Javier Rivera Guzman , Ph.D.

jriverag@email.unc.edu

• Cell and Molecular Physiology

Education

• Indiana University School of Medicine
  Microbiology & Immunology

Mentors

Carol Otey, Ph.D.

Biography

As an undergraduate in Puerto Rico studying biology I was introduced to research by the Ronald E. McNair program working in the Guanica International Biosphere.  Once I graduated, and as I wanted to do biomedical research, I decided to pursue my doctoral studies at the Indiana University School of Medicine and though initially I thought I wanted to study viral immunology, I quickly learned that my true research passion lies within cell signaling.  At IU, I first worked under Dr. David Donner studying VEGF and TNFR signaling within solid tumor models and after his departure, I studied the small, anti-apoptotic protein Survivin and its effects on hematopoietic cells under Dr. Louis M. Pelus.  I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to teach a course as well as work with undergraduates in the lab while in graduate school, and so I quickly learned that my ideal position would be to become a research and teaching professor.  After all, our goal as scientists is to gain knowledge and share it, and teaching and working with undergraduates is definitely one fun way to do just that.

I am very happy to be a new 2009 postdoctoral fellow in the SPIRE program at UNC.  Currently I am working in Carol Otey’s laboratory and my very exciting projects revolve around studying the biology and regulation of an actin remodeling protein called Palladin, which plays a role in cancer cell motility and invasiveness as well as a role in normal cell biology.  I am also very fortunate that all the while I get to work closely with several undergraduate students in the lab, which I hope is a great prelude to my life as a professor and my future laboratory.  I am looking forward to the teaching portion of the SPIRE program later as I know it will be a lot of work but something I will enjoy.  Ultimately I hope to secure a faculty position at a university that will allow me to equally pursue both research and teaching and to get students excited about science.  In the meantime, Go Tar Heels!