Reed Davis

Title: IB PhD Student
Dept/Program: Biology
Email: rad115@zips.uakron.edu
Website: https://reeddavis9492.wixsite.com/vitae/

Biography

I am a student in the Andronowski lab, studying bone biology. Specifically, I use various 3D imaging techniques such as micro-Computed Tomography (µCT), Synchrotron Radiation-µCT, and confocal laser scanning microscopy to examine bone microarchitecture and how it changes throughout the human lifespan between both sexes. I also study how different extrinsic factors, such as drug or alcohol use, affect bone remodeling. Answering these questions is useful to the forensic sciences.

I earned my bachelor’s in biology, with a specialization in biomedicine, from the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown, PE, Canada. After graduating, I became a Nationally Registered EMT (NREMT) and worked in the Akron/Canton area before enrolling in the master’s program at UA. I joined the lab of Dr. Qin Liu where I studied the roles of Krüppel-like factors in zebrafish optic nerve regeneration. After completing my master’s work, I joined the lab of Dr. Janna Andronowski as a PhD student and completely shifted direction from neuroanatomy to skeletal biology. During my tenure in the Andronowski lab, I have become a student member of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists and a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

I was attracted to the IB program because science is becoming a much more interdisciplinary field. One cannot strictly be a biologist anymore and the added perspective from various other disciplines will help me answer research questions in a unique way.

Education

• M.Sc. Cell and Molecular Biology | The University of Akron
• B.Sc. Biology, Second-class standing | University of Prince Edward Island