Hi, I’m Evelyn. I'm a research scientist, an actor and a mother of a two year old. Each one as interesting, demanding and exciting as the other!
I have Bachelor of Science with a major in Biochemistry and a minor in Medical Science. I also have a Masters in Medical Biophysics and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. My main skills though, are those of a Cell Biologist. I've always applied my Biochemistry to the study of how cancer cells interact and how they move from place to place.
I really got going in science in high school. What I loved the most was the idea of asking a question and having the freedom to find out the answer. Just learning how things worked and finding a way to learn about it was really great. I participated in the science fairs at my school and kept my experiments going year round. I had my own key to the science room and the teacher's office where many of my experiments were running. I kept up a project on water pollution for three years. It had about fifty experiments spanning some that observed how water pollutants affected small water living animals, to those looking at how contaminants affected DNA, growth and memory. It was a fantastic experience. As I finished one experiment, I had more questions and then as I looked into those, I had even more questions. I just kept going until I graduated and had to give back my key.
"I had my own key to the science room and the teacher's office where many of my experiments were running. I just kept going until I graduated and had to give back my key."
Right now I do much of my work with other scientists who specialize in Radiology and Chemistry. I work at the New York University Medical Center with a surgeon in the Department of
Neurosurgery. There are two main research interests we are working on in the lab.
1) Development of Molecular MRI to Monitor and Stage Brain Tumors
An accurate assessment of brain tumor grade is critical to decide the best therapeutic course to use for a patient. Grading is typically
done using a biopsy, but how the typically mixed makeup of brain
tumors is sampled can greatly affect how a tumor is graded. The ideal
situation would be one where clinicians rapidly obtain detailed
molecular information over an entire tumor. In this way an accurate
assessment of tumor grade and therapeutic course could be made without
additional risk or strain on the patient. Because MRI is used to
diagnose and monitor brain tumors, it is a logical extension to use
this technology to grade them as well.
To reach this goal we are
developing novel compounds that will allow molecules to be seen by MRI
and also act as drug delivery vehicles. We are linking these
avant-garde complexes to small protein sequences known to home to
developing tumors. This technique would provide a reliable,
non-invasive, molecular staging tool for brain tumors during regularly
scheduled MRI scans. We envision that this technology will provide a
rapid and thorough understanding of brain tumors and help physicians
decide the most effective therapeutic course. Using a mouse brain
tumor model to work out this technique, our work will hasten the
application of molecular MRI as a partner to standard tests to learn
about the properties of entire tumors in real-time from an initial
diagnosis, through therapy and even afterwards.
2) Tracking Of Tumor and Stem Cells In The Mouse Brain
Using MRI
Cancer stem cells are critical to brain tumorigenesis, but their
origin is not clear. Consequently research investigating the role of
stem cells in the development of brain tumors is gaining increasing
popularity.
Both normal and grafted neural stem cells have been shown to migrate extensively through the brain during normal and pathological conditions. This has led several groups to design preclinical imaging approaches to longitudinally track this trafficking. Progenitor cells have also been investigated as therapeutic delivery vehicles for brain tumors. On that front, others are focusing on how normal cells are recruited to tumors. Some investigators suggest tumors arise from normal stem cells that have undergone mutations. In essence tumor and stem cell interactions have become a very important focus of research. Hence, it is essential to develop imaging tools to follow and differentiate these two populations longitudinally. Our immediate aim is to develop an in vivo MRI approach enabling the simultaneous monitoring of progenitor and tumor cells in the mouse brain using two contrast effects provided by MRI, brightening and darkening. Our long-term goals are aimed at determining under what conditions the native population of neural stem cells in the brain is recruited by tumors. Their interactions and transformations will be correlated with the clinical stage of tumorigenic cells where these cells are thought to become vehicles spurring tumorigenesis.
Where do I go from here? In the lab, I’m certain that the next experiment will cause me to ask more questions, and provide new paths to follow. Career wise? Well, I’m not sure of the answer, but I’ll definitely to be open to any opportunity my science offers me.
