Emma Rose Freeman
Houston,TX
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Graduate Research Assistant
UTHealth GSBS
01.2023 - Current
- Investigating the role of the posterior hypothalamus (PH) in initiating cluster headache–like pain responses
- Utilize chemogenetics (DREADDs), TRAP-based neuronal targeting, and behavioral assays to dissect PH-driven pain circuits
- Demonstrated that PH activation is sufficient to induce and amplify pain sensitivity in NTG-induced headache models
- Apply single-cell RNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics to define PH cellular architecture and pain-related pathways
- Investigate genetic risk factor Mertk as a circadian regulator of pain sensitivity
- Advisors: Seung-Hee Yoo, Mark Burish
Research Technician
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Studied RNA Polymerase I and nucleolar organization in development and cancer
- Conducted immunofluorescence, FISH, and molecular assays to examine nucleolar structure
- Contributed to development of anti-metastatic drug derivatives (metarrestin-related)
- Co-authored peer-reviewed publications and contributed to a patent
- Advisor: Sui Huang
Summer Research Intern
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
01.2019
- Investigated antiretroviral drug resistance in SIV-infected macaque models
- Performed RT-PCR, sequencing, and resistance analysis
- Presented findings via abstract and poster
Education
PhD - Neuroscience
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center / UTHealth GSBS
05-2028
BS - Neuroscience and Public Health
Tulane University
01-2019
Skills
- Circadian regulation of pain
- Cluster headache pathophysiology
- Hypothalamic circuitry and neurobiology
- Translational neuroscience
- Chemogenetics & optogenetics (DREADDs, Channelrhodopsins, stereotaxic viral delivery)
- TRAP (activity-dependent neuronal labeling)
- Behavioral pain assays (hindpaw & orofacial mechanical sensitivity, open field, place preference/aversion)
- RNA sequencing (bulk, single-cell, spatial)
- Immunohistochemistry, RNAscope
- Molecular biology (qPCR, cloning, western blot)
- Animal husbandry (colony breeding & maintenance, genotyping)
Publications
- Rodrigues A, MacQuarrie KL, Freeman E, et al. Nucleoli and the nucleoli-centromere association are dynamic during normal development and in cancer. Molecular Biology of the Cell (2023)
- McNamar R, Freeman E, et al. PAF49: An RNA Polymerase I subunit essential for rDNA transcription. Journal of Biological Chemistry (2023)
- Han C, Baek H, Ye JY, Freeman E, et al. Ergotamine Enhances Circadian Amplitude and Mitigates NTG-Induced Hypersensitivity. Journal of Headache and Pain (2025)
- Yeo WH, Freeman E, et al. The dynamics of nucleolus-centromeres interaction in living cells. bioRxiv (Preprint 2026)
- Han C, Freeman E, et al. Peripheral Sensory Clocks Drive Rhythmic Pain Sensitivity. Journal of Headache and Pain (In Revision 2026)
Presentations
- Accepted Abstract for Poster Presentation, Society for Research on Biological Rhythm Biennial Meeting (May 2026)
- Poster Presentation, Neuroscience Graduate Program Retreat, UTHealth Houston (2024 & 2025)
- Poster Presentation, Genome Organization & Nuclear Function Meeting Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (2022)
- Departmental Seminar Series & Retreat Presentations Northwestern University (2021–2023)
- LSUHSC Summer Research Poster Presentation (2019)
Affiliations
Society for Research on Biological Rhythm
Honors & Awards
3rd Place Oral Presentation, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department Retreat (2026)
Timeline
Graduate Research Assistant
UTHealth GSBS
01.2023 - Current
Research Technician
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
01.2021 - 01.2023
Summer Research Intern
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
01.2019
BS - Neuroscience and Public Health
Tulane University
PhD - Neuroscience
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center / UTHealth GSBS