Major: Neuroscience Research Department: Molecular Biology Graduation Date: May 2020
Abstract: Post-translational modifications are covalent changes made to proteins that typically alter the function or location of a protein. AMPylation is an emerging post-translational modification that involves the addition of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to a protein. This AMPylation modification was mediated by the Fic domain of bacterial effectors which was first discovered in VopS of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. However, the scope of this in other bacteria Fic domains like Neisseria meningitidisremains to be fully determined. Email:[email protected]
What does research mean to you? Research to me means going beyond what is known and figuring out problems that can’t be solved by just looking online. The number of possibilities is endless. Whether you want to help fight the world’s most debilitating diseases or just love the rush of discovery and science, research is a way of learning and solving problems. Why I love research is because of how much there is that is unknown. While doing research, you are writing your own textbook. You’re doing experiments and tests on things that have never been done before. None of this is written in a book for you to read or is known by a professor you can ask a question about. What made me love research is that it goes beyond just science, it creates a new way of thinking that you must learn and adapt to in every step of the way. I am so grateful for everything the Green Fellowship has given me and for all I have gotten out of it. Tell us about your journey. My first exposure to research was my freshman year in Dr. Thompson’s neurobiology. I started in his lab working on a project about the effects of a high fat diet on spatial memory and hippocampal development. After that I decided I wanted to further my research career and that’s when I joined the Green Fellowship. My journey in Green Fellows, like many, started with a very rocky start. I joined Dr. Kim Orth’s lab in the Department of Microbiology. When I first joined the program and entered the lab, it was like learning a foreign language. I am so grateful and fortunate to have such great mentors and lab mates that were willing to walk me through each step of the way. My project was to to characterize orphan Fic proteins fromNesseria meningitidis. I am now starting a new project in Dr. Orth’s lab for the summer. I will working on investigating the role of metacaspase proteins in growth and pathogenesis of Magnaporthe oryzae. This Fellowship has given me so much and I have learned much about science but even more about myself and what direction I want to move forward with my life. I am applying to professional schools now and plan on continuing the path of research throughout my life.
Advice for Future Green Fellows
Green Fellows is a fantastic opportunity for you to grow and take a step back from constantly sticking your face in a textbook and get a glimpse of what working is like. The best advice I can give to any one considering this program is to consult with others and see if research is something you’re truly passionate about. To anyone who’s considering the program get ready to put in hard work. The experience is extremely rewarding and you gain a lot from it, but I never truly understood the quote from Thomas Edison, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work,” until this fellowship. You will fail and you will be overwhelmed but it’s all part of the learning process and it gets better. The learning curve was one of the steepest learning curves I’ve had to face, but trust me you aren’t alone and no one is expecting you to cure cancer on your first day. One of the things that shocked me the most was the transition from being in school for the past 15 years of my life and then take a 5-month break from that. No tests, no quizzes, no studying. It sounds nice but the transition from a student to “adulting” can be a little more difficult than you can imagine so make sure to give yourself a little breathing room when you start. Overall, just have fun and make sure to be open minded. This is an experience that will teach you so much and anytime you start to doubt yourself just remember you were chosen for a reason. Don’t get discouraged and make sure to enjoy it! Seek out opportunities and if you have any question feel free to reach out to me ([email protected]), best of luck to all!