Lydia Morris

Graduate Student, Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology
B.S. University of Iowa (2005)
Ph.D. Emory University (2012)
started in the lab January 2013

Research Interests

I became interested in exploring the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair and genome maintenance in graduate school where I studied the base excision repair pathway in budding yeast. In the Sekelsky lab I am currently working with flies and studying the role of the helicase RTEL, which has been shown to have anti-crossover activity in several other organisms. Mutant rtel flies die as pupae, and larvae exhibit severe proliferation defects, suggesting an important role for repairing spontaneous damage during development. I will use a combination of molecular, genetic, cytological, and biochemical approaches to further characterize rtel mutant flies.

Awards

• Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Postdoctoral Fellowship in Basic Sciences (2013).
• Oustanding poster award, UNC Dept of Genetics and GMB Scientific Retreat at the Beach (2013)
• Ruth L. Kirchstein NRSA F32 postdoctoral fellowship from the NIH (2014-2016)