I am a PhD student, and I will be receiving my degree for the Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology. I am doing my research in Mike Wormington's lab on genetic and cell cycle reprogramming during Xenopus embryogenesis. Specifically I am working with the AUF1, Wee1, Chk1, and HuR genes. This is an RNA lab so my work involves ectopically overexpressing these proteins by generating synthetic RNAs and injecting them into Xenopus oocytes and embryos. I then look at how the levels of endogenous cyclins (mainly cyclin A1, B1, and E1) change in response. Ideally I would like to be able to artificially trigger the Mid Blastula Transition, the point at which zygotic transcription begins in Xenopus oocytes, and make a connection between the proteins which are responsible for inhibiting and initiating the MBT. I completed my undergraduate degrees here at UVa, I double majored in Biology and Economics. After graduating I hope to get a job on the business side of biology, for example consulting or marketing for a biotec. or pharmaceutical firm.