Telling stories with scientific data is tricky. It's also what I love to do. I became fascinated by science when I solved my first DNA mapping puzzle in high school, and that fascination led me to pursue a career as a scientific researcher. What began as a passion for grappling with complicated biological datasets and teasing out the important patterns has evolved into a love for the broader challenge of making complex scientific concepts accessible to anyone. Speaking at fundraising events, writing blog posts for non-profit patient support organizations, and presenting research findings to patients and their families are just a few examples of activities that energize me.
A FEW Details
If you want all the details, check out my resume. I received my B.S. in Biology from the University of Notre Dame in 1998 and earned a Ph.D. in the Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology program at the University of Minnesota in 2004. Next up was a postdoctoral fellowship in the Rheumatology Division of the University of Minnesota Department of Medicine, where I joined the faculty in 2006 to pursue novel biomarkers for autoimmune disease.
Other Fun Stuff
I'm a native Minnesotan, and I live with my husband and two daughters in a suburb of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. I love the outdoors and being active, especially running, biking, and swimming (sometimes enjoyed all at once in the form of a triathlon). I like setting lofty goals and working hard to achieve them. Most recently I completed my first marathon (the 2015 Twin Cities Marathon) and earned my black belt in taekwondo in 2017.
That's me, front and center.