Education:
Name of school attended: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Undergraduate degree: B.S. Education
Name of school attended: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Undergraduate degree: B.S. Biology

Undergraduate Honors:

• UWM Department of Biological Sciences Ruth A. Walker Scholarship Award
  
• DOE Summer Undergraduate Laboratory Internship
  
• Dean's List: Every enrolled semester
  
• 1998 Study Abroad, UWSP Semester in Germany
• Member, American Society for Microbiology

Academic Status: 4th year
Graduate Program: Experimental Pathology
Thesis Advisor: William Saunders, PhD

Thesis Title/Research Topic: Defining the role of Y654 phosphorylation of ?-catenin in liver development, regeneration and cancer.

Current Research Description: My research interests lie in the reactivation of developmental programs during liver regeneration and cancer. In particular, I am interested in signaling mechanisms that promote the phosphorylation of ?-catenin at Y654, and the role of this phosphorylation in liver development and hepatocellular carcinoma. Phosphorylation of Y654 reduces the affinity of ?-catenin for E-cadherin, negatively regulating the stability of the catenin-cadherin complex and decreasing cell-cell adhesion at adherens junctions.

Publications:

Poster: The Role of the Mitotic Motor Kid at Focal Adhesions. Presented at University of Pittsburgh Biomedical Graduate Student Association Research Symposium, October 2008.

Poster: The Role of the Mitotic Motor Kid at Focal Adhesions. Presented at University of Pittsburgh Experimental PathologyResearch Symposium, June 2008.

Poster: Mitotic outcomes in cell-cell fusion products. Presented at McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Retreat, March 2008.

Poster: Genomic Instability in Cancer Stem Cells. University of Pittsburgh Biomedical Graduate Student Association Research Symposium, October 2007.

Poster: Human ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) cell lines as models of breast oncogenesis and progression. Presented at University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Retreat, June 2007.

Poster: Characterization of unique, isogenic and progressive human ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) cell lines for identification of biomarkers of early breast oncogenesis and progression. Presented at University of Pittsburgh Experimental PathologyResearch Symposium, June 2007.

Poster: Characterization of unique human ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) cell lines for identification of biomarkers of early breast oncogenesis and progression. Presented at McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Retreat, March 2007.

Poster: Characterization of unique human ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) cell lines for identification of biomarkers of early breast oncogenesis and progression. Presented at Biomedical Graduate Student Association Symposium, October 2006.

Poster: Effects of the Cannabinoid Antagonist SR141716 on Ethanol Preference and Food Intake in Obese and Lean Zucker Rats. Presented at SULI Research Symposium, August 2004, Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Poster: Diversity of Near-Shore Bioluminescent Bacteria from Boca Ciega Bay, FL. Presented at American Society for Microbiology 104th General Meeting, May

Graduate Awards:

• CATER Fellow
  
• AAAS Program for Excellence in Science
  
• AAAS Member