EMILY CATHERINE REED
Summary
Accomplished Ph.D. Candidate at Texas A&M University with expertise in flow cytometry and scientific writing. Demonstrated leadership mentoring over 15 students and advanced immunology research through innovative mitochondrial antioxidant studies. Skilled in data analysis and molecular techniques, driving impactful discoveries that enhance understanding of immune cell functions and disease mechanisms.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Ph.D. Candidate
Texas A&M University
College Station
08.2021 - 12.2025
- Discovered the novel expression of hemoglobin alpha in T-lymphocytes in a single cell RNA sequencing experiment comparing immune cell genetic changes in murine splenocytes after a model of psychological trauma.
- Characterized the function of this novel protein in T-lymphocytes as a mitochondrial antioxidant using a myriad of techniques including multiple antioxidant mouse models, flow cytometric redox quantification, Seahorse mitochondrial flux assays, inflammatory cytokine quantification, and in-vitro cell culture experiments.
- Investigated association between increased autoimmune risk and hemoglobinopathies, contributing to understanding of disease mechanisms.
- Designed experiments to test hypotheses and maintained a detailed lab notebook.
- Analyzed data using statistical software and maintained data on a data storage system.
- Composed manuscripts and published findings in well-reputed academic journals.
- Supported research by managing mouse colony breeding and genotyping processes.
- Assisted with mentoring >10 undergraduate students in the lab, teaching basic laboratory techniques such as PCR, genotyping, and cell culture, as well as laboratory safety. Mentored several summer undergraduate research students, as well as >5 rotating graduate students.
- Graduate Teaching Assistant: Directly taught two genetics laboratory courses to major and non-major students. Oversaw and assisted students during each lab.
- Aggie Research Program Mentor: Chaired a group of undergraduate students in my graduate lab. Trained students in DNA isolation and genotyping techniques. Oversaw overall project progress.
- Summer Undergraduate Research in Genetics and Genomics Graduate Mentor: Worked directly with a selected undergraduate student from a smaller institution and taught the student molecular techniques such as cloning, PCR, gel extraction, and sequencing. This culminated with the student's own research poster presentation.
- Maintained supply inventory, laboratory stock solutions, and general lab organization to ensure efficient lab operations.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin
05.2019 - 05.2020
- Created a protocol standardizing fish coloration from images to analyze male dominance-social behaviors, leading to a research presentation to the lab and a poster presentation at the 2020 Spring Undergraduate Research Forum.
- Supported two graduate students in sample preparation and elution, contributing to ongoing research.
- Prepared materials and samples for laboratory analysis to support ongoing experiments.
Intern - High School Student
Viagen Pets and Equine
02.2017
- Coordinated internship with Viagen Pets and Equine, gaining hands-on experience in scientific development and business management.
- Collaborated with head of Cell Culture Development to understand cloning and epigenetics processes.
- Contributed fresh insights on consumer-scientific interface for ViaGen Pets website.
Education
Ph.D. - Genetics and Genomics Interdisciplinary Program
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX12-2025
B.S. - Biology with Honors
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX12-2020
Skills
- Flow cytometry
- Immunohistochemistry
- ELISA and Mesoscale
- ELISA techniques
- Animal husbandry
- Molecular cloning
- Primary immune cell isolation
- Protein isolation and quantification
- Nucleic acid isolation
- Western blotting/Jess
- Protein quantification
- Mammalian cell culture
- Animal autoimmune models
- Animal models and husbandry
- Excel and Word skills
- GraphPad Prism
- Programming basics
- Scientific writing
- Data analysis
Publications
- Reed EC, Lauten TH, Natour T, Pitts LJ, Jojo CN, Griffin BL, Pasupuleti S, Case AJ. Hemoglobin alpha regulates T-lymphocyte activation and mitochondrial function. Frontier in Immunology [In Press]. Original preprint at bioRxiv. 2025 Aug 2:2025.08.01.668160. doi: 10.1101/2025.08.01.668160. PMID: 40766506; PMCID: PMC12324427.
- Lauten TH, Reed EC, Natour T, Pitts LJ, Jojo CN, Griffin BL, and Case AJ. Beta adrenergic signaling as a therapeutic target for autoimmunity. (2025) J Neuroimmunology[Original preprint at bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.04.05.647384].
- Reed EC, Kim JD, Case AJ. Non-canonical hemoglobin: An updated review on its ubiquitous expression. Redox Biol. 2025 Mar 18;82:103602. doi:10.1016/j.redox.2025.103602. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40138914.
- Reed, EC., Silva VA., Giebel KR., Natour, T., Lauten, TH., Jojo, CN., Schleiker AE., Case, AJ. Hemoglobin alpha is a redox-sensitive mitochondrial-related protein in T-lymphocytes. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 2025 Feb 1;227:1-11. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.11.044. Epub 2024 Nov 23. PMID: 39586383. [Originalpreprint at bioRxiv. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.09.16.613298].
- Lauten TH, Elkhatib SK, Natour T, Reed EC, Jojo CN, Case AJ. TH17/Treg lymphocyte balance is regulated by beta adrenergic and cAMP signaling. Brain Behav Immun. 2025Jan;123:1061-1070. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.11.013.Epub 2024 Nov 13.PMID: 39542072
- Strasser, R., Moshfegh, CM., Reed EC., Lauten TH., Natour T., and Case AJ. Calprotectin as a potential biomarker of psychological stress and trauma in dogs. Canine Science Society Annual Conference, Seattle, WA, 2024. (Abstract)
- Reed EC., Case AJ. Defining the nuanced nature of redox biology in post-traumatic stress disorder. Front Physiol. 2023 Mar 16;14:1130861. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1130861. PMID: 37007993; PMCID: PMC10060537.
- Moshfegh, CM., Elkhatib, SK., Watson, GF., Drake, J., Taylor, ZN., Reed, EC., Lauten, TH., Clopp, AJ., Vladimirov, VI., and Case, AJ. S100a9 protects against the effects of repeated social defeat stress. (2023) Biol Psychiatry Open Global Science. In Press. PMCID: [Original preprint at bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.07.18.500493]
Awards
- Travel award (2025) (based off abstract submission), Society for Redox Biology and Medicine.
- Travel award (2024) based off abstract submission), Society for Redox Biology and Medicine.
- Genetics and Genomics Student Association Conference Travel Award (based off abstract submission and student involvement), ($600 value).
- First place prize oral presentation, Biological and Chemical Sciences Symposium, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
- T32 Fellowship recipient, Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
- Third place prize poster presentation, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Genetics Joint Symposium, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
- National finalist, Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) Scholars Award, Nominated by the Regional P.E.O. Chapter, TX.
- First Place Prize Junior Graduate Student Poster Competition, 27th Annual College of Medicine Graduate Student Organization Research Symposium, Texas A&M University.
- Travel award (based off abstract submission), Society for Redox Biology and Medicine.
- Texas A&M University HEEP Fellow, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
- Biological Science Student Research Scholarship, Patricia L. Johnston Biological Science Student Research Scholarship; Awarded on academic status (University of Texas).
- University-Wide Endowed Presidential Scholarship, Eva Stevenson Endowed Presidential Scholarship; Awarded on academic status (University of Texas).
Timeline
Ph.D. Candidate
Texas A&M University
08.2021 - 12.2025
Undergraduate Research Assistant
The University of Texas at Austin
05.2019 - 05.2020
Intern - High School Student
Viagen Pets and Equine
02.2017
Ph.D. - Genetics and Genomics Interdisciplinary Program
Texas A&M University
B.S. - Biology with Honors
The University of Texas at Austin