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Samantha L

- Research Program Mentor

PhD at Emory University

Expertise

genetics, brain development, molecular biology, glia cells, stem cells, CRISPR, ethics, neuroscience, epigenetics

Bio

My name is Samantha Lanjewar and I have a PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology from Emory University. I worked in a lab that studies human brain development, researching how glial cells develop and contribute to neurodevelopment disorders using brain organoids as our model system. In undergrad, I worked in an animal reproduction lab and earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences. I have expertise in genetics, animal sciences, molecular biology, and neuroscience. I now work at the Hydrocephalus Association. In my free time, I love playing sports and traveling. A couple fun facts are that I have ran 2 marathons and I have been to 5 different continents! I am extremely passionate about mentorship and outreach, especially trying to increase representation and diversity in STEM, and I love to volunteer around my community.

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.

The Future of Gene Editing

CRISPR, a relatively new genomic editing tool, can change life around us. From creating disease-resistant crops and animals to editing the DNA in human cells, CRISPR has the power to help or hurt the world around us. In this project, you will explore the benefits and risks of using CRISPR technology. Your research will culminate in an article or blog posts informing the public about the pros/cons and ethical considerations of using gene editing in science.

Brain Cells Children's Book

I bet you've heard of neurons, but do you know what glial cells are? There are so many cell types in the brain working together to coordinate proper brain development and function. In this project, you'll research about the different cell types in the brain, such as glia. You'll learn about how they interact together, what functions they perform, and how they are messed up in neurological disorders. You'll turn all this knowledge into a children's book to teach kids about all the different cells in the brain!

Coding skills

R, RStudio

Languages I know

Spanish, conversational

Teaching experience

I recently taught a course called "What does it mean to be human?" and guest lectured in a "Glial Biology in Health and Disease" class. I regularly participate in Atlanta Science Festival Imaging the Future STEM Outreach program and Skype a Scientist where I teach neuroscience and genetics to K-12 students. I was also a teaching assistant for a Human Genetics course at Emory University. I currently mentor 4 undergraduate students and this summer I also mentored 2 high school students for the NextGen High School Internship Program.

Credentials

Work experience

Science ATL (2019 - Current)
Teacher & Mentor
Emory University (2018 - 2024)
PhD Graduate Researcher
CooperGenomics Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Clinic (2016 - 2016)
Research Intern
Louisiana State University (2014 - 2017)
Undergraduate Research Assistant

Education

Louisiana State University
BS Bachelor of Science (2017)
Animal Science (minors in Spanish & Biology)
Emory University
PhD Doctor of Philosophy
Genetics, Molecular Biology, & Neuroscience

Interested in working with expert mentors like Samantha?

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