Graduate Field of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology

Individual Student Views

Alexandra Amaro
Huffaker Lab
BMCB Field (entered program fall 2002)

From: San Diego, CA
Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame. BS (Biological Sciences) in 2002

Statement

The highly collaborative environment at Cornell was one of the main reasons I decided to join the BMCB program. Many labs work in similar areas, which allows the labs to hold joint journal clubs, discuss problems, and troubleshoot protocols. Its great to have the entire building as a resource whenever you have a question because chances are someone is willing and able to help. Everyone in the department is very supportive and friendly, which makes for a great working environment.

Research

The formation and stability of the mitotic spindle during the cell cycle is critical for proper segregation of chromosomes. The bipolar spindle is composed of microtubules and associated proteins. Using the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, I am interested in understanding the role of the essential microtubule-associated protein Stu1 in assembly and maintenance of the mitotic spindle. Stu1 is a member of a family of proteins conserved from yeast to humans that localizes to the spindle and binds microtubules. Loss of Stu1 results in a compromised collapsed spindle. I am currently investigating if Stu1 maintains spindle integrity by modulating microtubule dynamics.

Sara Zimmer
Stern Lab
BMCB Field (entered program fall 2001)

From: St. Cloud, MN
Undergraduate: Michigan Technological University; Dual BS (Biological Sciences and Chemical Engineering)

Statement

I spent several years focused on a ski racing career before returning to research full time. The faculty at Cornell seemed to welcome the diversity of my experience when I applied and interviewed, and I appreciated the fact that they were utilizing ideas and technologies from various disciplines in their own work. Furthermore, I really feel the program supports me as I strive to become a better scientist while simultaneously becoming a first-time mother.

Research

Current research indicates that regulation of gene expression goes far beyond transcriptional control, including post-transcriptional alterations of RNA. The focus in the Stern lab is chloroplast gene expression, where relative levels of mRNAs are primarily regulated at post-trancriptional steps. I have identified several genes that are likely to participate in these steps, by modifying or cleaving RNA. I am silencing them in the versatile alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, as well as overexpressing one of them and performing biochemical assays. My thesis work is centered on determining what role these proteins have in both the processing and turnover of chloroplast RNAs. I am especially interested in understanding how polyadenylation promotes degradation of mRNAs and how my candidate genes affect this step in the degradation pathway.

Gary Isaacs
Kraus Lab
BMCB Field (entered program fall 2002).

From: Delaware
Undergraduate: Liberty University, BS (Premed) in 1999

Statement

The BMCB field in the Molecular Biology and Genetics Department was the reason I chose to come to Cornell. With past experience as a high school science teacher, I knew I needed a broad foundation in biochemistry and molecular biology in order to meet the challenges of teaching science in the future. Since the program contains professors from various fields of study, I quickly found the area of research that sparked my interest the most. To this day, collaborations and interactions within the MBG Department challenge my way of thinking about science and enable me to be a better teacher in the future.

Research

My research in the Kraus Lab is directed at understanding the mechanism by which AP-1 transcription factors activate transcription. I am particularly interested in how estrogen receptors cause an activation of certain AP-1 driven genes in a ligand-dependent manner. I am attempting to determine the proteins that compose these transcription complexes and determine their role in transcriptional activation.

Kristin Burns
Begley Lab
BMCB Field (entered program fall 2001).
GRADUATED August 2006, presently a postdoctoral fellow at the NIH.

From: Pennsylvania
Undergraduate: Franklin and Marshall College, BA (Chemistry) in 2001

Statement

The introductory eight-week lab course is one reason why I chose the BMCB Graduate Program. The Field System brings together labs from Chemistry, Nutrition, Microbiology, etc., so it was beneficial for us to get an introduction to a variety of techniques to prepare us for our rotations and future lab work. The Graduate Program also provides students with terrific training -- student seminars, Friday seminars and progress reports are just a few examples of this training.

Research

Pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP, vitamin B6) is an essential cofactor in all living systems. It plays an important role in amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism and has recently been implicated in singlet oxygen resistance. The biosynthesis of PLP in Escherichia coli has been well studied. This pathway, however, is restricted to a relatively small number of bacteria. Most bacteria, archaebacteria, fungi, and plants contain the highly conserved SNZ and SNO family of genes which have been implicated in PLP biosynthesis. My project involves the identification of the substrates for the SNZ and SNO family of proteins in Bacillus subtilis, reconstituting the biosynthesis, and analyzing the reaction mechanism.

I am interested in studying Mycobacterium tuberculosis in my post-doc, with the hope of uncovering interesting biosynthetic pathways and chemistry.

Felipe H. Santiago-Tirado
Bretscher Lab
BMCB (entered program fall 2003)

From: Ponce, Puerto Rico
Undergraduate: University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus; BS (Industrial Biotechnology) in 2003

Statement

Why Cornell? Simply because of the environment--not only the natural setting of the Finger Lakes area, which is “gorgeous”, but the friendly nature of the departments, professors, staff, and students. Everything combines to make you wake up every day, happy to go to the lab and continue on your experiments. The Graduate School, as well as the BMCB program, really work for the students. Everyone wants you to succeed. Also, the interdisciplinary way in which the grad programs are built not only allows you to make connections outside your field, but makes learning new things and applying them easy. After visiting for a weekend and noticing all of these things, and knowing the kind of research that is done here every day, how could I not come to Cornell?

Research

In most eukaryotes, the several regions of the cell are differentially organized, a phenomenon called polarity. Our lab tries to understand how polarity is established, maintained and regulated. We use two model systems to answer that question: epithelial cells and the budding yeast. My work concentrates on elucidating how the essential myosin motor in yeast, Myo2p, binds secretory vesicles and transports them into the bud. In particular, I am looking at the role that phosphoinositides may have in this process. To tackle this problem, I apply such tools as yeast genetics, biochemistry, and microscopy.