Position in Paradis lab: PhD Student

Education: B.S., Biology, College of William and Mary, 2008

Ph.D. Brandeis University

Hometown: New Providence, NJ

Personal Interests: I'm a big fan of television, movies, and entertainment news in general. If you have a random question about a TV show or movie, I'm probably the person to ask. I'm also one of many in the lab who is Harry Potter obsessed! In my spare time, I also enjoy horseback riding.

If I weren't a scientist I'd be... a writer for Entertainment Weekly.

Research Interests: My project involves the activity-regulated GTPase Rem2 and its role in neurodevelopmental processes. Using an RNAi-based approach, I have identified roles for Rem2 in synapse development, dendritic spine development, and the formation of the dendritic arborization. I am currently working to characterize the molecular signaling pathways through which Rem2 might be mediating its effects in neurons, and exploring the idea that Rem2 may be a key component of the mechanism by which neurons are able to respond to extracellular stimuli with the appropriate structural and functional changes.