Ph.D. in Biology

Why did you choose graduate school at IUPUI?

The Biology Department is very diverse in research focus and the breadth of resources appealed to me. In addition, there are no rotation requirements so I was able to choose a lab with a research interest that matched mine and get started right away.

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

I was awarded the Outstanding PhD research award for the department of Biology this year.

What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?

Indianapolis is a really accessible city with a little bit of everything – we have amazing green spaces, artists, music venues, and a growing food and drink scene. Close to campus is a new development, 16Tech, and the AMP is a great place to get food, drinks, go to special events, and do some co-working.

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

My current research objective is to determine efficacy of in vivo TRPV4-targeted pharmacotherapies in the treatment of hydrocephalus (excess fluid accumulation) in rodent models. I hypothesize that this TRPV4 ion channel has a site of action on the choroid plexus epithelial tissue which contributes to fluid production and homeostasis. I am also working to characterize the TRPV4-mediated pathways which contribute to ion flux, water movement, and cell swelling. It is my career objective to successfully characterize pharmacotherapies for the management of neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and trauma-induced neurological diseases associated with excess fluid accumulation. My academic interests include basic research in physiology and pharmacology, as well as teaching and education outreach in physiology.