Michael Kimble

Previous Institution: University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Before entering the Biological Sciences graduate program, I completed my undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  During undergrad I worked in a lab that studied motor proteins and their role in cytoskeleton organization in the context of mitosis.  Also during undergrad, I completed two summer internships at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, which fostered my interest in some aspects of immunology.  For a year and a half after graduation I worked as a technician at Boston Children’s Hospital.  Here, I worked on several projects aimed at eliciting particular antibody responses against an antigen of interest in unique mouse models.  During this experience I was also exposed to other lab members’ research on DNA repair.  All of these experiences have influenced my current interests as I enter grad school.    

As mentioned, one such interest is DNA repair and the roles and interactions of the many repair proteins involved in these processes.  I’m interested not only in how these activities are carried out in normal cells, but how the processes go awry in diseases like cancer.  Some other protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions that have implications in disease are also of interest.  Outside of school and lab, I like to go to the gym, play sports, and try new things, whether it be an activity or food.  I’m looking forward to taking advantage of all the academic opportunities that Columbia has to offer as well as the endless opportunities that New York City affords.