Doctoral Candidate
East Carolina University
I’m a Ph.D. candidate in the Interdisciplinary Program in Biology, Biomedicine, and Chemistry at East Carolina University, where I study the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate sperm function and fertilization. My research focuses on how capacitation signals-especially calcium fluxes and the acrosome reaction-vary over time and across individual cells. I use flow cytometry and fluorescent biosensors to quantify single-cell responses and apply statistical models, including linear mixed-effects and Bayesian approaches, to understand signal heterogeneity and its impact on sperm fitness. Ultimately, I aim to identify pathways that enhance fertilization potential and inform new strategies for contraception or assisted reproduction..