Becky H
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill)
Expertise
Cancer biology, Cell biology, Gene editing/CRISPR, Stem cells, Cell signaling, Drug discovery biology, Adenosine/ATP
Bio
My name is Becky Hirsch, and I'm a PhD student at UNC-Chapel Hill studying cell biology and physiology. I study endometrial cancer and how these cancer cells become aggressive and metastatic. I am very passionate about scientific research, as well as science outreach and education. I love teaching science and working with the next generation of scientists! When I'm not in lab or teaching, I enjoy spending time outside, cooking, watching TV, and playing cards/board games. I also enjoy spending time with my friends' dogs - hopefully I'll have one of my own soon!Project ideas
Cancer Drug Discovery
Let's make a new drug to fight cancer! Students will learn about existing cancer drugs and how they work (or that they don't always work so well...). They will then pick a specific type of cancer to research in-depth and write a research proposal or investor pitch to propose the invention of a new drug to treat that type of cancer. Students will learn the physiology and molecular biology behind cancer drugs and they will learn about a specific type of cancer by reading scientific papers. This project welcomes any student with an interest in cancer biology, drug discovery, and creativity/critical thinking!
Adenosine Signaling Extravaganza
Adenosine is a really important molecule in biology! Did you know that adenosine is the rescue response to a cell's SOS signal when it's stressed? Or that caffeine works through adenosine receptors? Students will learn way past "the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell" and do a deep dive into ATP/adenosine signaling in normal physiology and disease (cancer, inflammation, etc.). They will write a review article or make a poster/presentation about the broad scope of adenosine signaling. Alternatively, they could focus on one biological process or disease and create a paper or presentation about the contribution of adenosine. Students will learn about small molecules, enzymes, signaling cascades, receptors, and physiology. This project welcomes any student interested in biochemistry, cell signaling, and how cells handle stress!