Andelin's Project Page

Who:  I am from Ogden, UT and transferred to the University of Utah last year from Utah State University to study in the Medical Laboratory Science program. I am excited to be studying science and medicine at such an incredible, reputable university. In my free time, I enjoy running, writing music, and spending time with friends and family.

My scientific interests:  I have always been fascinated by nature’s incredibly complex machinery, especially the human body. Through my coursework, I have loved discovering how it works on biochemical and molecular levels. I am especially interested in the prevention and curing of disease.

Academic goals:  I am pursuing a major in Medical Laboratory Science and a minor in chemistry and will be beginning the Medical Laboratory Science professional program in the fall. I have loved my experience in the malaria lab that I work in and plan to continue in it for the rest of my undergraduate career. Afterwards, I plan to attend graduate school to research biochemical processes.

Career goals:  One day, I hope to apply the knowledge and research experience I am pursuing now to further research in disease treatment and prevention.

Malaria is a devastating disease caused by the parasite Plasmodium that infects red blood cells. In 2019, there were 229 million cases and 409,000 deaths caused by malaria, with sub-Saharan Africa carries 94% of the world’s malaria burden. The relationship between malaria infections and platelets is a current topic of study in the scientific community. Studies have conflicting conclusions about if platelets are protective or pathogenic in malaria. To explore this relationship further, we will use a mouse model of malaria called Plasmodium chabaudi. Genetically modified mice that have had their megakaryocytes depleted will be infected. Since megakaryocytes give rise to platelets, these mice also have a deficiency in platelets. Preliminary data suggests there is little difference in pathogenesis between the infected genetically modified mice and the infected wild type mice.