Sustainability Leadership Fellowship Cohort: 2013-2014

Ph.D. Student, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology

Research Summary: Growing up in Colorado, I witnessed the emergence of West Nile virus in the United States first hand, and was struck by the lack of specific treatments and diagnostics that were available. My research in the Wilusz laboratory is aimed at identifying the common molecular mechanisms by which Dengue, West Nile, and Hepatitis C virus affect host gene expression and cause disease. I hope this work will contribute to the development of a cure for this group of emerging viral diseases that are impacting humans and animals worldwide.