Where are you from and what do you enjoy most about your hometown?
I am from Chicago, IL. As hard as it is to pick a favorite, what I enjoy most about Chicago is biking on the lakefront trail. The trail runs through parks and next to beaches for the whole length of the city, so it makes for the most beautiful ride there this!
What is your research focused on?
My research focuses on the regulation of skeletal muscle mass and function through mTORC1. While there is a ton of research on how to diet and exercise in order to build muscle, the molecular signals that underlie these processes remain largely understudied. By understanding these mechanisms, our research can aid in the treatment or prevention of muscle wasting that occurs with injury, aging, or cancer.
What is your favorite part of your research?
I love being active and helping others be active. My favorite part about my research is that it helps me with both. I get more out of any activity I do because I end up thinking about all the biology behind how I’m moving. Furthermore, my greatest hope for this research is that it may allow those that struggle to move to experience the joy that being active can bring.
How do you relax when you’re not working?
One of my favorite things to do to relax is sitting down to enjoy a meal I’ve cooked. When I have the energy and want to unwind from work, I prefer to spend time in the woodshop restoring furniture or at my drafting table sketching.
