Description:

The July Seminar on Physical Genomics will be held on Friday, July 28 at 12 noon CT, live on Zoom. Registration is free at: https://tinyurl.com/4fkxszb2.

The seminar will feature three exciting talks by graduate trainees from CPGE's T32 Physical Genomics Training Program:

Mapping Differences in Genome Organization to their Function, Jorin Grahan, Ph.D Student

Jorin Graham is a PhD student in Physics at Northwestern University, where he is advised by Adilson Motter (primary mentor) and John Marko (secondary mentor). His research uses tools from physics, scientific computing, and data science to study the dynamics of complex biophysical systems in which novel behavior emerges at the system level from interactions between the individual parts. He is particularly interested in how a complex-systems approach can be used to understand and control cell behavior. His current research focuses on developing computational tools to predict the impact of genetic and chemical perturbations on the three-dimensional conformation of chromatin in cells.

Biomimetic High-Density Lipoprotein-Like Nanoparticles as Targeted Radiosensitizers for Prostate Cancer Treatment, Sophia Lamperis, Ph.D Candidate

Sophia Lamperis is a PhD Candidate in the Driskill Graduate Program in the Life Sciences. In the Thaxton Lab, her research focuses on how biomimetic lipid nanoparticles specifically targeting prostate cancer cells modulate the gene expression of cell redox enzymes and de novo cholesterol biosynthesis genes to enhance sensitivity to radiation-induced DNA damage. Her project aims to identify how the surface and core chemistry of the lipid nanoparticles can be molecularly engineered to optimize radiosensitization properties by promoting oxidative stress that synergizes with radiation to promote prostate cancer cell death. 

Transcription and Supranucleosomal Chromatin Organization, Lucas Carter, Ph.D Student

Lucas Carter graduated from The Evergreen State College in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology. While at Evergreen, he worked in the lab of Dr. Elizabeth Kutter, studying phage genomics. After graduating, Lucas worked in the lab of Dr. Patrick Paddison at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for five years as a research technician where he applied CRISPR and other functional genomics to the study of glioma. Lucas is currently a 3rd year graduate student in Dr. Vadim Backman's lab where he applies functional genomics and bioinformatic approaches to fundamental questions on nuclear organization.