Education

I started my higher education at Centre College on the pre-med track and with a Track & Field scholarship. I participated in several student organizations and clubs. As a multi-eventer on the track team, a chemistry researcher, treasurer of Tri-Beta, a student athletic trainer, a chemistry teaching assistant, President of the Greek Panhellenic Council, a member of Delta Delta Delta, and babysitting part-time, I was very busy. 

While pursuing my Bachelor's I fell in love with scientific research, studying the synthesis of organic compounds to be used for biochemical assays against amyloid-beta plaque build-up in Alzheimer's disease. While at Centre, I worked with Dr. Kerry Pickin Paumi for 3 years. With my newfound interest, I halted my medical school trajectory and redirected toward academic research. 

Following graduation, I started my graduate journey at Villanova University, working with Dr. Dan Kraut. I studied the ubiquitin-proteasome system and its unfolding regulation in relation to the proteasome's functional structure. After 2 years, I defended my thesis work and planned to continue my graduate education for a PhD. 

I received my PhD from Carnegie Mellon University in 2024, studying Neuroscience in the Biological Sciences Department with Dr. Aryn Gittis. My thesis work was focused on the connectivity of the basal ganglia nuclei to downstream regions in the brainstem and their relevance in rescuing motor deficits of a Parkinsonian mouse model.