I completed my PhD work on immunometabolism (how metabolic pathways control immune activity) in microglia of the brain. There, I used fluorescent lifetime imaging and 2-photon microscopy, as well as a variety of biochemical techniques and metabolic assays, to show that an immune stimulus mimicking bacterial infection causes an increase in microglial glucose metabolism. This increased glucose metabolism was necessary for microglia to mount a pro-inflammatory cytokine response. Continuing along my interest in brain metabolism, I joined the lab of Dr. Gary Yellen at HMS in 2019 as a postdoctoral fellow, and am working collaboratively with Dr. Agar’s lab in the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Between these labs, I am testing experimental conditions in acute brain slices from mice and measuring metabolic responses by mass spectrometry imaging (MSI). Using these techniques, I have achieved excellent pathway coverage of the core carbon metabolic pathways and have visualized interesting metabolic changes in response to neuronal stimulation. In addition to lab work, I am interested in teaching, STEMM outreach activities, and exploring the great outdoors.
-PhD in Neuroimmunology from the University of British Columbia (MacVicar lab), Vancouver, Canada (2019)
-BSc in Physiology and Psychology from Western University, London, Canada (2012)
Overarching Research Interest:
My overarching scientific interest is in understanding how metabolic pathways regulate the function of astrocytes and neurons. Metabolic pathways and specific metabolites are important for controlling cell function (post-translational modifications, transcription activity, biosynthesis, etc.), in addition to providing cellular energy. I am interested in investigating how these metabolic pathways are regulated at the cellular level, and what impact metabolic changes have on cell function.