Kimberly Jasmer-McDonald
I am a postdoc at the University of Missouri in the Department of Biochemistry. I am fresh out of PhD where I worked to characterize the role of the oxidative stress response in melanoma development. As a postdoc, I am studying the role of copper homeostasis and copper transporters in melanoma tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance. I am passionate about science communication and public outreach, teaching, and research which informs the prevention and treatment of cancer and chronic diseases. I also think human microbiome research is the coolest thing ever. I love to read science fiction, cook for family and friends, and spend time outdoors.
Articles by Kimberly Jasmer-McDonald
So, you’ve designed PCR primers to amplify your sequence of interest, and you’re ready to go. But unless you have a never-ending supply of template, polymerase, and a thermocycler with a gradient function—not to mention a hefty dose of time and patience—you probably don’t want to spend the next week finding the perfect conditions for…
You open the incubator in the morning and to your dismay there are a hundred glorious colonies… on your vector-only control plate. While there are a number of potential causes, I’ll highlight a few of the more likely culprits and their solutions.
As a new postdoc, I found myself in an uncomfortable situation. In my new environment, I am constantly in contact with my mentor and fellow lab members. I must regularly communicate with them and I have routine access to a sounding board for advice and troubleshooting. While I recognize the value of this situation, I initially found it difficult to navigate.