Project title
The role of RBBP7 in maintaining genomic stability
Supervisory Team
Principal Supervisor: Professor Derek Richard
Associate Supervisor(s): Dr Joshua Burgess, Professor Ken O’Byrne, Dr Amila Suraweera
Project description
Alejandra’s current project is aimed at investigating the role of Retinoblastoma Binding Protein 7 (RBBP7) in maintaining genomic stability. Her approach is to study how RBBP7 functions as part of a novel Histone Ubiquitin Remodelling Complex (HURC) that is critical for genomic stability. Additionally, she is looking to elucidate the role of RBBP7 as an anti-cancer therapeutic target and prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer.
Short biography
Alejandra is from El Salvador, Central America. After completing her high school diploma, she decided to move to Brisbane, Australia to pursue a career in science. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in science, majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2014 at Griffith University. She later worked as an RA at Griffith University, and volunteered at QIMR Berghofer for a year before she completed her honours degree where she undertook a project titled “The interactive antimicrobial activity of conventional antibiotics and Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. Ex DC) Mattos. Since early 2020, Alejandra has been a PhD candidate at the Cancer and Ageing Research Program with Professor Derek Richard as her principal supervisor.
Education
2017 Bachelor of Biosciences (Honours) from Griffith University
2016 Certificate III in Pathology from Mater Education
2015 Bachelor of Science from Griffith University