A long-term passion for science fiction led me to view the natural world with a lens of inquiry. I was always asking how things work and thinking about underlying mechanisms – I was not satisfied until I understood things at a very fine level of detail. There are so many fascinating machines that work at the molecular level and the books and comics of my youth allowed me to develop an active imagination that helped me visualize abstract concepts that drive molecular biology.
I am very fortunate to have had several mentors during my research training. Dr. Gerwald Jogl, Dr. Tricia Serio, and Dr. Mary Munson shaped my view on how to study the structure and function of proteins. I've always been fascinated with protein structure determination and the process of protein folding. The interplay of protein structure and function as it relates to overall cellular health led me to study how post-translational modifications can alter protein activity.
As an undergraduate student, I was constantly engaged and inspired by my professors, and I knew I wanted to do the same for another generation of scientists. I sought out pedagogical training as a postdoctoral teaching fellow at The College of the Holy Cross which informed my teaching as an Associate Professor of Biology at Rhode Island College. I have taught a range of topics focusing on cellular biology and biochemistry. It brings me great joy to take the most complex scientific concepts and break them down in such a way that makes them accessible to every student. My goal is to put the concepts in perspective and get students to see how concepts are utilized. I strive to have a hands-on element in my classes and try to have an aspect of inquiry to fully engage students.
