|
|
BIOGRAPHY
Joshua Elder Education: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA MSI beginning August 6, 2007
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Honors B.S. in Chemistry, ACS Certification
Senior Thesis: Generation of Cysteine Mutants in the M2 and M3 region of the Glycine Receptor
GPA: 3.90
East Stroudsburg North Senior High School, Pa - Salutatorian.
Study Abroad:
-Summer Internship in conjunction with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 2004
-Nominated for the Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships by the University of Pittsburgh, 2005
-The Mary Louise Theodore Prize, 2006 - senior chemistry major who has excelled academically as well as being involved in undergraduate program through research, teaching and volunteer service
-Blue and Gold Society, 2003-2005 – competitive application process and interviews – elite undergraduate organization fostering alumni relations
-National Dean’s List, 2002
-University of Pittsburgh Honors College Scholarship (four-year)
-University of Oxford, St. Edmund Hall First Eight (Rowing): “College Colours”, 2005 – given to members of team demonstrating commitment and excellence through rowing
-Outstanding Citizen Award - for community service, academic performance, and moral character, 2002
Research:
Publications: Mario Masellis, Parastoo Momeni, Wendy Meschino, Reid Heffner Jr., Joshua Elder, Christine Sato, Yan Liang, Peter St George-Hyslop, John Hardy, Juan Bilbao, Sandra Black, and Ekaterina Rogaeva. Novel splicing mutation in the progranulin gene causing familial corticobasal syndrome. Brain. November 2006.
Edward D. Huey M.D., Jordan Grafman Ph.D., Eric Wassermann M.D., Pietro Pietrini M.D., Ph.D., Michael C. Tierney M.A., Bernardino Ghetti M.D., Salvatore Spina M.D., Matthew C. Baker Ph.D., Michael L. Hutton Ph.D., Joshua W. Elder, Stephen L. Berger, Kyle A. Heflin, John Hardy Ph.D., Parastoo Momeni Ph.D. Characteristics of frontotemporal dementia patients with a Progranulin mutation. Annals of Neurology. September 2006. J Schymick, Y Yang, PM Andersen, JP Vonsattel, M Greenway, P Momeni, J Elder, A Chiò, G Restagno, W Robberecht, C Dahlberg, O Mukherjee, A Goate, M Hutton, J Gass, A Cannon, R Rademakers, AB Singleton, O Hardiman, J Rothstein, J Hardy, BJ Traynor. Progranulin mutations and ALS or ALS-FTD phenotypes. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. March 2007. Current: Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA), 2006-2007
-I am working in the National Institutes of Aging (NIA) in the Laboratory of Neurogenetics at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) facilities in Bethesda, Maryland. I am currently working on the genetics of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). My current project is working to screen the known genes for FTD, as well as discovery of the new genetic elements contributing to the disease. The techniques involved in my research include DNA extraction from blood, setting up and optimizing PCR reactions, running agarose gel, sequencing patients' DNA, analyzing the sequences using analysis software such as sequencher and gene runner, as well as quantitative RT-PCR. My contributions in the Genetic analysis of FTD will be included in the imminent publications of our group.
Past: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) and National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, 2004.
-Worked in the anesthesiology department looking at malignant hyperthermia; a disease associated with a hyper-metabolic crisis in susceptible individuals after exposure to inhalational anesthetics and depolarizing muscle relaxants. I continued research on developing an understanding of the effectiveness of an alternative method of genetic testing to the well established in vitro contracture test.
University of Pittsburgh, Chemistry Department, Analytical and Physical Chemistry, 2005-2006
-Based on my interests in biophysical problems, I was assigned to use electron spin resonance to determine the atomic-level details of how a ligand gated ion channel (the Glycine Receptor, GlyR) "opens" to allow the permeation of chloride ions. I worked on over expressing mutant proteins with single cysteines at specified sites. This resulted in the process of creating four new mutants. This project was my senior thesis entitled "Generation of Cysteine Mutants in the M2 and M3 region of the Glycine Receptor." My contributions will be recognized in imminent publications of the group.
Service and Leadership:
-Amizade (University of Pittsburgh Study Abroad Affiliate Program). Attended: freshman year (summer) – Global Service Learning & Independent Research Project: Initiated building of orphanage in the Kagera region of Tanzania
-Amizade ambassador (2003) – public speaking about studying abroad
-Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, 2002-2006 – volunteered weekly on teen and transplant units
-Outreach programs, Chemistry department, and 2004-2006 – going into inner city schools teaching students chemistry
-East Stroudsburg Medical Center, 2002-2003 – summer volunteering in emergency room
-Recitation leader in Organic Chemistry, 2004
-Recitation leader in Elements of General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Biological Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, 2005
-Recitation leader in General Chemistry, 2006
-Tutor, Chemistry Department, 2005
-American Chemical Society (ACS), 2005-2006
-German club, Treasurer, 2003
Athletics:
University of Oxford, St. Edmund Hall First Eight, 2005:
-Member of first eight during two terms abroad at Oxford.
-Large regattas include: Torpids, Summer Eights – First Division
-Spring break training in Sabaudia, Italy
University of Pittsburgh Rowing Team, 2002-2004
-Varsity team member
-Business manager, 2004
-Large regattas include: Dad Vail’s
-Spring break training in Charleston, South Carolina Hobbies: Music - recording, mixing, and producing my own music. This work has resulted in the production of two self-produced CD's entitled "Fast Forward" and "Dreaming" and I currently working on the production of a third called "Looking Out." I play all the instruments (guitar, bass, piano) and do all the vocals. Also, in the past few months I have branched out of my R&B style by getting involved as the lead singer for a local band in DC called Seneca.
officially sponsored by 
|
|