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GONGSHI BAI
Hometown:
Beijing, China
Undergraduate Institution: Peking University, Beijing, China
Field of study:
Genetics & Development
Specific research area: Mutation in DNA replication helicase and its impact on genomic instability and cancer development.
Why did you apply to the Cornell Comparative Cancer Biology Training Program? I am interested in cancer biology research and I would like to communicate my ideas and discoveries with others who share the similar scientific interest. Besides, as a graduate student who just started the research career, I value the opportunity this program offers to meet others around the campus from different disciplines so I can learn from this rich pool of knowledge and experiences.
What is your specific research area, and why are you passionate about it? Currently, I am trying to determine how mutation in the DNA replication helicase causes genomic instability and cancer predisposition. To study this, our lab utilizes the Mcm4Chaos3 mutant, which carries a point mutation in the MCM2-7 helicase complex subunit. So far we have found that there are two major aspects of this mutant may be responsible for promoting breast specific cancer development in the mouse model. I am so interested in this project because the things we are going to learn from it were not given enough attention so far in the field. Besides, I am currently developing new techniques to perform the research, which is quite challenging while making it more interesting.
What are your long-term plans; where do you see yourself in 10 years? I would definitely like to devote myself to biological research in the future and take it as my career. I became a graduate student with the willingness of learning and discovering new stuff in the world and I am still holding onto this belief with passion. I prefer to stay in academics, but it may also depend on the opportunities I have.
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