VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY, NASHVILLE, TN, May-August 2023, August 2025 – December 2025 (Part-time)
I returned to Dr. Joshua Bauer’s lab in the Assay Development and High-Throughput Screening (HTS) facility, where I first began research during high school. This experience allowed me to continue investigating ferroptosis pathways in Ewing sarcoma cancer cell lines by using automated imaging systems to evaluate how thousands of different compounds affect tumor cell behavior.
I am a First-Year Resident Advisor Through this role, I also learned how to handle difficult situations with composure, including mental health concerns, emergency situations, and moments when I had to balance accountability with compassion.
I worked full-time at Daily Dental from July to August 2024 and continued every Saturday throughout the semester. The practice rotates three different dentists across the weekend — which meant adapting quickly to each clinician’s approach, workflow, and expectations. It was the most demanding clinical environment I have worked in, and it taught me how much of dentistry happens in the small handoffs between staff and patients. Seeing dentists commit their weekends to keeping the office open also shaped how I think about access to care.
I am back at Brentwood Dental . Worked part-time May-June 2024. I worked as a dental assistant during winter break and returned to support the team part-time in the spring. My responsibilities included chairside assistance, patient prep. I also worked closely again with the Office Manager.
I worked as a dental assistant at Brentwood Dental Group during winter break and continued during the year. Thanks to Dana Starck (former Office Manager) for supporting me. This dental practice has been our family’s go-to dentist for many years. During my time working there, ownership and staff changed. Made me realize how important the office manager is….
I worked with the assay development and HTS team on biochemical and cell-based screens to identify lead compounds for mechanistic studies and drug discovery. My role involved assay support, automation assistance, and data capture. I’m grateful for mentorship from Joshua Bauer, Ph.D., and Debbie Mi, Ph.D., whose guidance helped me bridge laboratory research with clinical ambitions.
I assisted Fiona Harrison, PhD. on studies using 5xFAD mice to examine how manganese affects Alzheimer’s-related motor deficits. Conducted hands-on live animal research involving mice, including dissections and brain slicing. Contributed to the research report “Motor function deficits in the 12-month-old female 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.
