Casey Schmidt | Photo by Adam Atkinson
What I study and why: I study the regulation of histones, which are very important proteins for normal cellular function. Histones serve as a spool for DNA to wrap around, keeping it compacted and organized and not a giant tangled mess. Because histones have such a crucial function in cells, they need to be produced at the right time and in the right amount so that things don’t go awry. I use the model organism Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) to investigate how cells know when to make histones, when to stop making histones, and how many histones to make.
What I’m teaching this fall: I’ll be teaching BIOL 255: Molecular Genetics, which also has a laboratory. This class will start with the fundamentals and build to consider ethical principles and societal impacts of genetic modification and genome sequencing. In the lab, we’ll be working on a research project investigating circular RNAs.
What students can expect from me: Students can expect me to be a teacher, mentor, and advocate. I want my students to succeed both inside and outside the classroom, and I’m committed to helping them in whatever ways I can.
Getting to know me: I’m thrilled to return to Pennsylvania. I grew up in Pittsburgh but spent my graduate and postdoctoral years in the south. My hobbies include knitting, traveling, genealogy research, thrifting, and making fermented beverages like ginger beer. I’m looking forward to building community and getting to know Easton and Lafayette!
Continue reading to meet more of Lafayette’s newest faculty members.