Teresa Monkkonen, B.S.
Education
8/2008-present: graduate student, PhD candidate
Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine
2003-2007: B.S., Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Rice University, Houston, TX
Additional skills: some Matlab experience; speak and write excellent German and Spanish; lesson planning and curriculum organization.
Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine
2003-2007: B.S., Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Rice University, Houston, TX
Additional skills: some Matlab experience; speak and write excellent German and Spanish; lesson planning and curriculum organization.
Research Experience
9/2010- present:
Graduate student in the laboratory of Michael Lewis, PhD. My thesis project is on the role of canonical and non-canonical hedgehog signaling in mammary gland development and stem cell function. I am also working to create 3 transgenic mice as part of a collaboration with another group, and working together with a labmate to investigate the role of stromal hedgehog signaling in mammary gland development.
9/2009: Passed my qualifying exam on sumoylation of HIF1a and tumorigenesis.
6/2007-6/2008:
Junior Scientist in the lab of Gary Nelsestuen, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus.
I used proteomic approaches to investigate changes in plasma and urine profiles after surgical interventions, such as bariatric surgery, and in different metabolic diseases including Type II diabetes. I performed mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and statistical analyses. I also served as lab manager during this time.
6/2006- 6/2007:
Student in the lab of James McNew, Rice University. I did independent research on SNARE proteins that may mediate vesicle fusion inthe C. elegans nervous system and wrote a senior honors thesis. The thesis included a 20 page research summary, and powerpoint and poster presentations. I performed liposome reconstitution and fusion assays, protein purification, cloning, and FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer).
Graduate student in the laboratory of Michael Lewis, PhD. My thesis project is on the role of canonical and non-canonical hedgehog signaling in mammary gland development and stem cell function. I am also working to create 3 transgenic mice as part of a collaboration with another group, and working together with a labmate to investigate the role of stromal hedgehog signaling in mammary gland development.
9/2009: Passed my qualifying exam on sumoylation of HIF1a and tumorigenesis.
6/2007-6/2008:
Junior Scientist in the lab of Gary Nelsestuen, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus.
I used proteomic approaches to investigate changes in plasma and urine profiles after surgical interventions, such as bariatric surgery, and in different metabolic diseases including Type II diabetes. I performed mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and statistical analyses. I also served as lab manager during this time.
6/2006- 6/2007:
Student in the lab of James McNew, Rice University. I did independent research on SNARE proteins that may mediate vesicle fusion inthe C. elegans nervous system and wrote a senior honors thesis. The thesis included a 20 page research summary, and powerpoint and poster presentations. I performed liposome reconstitution and fusion assays, protein purification, cloning, and FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer).
Publications
1. Harvey SB, Zhang Y, Wilson-Grady J, Monkkonen T, Nelsestuen GL, Kasthuri RS, Verneris MR, Lund TC, Ely EW, Bernard GR, Zeisler H, Homoncik M, Jilma B, Swan T, Kellogg TA (2008) O-Glycoside Biomarker of Apolipoprotein C3: Responsiveness to Obesity, Bariatric Surgery, and Therapy with Metformin, to Chronic or Severe Liver Disease and to Mortality in Severe Sepsis and Graft vs Host Disease. J Proteome Res 8 (2):603–612.
2. Zhang, Y, Oetting WS, Harvey SB, Stone MD, Monkkonen T, Matas AJ, Cosio FG, Nelsestuen GL. Urinary Peptide Patterns in Native Kidneys and Kidney Allografts. Transplantation 87 (12): 1807-183.
2. Zhang, Y, Oetting WS, Harvey SB, Stone MD, Monkkonen T, Matas AJ, Cosio FG, Nelsestuen GL. Urinary Peptide Patterns in Native Kidneys and Kidney Allografts. Transplantation 87 (12): 1807-183.
Awards
-Travel Award, IABCR/ Breakthrough Breast Cancer Conference, Manchester, April 2012
Leadership and Teaching Experience
1/2011-5/2011: MCB Department Symposium Planning Committee. My role was to choose speakers, organize practice talks, find judges, and introduce speakers.
