Student Profiles
Jonathan Winkler
Collins Lab
As an undergraduate at Arizona State University, I found that I was never really content to explore biological problems from a single perspective. I had a long-standing interest in using mathematics to study biological problems, so I initially started working on a project involving mathematically modeling of tumor growth dynamics. However, I soon realized that truly understanding a biological system would also require “getting my hands dirty” in a laboratory setting, so I also began doing experimental research on human glioblastoma at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. There I explored differences in microRNA expression profiles between primary and recurrent human brain tumor samples. As I sought out places to do graduate research, I knew from these research experiences that the best school for me would be one that offered plenty of interdisciplinary research opportunities. Thankfully, the MCBB program turned out to be perfect for me in this regard.
I found that the MCBB program was rather unique in that it allowed its students to join labs that were not only in the Biology department, but also in the Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Bioinformatics, and Neuroscience departments as well. Because of my interest in the intersection between mathematics and molecular biology, I sought out rotations in labs in bioinformatics and bioengineering laboratories. I ended up choosing to work in Jim Collins’ lab in the biomedical engineering department, where I now use computational and experimental approaches to explore and improve antibiotic mechanisms of action. I firmly believe that the MCBB program’s flexibility and openness to interdisciplinary research has contributed to my overall development as a scientist.
Outside of the lab, I’ve been able to participate in a variety of programs, activities, and opportunities offered by the Biology department. I was a member of the Executive Committee of the Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA). We organized a variety of social activities for members of the MCBB program as well as the Biology department, and also set up Professional Development seminars that gave graduate students information about everything from writing a curriculum vitae/resume to managing one’s personal finances. I was also awarded the NSF GK-12 Fellowship, which enabled me to teach part-time for a year at Monument High School in South Boston. And finally, in my spare time, I’ve enjoyed exploring the city of Boston and playing numerous intramural sports with other members of the MCBB program as well as students in the programs in the Biology department.
Mehtap Yilmaz Tezcan
Morgan Lab
My interest in nature started at a very early age. Out of curiosity, I started doing experiments on my mother’s plants and injecting them with the liquids I could find at home when I was child. Being curious about the life led me to pursue Biology during my college years in Turkey.
In college, I got interested in gene/protein functions and how they regulate cells. This opened my eyes to the world of the molecular biology and I decided to dig a little deeper with graduate work. While I was at University of Nebraska-Lincoln for my masters degree, every little piece of information about molecular biology and inner workings of life in cell fascinated me.
I was fortunate to find out interdepartmental MCBB program at Boston University, which gave me choices but helped me narrow my focus. Since molecular biology is a very broad subject, having the option to choose studying molecular biology as it applies to Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Health Science and Biomedical Engineering is gave me breadth I needed to find what interested me.
I am currently working in Morgan lab for my thesis project on Cardiovascular Diseases. The lab focuses on differentiated smooth muscle cell in blood vessels. Inappropriate contraction or relaxation of smooth muscle is responsible for a number of diseases including stroke, hypertension, heart failure. In my study, I am mostly using freshly isolated aortic dVSMCs to reveal the regulatory mechanism of a unique kinase, CaMKII (Calcium Calmodulin dependent protein kinase), and it’s role in blood vessels. I am very fortunate to be a part of this groundbreaking Cardiovascular research and to be in MCBB program at Boston University.
Daniel Bak
Elliott Lab
The field of biochemistry has interested me since I was an undergraduate at the University of Notre Dame. After engaging in courses and research that spanned from both cellular biology to physical chemistry, I found myself drawn to understanding the chemical process by which cells and ultimately whole organisms were controlled. Research opportunities at Notre Dame afforded me an opportunity to study the mechanisms for localization of mRNA in large Xenopus (african clawed frog) oocytes, and taught me to appreciate the value of an interdisciplinary background in both biology and chemistry. This was my first experience working in a research lab, and sparked my desire to continue with my biochemistry studies.
Boston University’s MCBB program interested me specifically, because of its interdisciplinary nature. I was impressed by the collaborations that were occurring both within the department and with other departments, such as chemistry and biomedical engineering. I was convinced that I would be able to pursue a broad range of research and gain a wide variety of experimental skills. I was first made aware of the research going on in Dr. Sean Elliott’s lab after he gave a brief seminar on his work in my first month at BU. The study of metallo-proteins seemed to me the perfect mixture of chemistry and biology. I knew I would have a chance to continue to explore my interests in biochemistry, while continuing to grow and learn in a field that was new to me, bio-inorganic chemistry.
