I am currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Markey Cancer Center, under the mentorship of Dr. Christine Brainson in the Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology. Prior to my current work, I earned my B.S./B.A. degrees in Mathematics and Mathematics Education at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV. I then went on to earn a M.S. and Ph.D. in Mathematics at the University of Kentucky under the guidance of Dr. David Murrugarra, specializing in control of Boolean gene regulatory networks.
In 2023, I transitioned to the world of basic science as an NIH-T32 trainee and developed a passion for cellular therapies, specifically tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy. My preliminary T32 work was leveraged into a successful NCI "Early" K99/R00 submission and I now aim to build an independent research program around enhancing the efficacy of TIL therapy for solid cancers with a specific interest in lung cancer.
Broadly, my research interests lie in merging immuno-oncology with computational methods to answer tough questions about cancer. My work involves
Enhancing TIL therapy for non-small cell lung cancer
Defining precision therapy options for genotype- and subtype-specific lung cancer via stem cell biology and epigenetics
Developing personalized cancer models to guide precision medicine decisions
Aside from math and science, I enjoy sports, the outdoors, and spending time with my family!
P.S. - Plaugher phonetically resembles: PLAH-gur (rhymes with logger)
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