3/2010- present: Trip leader, Rice Outdoors Programs and Education. I lead trips with other graduate and undergraduate students, most frequently rock climbing but also including white water kayaking and backpacking.
1/2011: Attended Texas Outdoor Leadership Conference. This conference involves growing leadership skills as well as technical outdoors skills.
10/2010-5/2011: Scientists at School teacher through the Citizen Schools program. I designed, planned, obtained materials for, and taught my own curriculum to middle school students as part of a weekly after school program. This program also involved learning about teaching techniques, student development, and classroom management.
8/2010-present: Association of Graduate Student Diversity- member
4/2010- present: Trip leader with Rice Outdoor Programs and Education. I lead primarily rock climbing trips where I teach trip participants the knots required to climb safely, as well as rock climbing techniques. Additionally, we do leadership development trips at least twice per year.
2010- present: Early College Awareness Program participant- participated in a Saturday morning program to inform and encourage 9th-12th grader to pursue further studies in college, and shed light on the admissions and financial aid processes and college opportunities.
8/2009- 7/2010: Student Temporary Advising Committee member- mentor and resource for first year graduate students related to academic matters.
8/2005 –2007: Tutor of high school biology, math, and chemistry- approximately 2-3 hours/wk.
4/2007: Participant, Rice Undergraduate Research Symposium. My poster on my senior thesis work was ranked in the top 20% of science presenters.
8/2005- 12/2006: Rice EMS member at Basic level of EMS certification. I was on call to serve the Rice Campus and worked at special events.
4/2006: Rice Academic Fellow Award, given by peers to recognize academic achievement and tutoring of other students. As a Fellow I reorganized and revitalized a peer tutoring program by recruiting more volunteers and fellows to tutor, as well as organizing more group-sponsored reviews and events.
Graduate Coursework
Cellular Signaling
Cells, Tissues, Organs
Molecular Interactions
Gene Regulation
Structure of Macromolecules
Organization of the Cell
Molecular Methods
Genetics
Cell Division
Development
Electives:
Translational Breast Cancer Research
Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
Mammalian Genetics
Cellular and Molecular Biology of Disease
3/2010- present: Trip leader, Rice Outdoors Programs and Education. I lead trips with other graduate and undergraduate students, most frequently rock climbing but also including white water kayaking and backpacking.
1/2011: Attended Texas Outdoor Leadership Conference. This conference involves growing leadership skills as well as technical outdoors skills.
10/2010-5/2011: Scientists at School teacher through the Citizen Schools program. I designed, planned, obtained materials for, and taught my own curriculum to middle school students as part of a weekly after school program. This program also involved learning about teaching techniques, student development, and classroom management.
8/2010-present: Association of Graduate Student Diversity- member
4/2010- present: Trip leader with Rice Outdoor Programs and Education. I lead primarily rock climbing trips where I teach trip participants the knots required to climb safely, as well as rock climbing techniques. Additionally, we do leadership development trips at least twice per year.
2010- present: Early College Awareness Program participant- participated in a Saturday morning program to inform and encourage 9th-12th grader to pursue further studies in college, and shed light on the admissions and financial aid processes and college opportunities.
8/2009- 7/2010: Student Temporary Advising Committee member- mentor and resource for first year graduate students related to academic matters.
8/2005 –2007: Tutor of high school biology, math, and chemistry- approximately 2-3 hours/wk.
4/2007: Participant, Rice Undergraduate Research Symposium. My poster on my senior thesis work was ranked in the top 20% of science presenters.
8/2005- 12/2006: Rice EMS member at Basic level of EMS certification. I was on call to serve the Rice Campus and worked at special events.
4/2006: Rice Academic Fellow Award, given by peers to recognize academic achievement and tutoring of other students. As a Fellow I reorganized and revitalized a peer tutoring program by recruiting more volunteers and fellows to tutor, as well as organizing more group-sponsored reviews and events.
Graduate Coursework
Cellular Signaling
Cells, Tissues, Organs
Molecular Interactions
Gene Regulation
Structure of Macromolecules
Organization of the Cell
Molecular Methods
Genetics
Cell Division
Development
Electives:
Translational Breast Cancer Research
Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
Mammalian Genetics
Cellular and Molecular Biology of Disease
