Collaboration is crucial when advancing in scientific research. One person cannot
study all aspects of a system. That is why it is important for the scientific community to
communicate with each other and stay updated on research being conducted in other labs
around the world. In my research, I was...
The detection of mammalian FMO’s is important in the understanding of active FMO 2.1 and its role in metabolizing drugs to treat tuberculosis. Refinement of an absolute quantification (AQUA) mass spectrometry method is needed to be able to quantify the different FMO isoforms present in mammalian tissue. We are doing...
Saccharina sessilis, lettuce kelp, is a macroalgae that contributes to the primary production in the intertidal zone off of the Oregon Coast. Macroalgae can serve as a bioindicator of increased nutrient input, water quality, and shifts in the intertidal environment. Competition for light exists between macroalgae species and with other...
As part of an HHMI funded research project, I showed that overexpression (OE) of actin (ACT2) in Arabidopsis thaliana alters the expression of genes involved in plant immunity. Others have previously shown that knockout (KO) mutants of actin depolymerizing factor 4 are affected in the same gene as ACT2-OE. For...
Cisplatin (CDDP) is a highly active platinum-containing chemotherapeutic agent for use against solid tumors, including ovarian. However, like most antitumor agents, CDDP use is accompanied by non-tumor tissue toxicities leading to unwanted side effects, including neuropathy. To date, the mechanism(s) for these side effects are undefined. However, the clinical features...
Pollination is a critical ecosystem function for sustaining biodiversity. However, pollinators and the services they provide are threatened by landscape-altering anthropogenic activities across the globe. Habitat loss and fragmentation, introduction of invasive species, chemical use, and urbanization have been shown to impact pollination. Pollinator foraging behavior is thought to be...
Galápagos marine iguana population sizes have been declining since first contact with humans.This decline has historically been attributed mainly to predation by invasive species, but additional human-caused threats exist today. My thesis conducts an analysis of the present threats to the species and determines which are the most severe.Modern threats...
Marine mammals use acoustics for many life functions, including communication. Male fin whales produce a call around 20 Hz and the pattern of a series of calls can vary based on the individual, geographic region, and season. I examined the variation between songs in fin whales. A glider was deployed...