The diverse approach we take to deciphering signaling pathways provides a rich learning environment for students and postdoctoral scientists. In addition to standard biochemical, cell biological and molecular biology approaches, scientists in my lab are running loss-of-function genetic screens, viral-based gain-of-function screens, and an array of quantitative mass spectrometry experiments. They are also learning and developing new computational approaches for data integration, analysis and hypothesis generation.
Since 2009, I have mentored 23 undergraduate students, 15 PhD graduate students and 2 computer science MS students (6 completed their PhDs; 3 completed MS degree) and 14 postdoctoral scientists. Currently, I mentor 3 postdoctoral scientists, 3 pre-doctoral students, 1 senior staff scientist and 2 junior faculty. Prior to coming to WashU, I served as the Associate Director of the UNC Cancer Cell Biology Training Program T32 (pre-doc), and as mentor for two HHMI Gilliam Fellows. I also led a First Year Group class to incoming graduate students within the UNC BBSP graduate umbrella program where I taught scientific presentation, writing, RCR-ethics and overall how to excel in graduate school.
In 2018, I received an award for Excellence in Basic Science Mentoring from the UNC School of Medicine. Also at UNC, I co-designed and taught a graduate-level course on data reproducibility and rigor. I participated in faculty mentorship courses at UNC-Chapel Hill and for the HHMI Gilliam program, having recently presented to HHMI leadership on inclusive excellence mentorship of graduate students from underrepresented groups. In July of 2019, I moved my lab to Washington University in St. Louis to continue my research program and student mentorship, and to establish the WashU Mass Spectrometry Technology Access Center (MTAC).