
Bioengineering
University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
Thrombus formation in areas of high shear is mediated by binding between the GPIbα protein expressed on the surface of platelets and von Willebrand Factor (vWF), a protein found in the blood. Mature vWF is composed of a series of subunits designated as follows beginning from the N-terminus: D’-D3-A1-A2-A3-D4-B1-B2-B3-C1-C2-CK. The binding of GPIbα to the A1 domain of vWF is enhanced in the presence of shear stress. The mechanism by which this binding is regulated is poorly understood and is the focus of my research.
2003 Laboratory Intern, Lucent Technologies Bell Labs, Murray Hill, NJ
2007-present NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
2005-2008 ARCS Fellow
2005 Samuel Walkowitz Award for Excellence in Biomedical Engineerin
2004-2005 Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
2004 IGERT (Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program) Summer Undergraduate Research Frontiers Fellow (ISURF)
2004-2005 Rutgers Undergraduate Research Fellowship
2004 David and Dorothy Bernstein Scholarship for Research recipient
2004-2005 Alpha Eta Mu Beta the Biomedical Engineering Honor Society
2001-2005 Jane Forsyth Garrity Scholarship
2001-2005 Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar
2001-2005 Rutgers University Merit Award

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Rebecca A Penkala
Rebecca A Penkala