Research OKR

Gavin Geddes (Term: Fall 2026)

O: Advance understanding of circadian clock biology in Culex mosquitoes through comparative genomic, behavioral, and cellular approaches. 

KR1: Prepare and submit polished manuscript to either the Journal of Biological Rhythms or Journal of Genes, Brain, and Behavior. 

KR2: In collaboration with Carter lab, use the PipPop genomics dataset to assess coding-sequence and upstream regulatory variation in core clock genes (cycle, clock, period, timeless, pdp1, vrille, cryptochrome 1, cryptochrome 2) and clock-associated neuropeptides (pdf, sNPF, crz, dh31, and itp) which correlate with latitude. 

R3: Optimize method for multiplex whole-mount RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization within Culex mosquito brain.   

Moumita Jhara (Term: Fall 2026)

O: Epigenetic Profiling of Histone Acetylation Marks in Fat BodyTissues Across Diapause and Non-Diapause States in Culex pipiens

KR1:  Submit the manuscript "A dynamic H3K27ac chromatin trajectory accompanies the progression of reproductive diapause in Culex pipiens" in the journal of Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Elsevier).

KR2: Conduct dsiRNA-mediated knockdown of key H3K27me3-regulated candidate gene, {fatty acid synthase (fas), fatty acyl-CoA reductase (far), pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 (PLRP2)} in Culex pipiens to investigate their potential roles in diapause regulation. 

KR3: Validate gene knockdown efficiency using RT-qPCR and perform NMR-based metabolic profiling to compare molecular responses between diapause and non-diapause females.

Bonus KR: Defend proposal for Ph.D. candidacy

Kaylee McKay (Term: Fall 2026)

O:  RT-qPCR validation of miRNA Sequencing of Culex pipiens ovaries and fat bodies in Diapause and Non-Diapause Mosquitoes 

KR1: Optimization of Stem-Loop Primer design and SYBR Green RT-qPCR protocol for miRNA validation of key miRNAs that are differentially expressed during diapause.

KR2: Begin drafting manuscript on differential expression of miRNAs in ovary and fat body tissues between diapausing and non-diapausing Culex pipiens mosquitoes.

KR3: Edit and prepare to defend proposal for PhD candidacy 

Will Kim (Term: Fall 2026)

O:  Build proficiency in essential laboratory techniques and complete Seoul Malaria 2025 manuscript

KR1: Complete all required research training, core techniques from rotations for future research, and maintain organized protocols and notes for each technique learned. 

KR2: Incorporate feedback and prepare a submission-ready manuscript by the end of Fall 2026.

R3: Apply at least one newly learned technique to an active research project or rotation project. 

Think of the OKR framework as a combination of a scientific destination and a GPS tracker for your research projects. The Objective is your destination—a big, qualitative, and inspiring milestone you want to achieve this semester, like establishing a new computational pipeline or defining a core biological mechanism. The Key Results are your GPS trackers—three to five specific, quantitative, and measurable milestones that definitively prove you are making progress, such as optimizing a protocol to >90% viability, completing functional assays for a set of target proteins, or circulating a manuscript draft by a hard deadline. Ultimately, we use OKRs to shift our focus away from simply measuring hours spent at the bench and toward tracking tangible scientific outcomes, keeping everyone aligned on priorities and making it easier to identify where you might be blocked so we can keep your research moving forward.