User:Ryan T. Willett
I am a starting up my postdoc in the laboratory of Alexandra Joyner at MSKCC. Our lab studies how the Engrailed family of homeodomain transcription factors and Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway shape the morphology, cytoarchitecture, cell fate specification, and circuitry formation of the cerebellum. Additionally, we study role of dysregulation of the Hedgehog pathway as a driving influence in several cancers, such as prostate and medulloblastoma. My project, in its beginning stages, will focus on characterization of the function of the Engrailed family of homeodomain transcription factors, the communication between Engrailed proteins and the Hedgehog pathway, identification of Engrailed gene targets that they act upon during transcriptional regulation, and identification of protein cofactors that they bind with to carry out this function.
OpenWetWare caught my attention in a writeup on DIY, howebrew biology in New Scientist magazine.
Contact Info
- Laboratory of Alexandra Joyner
- Sloan-Kettering Institute - Developmental Biology Program
- New York, NY, USA
- Contact Information
Education
- 2010 PhD, Columbia University
- 2002 BS, Brandeis University - Biology
- 2002 BA, Brandeis University - Biochemistry
Awards
- Brian Hoffman Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies
- Graduated with High Honors in Biology for the undergraduate thesis "Posttranscriptional Analysis of Circadian Rhythms" in the laboratory of Michael Rosbash
Expertise
- molecular biology
- RNA/DNA/protein biochemistry
- cell culture and generation of stably transfected cell lines
- dissection and primary cell culture
- rodent survival surgery
- mouse genetics
- in utero electroporation of DNA into rat embryos
- pseudotyped recombinant retrovirus production and purification
- histology/immunohistology/immunofluorescence
Research interests
- Neural Development
- Stem cell biology
- Cancer biology
- Genetic Engineering / Gene Therapy
- Bioengineering
- Biochemistry
- Bioinformatics
Publications
Biswas SC, Zhang Y, Iyirhiaro G, Willett RT, Rodriguez-Gonzalez Y, Cregan SP, Slack RS, Park DS, Greene LA. (2010) "SERTAD1 Plays an Essential Role in Developmental and Pathological Neuron Death". J Neurosci 30(11):3973-3982
Malagelada C, Lopez-Toledano MA, Willett RT, Jin ZH, Shelanski ML, Greene LA. (2011) Role of RTP801 in Neural Stem Cell Maintenance and Differentiation. J Neurosci 31(9):3186-96
Willett RT and Greene LA. (2011) "Gata2 is Required for Migration and Differentiation of Retinorecipient Neurons in the Superior Colliculus". J Neurosci 31(12):4444-55
My Links
- I taught the class Neurobiology of Development and Disease at the Science Honors Program at Columbia University for 8 semesters.
