How would you describe your research in 1 or 2 sentences? 
My research is in the biomedical sciences.  More specifically, I study how genetic mutations result in human disease and how we can use this knowledge to develop drug-based therapies that target the underlying molecular cause of such diseases. 

Can you explain that a little further? 
My thesis focuses on the pediatric neuromuscular disease Spinal Muscular Atrophy (or SMA).  Basically, this genetic disease manifests because patients do not produce enough of a protein named SMN in their cells.  Insufficient SMN protein levels cause the death of motor neurons leading to severe atrophy of muscles they should innervate.  The low levels of SMN protein causing this disease result from the change of one single “letter” in the SMN gene code.  This small alteration results in the production of a truncated and highly unstable protein.  I have shown that by skipping the stop signal present in the RNA used to produce this truncated protein, we can lengthen and stabilize it; aminoglycosides, an FDA-approved class of drugs, are capable of inducing such a molecular event.  I have shown in human patient cell lines and in live mice that reproduce the SMA disease that administration of one such drug is able to increase levels of SMN protein and make mice stronger.   

How did you decide to enter your field, and what brought you to your topic?

 I always felt like I had really diverse interests that would rotate in and out of my immediate focus, but the one constant was science.  Genetics has interested me since middle school, when I read Jurassic Park several times and did a science fair project on fruit fly genetics.  This interest held up through college, where I did undergrad research in a molecular evolution lab.  With the human genome sequenced and an explosion in our knowledge of human molecular genetics, I ultimately felt that biomedical research would be the most fulfilling and exciting field to do genetics in.  I also feel that because we are in such an exciting period of growth in our knowledge of genetics, this subject gives me a chance to maintain my diverse interests.  Issues like stem cell research and gene therapy are constantly in the news, and breakthroughs are constantly being made in diverse areas.  This gives us a chance to observe interesting points in the history, philosophy and politics of science as they happen, while studying genetics within the context of any one of a great number of medical areas.    

Who is your advisor? 
Christine DiDonato of the Human Molecular Genetics department.  We are actually located in between Northwestern’s Evanston and Chicago campuses, at the Children’s Memorial Research Center in Lincoln Park.  Jane Wu, Mark Wainwright and Jill Morris from NU are on my advisory committee, along with David Dean from the University of Rochester.

What are your interests outside of research? 

Outside of the lab, I’ve enjoyed volunteering every June at a summer camp for children with Muscular Dystrophy.  This has been particularly rewarding because it gives me a chance to interact with kids that have the genetic disorder which I research.  

Other areas of academia that hold my interest are the history/philosophy of science and its role in society, and Buddhism.  My interest in Buddhism began at Indiana University, where the Dalai Lama’s brother was once a professor, and now parallels my interest in science and society.  The Dalai Lama was recently the keynote speaker at a large national conference on neuroscience, and maintains a high level of interest in science – he hosts biannual research conferences, has written a book exploring the parallels of Buddhist teachings to the scientific process and theories, and integrates modern scientific discoveries into his teachings of the long-standing Buddhist religion.

Outside of academia, my hobbies include music, reading, movies, sports, travelling and photography.  I love going to concerts or Cubs games, and exploring all that Chicago has to offer.  My favorite authors are David Sedaris and Orson Scott Card.   

What are your future plans? 

On the professional side, I plan to stay in academic research.  I think academia provides scientists more freedom to investigate questions that are interesting to them in the way they feel is responsible and thorough.  It has been interesting to learn about industry and clinical aspects of science in my time here though, and I hope to include lessons from these in my career.  Ultimately, I hope to end my career as a teacher, passing on the knowledge gained from now until then.

On the personal side, I just got engaged and will be married here in Chicago in the fall of 2009.  My fiancé is also a scientist, whom I met here in the IGP at Northwestern, and we both are planning to graduate around the spring of 2010.  In the meantime I’m training for a half-marathon, trying out all the places and things in Chicago that I have left to try, and will begin looking for a post-doc.