Degrees and Appointments 

• B.A. 1997, University of Iowa
• Ph.D. 2005, University of Iowa
• Postdoctoral Fellow 2005-2011, Duke University
• Assistant to Associate Professor, 2011-2017, The Ohio State University
• Associate Professor, 2017-present, University of Arizona

Awards and Honors

• 2002-2004 Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Fellowship
• 2006-2007 Duke Medical Oncology Research Fellow
• 2008-2010 F32 NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow, NCI
• 2009 Duke University Bell Award in Basic Cancer Research
• 2011-2015 K99/R00 NIH Career Development Award, NHLBI

Research Specialties: Metabolism, Signaling, and Regulation Protein and Membrane Biochemistry

Research

My research focuses on understanding how transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) signaling controls a wide spectrum of molecular and cellular effects ranging from proliferation to differentiation and cell motility. While gene regulation is the primary mode of signal transduction, often occurring in a highly context-specific manner, our long-term goals include characterizing novel mechanisms by which the canonical effectors, namely the nuclear shuttling SMAD transcription factors and TGF-beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), directly modulate cellular activities. Read More.