 |
|
|
|
|
People
Research Summary Plasmodium parasites invade and replicate inside red blood cells. Compared to many other pathogens, the basic biology of these parasites remains poorly understood, precluding many approaches for identifying and validating potential drug targets. Central to studying these parasites is having a method to maintain cultures in the laboratory: traditional molecular biology manipulations often depend on maintaining an organism for many generations in defined conditions. Some malarial parasites can be grown continuously in culture using defined media and human red blood cells, resources that are relatively inexpensive and readily available. Others cannot be maintained in these simple culture systems, making their study impractical. I am developing tools for enabling facile culturing of malarial parasites for which current options are limited. About Me Outside of science, my primary interests are food, traveling, and the outdoors. I enjoy experimenting with my bread machine, finding interesting food in the Boston area, and putting way too much thought into my morning coffee. I also look for every opportunity to get out of the city and go hiking, to explore Boston on my bike, or to work on my squash game (which at present is squarely in the “beginner” category). After grad school, I hope to work in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries. |
