PhD
Associate Professor
UNC-Chapel Hill
Cancer Cell Biology
Area of Interest
My overarching research goal is to define the cellular and molecular mechanisms mediating the cellular shape change in the context of cancer cell motility as well as the development and maintenance of a functional nervous system. In particular, I am interested in the molecules that direct cellular shape change and motility through spatially and temporally coordinating cytoskeletal dynamics and vesicle trafficking. My lab is investigating the role of two closely related E3 ubiquitin ligases, TRIM9 and TRIM67, in controlling cytoskeletal dynamics, vesicle trafficking, cell motility, axon guidance and branching. First and foremost, I bring expertise in state-of-the-art microscopy and cell biological techniques to cancer biology and neuroscience, which has permitted me to make important breakthroughs in fundamental mechanisms of cellular shape change. My lab combines high resolution live cell imaging techniques with microfluidics and mouse models to probe the cellular and molecular mechanisms of cellular shape change in a way that has heretofore not been possible.
Awards and Honors
- Scialog Fellow, 2018
- Jefferson-Pilot Fellowship Award in Academic Medicine, 2016
- North Carolina State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Outstanding Young Alumnus, 2016
- ASCB/Gibco Emerging Leader Finalist, 2016
- UNC Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award, 2016
- Pierre Morell UNC Neurobiology Curriculum Mentor of the Year, 2016
- UNC Junior Faculty Development Award, 2016
- ASCB/Gibco Emerging Leader Semifinalist, 2015
- MIT Koch Institute Image Award, 2011
- Merck/SPRI Senior Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2009-2011
- Fellow of the Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical, 2006-2009
- ASCB Merton R Bernfield Award for ASCB 45th Annual Meeting, 2005
- HHMI Predoctoral Fellow, 2001-2006