The research I am pursuing in my time here in Dr. Elliott’s lab has focused on a small human mitochondrial protein, mitoNEET. This small protein has been a focus of type II diabetes research as a drug target for the insulin sensitizer, pioglitazone. I am working on the biophysical characterization of the [2Fe-2S] cluster of this small protein, using the powerful technique of protein film voltammetry, among others. Recent work on the project has spanned from a bioinformatics protein sequence analysis of mitoNEET homologs to immunoprecipitations with partner proteins to drug binding assays. This broad range of experimental techniques, spanning the interface of chemistry and biology, has helped me grow as a scientist and allowed me to pursue the research and answer the questions that interest me. I am excited to continue exploring and growing both here at BU and in my future scientific endeavors.
Kellie Cotter
Callard Lab
My interests in genetics began at a relatively young age, and when it came time to decide upon a major at the State University of New York at Buffalo molecular biology seemed like the natural choice. While there I had the opportunity to work in several different labs exploring different ends of molecular biology spectrum: genotyping coral/algae symbionts, studying DNA repair mechanisms in E. coli, and identifying receptors involved in taste signal transduction. These experiences not only helped me to better understand my coursework, but it also showed me how rewarding research can be.
Although I knew I wanted to do research, despite my varying opportunities at Buffalo I was still unsure what facet of molecular biology I wanted to focus on. Part of what drew me to BU was the breadth of research represented by the MCBB program and the opportunity to rotate in several labs during your first year as a graduate student. I also knew however that I wanted to enjoy my time in graduate school and the students I met at BU seemed to have a good life/work balance. As a plus, BU’s location in a major urban center has made it easy to find things to do during my time away from the lab.
After four first year rotations, I ended up finding a home in the lab of Dr. Gloria Callard, where I am currently finishing up my third year as a PhD. student. My thesis work focuses on the effects on environmental pollutants on estrogen signaling in fish. In particular I am interested in a population of killifish in New Bedford Harbor, MA that has adapted to high pollutant exposures. Our lab is a member of the EPA Superfund Basic Research Program at BU in conjunction with several other labs from the Biology Department, the BU School of Public Health, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, providing with valuable collaborations. Additionally I have had the opportunity to present my research at several conferences providing me with interactions with scientists in a wide range of fields from toxicology to endocrinology. I am certain that my experiences at BU will prepare me well for a future career in science research.
Rama Krishna Simhadri
Frydman Lab
My interests in Biology have evolved over the course of many years and I was always fascinated and enriched by each of those experiences. Having tried my hand at many different exciting fields like Molecular Dynamics of protein structures to engineering organisms, I found it difficult to confine my enthusiasm to one particular area of research. Interdisciplinary program like MCBB at BU supports students with diverse interests to continue exploring new frontiers. With the flexibility to rotate in labs from various departments I had an opportunity to experience the multifaceted research at BU. This was of great help in choosing my lab. After receiving my Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology at Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Boston was my obvious choice for pursuing my Ph.D.. The city has a lot to offer in terms of diversity of research options and an extraordinary blend of passionate researchers. My decision to live in Boston was cemented when I came here to attend the iGEM jamboree, a synthetic biology conference for undergraduates at MIT and that was also when I realized that the scientific community here thrives on its mosaic cultural make up.
I’m currently a joint student of Dr. Horacio Frydman and Dr. Daniel Segre and I work on a very interesting endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia, which can alter the reproductive behavior of wide variety of insects in nature. Being an engineer by training and having a strong interest in synthetic biology, I’m trying to create transgenic Wolbachia which could potentially be a great tool to elucidate the largely unknown molecular interactions of Wolbachia with its hosts. I also intend to model the metabolic basis for its robust adaptation to a wide range of host organisms. I believe that the Wolbachia – drosophila system is a great case study in understanding and designing synthetic ecosystems with relationships between organisms ranging from symbiosis to parasitism. I particularly like working with this organism as it lies at the intersection, and serves as an opening to many other fields like stem cell biology, evolutionary biology, ecology and developmental biology.
