Graduate Student Amber joined the Lin lab as a graduate student in 2018. She is interested in investigating and deciphering the utilization of Ni as a micronutrient as well as the process of sexual reproduction in Cryptococcus neoformans. Ni has almost exclusively been studied as a toxin in the environment and the mechanisms that fungi use to regulate Ni homeostasis are unknown. C. neoformans, similar to humans inherits mitochondria from a single parent during mating, however the mechanism governing this process is a mystery. With this work Amber intends on uncovering the mechanisms involved in Ni homeostasis and uniparental mitochondrial inheritance. Education: B.S. in Biochemistry, Mercyhurst University (2018) Research Labs (via personnel): Xiaorong Lin Labs: Lin Lab Selected Publications Selected Publications: Matha, A.R., & Lin, X. (2020). Current perspectives on uniparental mitochondrial inheritance in Cryptococcus neoformans. Pathogens. Tremper, C., Matha, A. R., & Taylor, C. E. (2017). Assessing the Effects of ErbB2 Kinase Inhibition in Conjunction with Broad Spectrum Anti-Cancer Treatments. In FASEB JOURNAL Vol. 31 (pp. 1 page). Chicago, IL: FEDERATION AMER SOC EXP BIOL. Retrieved from http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/ Of note: Molecular Mycology Course TA- July-Aug 2021 Mycology Graduate Student Organization- President May 2019-May 2020 Microbiology Graduate Student Organization- Recruitment Co-Chair May 2020-present Microbiology Graduate Student Organization- President Dec 2021-present
