Ph.D. Candidate Research Research Areas: Molecular Genetics Research Interests: It is said that 90% of geneticists study the protein coding fraction of the genome while 10% study the less-well-understood "dark DNA". Using a synthetic approach, I study Helitrons - a type of transposon in the non-coding region of the genome which is known to capture other, coding, genes. This work will shed light into behavior of transposable elements and the interactions of coding and non-coding regions of the DNA. Labs (please indicate whose lab you are a member of): Jeffrey Bennetzen Awards, Honors and Recognitions Of note: 3-Minute Thesis winner, Department of Genetics, January 2018