department of pharmacology

Reema Wahdan-Alaswad

Personal Statement

Hometown

Denver, Colorado

Undergraduate College/University

University of Denver

Undergraduate major

B.S. in Molecular Biology and M.S. in Cell Biology,

Research Interests

I am working on elucidating the molecular mechanisms that underlie the etiology of prostate cancer in understanding the interaction amongst TGF-Beta and SMADs.

Commonly used lab techniques

Cell Culture, Western analysis, Northern analysis, RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, immunoprecipitation, luciferase assay, transient transfection, siRNA, adenovirus, and DNA fragment assay.

Why I chose Case's pharmacology department

There appears to be more of a collaborative dynamic at Case. In addition, the faculty is willing to sincerely help students and stimulate them to tackle scientific inquiries. The Pharmacology department is an invigorating group- who are able to have fun and focus on current trends in science. The dynamic diversity of this department is what sparked my interest.

Why I chose Case Western Reserve University

Where I see myself in the future

As one with my fellow scientist pushing toward more intrinsic efforts to link research from bench-side to bedside. I would like to return back to the NIH at the National Cancer Institute or work in the industry, as well as maintaining an academic position at a university. Who knows— I will probably end up as barista at Starbucks?

Hobbies and outside interests

Drinking coffee, international debate, assist with debates at the united nations, international dance, plays, movies, music, American Red Cross volunteer, volunteer for an international medical relief agency, and football.

Final Thoughts

Two main quotes have carried me through my research years at my university and at the National Cancer Institute/National Institute of Health—they are ironically from two scientists:

Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood. Marie Curie

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity Albert Einstein