Why did you choose graduate school at IUPUI?
My wife and I have lived in Indianapolis for nearly 20 years. Before I started school, I worked at Lilly as a Chemical Engineer. Once I decided that I wanted to go back to school, we also decided that we wanted to stay in the Indianapolis area since we had already started our family. It was serendipitous that one of the best schools in the area for biochemistry was just down the road from our home.
What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?
My favorite accomplishment to date was my first author publication during second year. I worked on the paper during quarantine, and it was a way for me to make the most of a terrible situation.
What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?
While we have always loved downtown and going to the various museums, restaurants, or sporting events, my most favorite thing is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The month of May in Indianapolis (during the Indy 500) is my most favorite time of year. If I ever leave Indiana, this will be the hardest thing to miss.
Please provide some details about your work/research as a graduate student and/or any activities you are involved in.
My current research is the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) in eukaryotic cellular systems. The UPR is used by cells to respond to stresses resulting from generation of protein. Dysfunctional UPR in humans is associated with diseases including diabetes, cancer, and neurodegeneration. Besides school, my time is spent raising my children, helping them to be curious about the world around them while being kind to others in the process.