|
My name is
Arelis Berrios-Figueroa. I obtained a Bachelor’s
degree in Biology at the University of Puerto Rico-Humacao
campus, where I was an Honor’s Student and participated
in the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program
(funded by the NIH). During my graduate school application
process I had the opportunity to visit other schools
with competitive graduate programs. What interested
me about the Molecular Genetics Department at Ohio State
University wasn’t only the diverse research topics
being investigated, but also the friendliness and camaraderie
of both students and professors.
I chose to
work in the laboratory of Dr. Paul K. Herman, where
we study the Ras/Protein Kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway
in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In particular,
my goal is to identify PKA substrates to further understand
the role of this pathway on cell cycle regulation.
I’ve
found my advisor and other professors I’ve interacted
with to be very helpful and encouraging. Also, my fellow
students have proved to be a great support group. Now,
after two years, I’m still happy about my decision
to join this department.
As an undergraduate, I attended a very small liberal
arts school where I majored in biology. My focus was
in conservation biology, and my degree experience included
internships such as working with endangered Leatherback
turtles in Central America, and conducting a survey
of secondary-growth in the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil.
However, I also did work in molecular biology, and this
is the field that I have pursued.
I worked for several years after completing my bachelors
degree. Overall I enjoyed being a professional, but
after some time I realized that in order to have any
intellectual control over my work, I needed to go back
to graduate school. Although I had experience in many
different areas of biology at that point, I wanted to
pursue a higher degree in Genetics because I felt that
it would allow me the most opportunities. With the interdisciplinary
nature of science today, I knew that a genetics degree
would serve me well in almost any direction I chose
to take in the future.
I've been very happy with the Department of Molecular
Genetics here at OSU because it offers a strong academic
program and many research opportunities that I find
interesting. I've also found here many of the same things
I valued in my undergraduate institution, such as a
sense of community, individual attention, and accessible
professors.
I work in the Hill Lab where we study the mechanisms
of development using the nematode, C. elegans, as a
model organism. We are investigating the possibility
that the Wnt signaling pathway, which plays an important
role in the development of many animals, regulates the
development of the C. elegans vulva. A key component
of the Wnt pathway is the transcription factor POP-1.
I've been using transgenes and mutations to alter POP-1
levels, and then examining the effect on vulval development.
I enjoy this work because we are able to work with living
animals, and I particularly like the detailed microscopy
we do.
I am also involved in university governance here on
campus. I am our department delegate to the Council
of Graduate Students, as well as a member of many other
university committees. I enjoy the opportunity to be
engaged with the OSU community, and to have my voice
be heard regarding many issues central to graduate student
life.
I feel that I am being very well prepared by both my
lab and my department for an outstanding career in science,
whichever direction I may go.
I was born and raised in the city of Hyderabad (capital
of the state of Andhra Pradesh), India. After completing
high school (at St.Patrick's High School and Little
Flower Junior College) I pursued my undergraduate studies
in Agricultural Sciences with a concentration in Genetics
and Plant Breeding at the Institute of Agricultural
Sciences, Banaras Hindu Universtiy (Varanasi, India).
I work on a collaborative project in the labs of Drs.
Mark Seeger and Christine Beattie trying to understand
the function of roundabout genes during early embryonic
development in zebrafish. I use a variety of tools in
my study - from embryos to molecules!
Being part of MG has been very exciting primarily because
of the youthful energy exuded by all - faculty, students
and staff. The broad spectrum of research interests
combined with great camaraderie in the Department encourages
learning and creates an intellectually stimulating environment.
My experiences in the Department go beyond just taking
classes and doing my research. I've had very satisfying
teaching experiences and an opportunity to serve the
Department as the graduate student delegate to the Council
of Graduate Students. By way of this I could serve the
graduate students in the University, at large, which
has enriched my 'social self'.
In addition, MG has been very supportive of graduate
student initiatives. For example, graduate students
can invite speakers for our weekly seminar series, and
were given resources to organize a short course in computational
biology or bioinformatics (Summer 2001) and a tele-course
in glycobiology (Spring 2002).
With regards to my personal goals for future - I am
looking forward to finishing my Ph.D. and gaining further
training to become a mature scientist. I am equally
interested in research and teaching; I see myself being
a part of the academic circle.
While I was working on my master’s degree at
The Institute of Fisheries Science, National Taiwan
University in Taiwan, I decided to pursue a Ph. D. at
The Ohio State University. I chose the Department of
Molecular Genetics because of its exceptional reputation
for academic achievement. Since I joined this department,
I have found myself in a distinguished environment that
provides a variety of resources for students. I believe
that the training here will allow me to be an independent
researcher. My project involves understanding the role
of Ded1p in translation in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae
and how Ded1p is involved in yeast virus replication.
While examining Ded1p’s role further, we unexpectedly
found that Ded1p co-precipitates with Gag, the major
coat protein of the yeast double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)
viruses, L-A and M1. Additionally, I found that Ded1p
not only binds to Gag but also to L-A viral particles,
containing either dsRNA or the (+)-strand RNA only.