I arrived in New York City after accepting a job in the research laboratories of Rockefeller University. Shortly after, I gave into my life-long artistic callings - acting, singing and writing.
Acting however is my passion. I studied acting primarily
at NYU, The New York Film Academy and the School for Film and
Television. But I consider myself most of all a student of the
Atlantic Theater Company Acting School where I completed an advanced
level part-time program.
My most recent film projects include "UFAC" (Mike Pringle director), "Overheard in New York" (Justin Dillard director), "The Kidnapping" (Richard Darino director) and "Arp" (Sam Ung director). I also cowrote the script for the feature film, "A Prodigal Feast", with Guile Branco. I've appeared on stage in "High Hopes" and "You Gotta Be Kidding", playing various lead roles in one act plays at New York's, The Producer's Club (Lawrence Gewirtz and Ron Bilia directors for both productions) and in the off-off Broadway play "Guns, Shackles and Winter Coat"s as Dr. Zinn (Mike Strozier director). Recently I've also been very active in Westchester County's vibrant theater community. Last winter I played Varya in the Yorktown Theater Works production of "The Cherry Orchard" (Melinda O'Brien director), and the part of Adam in the Hand-to-Mouth production of "A Complete History of America Abridged" last spring (Rose Graziano director). I recently returned to the Yorktown Theater Works Stage to play the part of Ruth in "Stage Directions" (Sally Simon director) and again in the role of Tracy Lord in "The Philadelphia Story" (Debbie Levin director).
Finally, and most importantly, I am a mom. I manage to juggle both the acting and the science from home while looking after my daughter. She comes into the lab with me once or twice a week when I meet with my collaborators, students and lab staff. I am certain that I have the only two year old in New York who has MRI as part of her vocabulary.
My daughter has accompanied me on auditions and has seen me perform on stage. I simply can't say enough about my wonderful daughter. She was born twelve weeks early, at only one and half pounds. It has been amazing to see how she has flourished. She loves swimming, dancing, singing and gymnastics. She is also crazy for her books. I'm definitely kept busy by her antics and am so happy to be a mother to such an inspirational child. I can only wonder what she will do with her life at this point, but I'm looking forward to watching her as she goes on her journey.
"Don't ever inhibit a child's curiosity of how the world works."
How would I get kids excited about science? I believe first and foremost, the key is encourage them to ask questions and let them know they have it in them to find the answer. Let them know that any question is fair game. Let their imagination be their guide and not which cookbook science experiment is available in the library. Don't ever inhibit a child's curiosity of how the world works.
One of my high school teachers was particularly supportive of me. He really encouraged me when I was working away on my project in high school. He'd always get me going on the next question, or he'd ask me what I thought and how I wanted to test it. His enthusiasm for what I was doing was instrumental in gaining the confidence I needed to become a scientist. I called him the day I got my Ph.D. to thank him. I waited a long time to make that call, but it was worth it.
After I completed my Ph.D. I completed my first postdoctoral position with a fabulous mentor. She was an amazing woman who had her own lab and three children. She had just had her third child when I started working for her. Seeing that she could raise such wonderful kids, and have her own lab let me know that I could do it too. I not only learned how to be a good scientist from her, but also how to manage a lab, deal with colleagues, and be a good mom. She gave me a lot of advice that I use today.
As an actor, my first teacher was a fabulous gift. He encouraged my enthusiasm and freely to expressed his interest in my talent. I know he is enthusiastic for each new role I get and will always be ready to offer encouragement and praise if ever I need it.
Finally, I’d like to mention my mom. She is my very best friend. Her guidance and help were instrumental in shaping my life. Her unwavering support helped strengthen my dedication to everything that I do. Her education as a druggist and herbalist likely fostered my interest in both medicine and science, as well as my unconventional thinking on many topics I’ve encountered in the lab.
