“Aspiring cancer researcher Elizabeth O’Day ’06 achieves what no one at Boston College – and few, if any, at other universities – has done, winning five of the nation’s most coveted academic awards for her scientific research” Fr. Leahy President Boston College (PRESS RELEASE)
Education:
Enrolled Harvard University, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
PhD BBS, Thesis Advisors: Judy Lieberman, MD, PhD, & Gerhard Wagner, PhD
University of Cambridge, Churchill College 2007
Master’s of Philosophy in Chemistry, Thesis: Understanding the interactions between camelid antibodies and alpha-synuclein. Thesis Advisor: Chris Dobson, PhD. *Winston Churchill Scholar.
Boston College, College of Arts & Sciences, class of 2006
B.S. Biochemistry, GPA 3.92 Summa Cum Laude. Thesis: Design & Synthesis of Aspartate Transcarbamoylase Inhibitor Compounds. Thesis Advisor: Evan Kantrowitz, PhD.
Academic Honors and Awards
Rev. Edward Finnegan, SJ Award Winner, 2006
Chosen as the student who most exemplifies the motto of Boston College “Ever to Excel”. This is the most prestigious honor bestowed on an undergraduate and is awarded during the University Commencement. The Finnegan Award is an expression of Boston College’s values and ideals, personified in an individual. As part of the award, I delivered the Senior Oration during graduation, and served as the degree representative for the College of Arts & Sciences.
Winston Churchill Scholarship, 2006
One of eleven American scientists selected nationally for this scholarship. The scholarship supports one year of graduate study at Churchill College of Cambridge University, Great Britain. Fellows must demonstrate outstanding achievements in their academic work, the capacity for original and creative work, and a demonstrated concern for the critical problems of society.
As part of the scholarship, I conducted research in the laboratory of Chris Dobson on a project “Understanding the interaction between camelid antibodies and alpha-synuclein.”
Generated antibody libraries from an immunized camel
Isolated specific antibodies via phage-display
Characterized secondary and tertiary interactions by circular dichroism
Measured kinetic data through isothermal calorimetry
Monitored aggregation studies through ThioFlavinT assays
Determined the structure of the free and bound complex through a series of NMR
experiments including: HSQC, NOESY, HNCOCACB, HNCACB, HETNOE, T1 & T2 relaxation data, RDC for both the free and bound state.
National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship, 2006
The award provides funding and resources for graduate school research. Applicants include current graduate students and those about to enter graduate school. Students are selected based on prior accomplishments and their ability to craft an independent research project.
Fulbright Fellowship, recommended, 2006
Recommended for a Fulbright Fellowship by the Institute of International Education to study and conduct research in India. The fellowship supports an original proposal entailing one year of study at India’s premier Institute of Science, working on a project to design peptide-based therapeutics, as well as promote science education to inner city children (declined offer in order to pursue Churchill Scholarship).
Copithorne Scholarship, 2006
Awarded scholarship to attend graduate program at Harvard University. Recipients must be graduates of Boston College and are selected based on “character, industry, intelligence and financial ability.”
Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, 2005-present
Among the most competitive undergraduate fellowships in the natural sciences. It offers a scholarship to support undergraduate study of students who demonstrate talent in natural sciences and are planning to pursue a doctorate degree. Selected based on science-related activities and achievements.
Beckman Scholar Fellowship, 2004-present
Scholarship established by Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation to support outstanding undergraduate students in chemistry and biological sciences research at select universities throughout the United States. Elected based on strong academic credentials and research experience.
Undergraduate Research Fellowship, 2003-present
Conducted research in Dr. Evan Kantrowitz’s Biochemistry Laboratory on a project, “Design & Synthesis of Aspartate Transcarbamoylase Inhibitor Compounds”
Synthesized organic compounds, on large and small scales
Characterized products using IR, UV, NMR (1H, 13C, 31P) and mass spectrophotometery
Purified compounds using chromatography and gel filtration
Conducted Small-Angle X-ray Scattering at Stanford Linear Acceleration Center
General Employee Radiological Training Certified
Harvested large amounts of protein from transformed E. coli cells
Developed expertise with automated docking program, AUTODOCK, DOCK and computer aided drug design program, LIGBUILDER
German Exchange for the Northeastern American Chemical Society, 2005
Selected by the Northeastern section of the American Chemical Society as one of two undergraduates for a German Exchange Program in 2005. Twelve delegates from the northeastern United States spent a week in Berlin, meeting prominent scientists, touring pharmaceutical companies, and experiencing Berlin’s rich history. I was invited to give a presentation on my research at Fruehjahrssymposium in Berlin, Germany.
National Institute of Chemistry Excellence Award, 2006
Selected as the top chemistry or biochemistry major by the National Institute of Chemistry who has shown excellence in the field.
Order of Cross & Crown, Boston College, 2006
Considered the most prestigious honor society at Boston College. The society recognizes seniors who have achieved an average of at least A-, have established records of unusual service and leadership on the campus. The Dean and members of the faculty and administration of Arts & Sciences select students.
Phi Beta Kappa, 2006
Inducted into the most premier national honor society, recognizing academic achievement and extracurricular accomplishments.
Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society, 2005-present
Jesuit Honor Society that selects members who uphold the Jesuit philosophy based on commitment to scholarship, loyalty and service.
