Ruth Helmus, PhD
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Program:
Molecular Virology and Microbiology
Graduated:
4/2008
Mentor:
Phalguni Gupta
Thesis:
Generation and characterization of the cellular immune response to a Clostridium perfringens anti-SIV mucosal vaccine
Previous Institutions Attended:
Michigan State University, BS
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I am studying the gene expression profile of a Geobacter species under various growth conditions that mimic those the bacterium experiences when applied for uranium bioremediation.
Publications while a graduate student at Pitt:
Chen, Y., R. Helmus, B. McClane, R. Hoffman, S. Watkins, T. Wehrli, and P. Gupta. (2004) Use of a Clostridium perfringens vector to express high levels of SIV p27 protein for the development of an oral SIV vaccine. Virology 329(2):226-233.
What did you enjoy most about your research experiences and graduate studies here at Pitt?
The faculty at Pitt are friendly and work well together for the most part. This cordial attitude seems to spread to the other people working the labs, which leads to there always being someone willing to help with a new technique or troubleshoot a problem. In what ways did your training at Pitt prepare you for your current position?
My dissertation research was focused on using a bacterium for "human good." Although this research was much more immunology than bacteriology, the concepts of a bacterium interacting with its host/environment are very applicable to my current project that looks at how Geobacter responds to different growth conditions.
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