Ph.D. in Anatomy and Cell Biology

Why did you choose graduate school at IUPUI?

The broad diversity of research that was conducted at the Medical School was really attractive. Getting the chance to trial lots of different types of research before picking your permanent lab was great opportunity to trial the diversity of the options and gain lab experience across multiple topics and techniques.

What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?

I guess I’m split between doing well in the 3-minute thesis competition here at IUPUI. I really enjoy trying to break down my research into bit-size pieces and being able to capture the broad picture of why our research matters. Another favorite was being given the opportunity to present my research as an oral presentation at the International Society of Bone Histomorphometry this Fall in Florida.

What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?

Indianapolis is such a diverse city with lots of different activities you can get involved in. There are lots of music performances, sport events, great food, and the people are very friendly. For me, I have gained friendships that are like a second family and I love participating in recreational soccer and volunteering at Second Helpings. Being active and involved in the Indianapolis community provides me with a break from the lab and the academic world. Indianapolis has become home.

Please provide some details about your work/research as a graduate student and/or any activities you are involved in.

Currently, I am involved in research that investigates what happens to bone both structurally and mechanically in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). As kidney function declines there are whole body implications with bone being one of those things affected. In CKD patients there is increased bone fragility and greater fracture risk in the CKD population. The bone loss associated with CKD is unique and is unlike other bone loss diseases. Holes known as pores form in the outer shell of cortical bone. Therefore, to improve the bone health in CKD patients, filling in these cortical pores could be an essential part of the story. However, we know little about pore infilling. My research focuses on if/how pores can infill in a CKD setting.