Golden Key International Honor Society, Boston College, 2004
Academic honor society, recognizing scholastic achievement and excellence in all academic disciplines.
Academic Presentations & Publications
Cancer and Metabolism, Keystone, 2012
Abstract accepted to present “You Are What You Eat: Identifying differentially expressed metabolites in highly tumorigenic cell lines”.
Immune Disease Institute Retreat, 2011
Presented poster on the “You Are What You Eat: Identifying differentially expressed metabolites in highly tumorigenic cell lines”.
Immune Disease Institute Retreat, 2010
Presented poster on the “Trim33-UTR is targeted by multiple miRNAs in cell-dependent manner”.
Biological and Biomedical Sciences Retreat, 2010
Presented oral presentation on “Structure & Function of Let-7 miRNA” at annual biological and biomedical sciences retreat on Cape Cod.
Chemical Biology Retreat, 2009
Presented poster on “Structure & Function of Let-7 miRNA” at annual chemical biology retreat at Harvard University.
RNAi, MicroRNA, and Non-Coding RNA, 2008
Attended keystone meeting in Whistler, B.C.
Graduate Women in Science Conference, 2006
Invited to speak at the annual Massachusetts Chapter of Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) Conference on the project “Design and synthesis of aspartate transcarbamoylase inhibitor compounds.”
Protein Society Conference, 2005
Presented poster on the “Evaluation of docking algorithms for allosteric enzymes” at the International Protein Society. The annual meeting was held in Boston, Massachusetts; the poster sessions, presentations, and seminars spanned a week in duration.
Younger Chemists Committee Conference, 2005
Members of the committee include chemists from eastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Awarded best undergraduate poster award for research concerning “Design and synthesis of aspartate transcarbamoylase inhibitor compounds.”
Fruehjahrssymposium, 2005
Selected by the Northeastern section of the American Chemical Society as one of two undergraduates to give a presentation on my research in Berlin, Germany.
Beckman Scholar Symposium, 2004-2005
Presented poster at symposium at the Arnold & Mabel Beckman Center in Orange County, California. Participants included fellow Beckman recipients, Nobel laureates, Beckman Young Investigators, and other renowned scientists.
Eastern Nazarene Conference Speaker, 2004
Invited speaker at annual conference highlighting undergraduate research accomplishments. Juniors and seniors involved in research were asked to present either a poster or oral presentation describing their work.
Publications
Lal, A. Thomas, MP, Altschuler, G, Navarro, F. O’Day E., et al. 2011. Capture of microRNA-bound mRNAs identifies the tumor suppressor miR-34a as a regulator of growth factor signaling. PLoS Genet.7(11):e1002363.
Le, MT, Shyh-Chang N, Khaw, SL, Chin, L, The C, Tay J, O’Day E., et al. 2011. Conserved regulation of p53 network dosage by microRNA-125b occurs through evolving miRNA-target gene pairs. PLoS Genet 7 (9) e1002242.
Yan, N., O’Day E., Wheeler LA, Engelman, A., Lieberman J. 2011. HIV DNA is heavily uraciliated, which protects it from autointegration. PNAS 108 (22): 9244-9.
De Genst, Guilliams, T., Wellens, J., O’Day, EM., Waudby CA, Meehan S, Dumoulin M, Hsu ST, Cremades N, Verschueren KH, Pardon E, Wyns L, Steyaert J, Christodoulou J, Dobson CM. 2010. Structure and properties of a complex of alpha-synuclein and a single-domain camelid antibody. J Mol Biol 402 (2) 326-43.
O’Day, E., Lal, A. 2010. MicroRNAs and their target gene networks in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 12 (2) 201.
O’Day, E.M., Vuchelen, A., De Genst, E., Pardon, E., Wyns, L., Dobson, C.M., Christodoulou, J., Hsu, S.T. 2009. 1H, 13C and 15N assignments of a camelid nanobody directed against human a-synuclein Biomolecular NMR Assignments 3(2):231-3.
Lal A, Navarro F, Maher CA, Maliszewski LE, Yan N, O’Day E, Chowdhury D, Dykxhoorn DM, Tsai P, Hofmann O, Becker KG, Gorospe M, Hide W, Lieberman J. 2009. miR-24 Inhibits cell proliferation by targeting E2F2, MYC, and other cell-cycle genes via binding to “seedless” 3′UTR microRNA recognition elements. Mol Cell 35 (5) 610-25.
West, J.M., Xia, J., Tsuruta, H., Gua, W., O’Day, E.M., Kantrowitz, E.R., 2008. Time evolution of the quaternary structure of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamoylase upon reaction with the natural substrates and a slow, tight-binding inhibitor. J Mol Biol 384 (1): 206-18.
Cardia, J.P., Eldo, J., Xia, J, O’Day, E.M., Tsuruta, H., Gryncel, K.R., Kantrowitz, E.R. 2008. Use of L-asparagine and N-phosphonacetyl-L-asparagine to investigate the linkage of catalysis and homotropic coopertativity in E. coli aspartate transcarbamoylase. Proteins 71: 1088-96.
Eldo, J., Cardia, J.P., O’Day, E.M, Xia, J., Tsuruta, H., Kantrowitz, E.R. 2006 N-phosphonacetyl-L-isoasparagine a potent and specific inhibitor of E. coli aspartate transcarbamoylase. J Med Chem 49 (20): 5932-8.