User:Christina M Birch

Contact Information

Christina at Mt. Liberty, 2009.

Graduate Student
Niles Laboratory
Department of Biological Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Office: 16-387
MIT Email: birch
Personal website

Education & Work Experience

MIT

I began my Ph.D. program in the fall of 2008 following the "Applied Biosciences" track. Once I figure out how to link things, I'll list and link the classes I've taken at MIT. As part of my Chemistry-Biology Interface Training Grant (another link), I conducted rotations in the Niles, Hamad-Schifferli, and Wittrup laboratories (aaaand, links). In January of 2009, I joined Jacquin C. Niles' (here, another link) molecular tools laboratory for the duration of my thesis work while continuing to participate in the Chemistry-Biology Interface program. I also race for the MIT Cycling and Triathlon teams.

Translational Genomics Research Institute

After graduating from the U of A, I interned at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (links-a-lot), a nonprofit research organization located in Phoenix, Arizona. There, I worked in the Brain Tumor Unit studying migration signaling in glioblastoma cells.

University of Arizona

From 2004-2008, I attended the University of Arizona (another link) obtaining B.S. degrees in Biochemistry and Mathematics. In the former, I conducted researched on spatiotemporal regulation of proteins involved in the anti-oxidative stress response of human cells. For the latter, I worked to use a mathematical, geometric representation of repeat protein structures to facilitate protein scaffolding design efforts. As an undergrad, I was a teaching assistant for Vector (Multivariable) Calculus. Beyond academics (indeed, beyond them!), I raced for the U of A Triathlon team.

Universidad de Belgrano

Cuando yo estaba estudiante del segundo año (2006) en la universidad de Arizona, fui a la Argentina para estudiar la idioma y cultura que existen allá. Viví en Buenos Aires por seis meses y viajé por todo el país y más: en Argentina a Mendoza, Salta, Córdoba, Puerto Madrín, y otros pueblos; en Brasil a las Cataratas de Iguazú; en Uruguay a Colonia. Me gustaría mucho devolverme si me se presentara la oportunidad. Si Ud. tuviera ganas de hablar conmigo en español (y no lo molestaría a Ud. si yo hablara con acento porteño) yo lo disfrutaría mucho.

Teaching Experience

• MIT:
  • 20.109 Spring 2010 Teaching Assistant
  • Teaching Certificate Program
• University of Arizona:
  • Vector Calculus (MATH 223) Teaching Assistant

Research Interests

1. RNA Aptamers
2. Molecular Tool Development

Publications

1. Wang Z, Birch CM, Sagotsky J, and Deisboeck TS. Cross-scale, cross-pathway evaluation using an agent-based non-small cell lung cancer model. Bioinformatics. 2009 Sep 15;25(18):2389-96. DOI:10.1093/bioinformatics/btp416 |
2. Wang Z, Birch CM, and Deisboeck TS. Cross-scale sensitivity analysis of a non-small cell lung cancer model: linking molecular signaling properties to cellular behavior. Biosystems. 2008 Jun;92(3):249-58. DOI:10.1016/j.biosystems.2008.03.002 |

   These papers detail work I conducted as part of the NCI ICBP while I was an undergraduate.

Useful links

• Introductory tutorial
• OpenWetWare help pages