In high school, I became fascinated with the seemingly simplistic structure yet complex nature of DNA, which narrowed my focus to molecular biology. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology from SUNY Geneseo and pursued a Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, where I studied protein-DNA interactions and chromatin regulation. I continued my research there as a postdoctoral associate in the microbiology department, where I investigated the effects of post-translational modifications on the activity of DNA replication and repair proteins. During my time as a graduate student and postdoc, I had many opportunities to tutor, teach, and mentor students, as well as participate in a hands-on science education outreach program with students from surrounding elementary schools. I realized that I had a passion for teaching in addition to my love of laboratory bench science.  I was thrilled to discover the DNA Learning Center, whose interactive approach to science education for students reflected my own views and experiences, and knew that I had to be a part of the action!

高中的时候，我迷上了DNA看似简单却复杂的结构，这使我的研究范围缩小到分子生物学。我毕业于纽约州立大学遗传学学士学位，并在罗切斯特大学医学和牙科学院攻读生物化学博士学位，在那里我研究蛋白质-DNA相互作用和染色质调控。作为微生物学系的博士后助理，我继续在那里进行研究。在那里，我研究了翻译后修饰对DNA复制和修复蛋白活性的影响。在我做研究生和博士后期间，我有很多机会辅导、教授和指导学生，也有机会与来自周边小学的学生一起参加一项亲自动手的科学教育外展计划。我意识到，除了对实验室台架科学的热爱之外，我还对教学充满了热情。我很激动地发现了DNA学习中心，它对学生进行科学教育的互动方式反映了我自己的观点和经验，我知道我必须成为行动的一部分！