David McDonald, Ph.D.
3611 Glidewell Court
Durham, NC 27707
Phone: 727-243-0167
E-mail: dave.mcdonald@duke.edu
Website: PhDavid.com
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Duke University Program in Genetics and Genomics, May 2013
Certificate in College Teaching
Certificate in Cell & Molecular Biology
Certificate of the University Program in Genetics & Genomics
Bachelor of Science, University of Florida, Biochemistry Major, May 2008
Teaching Experience
Instructor, North Carolina Central University, August 2013 – Present
o Teaching one section of General Biology I (BIOL 1201, organismal biology and evolution) and two sections
of General Biology II (BIOL 1202, macromolecules, cell structure, and genetics)
o Working with the Center for Science, Math, & Technology to increase student retention and graduation
rates
o Incorporating an authentic research perspective into these restructured courses
Instructor, Duke University Talent Identification Program, Winston-Salem, NC, July 2013
o Taught the course “DNA: Unlocking the Genetic Code”
o Developed an original curriculum on modern topics of genetics and evolution for middle school students
o Utilized active learning, team-based learning, and project-based learning techniques
Guest Lecture, Duke University, Durham, NC, August 2012
o Gave a guest lecture for the graduate course Writing Grant Proposals (UPGEN 306)
o Led a discussion on writing Specific Aims pages
Teaching Assistant, Duke University, Durham, NC, August 2010 – December 2010
o Taught one lab section of Genetics and Evolution (BIO 102L)
o Led students through weekly labs in genetics, evolution, and bioinformatics using multiple model
organisms and in silico genetic data analysis
o Helped introduce active learning methods for the pilot semester of this new course
o Held weekly office hours to assist students with assignments, exam preparation and discussion of topics
from lecture and lab
Teaching Assistant, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, August 2005 – December 2005, August 2006 –
December 2006
o Assisted students in two sections of Honors General Chemistry Lab (CHM 2047L)
o Reinforced concepts of spectrometry, absorption, and electrochemistry
o Guided students through performing labs, analyzing data, and drawing relevant conclusions
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Classroom Volunteer, Newberry High School, Newberry, FL, September 2004 – December 2004
o Assisted in two high school general chemistry classes
o Tutored students in concepts of physical and chemical properties, measurement, and graphing
o Facilitated laboratory exercises
Research Experience
HHMI Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Jodie Fleming’s Lab, North Carolina Central University, August 2013 – Present
o Studying the molecular genetics of breast cancer using bioinformatics and in vitro systems
Graduate Student, Dr. Douglas Marchuk’s Lab, Duke University, August 2008 – June 2013
o Established mouse models of the human disease cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM)
o Examined the centrality of the RhoA pathway in CCM disease progression
o Tested novel therapeutic strategies for CCM using our mouse models
o Developed conditional knockout and transgenic mice
o Analyzed human and mouse CCM lesions for somatic mutations by next-generation sequencing
Undergraduate Researcher, InvestiGators, University of Florida, December 2004 – May 2008
o The InvestiGators is an undergraduate research organization based in the lab of Dr. Peggy R. Borum in the
Food Science & Human Nutrition Department
o Investigated the effects of diabetes and sex steroid hormones on tissue carnitine concentrations in rats
o Assisted in experiments on a neonatal piglet model of the Ketogenic Diet for epilepsy
o Acted as liaison between the organization and Student Government, the Student Activities Committee,
and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Mentoring
Molly Matty, Duke University Graduate Student, June 2012 – August 2012
Nicholas De Castro, Elon University Undergraduate, June 2012 – August 2012
Emily Ngan, Duke University Undergraduate, August 2010 – December 2010
Honors/Awards
Postdoctoral Travel Award, International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning, October 2013
Third Place, National Science Foundation Innovation in Graduate Education Challenge, June 2013
Predoctoral Travel Award, Angioma Alliance, Pathobiology of CCM Scientific Workshop, November 2012
National Research Service Award, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, #F31NS077702,
December 2011 – May 2013
Predoctoral Fellowship, American Heart Association, #11PRE7360003, July 2011 – December 2011
Predoctoral Travel Award, Angioma Alliance, Pathobiology of CCM Scientific Workshop, November 2010
James B. Duke Fellowship, Duke University, March 2008 – May 2013
University Scholars Program, University of Florida, April 2006 – May 2008
Publications
McDonald DA, Marchuk DA. KRIT1, CCM2, and PDCD10 in the Pathogenesis of Cerebral Cavernous
Malformations. Epstein’s Inborn Errors of Development, 3rd Edition. Erickson B, Wynshaw-Boris T, eds.
McDonald DA, Shi C, Shenkar R, Stockton RA, Liu F, Ginsberg MH, Marchuk DA, Awad IA. Fasudil decreases
lesion burden in a murine model of cerebral cavernous malformation disease. Stroke 2012;43(2):571-4.
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McDonald DA, Shenkar R, Shi C, Stockton RA, Akers AL, Kucherlapati MH, Kucherlapati R, Brainer J, Ginsberg
MH, Awad IA, Marchuk DA. A novel mouse model of cerebral cavernous malformations based on the twohit hypothesis recapitulates the human disease. Hum Molec Genet 2011;20(2): 211-22.
Jones LL, McDonald DA, Borum PR. Acylcarnitines: role in brain. Prog Lipid Res 2010;49(1):61-75.
Presentations
McDonald DA, Shenkar R, Shi C, Awad IA, Marchuk DA. Exploring the implications of a two-hit mechanism in
cerebral cavernous malformations. Pathobiology of CCM Scientific Workshop, November 2012.
McDonald DA, Shi C, Shenkar R, Stockton RA, Liu F, Ginsberg MH, Marchuk DA, Awad IA. Fasudil decreases
lesion burden in a murine model of cerebral cavernous malformation disease. Pathobiology of CCM
Scientific Workshop, November 2011.
McDonald DA, Shenkar R, Shi C, Akers AL, Stockton RA, Kucherlapati M, Kucherlapati R, Ginsberg MH, Awad
IA, Marchuk DA. A second-generation mouse model to study cerebral cavernous malformations lesion
development. Angioma Alliance. Pathobiology of CCM Scientific Workshop, November 2010.
Posters
McDonald DA, Shenkar R, Shi C, Akers AL, Stockton RA, Kucherlapati M, Kucherlapati R, Ginsberg MH, Awad
IA, Marchuk DA. A second-generation mouse model to study cerebral cavernous malformations lesion
development. American Society for Human Genetics. Annual Meeting, November 2010.
McDonald DA, Akers AL, Kucherlapati R, Kucherlapati M, Shenkar R, Shi C, Awad IA, Marchuk DA. A secondgeneration mouse model of cerebral cavernous malformation pathogenesis. North American Vascular
Biology Organization. Genetics and Genomics of Vascular Disease Workshop, September 2009.
McDonald DA, Borum PR. Sex steroid hormones affect carnitine concentrations of blood and organs in rats.
Experimental Biology, April 2008.
McDonald DA, Borum PR. Effects of chemical diabetes and starvation on blood and organ carnitine
concentrations in rats. Experimental Biology, April 2007.
Academic Activities
Duke Reader Project, Duke University, August 2013 – Present
Science Fair Judge, North Carolina School of Science and Math, March 2013
Scholar, Duke Scholars in Cardiovascular Medicine, August 2012 – May 2013
Reviewer, Syllabus Journal, July 2012 – Present
Preparing Future Faculty Program, Duke University, August 2011 – July 2012
Trainee Member, American Society of Human Genetics, May 2010 – Present
Trainee Member, North American Vascular Biology Organization, July 2009 – Present
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