Dr. German Rosas-Acosta

After meeting Dr. Rosas-Acosta in the phage hunters program, I joined his lab as an undergraduate in 2017. As an undergraduate, I had the opportunity to be involved in several research programs that allowed me to present my research at different symposiums. Currently, my main project is to assess the effect of altering the proportions of the SUMO transcript variants on cell physiology and whether this change would enhance the anti-tumor effects of chemotherapeutic agents. During my free moments, I like to do different activities such as running, exercising, and spending time with my friends and family. Eventually, I would like to continue doing research as a scientist in industry. I have always enjoyed doing research because it is something I feel truly passionate about.

I joined the lab as an undergraduate volunteer back in 2021 and joined the PhD. program in Biosciences in Fall 2022.  Currently, my main project is to assess the effects of inducing alternative splicing of the SAE2 protein. Ultimately, I wish to one day become a Principal Investigator, as I truly enjoy teaching and research. Outside the lab, I enjoy reading, video games, baking, and spending time with my friends and family. 

I joined the lab as a Biochemistry undergraduate in 2021. As I pursued my degree in Biochemistry, I was also part of two research labs, this allowed me to present my research done throughout the semester in symposiums. I am excited to continue my path by pursuing a PhD in Biosciences starting on Fall 2023. After finishing my studies, I would like to continue doing research in the industry. During my free time I enjoy listening to music, reading and spending time with my family, friends and my pets.

I took Molecular Cell Biology with Dr. Rosas-Acosta where I was so fascinated by the work his lab did. I joined in the summer of 2022. Now my project currently involves Assessing the use of exon-skipping Morpholino Antisense Oligonucleotides targeting the SUMO3 transcripts as enhancers of the antitumor activity of chemotherapeutic agents. My long term career goals include going to Medical school to obtain my DO/PhD. I want to be able to help other individuals in my community with the knowledge of a physician and being able to interact with patients, while also making a difference in the lab bench for many more people. The things I do in my free time include being a part of the UTEP Marching band, Volunteering at free refugee clinics, being the president of the Terry scholar student organization where I do more volunteering in my community.

I joined Dr. Rosas-Acosta's lab in the Spring of 2022, after taking a molecular cell biology course with him. I was fascinated by how things work at the molecular level and decided to pursue his research with the SUMOylation system. In the future, I plan to pursue an MD/PhD to be able to help people with treatments available now but also be able to give more individualized treatments by doing research. Some of my other interests include crocheting, kickboxing, and anything that has to do with art. I worked  under one of our Ph.D. students, Andrea Garcia, with my project focusing on the SUMO 1 system and how forcing alternative splicing events may enhance chemotherapeutic efficiency.

After working in the Phage Hunters program under Dr. Rosas-Acosta, I joined his lab as an undergrad student in Fall 2021. Currently, my project focused on testing the different SUMO paralogs and isoforms, via cloning, with the intent of blocking conjugation, to decrease the SUMOylation of known targets with prototypical SUMO proteins. My goal is to work in the science industry as a researcher. In my free time outside of the lab, I enjoy playing video games, or outside activities like playing soccer and spending time with friends and family.

I joined Dr. Rosas-Acosta’s lab as a volunteer in December of 2022. I had been interested in joining since the beginning of the fall 2022 semester, when I was in the Molecular Cell Biology class and Dr. Rosas-Acosta stated he had room in his laboratory. In the lab, I assist in a wide array of experiments and have been able to learn so many different types of ways cells behave under certain circumstances. My ultimate career goal is to become a physician assistant and give back to the community that gave me so much. In my down time, I enjoy spending time with friends, exercising, and binge-watching Netflix shows.