The goal of my thesis research is to identify new genes required for polarized cell behavior during axis elongation. Currently, I am characterizing a candidate mutant from a large-scale genetic screen and using an expression-based approach to identify targets of the Eve and Runt transcription factors that are essential for elongation. The identification and characterization of new genes required for cell intercalation will provide information about how local interactions between cells produce structural changes at the tissue level.

Education and Training

2005 - Present
PhD Program, Weill-Cornell Medical College. PhD research in lab of Dr. Jennifer Zallen.

1999-2004
University of Oregon, B.S. in Biochemistry

Publications

Vichas A, Zallen JA., (2009) Deciphering the genetic code of morphogenesis using functional genomics. J Biol, (8)76: Review.

Schmitz-Linneweber C, Williams-Carrier RE, Williams-Voelker PM, Kroeger TS, Vichas A, Barkan A., (2006) A pentatricopeptide repeat protein facilitates the trans-splicing of the maize chloroplast rps12 pre-mRNA. Plant Cell. 18(10):2650-63.

cell (sel)

The individual unit that makes up the tissues of the body. All living things are made up of one or more cells.