Instructor Bios
Course Director:
Associate Professor & Assistant Faculty Director of Graduate and Training Programs
UNC Cell Biology and Physiology
Dr. Gupton is a cell biology and neuroscientist interested in cellular shape change during neuronal development, neuronal degeneration, and cell motility. Her research examines cytoskeletal architecture and dynamics, membrane trafficking and remodeling, and the coordination of cytoskeletal dynamics and membrane remodeling by E3 ubiquitin ligases. The lab uses multiples modes of high resolution light microscopy, biochemistry, and quantitative proteomic approaches to define mechanisms of morphogenesis. In addition, Dr. Gupton serves as our fearless leader, in the role of BBSP 710 Course Director.
Course Founder & Co-Director:
Professor
Department of Pharmacology
Dr. Nicholas is a a pharmacologist focused on defining the mechanisms by which the eight subtypes of P2Y receptors are targeted to distinct membrane domains in polarized epithelial cells. His lab also studies the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in the pathogenic bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which is the etiologic agent for the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea. Dr. Nicholas also serves as the Associate Director of Graduate Education in the Office of Graduate Education, leading special projects pertaining to graduate training including Biostatistics, Ethics, and Rigor & Reproducibility courses for our biological and biomedical PhD students. In addition, Dr. Nicholas has been the tireless advocate and founder of the BBSP 710 course, serving in the role of BBSP 710 Course Director for many years.
Instructors:
Dr. Rebekah Layton, PhD, CMC, PCC
Director, Professional Development Programs
UNC Office of Graduate Education
Dr. Layton has 10+ years of experience in designing and implementing evidence-based research, survey design, and statistical analyses in a wide variety of contexts including human subjects research experiments; in healthcare settings; for non-profit organizations; and evaluating professional development programming. Her statistical interest and specialty areas include: psychometrics (e.g., principles of effective survey design); univariate and multivariate statistics; analysis of variance/covariance, linear regression, logistic regression, survival/failure analyses, principal component factor and factor analyses, and structural equation modeling. She has expertise and experience using multiple survey design/administration software platforms including Qualtrics, Survey Monkey, MediaLab/DirectRT, and Inquisit; and statistical analysis platform experience including SPSS, Prism, Jamvoi, AMOS, LISREL. In addition to BBSP 710 Instructor, Dr. Layton proudly serves in the time-honored role of Resident Stats Nerd.
Research Assistant Professor
UNC Departments of Psychiatry and Alcohol Studies Center
Dr. Faccidomo is a behavioral neuropharmacologist with a passion for experimental design and the visual display of quantitative information. Her primary research interests include identifying novel targets that underlie the neurobiology of alcohol drinking and dependence, with a focus on understanding how alcohol use changes brain functions and circuits. Specifically, she is exploring how moderate and high levels of alcohol use contribute to long-lasting changes in glutamatergic neuronal plasticity and escalated alcohol drinking. A secondary research interest explores the interaction between alcohol use and Alzheimer’s disease and how alcohol drinking interacts with social and aggressive behaviors. In addition to BBSP 710 Instructor, Dr. Faccidomo has also holds the illustrious title of our Resident Prism Guru.