Erin Jeffs

Class of 2023 

Education: Blended BS + MS in Animal Science at Cal Poly

Biography:

Erin received her BS in Animal Science at Cal Poly and is thrilled to be a part of the Regenerative Medicine Program.  She is excited about stem cell research, because it allows her to couple her passion for the life sciences with her curiosity for novel discoveries.  Moreover, she is excited that the interdisciplinary nature of this program allows her to broaden her horizons and become a more well-rounded scientist.  Erin’s research and personal experiences has led her to cultivate an interest in the therapeutic aspects of regenerative medicine.  Specifically, she is interested in answering questions related to the uses of stem cells in cancer treatment.  After completion of this program, Erin tentatively plans to pursue a PhD.

Internship Summary: 

Erin interned at UC San Diego’s Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine with Dr. Karl Willert in the Cell and Molecular Medicine Department.  The heart of the Willert Lab’s research projects are WNT proteins and their signaling pathways, which exert potent effects on stem and progenitor cells.  The WNT receptor FZD7 is highly expressed in several cancers, and Erin’s work during her internship further explored this relationship.  Specifically, she studied the role of FZD7 as both a cancer stem cell marker and a therapeutic target for mammary tumors.  Erin’s work involved both in vitro mammary organoid studies as well as in vivo cell transplantation studies in a murine model.

 

Contact Info:
ejeffs@calpoly.edu