I received my PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas and continued there as an IRACDA postdoctoral fellow. The IRACDA program combines postdoctoral research with teaching at undergraduate institutions. The program exposed me to the practical and philosophical aspects of teaching while providing me opportunities to train undergraduates in the laboratory. During my time as an IRACDA fellow, I came to believe that the skills required for successful laboratory research can be taught in the classroom, even to students without prior laboratory research. In turn, students can use these skills to solve problems in the classroom to great effect. To achieve this, students should be exposed to classroom exercises that focus on critical concepts and hone their ability to think logically and analytically. Additionally, I want my students to connect the material they learn within a biology course and between courses to gain a holistic view of biology. By learning to think like a scientist and recognize connections between a wide range of concepts, they will have success in the classroom, in the laboratory and in other walks of life.
My primary research focus is on the regulatory mechanisms that endow cancer cells with aggressive phenotypes, including metastatic potential and resistance to standard-of-care therapies. One mechanism by which cancer cells exhibit these properties is by completely or partially undergoing an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that normally occurs in a highly controlled manner during embryonic development and wound healing. Cells that undergo EMT become invasive, resist therapy and acquire cancer stem cell-like properties. Therefore, elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which cells acquire EMT properties is of significant interest and could ultimately uncover strategies to target this phenotype, thus resulting in more effective treatments for cancer.
Where can you use Nobel Prize-winning “genetic scissors” to research the impact of heat stress on commercial chickens or fat formation in fruit flies and humans? In Widener’s undergraduate biology and biochemistry labs.
Faculty recognized at the annual Faculty Awards are featured in two articles from the Delaware County Daily Times. This article highlights Stephen Kauffman, Alexis Nagengast, Dana Olanoff, Angie Corbo, Wes Leckrone, Jim Vike, Michael Toneff, and Janice Krumm.
Widener honored faculty members for their high distinction in areas of civic engagement, institutional leadership, research, as well as innovative and distinguished teaching. Various faculty were awarded at the ceremony, held Thursday, October 19 in Lathem Hall.
“The professors who were honored at our annual awards ceremony continuously display commitment to teaching, civic engagement, meaningful research, remarkable leadership, and cutting-edge innovation. They are highly valued colleagues and represent core values for which Widener stands," said Provost Andrew Workman.
The awards included: