University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
My name is Zoey Wisniewski, and I am a senior studying neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I am an undergraduate research technician in Dr. Kenichi Okuda’s lab for nearly two years. The lab is interested in cell specific CFTR function and how mucociliary clearance (MCC) is regulated throughout our airways. The lab especially focuses on small airways (< 2mm diameter) because previous work has shown that they are a critical region in the pathogenesis of muco-obstructive lung diseases (MOLDs). With Dr. Okuda’s guidance, my research has focused on showing the genetic differences between large and small airways, as well as the role of NKX2.1, in the regulation of the MCC. In addition to my experience at Dr. Okuda’s lab, I was a summer undergraduate research fellow at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute last summer. I worked under Dr. Zhi Sheng and focused on improving precision medicine for glioblastomas. Along with research experience, I have worked as a certified nursing assistant at UNC’s neuroscience hospital for two years. Moving forward, I would like to continue working for Dr. Okuda and attend medical school to pursue a career as a physician.
Thursday, September 26, 2024
10:15 AM – 12:15 PM ET