overview

• Born and raised in Allentown, PA. Studied biochemistry and German at Juniata College in PA. Moved to Marburg, Germany in 1983 as a yearlong exchange student to continue studying biochemistry. Began graduate school in 1985 outside of Boston, MA at Brandeis Univ. Dissertation addressed mRNA regulation for ribosome biogenesis in the embryo. Took a postdoc in Vienna, Austria at Boehringer Ingelheim in 1991 to further research mRNA regulation in embryos and cancer cell cycle regulation. Moved to Shreveport, LA to work at LSU Health Science Center with an expert in mRNA translation initiation biochemistry. Stayed on as a Research Assistant Professor to teach carbohydrate metabolism in biochemistry to medical students. Was recruited to East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine as Assistant Professor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology to teach gene expression, cell cycle and RNA biochemistry in 2003. Have maintained NSF-funded research on mRNA regulation in germ cells and embryos from 2004 to 2025. Trained 1 postdoc, 6 PhDs, 3 MS students and numerous undergraduate and high school students.