Page 43 - CBAC Newsletter 2016
P. 43
CBAC Ph.D. Student
Spotlight
I made. They also supported me going to college in research we do. For example, I started my current
the States. project trying to understand the NaV β subunits
Since physics and biology were my favorite subjects regulation mechanisms of the NaV channels, which
in high school, I knew immediately that biomedical later on leads to the findings of β subunits’
engineering was the right major for me. During my differential modification of the channel responses
undergraduate years at Stony Brook University, I to anti-arrhythmics, which potentially underlies the
worked in Dr. Emilia Entcheva’s lab working on heart chamber and patient specific responses to
optogenetics for cardiac applications, such as different anti-arrhythmics.
pacemaking and defibrillation. I also did a research I think St. Louis is a city that you slowly grow to like.
fellowship at SUNY Upstate Medical University, It is not the nicest city, but it has great history and
where I worked in Dr. Patricia Kane’s lab in the culture. I learned that ooey gooey butter cake was
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology actually invented by accident, but it is one of the
doing studies of V-ATPase structure and regulation. best thing ever.
From my undergraduate research experiences, I My biggest personal achievement is adopting my
realized that both molecular and cardiac sweet dog Rizzo, who has given me a lot of love and
engineering are intriguing to me. support, especially on frustrating days.
I heard of Washington University from a post- I look forward to publishing my work on NaV β sub-
doctoral student in my undergraduate research units, and to continue exploring different directions
lab, who graduated from the BME program here. and possibilities that this project may open.
I learned that Wash. U. has a very strong cardiac I love painting, pottery, or anything related to art.
research program that focuses on many different I also enjoying outdoor activities, such as hiking -
aspects. When I came to visit here, I felt there was a thanks to the mystery Christmas gift “Best Hikes
very collaborative and friendly environment, in Near St. Louis” I received in the BME holiday party.
particular the focused research centers, such as the CBAC is a great place that bring the cardiac
CBAC. Dr. Silva’s research topics are very interesting community together from clinical, engineering, and
to me, because it is a merge of two interests, where biophysics fields. I learned so much from attending
I get to study molecular protein kinetics, and the CBAC seminars, probably more than any
associate them with the physiology of the heart. conference I have ever went to. One of my main
After rotating in Dr. Silva’s lab, I decided to stay, project ideas was actually inspired by a CBAC talk.
because he is an incredible mentor who inspires Being part of CBAC, I feel like we have a lot more
ideas, and gives a lot of guidance and freedom to resources for research and opportunities for
do the research projects I am interested in. collaboration.
I guess the most exciting part of my research is that
we can get a lot of clinical insights from the basic CBAC Center Heartbea | 39
