James Thieman
Year started program: 2005
Program name: Cell Biology And Molecular Physiology
2005 - BS, Cell Biology, Bucknell University

The summers between my sophomore and senior year of college I was exposed to research in a graduate level setting at the University of Pittsburgh through its Undergraduate Research Program (SURP). Only weeks into my first summer I was sure that I wanted to pursue an advanced degree in the field. Pittsburgh was an obvious choice when selecting graduate programs to apply to because I had such positive experiences there at the bench. I finally chose the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Program at the University of Pittsburgh for several reasons. I was very impressed by the graduate office staff. They truly made me feel welcome and even wanted, where as other schools I interviewed at were all business and a bit cold. Secondly, I was pretty sure that I wanted to focus on basic science research in the Cell Biology and Physiology department. University of Pittsburgh has some of the top researchers working in the field of membrane traffic, an interest of mine. I knew that even if this particular path was not for me, the opportunity to rotate in a variety of other departments with faculty that are well published and have diverse interests would ensure productive years in the program. Also, the city of Pittsburgh offers all the benefits of a big city without all the hassles and has a very reasonable cost of living.

I’m currently a fourth year graduate student. I’m working in Dr. Linton Traub’s lab in the Cell Biology and Physiology department. Dr. Traub focuses on the molecular machinery involved in clathrin-mediated endocytosis. In particular the lab examines the adaptor proteins involved in cargo selection. Using various biochemical and live-cell imaging techniques, I have been examining how different adaptors (Beta-arrestin 1) and kinases (PIPKinase type I gamma) engage the clathrin adaptor AP-2, that acts as a hub during clathrin cage formation. We are interested in how recruitment of adaptor and accessory factors present at clathrin budding sites changes over time during the period of clathrin-coated vesicle assembly. The most rewarding part of my time here has been the little discoveries that further our general knowledge. I’m incredibly happy with my choice of the University of Pittsburgh for graduate school and couldn’t imagine studying anywhere else.

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