Ryan: Victoria tutor

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I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a second major in Spanish (fulfilled all requirements for Bachelor of Arts) and a minor in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) in 2008. While at UNC, I worked as an undergraduate researcher and research technician in the laboratory of Dr. Jay Brenman in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology at the Neuroscience Center of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, investigating the cellular and molecular biology underlying neurodegeneration using a Drosophila melanogaster model of Alzheimer's disease. During my time with Dr. Brenman's group, I discovered and characterized multiple novel genetic interactions relevant to human neurological disorders, resulting in two peer-reviewed publications. I then worked for five years as a Senior Research Analyst for a pharmaceutical consulting firm in Washington, DC before deciding to pursue a graduate medical degree. I earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Neuroscience from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (UMMSOM) in 2020. I completed both my pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training under the mentorship of Dr. Eleonore Beurel within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. As a preclinical research scientist, I investigated the neurobiological underpinnings of major depressive disorder (MDD) as well as novel avenues toward improving MDD clinical treatment options. I was the lead author on multi-year study measuring the effect of stress on mood and cognition followed by the use of anti-inflammatory treatment to reverse neuroinflammation and depressive-like behavior using a mouse model of major depressive disorder. The multifaceted biomedical research projects I managed required advanced logical reasoning and critical thinking, analysis of large scientific datasets and integration of those findings into a cohesive, informative scientific narrative. In addition to successfully publishing my doctoral dissertation, my research has thus far resulted in six scientific journal publications, two as first author. During my time at UMMSOM, I served as an instructor and medical educator for PIB784, where I was responsible for teaching in small groups and mentoring of first-year graduate students in the Program in Biomedical Sciences (PIBS), surveying the biomedical research fundamentals of molecular and cellular biology with topics including: proteins and DNA, gene expression, signaling and membranes, cells, developmental biology, immunology, organ systems, genetics, and biomedical research methods and experimental techniques. Mentoring also included reading and evaluating abstracts, testing knowledge, posing questions, providing feedback, and evaluating research presentations of PIBS rotation students.