What I do

Hey I'm Alejandro,

I currently work in the Keller lab studying a micropeptide called mitoregulin which has been shown to affect mitochondrial respiration and other things in different types of cells. My research project is analyzing the effects of over and under expression of mitoregulin in pancreatic beta cells. Specifically, under glucolipotoxicity which is commonly seen in patients with type 2 diabetes and is the current theory on why pancreatic beta cells undergo dysfunction and stop releasing insulin then die.

 

I have also worked as a biomedical research intern West Virginia University under Dr. Mark Olfert studying the effects of maternal vaping and how extracellular vesicles (EVs) harvested from the offspring can affect endothelial cells. In my undergraduate experience I worked under Dr. Gerald Cobian studying the makeup of fungi within the microbiome of Blunt Nose Leopard Lizards from fecal samples.

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Some hobbies that I have are going to gym, watching anime and cooking.