Biography
I am from Vancouver Island (Victoria) in BC, Canada, attended BYU from 1991 to 1997 with a mission in Marseille, France during that time. After a BS in Molecular Biology from BYU, I earned a PhD in Cancer Research from Stanford and completed a post-doc at Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Teaching Interests
I teach introductory biology for majors (PDBIO120) and have taught Cell Biology (PDBIO360) and Histology (PDBIO325) in the past. Outside of molecular and cell biology, I am interested in teaching BIO-innovation courses. These courses address how technologies and ideas rooted in the life sciences become new companies that create prosperity and jobs.
Research Interests
I came to BYU seeking to understand how individual epithelial cells detach from tissues, a process called epithelial-mesenchymal transition that occurs throughout development and that is recapitulated in cancer metastasis. After over 10 years of dissecting this process, serendipity led us to discover a novel small molecule drug that may soon enter clinical trials. Having developed a passion for drug discovery, we now work to develop new small molecule therapeutics for human diseases that have poor current treatment options.
Experience
Professional
- Visiting Researcher, Imperial College London, 2012-2013
Memberships
American Association of Cancer Researchers, 2012-Present
- American Society of Cell Biologists, 1998-Present
Courses Taught
Winter 2019
- PDBIO 295R: Introductory Undgrad Research Section 007
- PDBIO 349R: PDBio Teaching Experience Section 009
- PDBIO 445: Bio-Innovation 2 Section 001
- PDBIO 455R: PDBio Seminar Section 001
- PDBIO 495R: Adv Undergraduate Research Section 007, 020
- PDBIO 649R: Laboratory Research Section 007
- PDBIO 699R: Master's Thesis Section 007
Fall 2018
- PDBIO 120: Science of Biology Section 003
- PDBIO 295R: Introductory Undgrad Research Section 007
- PDBIO 349R: PDBio Teaching Experience Section 008
- PDBIO 444: Bio-Innovation 1 Section 001
- PDBIO 455R: PDBio Seminar Section 001
- PDBIO 495R: Adv Undergraduate Research Section 007, 020
- PDBIO 498: Advanced Senior Research Section 001
- PDBIO 699R: Master's Thesis Section 007
Summer 2018
- PDBIO 295R: Introductory Undgrad Research Section 007
- PDBIO 495R: Adv Undgraduate Research Section 007
Spring 2018
- PDBIO 295R: Introductory Undgrad Research Section 007
- PDBIO 495R: Adv Undgraduate Research Section 007
- PDBIO 550R: Advanced Topics in PDBio Section 007
Publications
Journal Articles