My primary interests are in mucin glycoprotein biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology and their involvement in diseased and applications to therapeutics.
The goal of my research is to understand how mucin glycans limit the virulence of pathogens and support beneficial microbes within diverse mucosal environments. Leveraging these insights into mucin-microbe interactions, I aim to develop mucin-inspired therapies for the targeted delivery of bioactive glycans.
Through my research I hope to uncover molecular interactions between mucin glycans and beneficial bacteria in the female reproductive tract. I am interested in the roles mucins play in adaptation of commensal bacteria to their environment, and hope that insights into this topic will aid in efforts to promote healthy microbiomes in people.
I am interested in exploring the influence of mucin glycan structure, presentation, and diversity on the management of environmental toxins and pathogens. Specifically, I am working to streamline the chemical synthesis of mucin glycan derivatives and glycopolymer displays with which to probe these effects.
My research aims to understand how mucins regulate host-microbe interactions in the gastrointestinal and female reproductive tracts. I am specifically interested in exploring how mucin glycans facilitate the production and translocation of microbial metabolites through epithelial barriers in the body.
NSF GRFP Fellow
My research is focused on how mucins tune immune activity in various mucosal environments. Specifically, I aim to study the mechanisms underlying the changes in immune cell functional states induced by mucin glycans.
I am interested in how mucins and mucin glycans interact with and influence epithelial cells in various parts of the body. This includes how mucins and host glycans are involved in regulating and preventing pathogenic infections and diseases.
I am interested in the bidirectional interactions between mucins and microbial communities within the gut, and ultimately how those interactions contribute to healthy or diseased states.
I am interested in understanding the interactions between synthetic mucins and native cells to treat diseased states. Specifically, I aim to synthesize polymers that display glycans to disperse biofilms and return tissues to their native states.
In my research, I aim to leverage the molecular precision of chemical biology to identify mechanistic relationships between mucin glycan structures and gut microbial phenotypes. I am particularly fascinated by the role of bacterial metabolism in the human microbiome-gut-brain axis and how this metabolism may be regulated by surface interactions between mucin glycans and bacteria.
I am interested in understanding how mucins influence various factors of microbial virulence, with a specific emphasis on the role of these interactions in promoting healthy states.
My research aims to explore how mucus influences monocyte and macrophage function. I want to characterize their behavior within the glycan-rich environment and understand the role of mucus in immune regulation and tissue homeostasis.
My research is focused on understanding how mucins influence microbial pathogenesis, with the aim of designing and optimizing mucin/glycan-based therapies.
I am interested in the relationship between the vaginal microbiome and the mucosal barrier, and how we can leverage this connection to better understand women’s and vaginal health.
