Alumni Spotlights

Emily David '18

Emily David '18

Employer
University of Virginia / Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

LinkedIn Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-david-b62791144/

1. Tell us about your journey since graduation.
After graduating in 2018, I had the opportunity to continue my research at GVSU over the summer before starting graduate school. In August, I started graduate school in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology in the College of Pharmacy at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. I joined Dr. Robert Stahelin’s lab and started working on acute myeloid leukemia and the Ebola virus for the first year of my graduate studies. At the beginning of 2020, I was preparing for my Ph.D. candidacy exam when the COVID-19 pandemic forced us all into isolation. After passing my candidacy exam, the Stahelin Lab stayed in operation working on the Ebola virus and the virus-causing COVID-19. At this time my thesis shifted to focus entirely on understanding the mechanism behind how COVID-19 hijacks host cell machinery and creates more copies of itself. I was part of a project that created a new methodology to study a COVID-19 virus model in more lab facilities nationwide. With this methodology in our arsenal of tools, I began my investigation on one minor structural protein of the COVID-19 virus and defended my thesis in November 2023. Following graduation in the winter semester, I continued to work in Dr. Stahelin’s lab as a post-doctoral fellow to wrap up experiments on my doctoral work. In April 2024, I accepted a post-doctoral research scientist position at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA working in the Department of Hematology and Oncology. Under the direction of Dr. Charles Chalfant, I am working on cell signaling in non-small cell lung cancer.

2. Share a favorite Grand Valley memory.
It’s hard to pick one memory, I remember running back and forth throughout the day between the performing arts building and the science buildings on the Allendale campus. Having the opportunity to learn more about my favorite subjects on one campus was so special. I will never forget how thankful I felt to be able to live the dream of pursuing both dance and biology.

3. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
To be a scientist and an artist is to explore, and in this exploration, there is bound to be failure along the way. One piece of advice that I have always carried with me is to “keep moving forward” (Walt Disney).

4. List three words you would use to describe your Grand Valley experience.
Inspiring, Unique, and Empowering

5. What difference would you like to make in the world?
I want to encourage the next generation of scientists and artists to keep asking questions to make the world a better place. I want to improve the therapies available to those facing difficult diagnoses.

July 2024

Interest Area(s)
Cell and Molecular Biology, Dance

Categories
Honors College

Share this spotlight

This spotlight was originally posted to the Alumni website.
Return to the listing of alumni spotlights.



Page last modified July 1, 2024