Research Interests:
I am currently working on how various glycine substitutions affect the folding of
collagen model peptides. A glycine mutation in collagen causes a pause in the triple
helical propagation which may result in potential diseases such as OI. This pause has
recently been observed using collagen peptide T1-898. My current aim is to use kinetic
analysis to distinguish potential intermediate states which may exist prior to native state
formation.
My career objective is to obtain a Ph.D. in biophysical chemistry and to pursue a
career in academia. My long term career goal is to become a major contributor to the
protein folding problem. Predicting the three dimensional structure of proteins from the
primary chain of amino acids has been a substantial challenge over the past four decades.
I believe that studying the effects of amino acid substitution on protein folding is a first
step towards gaining insight into favored protein conformations.
Education:
University of Medicine and Dentistry (UMDNJ)- New Brunswick, NJ.
Presently enrolled in Graduate School
September 2000- Present
Montclair State University- The Graduate School- Montclair, NJ.
Completed 6 credits of the non-degree Molecular Biology program.
September 1999- December 1999
Rutgers University- The Graduate School- New Brunswick, NJ.
Completed 6 credits of non-degree Molecular Biology program.
September 1998- May 1999
Ursinus College- Collegeville, PA.
BS Degree in Biology, Minor in Chemistry
September 1994- May 1998
Honors:
Howard Hughes Scholar 1994-1998.
Relevant
Biology,
Courses:
Advanced Biochemistry, Advanced Genetics, Advanced Molecular
Research
Experience:
Advanced Cellular Biology, Fundamental Molecular Genetics,
Biophysical Chemistry, Advanced Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry
I & II, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Instrumental Analysis,
Spectral Analysis, Calculus I & II, Linear Algebra, Physics I & II.
UMDNJ- New Brunswick, NJ.
Graduate student, November 2000-present
Conducted graduate level research to determine the effects of alanine to
proline substitution in a Collagen like peptide nucleation domain.
Montclair State University- Montclair, NJ.
Research Assistant, September- December 1999
Conducted a 4 credit graduate research course to determine whether Ret
tyrosine kinase is activated directly or indirectly by GDNFRet co-factor
complex.
Bristol Myers Squibb- New Brunswick, NJ.
Research Intern, June- August 1998
Conducted a twelve week supervised research project to determine the
isoelectric points (pI) of a potential protein drug BMS- 19654 by Capillary
Isoelectric Focusing (cIEF).
Ursinus College- Collegeville, PA.
Research Assistant, January- May 1998
Conducted a semester research project to determine if Vibrio fibrius
bacteria plays a role in the inhibition of Gram positive bacterial growth in
the ocean.
Meetings:
Poster presentation at the 7th annual Johns Hopkins Folding Meeting.
Collagen Model Peptides: Support for an Internal Nucleation Site in Type
I Collagen. March 22-25, 2003.
Poster presentation at the 47th annual Biophysical Society Meeting, San
Antonio Texas. Collagen Model Peptides: Support for an Internal
Nucleation Site in Type I Collagen. March 1-5, 2003
Poster presentation at the Rutgers- UMDNJ 14th Annual Molecular.
Collagen Model Peptides: Support for an Internal Nucleation Site in Type
I Collagen.
Biophysics Minisymposium. April 30, 2002.
Poster presentation at the Robert Wood Johnson 4th Annul Research Day.
Collagen Model Peptides: Support for an Internal Nucleation Site in Type
I Collagen.
March 22, 2002.
Support:
NIH GM55145, MBRS Initiative for Minority Student
Development Award
(July 1, 2000- June 30, 2002).
Research Supplement NIH GM60048 Structural Studies of Triple Helical
Proteins.
July 1, 2002- Aug. 31, 2003.