Profile
I am originally from New Orleans, LA, where I lived until I began my undergraduate studies, as a first generation college student, at Howard University in Washington, DC. There, I majored in Biology and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2008. Before entering into the Biomedical Sciences PhD program in 2009, I worked as a Life Sciences Researcher in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Stanford University. It was here that I more defined my research interests: from general cancer biology to specifically, rare, but very lethal cancers. Hence, I decided to pursue my doctoral studies in the laboratory of Frank Furnari at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. Our lab is interested in understanding the underlying basis for the maintenance of EGFR-driven glioblastomas. Currently I am a fourth year PhD Candidate and NRSA fellow, and specifically, my research seeks to identify genetic mechanisms of resistance to EGFR targeted therapies in an effort to identify putative targets for therapeutic development. Aside from graduate school, I am able to dedicate my time to serving the local disadvantaged communities. I am an active tutor for the Homework Helpers program at Mira Mesa library and the current Co-director of the Children’s Ministry at my church, in the Miramar area. Other fun activities that I enjoy and do in my spare time include hip-hop dance and Zumba.
