Biography
Research Interests
Vimentin is a type III intermediate filament that is largely restricted to mesenchymal cell types in the adult setting, including bone marrow-derived blood cell lineages, namely neutrophils. I aim to understand how vimentin contributes to neutrophil differentiation, activation, and chemotaxis.
Techniques
Awards
2017 J&J Merritt Outstanding Thesis Award, Pennsylvania State University
2018 Rackham Merit Fellow, University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School
2018 NSF GRFP
Publications
Baliira, R.K., Lombard, D.B., and Stein, A.B. (2017, November). Targeting Mitochondrial Metabolism in Heart Failure. Poster presentation at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), Phoenix, AZ.
Baliira, R.K., Hile, S.H., Eckert, K.A. (2017, March). Population-Specific Microsatellites Reveal Potential Biochemical Pathways to Cancerous Mutations. Poster presentation at the New England Science Symposium, Boston, MA.
Baliira, R.K., Hile, S.H., Eckert, K.A. (2016, November). Microbial Cousin Reveals Biochemical Pathway to Cancerous Microsatellite Mutation. Poster presentation at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), Tampa, FL.
Baliira, R.K., Chorney, M.J. (2016, November). STEM Challenges. Oral presentation at Center for Excellence in Education TEP Bite of Science Seminar, Middletown, PA.