I further demonstrated that recombinant GST-Ded1p promotes
L-A (-)-strand synthesis in vitro. Ded1p belongs to
an evolutionarily conserved DExD/H-box protein family.
Recent results strongly suggest that, in vivo, DExD/H
box proteins may dissociate specific RNA-binding proteins
to remodel ribonucleoprotein complexes. Thus, it may
be possible that Ded1p is recruited to remodel L-A virus
particles for promoting L-A (-)-strand synthesis. Our
results are also of great interest, because DBX, a human
homologue of Ded1p, binds strongly to the core protein
of hepatitis C virus (HCV), an RNA virus and mutations
in yeast DED1 gene block the replication of brome mosaic
virus (BMV), an RNA virus. It may be possible that RNA
viruses such as L-A, HCV, and BMV may have evolved a
common strategy to recruit Ded1p for promoting their
replication.
I'm originally
from Celina, Ohio, a small town in western Ohio. I earned
my B.S. in Natural Sciences from Xavier University in
Cincinnati, Ohio, and worked for a small biotech company
in Columbus before starting graduate school.
I study axon
guidance in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster,
in the laboratory of Dr. Mark Seeger. Axon guidance
is the process by which individual neurons send their
axons through the developing organism to generate a
correctly "wired" nervous sytem. My thesis
work focuses on the protein Trio, which regulates the
actin cytoskeleton and is necessary for correct axon
pathfinding in the Drosophila embryo. I am using both
genetic and biochemical approaches to understand Trio's
interactions with a number of other molecules previously
implicated in Drosophila axon guidance.
Three strengths
of the MG Department come immediately to mind. First,
the first year of graduate school is a period of transition,
during which less factual material is presented to you
to be "memorized," and you must literally
"learn how to learn" on your own. Through
coursework that is largely based on the scientific literature,
as a first-year student you learn how to read and critique
scientific papers, how to determine what questions in
a field are important, what techniques are available
for pursuing those questions, and how to write a grant-style
proposal. For me, this emphasis on independent thinking
in the coursework was a valuable foundation for later
years of training as a researcher.
Second, because
of Ohio State's size, there are numerous chances to
interact with people from other departments and programs
both formally and informally. For example, although
I'm a grad student in Molecular Genetics, my advisor,
Dr. Seeger, trains students from the Molecular, Cellular,
and Devlopmental Biology, and Neuroscience Programs.
I work in the Neurobiotechnology Center, which is host
to researchers who study neuroscience-related topics
in a variety of organisms, and which has its own seminar
series. Also, several labs participate in a Developmental
Group seminar series during which grad students present
their work, improving their presentation skills and
learning about work in a number of model systems including
the fly, worm, mouse, fish, and frog. Similar interaction
occurs for students in practically all MG labs, and
in my opinion adds scope and perspective to the graduate
school experience.
Finally,
there are a large number of events which bring MG faculty
and students together. We have a get-together to welcome
students in the fall, a Winter Holiday party, and a
Departmental party in a top-floor greenhouse in late
winter/early spring. MG students meet weekly for a seminar
series to hear faculty from across the nation discuss
their work. First year students present work completed
during lab rotations to the Department at the end of
each quarter. Every spring, third-year students give
hour-long seminars on their projects to MG faculty and
students. And in the winter, MG hosts a formal Colloquium
in honor of Scott Falkenthal, a former MG professor,
during which fourth and fifth year students present
their research and compete for an award for "best
seminar." All of these events foster a real sense
of community in the MG Department.
Immediately
after earning my Ph.D., I plan to continue my training
as an investigator in an academic postdoctoral position.
Longer term, I hope to either establish my own laboratory
or manage research being conducted in an industry or
government lab. My future scientific interests include
glycobiology and microbiology.
I was born and raised a few hours away in Akron, Ohio.
I spent my freshman year as an undergraduate here at
Ohio State, but then transferred to the University of
West Florida, initially to pursue a degree in marine
biology. I soon realized my interests and opportunities
lie on a smaller scale, and graduated in December of
2000 with my B.S. in Molecular Biology.
I have recently joined Dr. Helen Chamberlin’s
lab to work on the transcriptional regulation of organ
development in C. elegans. Specifically, I am seeking
to determine the role of the C. elegens PAX-6 gene in
relation to two other well-established transcription
factors essential for proper organ development. In addition,
I am attempting to understand the link between this
proposed transcriptional cascade the C. elegans EGF
receptor, let-23.
While many factors played into my decision to come
to Ohio State, I did not discover many of the benefits
of that choice until I spent some time here. The MG
program offers advantages associated with both a large
university and a small program. The facilities are excellent,
and are continuously being updated. I have been especially
pleased with the faculty, which is comprised of a good
mix of established success and reputation with the youth
and motivation that bring about those qualifications.
By most accounts, there is a very friendly nature among
the faculty relationships, and that cooperative mindset
carries over into the program’s student body.
