Where is your hometown?

I grew up in Cape Coral, Florida. However, I was actually born in Elk Grove Village just outside Chicago.

What are your research interests?

I very much enjoy looking at biological processes from a developmental perspective. I am interested in how cells move and differentiate to create complex and integrated tissues. I like to look at biology from a development point of view because it can relate to almost any aspect of biological research, from cancer to molecular evolution. Therefore, I feel there is little limitation on what I can investigate and add to biology.

What projects are you working on?

The Simon lab is interested in the genetic program that shapes our limbs and heart, but also relates to so-called heart-hand congenital diseases. For instance, mutations in the TBX5 gene lead to Holt-Oram syndrome, a disease characterized by a range of heart and arm malformations.
       
In my graduate thesis I am interested in how the encoded TBX5 protein functions and interacts with other proteins within the cell. For my studies I have chosen the zebrafish as an experimental model, since it has several key advantages for cardiac studies. The zebrafish embryo is small and transparent and is ideally suited for the visualization of inner organs, such as the heart, as the embryo develops. Importantly, zebrafish embryos can survive for up to a week without a functioning cardiovascular system. This allows investigators, like myself, to inactivate and study genes involved in heart formation that might cause immediate lethality in other models, including the mouse.
       
My studies revealed that the TBX5 transcription factor protein is regulated by an actin-associated protein called LMP4. In an article in the Journal of Cell Biology last year I have shown that TBX5 and LMP4 proteins bind to each other in the cell and that this interaction changes the activity of TBX5 in controlling the activity of other genes.
       
Using genetic techniques to up- and down-regulate TBX5 and LMP4 function in the zebrafish embryo, my studies demonstrate a dramatic role in heart formation and indicate that basic functions such as cellular movements may be affected in the mutant fish. I am currently completing these in vivo investigations for submission of a final manuscript.

What attracted you to FSM or to the graduate program?

My attraction to the Integrated Graduate Program at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine was the quality and diversity of the research faculty. When I was applying to graduate schools I was not sure what research field interested me the most. I thought that the diverse program at the FSM would allow me to find a high quality research lab that I would enjoy spending my graduate career in.

What has been the best (or worst) experience so far?

The worst experience of graduate school was the first 6 to 8 months. It was a big adjustment moving to Chicago from a smaller city in Florida. The transition into the graduate program was a little frustrating at times and I just wanted to settle into a lab and start working on projects that I could see through to the end.

The best experience was when I finally saw my name in print as the first author of a research paper that I had worked very hard on and had spent a significant amount of time to complete.

How would you describe the faculty at FSM?

The faculty here are very knowledgeable and experienced. The faculty I have had contact with have been extremely helpful and were able to critically guide my work and advance my education.

What do you plan for after graduation?

I am currently selecting opportunities for a post-doctoral fellowship to continue my research training. I intend to continue with the zebrafish model system, however, I will investigate different biological questions than what I have been doing for my graduate thesis.

Anything else you'd like to add?

I am just thankful for the success that I have had throughout my graduate studies while at the Feinberg School of Medicine and feel that I have developed an excellent foundation for future success.