Undergraduate Institution: Minot State University

Research mentor: George Weiner, MD (Internal Medicine)
Research topic: My research topic focuses on the development of a novel assay, termed The LIRECAP Assay. This assay compares the fractional occupancy of receptor by ligand of specific targets in FFPE bio specimens using RNA aptamers selected via SELEX. 

Hometown: Gilbert, AZ

Background: I knew I enjoyed lab work from my experience in my high school's biomedical sciences program, but my passion for cancer research specifically grew through my experience with The University of Iowa's CROI undergraduate summer research program.

I was a collegiate student athlete who majored in Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS). Through majoring in MLS I had the opportunity to participate in a clinical laboratory rotation. This is an experience I'm super grateful for because it allows me to bridge the gap between clinical and research laboratories and provide me with a broader lens when working toward improved patient care through research.

I am looking to pursue a PhD in Cancer Biology or Experimental Pathology. I'm hoping my time in ICARE will help me to network and narrow in on what my focus will be.

In my free time I enjoy anything crafty, including knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc. I also enjoy weight lifting, wrestling, hiking, and paddleboarding. Outside of cancer research, my other areas of interest include dysautonomia, how hormones and reproductive system issues (PCOS/PMOS, endometriosis, etc.) effect female athletes' performance, chance of injury, and recovery as well as the neurobiological effects of trauma.