Olivia Perez

Background

About Olivia Perez

I am a devoted graduate student with undergraduate experience in preclinical gene research and organoid development. As an undergraduate, my interest in biological research led me to multiple internships and a role as a Laboratory and Field Analysis Assistant in the Department of Neurobiology and Physiology at the University of Connecticut. During my first research program, UConn-LEAP, I learned to design an oligonucleotide primer for the LHX2 gene to perform whole-limb and microdomain RT-PCR against a GAPDH control to study the microbiological regulation of the forelimbs, specifically at E11.5. My most recent research opportunities have explored the underlying developmental mechanisms of BRAF V600E in the MAP kinase/ERK signaling pathway and ZFTA-RELA by Cre-Lox recombination to enhance understanding of prenatal ependymoma, as well as Western blot analysis on androgen-independent and androgen-dependent tumors to draw conclusions about the roles of hypoxia-inducible factor 1ɑ and vascular endothelial growth factor for future experimentation.Coupled with my interest in public health, my undergraduate internships introduced me to translational medicine and clinical research trials. To build the skill set to reflect my interests, I am currently completing a master’s in Clinical Research at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. In this program, I am learning to apply statistics and law to design robust, generalizable studies. While completing my master’s, I am also a Research Administrative Assistant at Shriners Children’s Boston. My position at Shriners gives me key insight into research proposal development, securing grant funding, experimental planning, and industry-quality research standards. As I continue my career development, I am eager to contribute to clinical trials aimed at improving individual patient outcomes and overall public health.