Alyssa graduated with a B.S. degree from Tufts University in 2003 after double majoring in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology. As an undergrad, Alyssa conducted research in the laboratory of Dr. David L. Kaplan examining the use of barnacle adhesive as a potential medical adhesive and isolating novel proteins involved in the adhesion process. From 2003 – 2005, Alyssa worked as a research scientist designing and developing transgenic and knockout mice in the Molecular Genetics Department at Wyeth Reseach in Andover, MA. In August 2005, Alyssa joined Dr. Todd C. McDevitt’s laboratory at Georgia Institute of Technology and is currently working on her thesis project developing embryonic acellular matrices to promote angiogenesis.
My research examines molecular factors produced by embryonic stem cells undergoing differentiation via embryoid body formation. I am currently focusing primarily on assessing the temporal growth factors synthesized by embryonic stem cells and retained within embryoid body microenvironments. In conjunction with ongoing acellularization studies, I am developing several in vitro assays to assess the bioactivity of stem cell-derived molecules.
NIH Cell & Tissue Engineering Training Grant Fellowship (2006-2008)
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, Honorable Mention (2006)
TERMIS Student Travel Award (2007)
