Erin Patricia Williams
780 Highview Avenue – Westbury, NY 11590 – 516-582-9954
Education
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Master of Bioethics (MBE). Expected date of graduation: May 2015.
Macaulay Honors College at Queens College of the City University of New York. B.A., with Honors in Neuroscience & Biology with minors in Anthropology, Chemistry and Honors in the Math and Natural Sciences. Pre-medical track. Date of graduation: May 2013.
GPA: 3.644 (cum laude)
Thesis: Repeated Exposure to Environmental Mold Decreases Adult Neurogenesis in the Mouse Hippocampus
University of Cape Town. Cape Town, South Africa. Winter 2012. The Human-Primate Interface. GPA: 4.0
Holy Trinity Diocesan High School. Hicksville, NY. Advanced Regents Diploma with Honors. Date of graduation: June 2009. GPA: 97/100
Honors and Awards
Kenneth Kupferberg Award for Excellence in Math Spring 2013
and Natural Sciences
Renee Kroll Zarin Scholarship for Achievement in Math Fall 2011
and Natural Sciences
Neuroscience Honors Major 2010-2013
Honors in the Math and Natural Sciences 2010-2013
Dean's List Spring 2013,
Fall 2012, Spring 2012, Spring 2011, Spring 2010, Fall 2009
University Scholar, Macaulay Honors College 2009-2013
Williams J. Enright Scholarship Award, Service Fitters’ 2009
Industry Scholarship Program
Conference Presentations
Williams, E., Remigio, G., Harding, C.F., Palma, C., Manes, G., Normand., E., Pytte, C.L. Repeated exposure to environmental mold decreases adult neurogenesis in the mouse hippocampus. Society for Neuroscience, New Orleans, LA, October 13-17, 2012. (Poster)
Williams, E., Normand, E., Remigio, G., Nagai, M., Pace, K., Ko, G., Harding, C.F., Pytte, C.L. Prolonged low level exposure to black mold impairs learning and memory, but not he formation of new neurons in the adult mouse brain. National Conference for Undergraduate Research. Weber State University, UT, March 29- 31, 2012. (Oral Presentation)
Williams, E., Normand, E., Pytte, C.L. Chronic exposure to Stachybotrys toxin in male C57Bl/6 mice impairs learning, but does not affect adult neurogenesis or survival of young neurons. NorthEast Under/graduate Research Organization for Neuroscience (N.E.U.R.O.N), Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT. November 6. 2011. (Poster)
Williams, E., Normand, E., Pytte, C.L. Chronic black mold exposure (Stachybotrys) in the mouse model impairs learning, but does not decrease new neurons or young neurons in the hippocampus. Undergraduate Research Conference, Queens College, Flushing, NY,. September 23, 2011. (Poster)
Conferences Attended
Annual Neuropsychology Research Day, Queens College, Flushing, NY. September 21, 2012.
Society for Neuroscience, Washington, D.C. November 12-16, 2011.
Annual Neuropsychology Research Day, Queens College, Flushing, NY.
September 16, 2011.
Publications
Harding, C. F., Williams, E., Normand, E., Remigio, G.J, Nagai, M., Pytte, C.L. Chronic exposure to environmental mold impairs learning and memory and decreases new neuron
survival in the mouse hippocampus. (Manuscript in preparation).
Research
Queens College Department of Psychology Flushing, NY. 10/10-6/13
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Assist in Dr. Carolyn Pytte’s neurogenesis lab at Queens College.
Worked on a joint project with Hunter College (Manhattan, NY)
on the effects of mold on cognition and hippocampal structure
using a mouse model system.
Responsibilities: processing tissue for immunohistochemistry
(sectioning brains at 6 microns using a microtome, mounting
sections onto slides), running immunohistochemistry to label
double-cortin, BrdU, and Hu expression in neurons, microscopy
to quantify double-cortin cell numbers in the hippocampus.
Research: We examined whether chronic exposure to black mold
in the mouse model causes changes in adult neurogenesis in the
hippocampus. We looked at three variables: neuron proliferation,
young new neurons expressing the protein double-cortin (DCX),
and both amoeboid and ramified microglia. We compared these
variables across three treatment groups: vehicle, extracted mold
spores, and intact mold spores. We found that treatment with
extracted mold spores resulted in significantly fewer DCX-expressing
neurons than the vehicle group. DCX-expressing neuron number was
inversely correlated with new neuron proliferation. We also found
that across all treatments, decreased numbers of ramified microglia
and increased numbers of amoeboid microglia were associated
with lower numbers of DCX-expressing neurons. Earlier results
showed that mice treated with extracted and intact spores showed
equivalent impairment of hippocampal-dependent learning and
memory, and both were significantly different from controls.
