Roberta’s foremost research interest is how genetic code is translated into phenotypic variation. She has pursued this topic throughout her career using a variety of techniques in cell, developmental, and evolutionary biology, as well as genetics and genomics. Roberta is excited to apply foundational genetic insights to drug discovery at Interline.
Raised by a librarian and a geologist in Cleveland, OH, Roberta’s scientific career has a westward trajectory. After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago, Roberta joined Nipam Patel’s lab at UC Berkeley to earn her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology. At Cal, Roberta studied evolutionary developmental biology using an amphipod crustacean as a model system. Following grad school, Roberta joined Julie Baker’s lab at Stanford. In the Baker lab, Roberta discovered a novel mechanism of mammalian gene regulation, in which placental trophoblast giant cells tailor gene copy number to modulate the expression of critical genes. Roberta then courageously surrendered to the call of discovery biology in biotech, and joined Second Genome, where she identified and characterized microbial proteins and peptides that interact with human immune cells to modulate human health.
When not at the bench or spending time with her family, Roberta enjoys running and growing succulents.