Janelle Bullis
Bozeman,MT
Summary
Detail-focused Undergraduate Research Assistant with rich experience in conducting lab experiments, data analysis, and report writing. Strong skills in critical thinking, communication, and team collaboration. Previous work resulted in significant contributions to research projects. Adept at managing multiple tasks simultaneously while maintaining high standards of work quality.
Overview
1
1
year of professional experience
Work History
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Cloninger Lab
Bozeman , MT
08.2024 - Current
- Conduct ongoing research under the mentorship of Dr. Mary Cloninger focused on investigating the role of Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a multifunctional carbohydrate-binding protein, in chemotherapy resistance in cancer cells.
- Developed and refined detailed experimental protocols to study Gal-3 expression in multiple cancer cell lines, including A549 (lung carcinoma), HT1080 (fibrosarcoma), SKOV-3 (ovarian cancer), and OVCAR-3 (ovarian carcinoma variant), and their chemoresistant derivatives (SKOV-3-R and OVCAR-3-R).
- Performed protein extraction, gel electrophoresis using stain-free UV-Vis polyacrylamide gels, and Western blotting to quantify Gal-3 expression across these cancer cell lines.
- Gained proficiency in conducting and analyzing Bradford and Bicinchoninic Acid (BCA) assays to determine total protein concentration in cell lysates, allowing for precise protein normalization in downstream analysis.
- Currently, we are developing pull-down assays to identify Gal-3 binding partners and investigate its involvement in anti-apoptotic pathways that enable tumor cells to resist chemotherapeutic agents.
- This project aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms through which Gal-3 confers chemotherapy resistance in the apoptotic pathway, and to identify potential therapeutic targets that could restore treatment sensitivity in resistant tumors.
- Acquired advanced lab skills in molecular biology, protein-protein interaction analysis, and cancer biology, while contributing meaningfully to understanding the tumor microenvironment and progression.
- I will continue this research through December 2025, when I graduate, to expand the project's scope further and deepen my experience in biomedical research as I prepare for a career in medicine and translational science.
Education
Biochemistry - Pre-Medicine Track
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT12.2025
Skills
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer research
- Western blotting
- Spectroscopy
- UV-visible gel casting
- SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis
- Protein purification
- Pull-Down Assays
- BCA/Bradford assays
- Troubleshooting experimental protocols
- Protein analysis
- Effective communication
- Team Collaboration
- Leadership
- Critical thinking
- Time management
- Organization
Accomplishments
Montana IMBRE Research Scholar (Summer 2025)
My research on Galectin-3 and chemotherapy resistance in cancer cells has been awarded full funding through the Montana INBRE (IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence) program, which supports undergraduate engagement in high-impact biomedical research. I was selected as a Montana INBRE Scholar following admission to their competitive 10-week immersive summer research program at Montana State University. This full-time, paid research experience will allow me to deepen my work in the Cloninger Lab, where I will continue to develop and apply advanced techniques to study Gal-3 expression and protein interactions in various cancer cell lines. As an INBRE Scholar, I will continue to receive ongoing support and mentorship, enabling me to further expand the scope and impact of my research until I graduate in December 2025.
Timeline
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Cloninger Lab
08.2024 - Current
Biochemistry - Pre-Medicine Track
Montana State University
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