University: University of California, Davis
Hometown: Highland, CA
NIH Research Project:
Examination of Molecular Properties of Primary Human Astrocytes and Astrocytes Derived from Human CNS Progenitor Cells
Mentor: Eugene O. Major, Ph.D.
Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Neuroscience
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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I am a senior at the University of California at Davis, majoring in the biological sciences with an emphasis in neurobiology, physiology, and behavior. After graduation, I intend to apply to either a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. program. This is my third year in the UGSP. I work with Dr. Eugene Major in the Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Neuroscience, which is part of National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
My laboratory studies JC virus (JCV) which causes progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a disease of the human central nervous system that is prevalent in immunodeficient individuals. In the brains of PML patients there is a loss of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. These are cells that, along with nerve cells, compose the central nervous system. Interestingly, a neuronal loss does not occur. My project involves characterizing the molecular mechanisms of JCV and determining the cellular factors necessary for infection.
The past three summers that I have spent at the National Institutes of Health have been phenomenal. I have attended lectures given by prominent scientists, networked with faculty and students, mentored high school students, and performed cutting-edge research. Not only has the experience been intellectually stimulating, but also socially enriching. Above all, I am inspired to undertake a research career in the biomedical sciences to improve the lives of others. |
