I have always had a very strong interest in the molecular interactions that drive cellular function. Hence, I obtained my Ph.D. studying the regulation of gene expression. In my work, I examined transcription factors binding to DNA and the effects of DNA modification on these interactions. I demonstrated that methylation of cytosine bases in genetic control sequences called enhancers interfered with transcription factor binding, thus preventing gene activation. As a post-doctoral fellow, I continued my studies on gene regulation by examining gene expression at the maternal-fetal interface in mice, with a goal of identifying imprinted genes. Through these efforts, I discovered and characterized several genes including the gene for Dicer, a mammalian ribonuclease. The identification of mammalian Dicer was very timely, in that the yeast homologue of Dicer had recently been found to play a critical role in the RNA interference pathway, an evolutionarily conserved mechanism controlling expression of genes that function in many cellular pathways. Ultimately, this led to my research on RNA processing using E. coli bacteria as a model system.

My research experience in biochemistry, cell biology, and genetics provided the foundation required for teaching the following courses in the Biology department: 1) Molecular and Cellular Biology (Biology 2112/Biology 2912) since 2007; Biology of Cancer (Biology 3368) since 2008; and Human Genetics (Biology 3201) since 2016. I also teach Principles of Medical Genetics (Biology 4218) and Fundamentals of Cell and Cancer Biology (Biology 4268) in the College of Science and Technology post-baccalaureate program.