During my doctoral studies, I was trained as a mucosal immunologist in the lab of Dr. Pawan Kumar, at Stony Brook University. My dissertation research focused on the role IL-17 signaling to Paneth cells plays in regenerating the intestinal epithelium post irradiation induced injury. Prior to my doctoral studies, I received my MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. There, I studied mechanisms of lung epithelial cell death in response to Ricin toxin under the guidance of Dr. Timothy LaRocca. Throughout my scientific career, I have been interested in host responses to injury, toxicity, and infection.