In the Lab and Beyond: A Q&A with Sammy Moores, PhD Student in Genetics, Molecular & Cellular Biology

Sammy Moores is a PhD student in the Genetics, Molecular & Cellular Biology (GMCB) program at Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, where she works with Peter Juo, PhD. Sammy is exploring how the UFM-1 pathway helps maintain protein homeostasis and how its dysfunction contributes to neurodegenerative diseases.

Why did you choose to pursue this degree?

"My first long-term research experience in a biochemistry lab at my undergraduate institution kickstarted my interest in pursuing research as a career. After graduating, I worked as a research technician in a more cell biology-focused lab researching cholesterol trafficking and how excess nutrients cause metabolic stress in patients with diabetes. It was in this role that I seriously began considering pursuing a PhD in the biomedical sciences. I found that I really enjoyed investigating cell biology questions to understand the specific mechanisms of how our cells function and what might cause these mechanisms to not function correctly."

Why did you choose Tufts to pursue your degree?

"I only applied to biomedical research programs and knew I wanted to stay in Boston because of its strong scientific community. Some of the other biomedical research programs in the area have larger programs, and so the small program size of the CMDB program (now GMCB) was a huge draw for me."

What is the focus of your research, and what questions are you trying to answer?

"Protein homeostasis, or proteostasis, is essential for cell health and viability. Cells have developed a multitude of quality control mechanisms that are tightly regulated to maintain the functionality of the proteome. Failure of these mechanisms leads to protein aggregation, resulting in proteotoxicity, neurodegeneration, and cell death.

Ubiquitin-Fold Modifier-1 (UFM-1) is a ubiquitin-like molecule that has been implicated in protein quality control, but its physiological functions are still poorly understood. I use models of polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion diseases, like Huntington’s Disease, in C. elegans to investigate the role of the UFM-1 pathway. My findings suggest that loss-of-function mutations in UFM-1 components increase aggregation of a GFP-tagged polyQ protein, indicating UFM-1 may help prevent aggregation. My research aims to understand how UFM-1 regulates proteostasis, which is fundamental to understanding many diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders."

Describe your experience in the program:

"My experience in the program has been very positive. Despite starting the program during the pandemic, I found that all the students were very welcoming. My PI and thesis committee have been very supportive, and I have also had the opportunity to mentor undergraduates and rotation students in the lab."

What is your favorite aspect about the program?

"My cohort! Adjusting to graduate school in the middle of the pandemic was difficult because all our classes were online, and we had to abide by the Tufts distancing rules if we were working in the labs. It was an unusual start to grad school but definitely allowed me to form a closer relationship with my cohort."

What are some of your favorite ways to recharge outside of the lab or classroom?

"Outside of the lab I enjoy baking and reading. I also enjoy snowboarding in the winter and when it's warmer outside, I like biking on some of the local bike trails."

What is your proudest academic/professional accomplishment while at Tufts?

"My proudest personal accomplishment is serving as a TA for the Pathway to PhD (P2P) program run by Aimee Shen. The program is a hands-on research-intensive experience for UMass Boston students. As TAs, we design a week-long research project for the students where they perform experiments and analyze the collected data. At the end of the week, the students present their data to several faculty members. This program is often the first research opportunity these students have, and watching them become more confident in their skills throughout the program has been especially rewarding."

What do you wish to accomplish upon graduation?

"Upon graduation, I hope to pursue a postdoctoral position where I can carry out research relating to proteostasis and aging and continue mentoring and teaching students in the lab."

What do you want a prospective student to know about Tufts?

"Despite our small size, our faculty study a wide variety of research topics and promote a highly collaborative environment both within our institution and with other universities as well as industry. We also have a strong alumni network, and they are always eager to participate in networking events and panels."

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