University: University of Texas at Austin
Hometown: Austin, TX
NIH Research Project:
RpoS Regulation by Small Non-Coding RNAs
Mentor: Susan Gottesman, Ph.D.
Laboratory of Molecular Biology
National Cancer Institute
|
|
 |
My parents' profession as doctors in my home country, Algeria, played an instrumental role in my strong penchant towards the sciences and the healing profession. I always marveled at their passion to help others and their love for exploring unanswered questions. Soon, I became fascinated by the human body and its complex structure and functioning.
I recently graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in human biology with a concentration in immunity and pathogenesis. My first research experience was in the department of Pharmacology under the mentorship of Dr. Steve Leslie and Patricia Levin who were both extremely influential in my basic science research career. We studied the effect of prenatal exposure to ethanol in pups, modeling Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in humans and how it affects the NMDA receptor, which is involved in learning and memory.
This is my second summer as a UGSP Scholar, and I feel very fortunate and thankful to be part of this program. I continue to train with Dr. Susan Gottesman in the Molecular Biology Section of the National Cancer Institute. My research involves studying small regulatory RNAs and how their mechanisms affect control circuits in the Escherichia coli bacteria.
Coming to the NIH has allowed me to see the endless available opportunities in science. It has also solidified my decision to combine clinical medicine and basic research with a goal to better understand diseases that afflict children. |
