People

Program: Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis

Graduation Year: 2011

Thesis Advisor: Dong Yu

Thesis Title: “The Role of Viral Protein pUL21a in HCMV Infection”

Program: Plant Biology

Graduation Year: 2006

Thesis Advisor: Robert G. Kranz

Thesis Title: Heme Delivery in the System I and System II Cytochrome c Biogenesis Pathways

Mary is responsible for scheduling applicant interviews for all DBBS programs as well as MSTP.

Program: Molecular Biology

Graduation Year: 1984

Thesis Advisor: Elliot L. Elson

Thesis Title: "Mechanics of the mOtion of the Leading Edge of Animal Cells Attached to Glass"

Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Research summary
Pathogenesis of multidrug resistant bacteria and biogenesis of bacterial vesicles in the human gut

Key words

Program: Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Graduation Year: 2020

Thesis Advisor: Daniel S. Ory

Thesis Title: Post-lysosomal cholesterol trafficking: novel tools and insights

Program: Plant Biology

Graduation Year: 1994

Thesis Advisor: Roger N. Beachy

Thesis Title: Characterization of Two Tobamovirus Movement Proteins and Their Role in Host Range Determination

Program: Neurosciences

Current advisor: Harrison W. Gabel, PhD

Undergraduate university: Washington University, 2024

Program: Computational Biology

Graduation Year: 2009

Thesis Advisor: Garland R. Marshall

Thesis Title: Systematic sampling improves docking accuracy

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
Our lab studies how disease-associated histone mutations disrupt chromatin and epigenetic regulation, contributing to developmental disorders, brain inflammation, and cancer. We take a multidisciplinary approach that combines biochemical and genomic assays, molecular genetics, cell biology, and both Drosophila and mouse models to investigate how these mutations impair development and drive tumorigenesis. Current projects focus on neurodevelopmental disorders, cancer-associated histone mutations, chromatin–immune crosstalk, and the discovery of chromatin-associated factors. Through this work, we aim to uncover fundamental mechanisms of chromatin dysregulation and identify new therapeutic targets.

Key words
Chromatin, Epigenetics, Gene Regulation, Cancer, Developmental Disorders, Brain Inflammation