This suggests that intact spores may be acting via a different mechanism
or perhaps impact a different neuronal cohort than extracted spores.
Laboratory/Technical Skills
- Experience with cutting tissue using a microtome.
- Experience mounting tissue onto slides and cover-slipping using Krystalon as a binding agent.
- Experience in BrdU/Hu and DCX immunohistochemistry protocols for labeling neurons with DAB or fluorescent markers.
- Experience with bird perfusions
- Fluent in Microsoft Office. Proficient in Neurolucida.
Professional Memberships
Society for Neuroscience, Student Member 2011-Present
Work Experience
Varsity Tutors New York, NY. Tutor. 10/13-Present
Worked as an independent contractor for tutoring company.
Currently tutoring students in science, math, SAT, and ACT.
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza Woodbury, NY. Server. 10/13-Present
Served customer meals while maintaining restaurant’s high
customer standards. Educated in company history and traditions. Built
relationships with regular customers by learning their preferences.
California Pizza Kitchen Westbury, NY. Server. 6/13-8/13
Served customer meals while maintaining restaurant's high
customer standards. Resolved customer complaints. Built
relationships with regular customers by learning their preferences.
Participated in training sessions and classes.
Merchants NY New York, NY. Server. 4/13-8/13
Served customer meals while maintaining restaurant's high
customer standards. Resolved customer complaints. Built
relationships with regular customers by learning their preferences.
The Summit at Queens College Flushing, NY. Resident Assistant. 6/12-6/13
Estimated 30 shifts per semester of either 15 or 24 hours each.
Responsible for 50 residents on my floor, 500 in building. Worked
in dormitory office and front desk. Responsible for planning 8 programs
per year. Assist in roommate mediation and conflict resolution.
The Summit at Queens College Flushing, NY. Conference Assistant. 6/12-8/12
Assisted with summer guests at dormitory. Worked in office
organizing and room cleaning.
People’s United Bank Hicksville, NY. Customer Service Associate. 1/11-4/12
Teller position. Took customers’ transactions, proved out branch
during closing shifts, and trusted with large sums of money.
Flynn & O’Hara School Uniforms Seaford, NY. Sales Associate. 6/10-8/10,
Handled customer sales and concerns. Answered phones, worked 6/09-9/09,
the register, made trips to the bank for our company. Traveled to 6/08-9/08,
individual schools to take measurements. Trained new employees. 6/07-9/07, 6/06-9/06
Victoria’s Secret Forest Hills, NY. Sales Associate. 2/10-5/10
Handled customer sales and concerns.Training in sales and
recognizing potential problems on the floor, including shoplifters.
Extracurricular
Queens College Chamber Orchestra Flushing, NY. 1/13-5/13
Small group that performs various concerts.
Instrument: flute, piccolo.
Queens College Alumni Mentoring Program for 4/12-5/13
Pre-Health Majors Flushing, NY.
Program at QC to promote relations between current
pre-medical students and physicians with ties to
Queens College.
Maguire Theater “The Wedding Singer” Old Westbury, NY. Jul 2010
Regional theater production. Instrument: Flute, piccolo.
Queens College Wind Ensemble Flushing, NY. 1/10-5/10
Concert band that performed various concerts and performed
at graduation. Instrument: flute.
Queens College Chamber Winds Flushing, NY. 1/10-5/10
Select group formed from QC Wind Ensemble. Performed
increasingly difficult pieces. Instrument: flute.
Volunteer
Long Island Blood Center Westbury, NY 4/23/13
Blood drive chairperson for drive at Queens College.
Women for Afghani Women Fresh Meadows, NY 1/13-5/13
Tutor elementary students in all subjects.
Nassau University Medical Center East Meadow, NY 2/12-9/12
Assisted in various departments including: emergency department,
psychiatric ward.
Northshore University Hospital Manhasset, NY. Research Intern. 7/10-9/10
Assisted in various clinical research projects in Emergency
Department. Assisted doctors and nurses in ED. Guided patients
and visitors in ED. Data entry. Patient advocacy. Over 100 hours.
Vacation Bible School at Maria Regina Catholic Church Jul 2010,
Seaford, NY. Jul 2009,
Teacher for various levels of school including: pre-kindergarten, Jul 2008,
kindergarten, and nursery. Planned lessons, taught children, Jul 2007
coordinated crafts and games.
Animal Center of Queens Rego Park, NY. 4/10-5/10
Walked dogs at animal shelter.