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Andrew D

- Research Program Mentor

PhD candidate at Tufts University

Expertise

microbiology, immunology, neuroscience, physiology

Bio

My name is Andy Day and I'm a PhD candidate at Tufts University in Boston, MA. At Tufts, I'm studying the contributions of the gut microbiome to negative patient outcomes in alcoholism. Specifically we are interested in the fungus Candida albicans and how it impacts the brain from the gut, and how the alcoholic gut could be a reservoir of antifungal resistant fungi. Previously I have studied bacterial pathogenesis, cancer biology, and gene therapy. Really I just love learning about different areas of science! In my free time, I love to golf, exercise, and meditate. I enjoy watching sports, Skol Vikings!, and watching movies and TV shows.

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Effect of Patient Diet on Antibacterial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance has become an enormous problem throughout the world, with some believing that drug-resistant pathogens could become the leading cause of death by 2050. This project would be based on a study of the literature of how a person's diet contributes to antibacterial resistance. A focus on bacterial and fungal members of the microbiome and how alcohol, vitamin deficiencies, a high-fat diet, etc, could contribute to the evolution of antimicrobial resistant populations of cells in the gi tract.

Mechanisms of cancer metastasis

Tumor metastasis involves the spread of cancer cells to different organs which makes treatment of tumors more difficult and contributes to negative patient outcomes. This project would be studying mechanisms of tumor metastasis and brainstorming novel therapy targets.

The Endocannabinoid System in Psychological Disorders

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has been implicated in anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders such as alcoholism. This project would be a literature review of the mechanisms of the ECS in psychological disorders and possible dietary factors that could help regulate the ECS.

Coding skills

Novice R and Linux experience

Languages I know

Beginner Spanish

Credentials

Work experience

Hormel Institute (2018 - 2019)
Researcher in Department of Cancer Vaccines
Tufts University (2019 - Current)
PhD Candidate

Education

University of Minnesota
BS Bachelor of Science (2017)
Microbiology | Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development
Tufts University
PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Molecular Microbiology

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