Gabrielle D
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill)
Expertise
Cancer molecular biology and signaling, epigenetics, targeted cancer therapy, science communication
Bio
I first fell in love with science in my 10th grade biology class - I was fascinated to learn about all of the invisible processes that make life itself possible, but was continually frustrated to learn that there was still so much about biology and life science that still wasn't known or understood. This combination of intrigue and dissatisfaction led me to an undergraduate research position at Lehigh University, where I studied zebrafish and went on to publish a first-author, peer-reviewed paper. I loved being in charge of a research project, so I continued to a PhD program at UNC Chapel Hill, where I now study an epigenetic protein that has uncommon and potentially targetable functions in specific types of breast cancer. Outside of the lab, I am a competitive powerlifter. I train about 10 hours a week to have the strongest squat, bench, and deadlift, and I will even be traveling to Las Vegas in June 2022 to compete in Nationals! I also love to cook (and eat), and I love to take my yellow lab Astrid for long walks and listen to podcasts.Project ideas
Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.
Double-Edged Sword: How Off-Target Drug Effects can Hurt More than Help
Create a literature review, either in long-form format for journal/popular science magazine publication or blog-style format (potentially a series of posts), describing (1) how drugs might target disease, (2) what off-target and side effects are, and (3) how off-target effects might be unexpectedly detrimental, with examples/case studies
Teaching experience
I have short-term mentoring experience in graduate school, where I have volunteered for programs like UNC Shadow a Scientist and UNC Cancer Med Society. In these experiences, I would be paired with 1-2 students for half a day for them to shadow my 'day in the life' as a PhD student working in a lab. I have also mentored a rotation student in my thesis lab for 10 weeks. I completed a Teaching certification (UNC TIBBS Teaching Series 2018), and was a Teaching Assistant in 2019 for a Genetics and Molecular Biology graduate course. In undergraduate (Lehigh University), I was heavily involved in the Community Service Office and participated in elementary school tutoring programs and numerous outreach programs for college students to volunteer in programs benefiting the surrounding community and schools.Credentials
Work experience
MicroMass Communications (2022 - 2022)
Scientific Strategy InternPennsylvania State University Cancer Institute (2017 - 2017)
Post-Baccalaureate Research TechnologistLehigh University (2015 - 2017)
Undergraduate and Post-Baccalaureate Research TechnologistLehigh University (2015 - 2015)
Intern - Biosystems Dynamics Summer InstituteEducation
Lehigh University
BS Bachelor of Science (2017)
BiochemistryUniversity of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill)
PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Cancer Epigenetics