Shannon graduated with honors from The Ohio State University in 2017 with a B.S. in Microbiology. At OSU, she worked in the lab of Dr. Greg Lesinski studying the immunomodulatory properties of soy isoflavones in the setting of prostate cancer. Following graduation, she joined the Graduate Program in Immunology working in the lab of Dr. Michelle Kahlenberg.
Biography
Research Interests
Shannon is studying the role type I interferons play in promoting keratinocyte cell death after exposure to ultraviolet light and how this influences photosensitive responses of lupus patients.
Techniques
Flow cytometry, Western blot, ELISA, qRT-PCR, Treg suppression assays, primary human and mouse keratinocyte culture
Awards
2022 Monte V. Hobbs Student Award
2022 Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship
2022 William & Flora Hewlett Foundation Award
2022 UM-SBDRC Annual Symposium 4th Place Poster Award
2021 Abraham H. Grant Scholastic Award
2021 Herman & Dorothy Miller Award for Innovative Immunology Research
2021 UM-SBDRC Annual Symposium 3rd Place Poster Award
2020 NIH/NIAMS NRSA Pre-doctoral Fellowship (F31)
2020 AAI Trainee Abstract Award
2020 UM-SBDRC Annual Symposium 1st Place Poster Award
2019 Rheumatology Research Foundation Student Achievement Award
2018 Rackham Conference Travel Grant
2016 Pelotonia Undergraduate Research Fellowship
2016 Russell Klein Nutrition Symposium 2nd Place Poster Award
2013 Ohio State Maximus Scholar
Abstracts
1. “Interferon alpha promotes ultraviolet light-mediated keratinocyte apoptosis in a caspase-8 dependent manner via upregulation of interferon regulatory factor 1” University of Michigan Graduate Program in Immunology Retreat, Ann Arbor, Ml. June 2022. Oral presentation.
2. “Interferon alpha promotes ultraviolet light-mediated keratinocyte apoptosis in a caspase-8 dependent manner.” Gordon Research Conference on Cell Death. Les Diablerets, Switzerland. May 2022. Poster presentation.
3. “Interferon alpha promotes ultraviolet light-mediated keratinocyte apoptosis in a caspase-8 dependent manner.” Gordon Research Seminar on Cell Death. Les Diablerets, Switzerland. May 2022. Oral and poster presentation.
4. “Interferon alpha promotes ultraviolet light-mediated keratinocyte apoptosis in a caspase-8 dependent manner.” University of Michigan Internal Medicine Research Symposium, Virtual. May 2022. Poster presentation.
5. “Interferon alpha promotes ultraviolet light-mediated keratinocyte apoptosis in a caspase-8 dependent manner.” LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center Summer School, University of Copenhagen. Hornbæk, Denmark. April 2022. Poster presentation.
6. “Interferon alpha promotes ultraviolet light-mediated keratinocyte apoptosis in a caspase-8 dependent manner.” University of Michigan Skin Biology and Diseases Resource-based Center Annual Symposium, Virtual. March 2022. Poster presentation.
7. “The role of type I interferons in ultraviolet B light-induced keratinocyte death.” University of Michigan Graduate Program in Immunology Retreat, Virtual. June 2021. Oral presentation.
8. “Interferon alpha promotes extrinsic apoptosis of keratinocytes following exposure to ultraviolet B radiation.” American Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting, Virtual. May 2021. Poster presentation.
9. “Interferon alpha promotes extrinsic apoptosis of keratinocytes following exposure to ultraviolet B radiation.” University of Michigan Internal Medicine Research Symposium, Virtual. May 2021. Poster presentation.
10. “Interferon alpha promotes extrinsic apoptosis of keratinocytes following exposure to ultraviolet B radiation.” University of Michigan Skin Biology and Diseases Resource-based Center Annual Symposium, Virtual. March 2021. Poster presentation.
11. “Interferon alpha promotes extrinsic apoptosis of keratinocytes following exposure to ultraviolet B radiation.” American Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting, Honolulu, HI. May 2020. Oral and poster presentation. (Conference canceled secondary to COVID-19 pandemic).
12. “Interferon alpha promotes caspase-dependent apoptosis independently of reactive oxygen species in ultraviolet B exposed keratinocytes.” University of Michigan Skin Biology and Diseases Resource-based Center Annual Symposium, Ann Arbor, MI. February 2020. Poster presentation.
13. “Interferon alpha promotes caspase-dependent apoptosis independently of reactive oxygen species in ultraviolet B exposed keratinocytes.” American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA. Nov 2019. Poster presentation.
14. “Interferon alpha promotes caspase-dependent apoptosis independently of reactive oxygen species in ultraviolet B exposed keratinocytes.” University of Michigan Graduate Program in Immunology Retreat, Maumee, OH. June 2019. Poster presentation.
15. “Interferon alpha negatively regulates reactive oxygen species in the skin.” University of Michigan Internal Medicine Research Symposium, Ann Arbor, MI. May 2019. Poster presentation.
16. “Interferon alpha negatively regulates reactive oxygen species in the skin.” Autumn Immunology Conference, Chicago, IL. Nov 2018. Oral and poster presentation
17. “Soy isoflavones and their metabolites modulate IL-12 induced NK cell IFN-γ production.” Russell Klein Nutrition Research Symposium, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. March 3, 2016. Poster presentation.
18. “Soy isoflavones and their metabolites modulate IL-12 induced NK cell IFN-γ production.” Translational Research Cancer Centers Consortium Annual Meeting 2016, Seven Springs, PA. Feb 17-19, 2016. Oral and poster presentation.
Hobbies and Extracurricular Activities
Outside the lab, Shannon enjoys playing with cats, listening to true crime podcasts, and hiking in the mountains.
Immunology Mentor
J. Michelle Kahlenberg, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Dermatology
Giles Bole and Dorothy Mulkey Research Professor of Rheumatology