The students are more than willing to help one another
in lab matters, and on a more social level, we boast
a large range of lifestyles and interests.
While many students have firm plans in mind for their
post-graduate future, I am one of those who is more
open in my career plans. After continuing my education
with the essentially required stint as a post-doctoral
researcher, my tentative plans are to look for a university
faculty position, although I have far from ruled out
the possibility of working in industry, perhaps in the
application of developmental models toward medical and/or
technical advancements.
My name is Steven Justiniano, and I majored in Biology
at the University of Puerto Rico-Humacao. As an undergraduate,
I had opportunities to do research in various fields
including ecology, molecular biology and genetics. After
working in these fields I was most interested in pursuing
research in molecular biology and genetics and decided
to continue studies in these areas as a graduate student.
I learned of the Molecular Genetics program at OSU through
Project 1000, and have been a student in the department
since 2001. I am working in Dr. Amanda Simcox’s
laboratory. We are currently studying development in
the fruit fly D. melanogaster.
My project in the lab involves the study of gene expression
patterns in the D. melanogaster wing using DNA microarrays
and determining how signaling pathways control this
expression.
I have found that being part of the MG department has
the benefit of a small program where you can get to
know and closely interact with a number of people working
in various but related research fields. At the same
time, OSU is a very large institution and gives me opportunities
to be exposed to new technology and research covering
the breadth of science.
I believe that the education and the experience I have
and will receive, both in the laboratory and as a Teaching
Assistant, at OSU will help me in my future endeavors,
whether this will be working in the private/government
research sector or as an educator.
I was born in the United Kingdom and brought up in
India. I have been to a number of schools throughout
my life. I have had the opportunity to be exposed to
a variety of teachers, student groups and curriculums.
Throughout my school days I have been deeply fascinated
in Biology so I pursued my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry
from University of Madras, India.
At present I am working in Dr.Steve Osmani's Lab where
we study cell cycle regulation in the organism Aspergillus
Nidulans. My thesis is going to be on a cell cycle dependent
protein called NimA kinase. At present I am working
towards finding other proteins which interact with NimA
using novel genetic techniques. This research is linked
with nuclear localisation of other proteins involved
during mitosis.
The best thing I like about the program is the opportunity
to be able to rotate in different labs before joining
one for completing your PhD. I also like that the students
are able to interact with the faculty in a very friendly
and informal way which is rare in schools back in India.
As of now I think I want to work in an industry doing
research in a way that could be applied to the clinical
field. Teaching also fascinates me so I may also like
to be part of the academia. Oppurtunities after finishing
my degree are so vast that making a decision now is
quite difficult.
I am from
Shandong Province, P. R. China. I received my BS degree
in Biology from Shandong University, and my MS degree
in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the Institute
of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. I am currently
working in Mike Ostrowski's lab studying the role of
transcription factor Ets-2 in cancer, development and
inflammation. The Molecular Genetics department offers
a variety of model systems, excellent faculty, friendly
student body, collaborations with other schools and
department in OSU (eg., Medical Research Center, Vet
School), nice living. Once I complete my Ph.D. degree,
I will probably get more training as a postdoc, then
pursue a faculty or research scientist position. I love
to do research and enjoy new discoveries (although many
times upset by failed experiments and wrong ideas!).
I earned
my BS and MS at the University of California, San Diego,
in Biology. There I studied the evolution of animal
signaling and wrote my thesis on territorial defense
in oscine songbirds. I am currently working in the lab
of Gustavo Leone, where the focus of research is on
the role of E2F transcription factors in the control
of cellular proliferation and apoptosis. Our work is
especially relevant to cancer and developmental biology.
I work independently
on two projects and collaborate on several others with
post-doctoral researchers in the lab. I rely heavily
on in vivo mouse models for the study of proliferation
and differentiation in the lens of the eye and in the
placenta. To elucidate mechanism, I use in vitro techniques
such as tissue culture of mouse embryonic fibroblasts
and stem cells. My work has also led me to develop skills
in biochemistry, cloning, microscopy, animal husbandry,
histology, and analysis of genomic DNA and RNA. In addition,
a good deal of my contribution to the lab has been to
develop new systems and translate techniques from other
labs into our own.
The collaborative
atmosphere in the Department of Molecular Genetics at
OSU allows me to learn specialized techniques from labs
within and in close association with the department
that study diverse topics, such as oncogenesis, developmental
biology, and transcriptional control. Because this network
of resources is nearby, I am mentored by top researchers
and get immediate feedback on my projects. I also participate
in collaborations with research groups outside of OSU,
and these connections will benefit me as I move on to
post-doctoral work. I hope to continue research in the
area of cancer biology in an academic setting or at
a large biotech company.
|
Arelis
Berrios-Figueroa 
Melissa Browning
Anil Kumar Challa
Jean-Leon Chong
David
Forstoefel
Ryan
Johnson
Steven
Justiniano
Leena
Ukil
Guo
Wei
Pamela
Wilson