Major: Biochemistry Research Department: Microbiology Graduation Date: May 2021
Abstract: Gasdermin B (GSDMB) is a member of the Gasdermin family of pore-forming proteins. Multiple members of this family (such as Gadermins D and E) have been identified as cytolysins that induce pyropoptosis, a form of inflammatory programmed cell death. Activation of GSDMD and GSDME occurs through the cleavage of a linker sequence that joins the functional N-terminus to the autoinhibitory C-terminus via proteases of the Caspace family. The similar structure of GSDMB to GSDMD and GSDME suggest that it is also activated via a protease(s) at its corresponding linker sequence. We investigated potential activators of GSDMB and upstream signaling molecules among a library of hORF genes. The identification of activators of GSDMB and upstream signaling molecules could lead to a better understanding of its functions, as well as links of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in GSDMB to asthma, type I Diabetes, and other chronic diseases. Email:[email protected]
What does research mean to you? Research provides me with purpose as both a way to satisfy one’s curiosity about the world and expand humanity’s collective knowledge. It allows me to pursue a career while finding answers to fascinating questions about how the world around us functions. The opportunity to contribute to the work of future researchers is also highly fulfilling. I hope that my career will one day provide a foundation for others to build from, just as my research was built from the knowledge gained from the past work of countless scientists. Tell us about your journey. I began my time in the Green Fellowship having no prior research experience. Though becoming a research scientist had seemed very appealing, I wanted to begin gaining experience in order to determine if a research-oriented career-path was right for me. The program was daunting and required climbing a steep learning curve, but it was also highly rewarding and insightful. Gaining firsthand experience in performing biochemistry research fulltime provided me a glimpse of what working in the field in the future will be like. Coming out of the program, I am now certain that I wish to become a research scientist and am better equipped with practical skills to perform research in biochemistry.
How did the pandemic affect me? Unfortunately, my research was unable to continue following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States as it required the use of cell culture and western blots within the lab. However, I was able to use the remaining time in the program to prepare a poster to present the work I had performed thus far. With the guidance of my mentors I was able to significantly improve my skills in present research during the remaining weeks of the program.
Where am I now? Planned professional path seeking a Lab Technician position prior to a PhD.
Advice for Future Green Fellows
I would advise future Green Fellows to exercise persistence throughout the program. There are going to be times when an experiment fails to produce viable results, the specialized language of a research paper is difficult to grasp (particularly in the early weeks), and you need to ask a lot of questions to understand a procedure. It is all part of the process of becoming a scientist. Feeling intensely challenged is an indication that there is much to be learned. Remaining persistent and embracing the challenge of the program will leave you better prepared to pursue a future career in science.