Christopher A. BRISTOW

Department of Chemical Engineering
Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08544
Phone: 609-258-7254
cbristow@princeton.edu

EDUCATION:

Graduate Student (Ph.D.), Department of Chemical Engineering and Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering Minor in Mathematics Colorado State University, Ft Collins, CO, May 2002

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Genentech, College Program Internship, S.S.F., CA summer 2002. Worked under Dot Reilly, Cell Culture and Fermentation R&D. Developed HPLC assay to quantify chaperon proteins in E. Coli

MIT Materials Processing Center REU, Cambridge, Ma summer 2001 Worked under Professor Paul E. Laibinis, Department of Chemical Engineering.

Presented Research at the AIChE National Student Poster Session, Fall 2001. Electrochemical Detection of Chloride, Iodide, and Thiocyanate by Underpotentially Deposited Silver Films on Au(111)

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

We are interested in how cell-signaling pathways pattern cell fates in developing tissues. The eggshell development of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is an excellent model system to study how cell fates are determined. During egg development, the oocyte is surrounded by a layer of ~1000 uniform epithelial cells that differentiate into over 10 types of cells fates. This process relies on the non-uniform activation of two signaling pathways (EGFR and BMP). Many of the signaling components have been identified and a picture of the spatial distribution of signaling activity is emerging. Yet, a complete picture of what targets are downstream of these pathways and how they influence the development of the tissue remains. We use a range of genetic, genomic, and bioinformatic techniques aimed to provide a systems level understanding of how a tissue is patterned by multiple signaling pathways. For this we identify all of the targets of the EGFR and BMP signaling pathways in the tissue with qRT-PCR and Affy Gene Chips, characterize the spatial images of the gene expression patterns and archive them in a public database, and computationally identify and experimentally verify regulatory regions that mediate spatial-temporal patterns of gene expression. In addition, we explore the role of these newly identified targets in eggshell morphogenesis.

HONORS AND AWARDS:

Colorado Engineering Council Silver Medal Finalist (2002)

C.S.U. Distinguished Scholar Award (98 - 02)

Independent Order of Forester Scholarship (98 - 02)

C.S.U. Presidents Scholarship (99 - 02)

Dean’s List (Fa 98, Sp 99, Sp 00, Sp 01)

Tau Beta Pi (member 2001)

Sigma Xi (member 2001)

ACTIVITIES

• Camp Wapiyapi” Volunteer (500+ hours in 01, 02,03). Camp Wapiyapi is a week long camp established to provide, at no cost, a respite for children with cancer and their families; Developed by University of Colorado Medical Students

• Participation as a Companion (01) and Team Leader (02,03) for the week and in organization and fundraising year-round

American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)

• Local member (Fa 98-present)

• National member (Fa 2000-present)

• Treasurer for 2001

• Attended the AIChE National Conference in November 2000, 2001

• AIChE Chem E Car Team leader for 2001

1st place at Regional Competition in Los Cruses, NM, 1st place at National Competition in Reno, NV, 1st place in National Chem E Car Poster Presentation in Reno, NV