Penn State College of Medicine Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology 500 University Drive Hershey, PA 17033

Education

PhD, Pennsylvania State University, 2002
BS, Pennsylvania State University, 1996

Research Interests

My research interests focus on how the granulose cells of the ovarian follicle function to maintain a nurturing follicular environment prior to and at the time of ovulation. Using a unique cell culture system of primary and long-term cultures of human cumulus cells, I am interested in examining the steroidogenic potential of cumulus cells from normal and PCOS women, and also whether particular cumulus-derived factors (steroid and/or protein) are associated with follicular development, oocyte quality, and/or fertilization competence.

BIRCWH Mentors

Jan McAllister, PhD, Professor of Cellular & Molecular Physiology and Obstetrics & Gynecology (Primary Mentor)
Richard Legro, MD, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Kathleen Mulder, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
George Vogler, PhD, Professor of Biobehavioral Health
Neil Christensen, PhD, Professor of Pathology, and Microbiology and Immunology