Degrees Earned
Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard University, 2007
B.S., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sweet Briar College, 2002
Undergraduate Courses Taught
Introductory Chemistry
Introductory Chemistry Laboratory
Introductory Chemistry Lecture
Biochemistry
Publications & Editorships
L.L. Marcotte and M. Munson. Vesicle tethers. Encyclopedia of Cell Biology 2016: Volume 2, 485-490.
I.M. Moustafa, V.K. Korboukh, J.J. Arnold, E.D. Smidansky, L.L Marcotte, D.W. Gohara, X. Yang, M.A. Sanchez-Farran, D. Filman, J.K. Maranas, D.D. Boehr, J.M. Hogle, C.M. Molina, and C.E. Cameron. Structural dynamics as a contributor to error-prone replication by an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2014: 289(52), 36229-48
L.L. Marcotte, A. Wass, D. Gohara, H.B. Pathak, J.J. Arnold, D.J. Filman, C.E. Cameron, and J. Hogle. Crystal structure of poliovirus 3CD protein. Journal of Virology 2007; 81(7), 3583-96.
D.B. Lacy, H.C. Lin, R.A. Melnyk, O. Schueler-Furman, L. Reither, K. Cunningham, D. Baker, and R.J. Collier. A model of anthrax toxin lethal factor bound to protective antigen. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 2005; 102(45), 16409-14.
Grants and Awards
Alpha Lambda Delta Barbara P. Quilling Graduate Fellowship (2002)
Sweet Briar College Presidential Medalist (2002)
James Lewis Howe Chemistry Award (2002)
Iota Sigma Pi, national honor society for women in chemistry (2002)
Barry Goldwater Scholar (2001)
Sweet Briar College Mary Kendrick Benedict Award, given to an upperclass student of high academic standing and personal integrity (2001)
Eta Sigma Phi, national honor society for classical studies (2001)
Alpha Lambda Delta Jo Anne J. Trow Scholarship (2000)
Sweet Briar College Manson Memorial Alumnae Award, given to an upperclass student of high academic standing who shows qualities of leadership and makes a constructive contribution to student life (2000)
Alpha Lambda Delta, national honor society for first-year students (1999)
Emilie Watts McVea Scholar, highest GPA in college class (1999)
Sweet Briar College Award for Outstanding First-Year Student in Chemistry (1999)
Sweet Briar College Betty Bean Black Scholar (1998)
Research Projects
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
Postdoctoral Fellow with Professor Mary Munson, December 2013 – August 2014
Biochemical characterization of the exocyst tethering complex.
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Graduate Student with Professor James M. Hogle, 2003 – 2007
Structural and biochemical characterization of the poliovirus precursor protein 3CD.
Determined the structure of a poliovirus protein through x-ray crystallography to understand how its structure related to its function within the virus and infected cells
Examined the binding affinities and specificities of 3CD and its cognate RNA through fluorescence anisotropy and RNA footprinting
Solved the structures of poliovirus polymerase mutants that show altered fidelity
Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, VA
Honors Research Student with Professor David Orvos, 2000 – 2002
Detection of triclosan in geographically-diverse wastewater samples
Analyzed wastewater samples using HPLC and mass spectrometry to determine the concentration of the antimicrobial triclosan present
Identified triclosan-resistant strains of bacteria present in wastewater
Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Research Student with Professor Fred Hughson, Summer 2001
Worked to characterize novel SNARE-binding proteins from yeast lysates by affinity purification
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Research Student with Professor Jürgen Rohr, Summer 2000
Conducted research studying the biosynthetic pathway of mithramycin