- Title Research Technician – Varelas Lab
- Education BA – Vanderbilt University
- Office K621
- Email jsimonet@bu.edu
- Area of Interest Hippo signaling
Epithelial Biology
An aspiring scholar interested in all things biology, ecology, and human health.
At the Varelas Lab, I explore the role of the Hippo signaling pathway in the lung epithelium. More specifically, I am investigating how the LATS kinases, Hippo signaling effectors, influence basal cell fate.
I received my BA from Vanderbilt University where I studied Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology. As an undergraduate, I worked on a pilot study that sought to characterize the neurotoxic effects of MDMA abuse in humans subjects. Upon graduating, I investigated the role of GPCRs in mammalian synaptic transmission and conducted behavioral and metabolic testing on a mouse model with impaired G-signaling.
Outside of lab I enjoy live music (especially jazz), as well as camping, hiking, and backpacking. See you on the proverbial trail!