Biological Sciences 2017
Undergraduate Institute: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Research Advisor: Jeffrey Gardner, Ph.D.
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy
Description of Research
My research focuses on understanding the mechanism of complex polysaccharide degradation, specifically cellulose, using the bacteria Cellvibrio japonicus. Using a combination of genetics, proteomics, transcriptomics, and biochemistry I hope to elucidate the role of specific enzymes to help understand the larger process of plant degradation. By understanding the larger process of enzymatic plant degradation by micororganisms, we will be better able to apply those organisms for biotechnology and understand how they interact with humans in the gut during digestion.