My academic degrees are in Biology (Bachelor of Science) and Molecular and Cellular Biology (PhD) with specialties in genetics, disease, and molecular biology. I have worked in a variety of different labs, and conduct basic scientific research with biomedical implications. Throughout my experience, I have developed a wide range of skills, mostly focusing on molecular biology techniques, bioinformatics, and tissue culture. I am very passionate about applying these skills towards studies of cancer epidemiology.
When I began my graduate career, I was accepted into the IGERT Program in Comparative Genomics at the University of Arizona. This program encompassed classes combining computer science, molecular biology, and population studies. One of my more memorable classes in this program involved using publicly available data to develop a computational research project. This is something that I would like to bring to Wheaton, as it allows students to form hypotheses and conduct computational analysis without the prohibitive time and expense of a large-scale population study.
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Eugene Gerner at the Arizona Cancer Center. I participated in a project that looked at the impact of background genetic variation on colon cancer survival and response to post-surgery treatment1. Through this project, and my coursework on cancer therapeutics, I became well-versed in the methods used by cancer biologists to study genetic risk factors amid other medically-relevant variables and confounding factors such as population stratification. I applied this knowledge to form lectures on the genetic basis for cancer, which I gave to classes of undergraduate students. For various reasons, this project did not become my doctoral dissertation, but I continued to combine molecular biology and computational techniques while working with Dr. Parker Antin, studying embryonic development and heartfield formation2
Cancer is one of the 9 National Health Priority Areas (NHPA), areas which account for a significant portion of the burden of disease, but have sizeable potential for improvement. In Australia, CRC is the second most common cancer, after prostate (in men) and breast cancer (in women) (AIHW, Cancer incidence projections). The incidence has gradually increased (by 13% in males from 1982-2007) (AIHW, Cancer in Australia an overview). This is compounded by the ageing population and population growth, with 14,860 new cases in 2010 (http://www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/types-of-cancer/bowel-cancer). This graph demonstrates this upward trend ((AIHW, Cancer incidence projections):
The AMGEN Summer Scholars research experience will contribute to my plans to become a M.D./Ph.D. candidate, and ultimately an Oncologist, by helping me develop critical and independent thinking as well as creative skills as they relate to the field of medicine. It will also help me develop a more thorough understanding of biological concepts, how they directly apply to medical treatment, and the ways in which biotechnology fuses multiple fields of science to create technologies to care for others. The opportunity to assist in creation of the technologies that will be used on my future patients will ultimately improve my ability to treat their illnesses in adaptive ways. The opportunity I would have to read, interpret, and be a part of creating
My first experience with genetics in a lab setting was in my AP Biology class, where we worked with recombinant plasmids. Because I so thoroughly enjoyed that learning experience, I went online to look at the various applications of genetics, discovering how a world of possibilities still lies in the near future in the field of genetics. DNA is the code for all life as we know it, and now that we have the capability to manipulate it, the applications for genetic biotechnology in tackling genetic diseases and mutations are unbounded. This prospect truly excites me because of its potential to help others. I aspire to be able to help others with the work and research I perform in the field of genetics in the future.
According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer health disparities are defined as the adverse differences between specific populations and the achievement of an optimal state of health. These population groups are categorized by geographic location, income, disability, age, education, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or race. These factors correlate with cancer mortality rates that impact specific population groups in the United States, cancer prevalence is the number of people diagnosed or living with cancer, and cancer incidence which is the number of new cancer cases in a population. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2013, there were an estimated 1,660,290 new cases of cancer and 580,350 of the new cases resulted in mortality. Individuals who have limited access to healthcare, health illiterate, and poverty stricken are more likely to develop cancer. This means a person’s socioeconomic status can determine the likelihood of their probability of developing cancer
The American Cancer Society’s main concern is assisting people, making profits come second. The American Cancer Society helps patient’s life by finding cures. “For over 100 years, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has worked relentlessly to save lives and create a world with less cancer. Together with millions of our supporters worldwide, we help people stay well and get well, find cures, and fight back against cancer” (American Cancer Society, 2015a). Many people in this world see the importance of the organization and find the interest in donating money or providing anything to help the cause.
Peterson, G. M. Lessons from familial cancers. Mid-Atlantic Cancer Genetics Network Newsletter. Fall 1999. http://www.macgn.org/nl13e.html.
cancer.org. (2014, 03 15). Genetics and Cancer. Retrieved from Genetics and Cancer | American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/geneticsandcancer/index
Breast cancer has always been a common thread among the women of my family; especially on my mother’s side, including my Grandmother whom passed away due to this disease before I could ever meet her. More so, my mother was gravely affected by this disease early in my life. Thankfully, she was able to stop the cancer from spreading; the doctors were able to find the cancerous cells and remove them. Due to this grave, but powerful impact on my life, I have been determined to becoming a biomedical scientist to assist on the research and treatment of this deadly disease. Although this acts as my principal driver, to study in this field, I have also been intrigued and driven by the idea that I could aid lower setting regions to receive health benefits using studies in translational medicine and
I believe that my attending SIMR will be one of the most important stepping-stones for me to achieve my goals in the field of medicine. While I do have the basic lab knowledge one would need to attend SIMR, The knowledge I will gain by being mentored by world-class scientists will set me apart and imbue me with the skills I need to succeed in my chose career in the biomedical field. Honing both the creative and analytical skills, learning the proper methods of experimentation and investigation, and experiencing the unique atmosphere of being among the future pioneers of the medical field are all things that will define my career in the field I have been infatuated with for years. Following my introduction to biotechnology, I was enamored by
The American Cancer Society publishes current advances made in cancer research on their website. Many of the exciting discoveries about how best to treat the disease focus on the genetic aspects associated with certain types of cancer. In addition, treatments aimed at genetic solutions to cancer may be more effective and may cause fewer adverse side effects than traditional cancer treatments (American Can...
My long term career goals include the pursuit of research in the field of Bioinformatics and teaching in an academic environment. I have found that a career in research is both intellectually stimulating and satisfying and hence I have decided to take this up as my career objective.
Through having a background in molecular and chemical interactions while also thoroughly understanding the way the human body works, with the new technology available in the future, I might be able to make some groundbreaking
“It has become a part of the accepted wisdom to say that the twentieth century was the century of physics and the twenty-first century will be the century of biology. ”-Freeman Dyson I strongly believe that studying what you passionately admire would take you to the peak of your career. At school, I would always ask my teachers about how can so many genes and proteins communicate with each other to maintain the body’s homeostasis and what might be the underlying activities of the cells. It was this passion and curiosity for biology ever since my childhood that drove my interest to take up Biotechnology as my profession.
I believe that I have all the qualities to become a good researcher. I am very much confident and eager to familiarize myself with various cutting edges, basic microbiological techniques offered in your institute. That is why currently my goal is to pursue a Masters degree in Microbiology. I have seen Dr. Jeter Randall’s publications on antimicrobial resistance of Aeromonas and would like to investigate the exchange mechanism of genetic elements that confers such drug resistance in the bacterial community.
The field experience was very effective in progressing myself professionally. My next steps will be to further my research training. I plan to enter a Ph.D. program in a biomedical science as my next academic step. I will likely begin study at John A. Burns School of Medicine in cell and molecular biology in August 2016.