSF LEADs, I also had the rewarding experience of mentoring a UCSC undergraduate in a summer research project on microRNA inhibitors in breast cancer cells.
