PhD candidate
Department of Orthopedics
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University, Indiana
Graduate Degree: Master of Science, Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University, Indiana

Who do you consider your mentors?
I would first have to say my PI, Dr. Nilsson Holguin. I took a class with him my senior year of undergraduate studies and, with no previous research background, he offered me a spot in his lab. I completed a Master’s thesis under his guidance and now I am finishing my PhD with him as my advisor. He recognized my potential and really helped me develop an unknown passion I had for research. Hearing how he ended up in research really made me feel like I could belong and thrive in this world as well.
I would also have to say a lot of people that I have crossed paths with along the way, whether it be students that are farther along their path or other PIs. Anyone I’ve been able to learn from really.

What is your specific area of interest in research?
My specific area of research is modulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the intervertebral disc. My goal is to understand how this pathway can be manipulated to serve as a potential therapeutic for intervertebral disc degeneration.

What are you currently working on?
I am currently studying the effects of suppressing an inhibitor of Wnt signaling by pharmacological or genetic means and determine the structure and function of the intervertebral disc across different adult ages of male and female mice. Additionally, I am investigating the role Wnt signaling plays in immune/inflammation regulation from intervertebral disc injury.

What has been the biggest challenge for you lately in your research?
Troubleshooting and broken machines. The disc is already such a small, niche tissue where typical protocols for processing don’t typically work, so trying to figure out a different way to do the same thing can be very difficult. It has taught me to be creative in coming up with potential solutions and really enforced patience and persistence.

What projects are you looking forward to?
Any projects that are coming to an end. I have been working on several projects slowly throughout the years so I am very excited to be able to put all of the data together. I have an injection study that is across 5, 12, and 24 month old mice, male and female, so I am very excited to be doing such a big project that has so many factors and seeing what the results are.

What changes would you like to see in the future of the orthopedic research community?
I would really like to see the community become more welcoming and collaborative. It can be very intimidating and difficult for someone new in the field to come and present or share ideas with established members. Maybe there is a technique or some findings they may not fully understand and some questions can feel combative. Rather, it would be more helpful to have more of a conversational approach because research can be hard! We should be motivating the “next generation” of scientists and give them a place where they feel welcome and a place where they feel they can contribute.

What do you like to do outside of your work?
Right now, I am a competitive powerlifter, I train roughly 4 times a week. I have been a competitive athlete my whole life, particularly swimming through college, and I’d like to keep athletics a part of my life for as long as I can. I have a 4 year old German shepherd, Bev, so walking, playing, and training her takes up a good amount of time. And whatever other free time I have, I like to travel to see my friends out of NYC or sleep.

What is the last book you read?
The last book I read was “The Song of the Cell” by Siddhartha Mukherjee. I know we’ve all learned about cells and biology, but it includes the history of biology and how the understanding of cells has transformed what we know about medicine and therapies. It also includes patient stories, his experience as a physician, and the ethics of how cells and their manipulation can impact the future.

What is the most unusual/unexpected item sitting on your desk right now?
Silly straws! Or little trinkets or gifts from friends – I have a hand crocheted mouse, and a 3D printed crocodile.