People
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Stacey Thibodeau Beganny Laboratory Manager/Technologist
Education B.A., Dartmouth College; M.S., Northeastern University
I am studying a Cys2His2 zinc finger protein called NRSF/REST (neuron restrictive silencer factor/RE-1 silencing transcription factor). NRSF/REST is a biologically important transcriptional repressor that uses a cluster of eight zinc fingers to bind its 21bp binding site. Outside the lab, I’m either in the kitchen inventing new recipes with my husband, chasing after 2 mischievous cats, camping in the woods of New Hampshire, playing tennis or cuddling up with a good book. |
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Morgan Maeder Technologist
Education B.A., Connecticut College
My current focus is on engineering zinc finger proteins to bind target DNA sequences in endogenous genes using a selection/design process developed in the lab. I am working on assaying these proteins in various cell-based systems to assess their activities and specificities. On the rare occasion that I am not in the lab, I enjoy rowing, baking, camping, traveling to new places and reading Harry Potter. |
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Megan McSweeney Technologist
Education B.A., Bryn Mawr College
I am interested in structure/function analysis of zinc finger binding motifs. My research is focused on understanding how specificity is determined in zinc finger protein-protein interactions. I compare and contrast two zinc finger proteins, Hunchback (drosophila) and Ikaros (human). These proteins will each homodimerize but not heterodimerize, despite sharing significant sequence homology. Outside the lab I enjoy sailing, hiking, and trying to improve my cooking skills. |
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Cherie Ramirez Rotation graduate student (PhD candidate, Harvard Medical School BBS program)
Education B.A., Rollins College
I'm primarily interested in gene therapy and alternative medical technologies. Increasing gene targeting efficiency while reducing host toxicity to manageable levels is the primary challenge that directs our current attempts to construct novel zinc finger nuclease expression vectors. |
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