Mentor: Jessica Tucker, PhD

My Research:

The Tucker Lab studies tRNA fragments, small non-coding RNAs that have been in seen in the context of cancer and viral infection.  I study tRNA fragments in the context of Kaposi’s-Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus, a gamma herpes virus that causes cancer in immune compromised individuals.

Presentations:

• June 14, 2023, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Retreat: Cleavage of Gly-GCC-1 tRNAs during KSHV Infection (poster)
• March 1-2, 2024, 12^th Bi-Annual All Iowa Virology Symposium: Angiogenin cleaves tRNAs following KSHV reactivation (oral presentation)
• June 24-28, 2024, 43^rd Annual American Society Virology: The restriction factor angiogenin cleaves tRNAs following Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus reactivation. (poster)
• July 13-17, 2024, 48^th Annual International Herpesvirus Workshop: Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Reactivation Elicits 5’ tRNA Half Formation by Angiogenin (oral and poster presentations)

• 2024 Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Annual Retreat (poster). "Cleavage of Gly-GCC-1 tRNAs during KSHV Infection."

   

Awards: 

• American Society of Virology 2024 Annual Meeting Travel Award
• University of Iowa Graduate College Presentation Travel Funds 2024
• Helen C. Levitt Center for Viral Pathogenesis Travel Award 2024