drug resistance and disease progression in head and neck cancer

I am a research associate working on a path to become an independent investigator in cancer biology. I received my MS from Johns Hopkins University in 2006 and PhD from the University of Minnesota in 2011. My main research interest is to understand the mechanisms behind drug resistance and disease progression in head and neck cancer, and more specifically, the role of cancer stem cells in these tumors. My work combines computational (bioinformatics), molecular, and cellular biology to investigate the roles of SMURF1, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling, and CD44 in the maintenance of head and neck cancer stem cells. Outside of research, I enjoy spending time with my family, taking road trips, and exploring exotic foods, music and nature.