Year you started the Neuroscience Program: 2003

Why you chose the UC Denver Neuroscience Program: Faculty and students were really enthusiastic. There is a lot of interesting work going on here. The program is working on recruiting quality students and faculty. The brand new facilities at Fitzsimons can only improve the program. And, of course those mountains!

What labs you rotated in: Kim Heidenreich/Dan Linseman (co-PIs), James Sikela, Robert Freedman, Ken Tyler

What lab you joined and why: Ken Tyler, MD.

Short description of your project: I study apoptotic signaling events induced by retrovirus infection.

Where you attended undergrad and what your major/minor(s) were: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Major: Psychology

What you did (if anything) between undergrad and grad school: I did research at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities for a year between graduation from Wisconsin and beginning graduate school here in Colorado.  I worked at the Twin Family Study and focused on the genetic component of diseases like schizophrenia and alcoholism.

What you like to do outside of school: I like to snowboard, hike, and bike ride.