I discovered my love of science at the age of 8.  In 1993, obsessed with the dinosaur kingdom, I dragged my family to see a small film called “Jurassic Park.”  The idea that science could be used to bring them back, although far-fetched, nevertheless captured my imagination.  Today, 20 years later, I remain utterly captivated by every aspect of my chosen field.

I have come a long way in pursuit of a career in science.  I earned a degree in Genetics from Texas A&M University where I researched the genetic factors that influence behavior in cattle.  I am currently a doctoral student in the Genetics & Development program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.  Under the mentorship of Dr. James Amatruda, I utilize zebrafish to investigate pathways that regulate germ cell migration.  We are very interested in learning more about this process as it could play a role in germ cell tumor development in children.  I am nearing the end of my tenure at UT Southwestern, and am currently actively seeking a post-doctoral position to tackle my next exciting research project.

My passion for cancer biology, developmental biology and translational research has never been more evident to me.  In fact, I’ve come to enjoy it even more by sharing it with the world through my personal science news blog, miGENE.  It is a great opportunity to put an audience from outside the lab in touch with the tremendous work my colleagues are doing.

I want to thank you for visiting my personal site.  Here you will find a current curriculum vitae, which you can view or download, information about my personal blog, and a current list of scientific publications.  Please contact me with any questions or comments (job offers also welcome).

Thanks & Gig ‘Em.