Undergraduate Institution: University of Iowa

Research mentor: Katheryn Rothenberg (Biology)
Research topic: Rap1 GTPase in initiating migration in embryonic and cancerous cells.

Background: I am originally from Flossmoor, Illinois, located in the south suburbs of Chicago. I moved to Iowa City with my cat four years ago when I started school at the University of Iowa. I obtained a degree in Departmental Honors Microbiology with University Honors and a minor in art.

I did research for three years in undergrad, which sparked my passion for research science. Over those three years I was awarded an ICRU Fellowship and the Stinski Fellowship. I also completed 4 poster presentations and wrote and presented an honors thesis. After accomplishing so much during my undergrad research, I realized I wanted to continue doing research in my future. I worked as a nursing assistant at the University hospital in hopes of gaining experience to become a doctor. Joining ICARE allowed me to pursue my passion for research and work towards becoming a doctor by focusing on cancer research that could one day perhaps be translated into medicine. My overall goal is to one day become a physician who continues to practice research and possibly change medicine for the better.

My project focuses on Rap1 GTPase in epithelial cell migration. Rap1 GTPase has roles in mediating cell adhesion and cytoskeletal arrangement. Rap1 GTPase is overexpressed in many invasive cancers and currently there are inhibitors of this signaling pathway that are in trial for certain cancer treatment. However, it is unclear how Rap1 GTPase is activated, so we are examining the role of known upstream factors to try and dissect the Rap1 activation pathways. This opens the possibility to new cancer treatments that can target upstream factors of Rap1 GTPase and prevent metastasis.