Full Research Description
Raised in Newton, Massachusetts, I graduated from Brandeis University with a BS in Neuroscience and Biology. My fascination with sleep and circadian rhythms inspired me to join Leslie Griffith’s lab as an undergraduate researcher, exploring the role of microRNA in the regulation of sleep and sleep homeostasis in Drosophila.
After graduation, I joined Brad Hyman’s lab at Massachusetts General Hospital where I worked with Drs. Derek Oakley, Simon Dujardin, and Marc Aurel Busche. I used iPSC-derived neurons, HEK cells, and mouse models to investigate many aspects of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), including tau propagation, patient-to-patient variability, and impairments in neural circuits.
As a PhD student, I am inspired by my past research experience to study how alterations in one neural circuit may have far-reaching effects, such as the interactions between sleep, immunity, and neurodegeneration. I am interested in using advanced microscopy and optogenetics to map these circuits and applying multi-omic assays to investigate the regulatory networks underlying these complex systems.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy rock climbing, aerial fabric, eco-innovation, and making/solving crosswords.
