E-mail: smith537@umn.edu
Year Entered: 2002
Degree Received: B.A. Biology and Mathematics, University of Minnesota - Morris, 2001
Honors and Awards:
Graduate School Scholarship, University of Minnesota, 2001
Jay Y. Roshal Award for promise in a biological career, University of Minnesota-Morris, 2001
Scholar of the College Award, University of Minnesota-Morris, 2001
Dean’s List, University of Minnesota-Morris, Fall 1997 - Spring 2001
Freshman Academic Scholarship, University of Minnesota-Morris - 1997-1998
National Merit Finalist - 1997
Thesis Advisor: Laura Ranum, Ph.D., Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics Graduate Program
Thesis Research:
I am conducting thesis research in the laboratory of Dr. Laura Ranum. In the Ranum lab, we are interested in finding and characterizing genes that cause neuromuscular disease. Our end goal is twofold: we strive to elucidate mechanisms underlying specific neuromuscular diseases, and we also hope to advance understanding of normal brain and muscle development and function. Recently, others in the Ranum lab have shown that mutations in beta-III spectrin cause spinocerebellar ataxia type 5 (SCA5). My project involves developing a murine model of SCA5 to characterize disease pathogenesis.
Publications:
Clarke DJ, Segal M, Andrews CA, Rudyak SG, Jensen S, Smith K, Reed SI. S-phase checkpoint controls mitosis via an APC-independent Cdc20p function. Nature Cell Biology 2003;5:928-935.
Ikeda Y, Dick KA, Weatherspoon MR, Gincel D, Armbrust KR, Dalton JC, Stevanin G, Durr A, Zuhlke C, Burk K, Clark HB, Brice A, Rothstein JD, Schut LJ, Day JW, Ranum LP. Spectrin mutations cause spinocerebellar ataxia type 5. Nat Genet. 2006;38:184-190.
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