"Carpe Diem"
I graduated with a B.S.
in biology in Spring 2002 here at Virginia Tech. I started working in the
lab during my junior year as an undergraduate in
the winter of
2001 after taking Jill’s cell and molecular undergraduate course. My first
project involved development of an antibody
against the Chk2
(Cds1) protein. I started with a plasmid containing Chk2 cDNA and worked
through production and purification techniques for
the protein, which
led to a potent antibody. I started graduate school last fall continuing
a project initiated by Wei Sha. In collaboration with the
Tyson group here
at Virginia Tech we are testing theories predicted by the Novak/Tyson mathematical
model experimentally in the Xenopus laevis
cell-free extract
system. I am also working with Sf9 insect cell culturing for eukaryotic
protein expression/purification of proteins (Cyc B, Cdc25A & Cdc25C,
Chk1, Chk2) used to manipulate these cell-free extracts.
In his free time, Ian
is setting up a saltwater tank. Here is a picture of his most recent
addition.
