Sandy Becker
 

Biology Department                                                                                                              71 Murray St.
Wesleyan University                                                                                                         Middletown, CT
(860)685-3278                                                                                                                 (860)347-9124
                                                            sbecker@wesleyan.edu
 

Education:

2003:  Certificate of Advanced Studies in Science Journalism, Wesleyan Univ. Graduate Liberal Studies Program. Final project is a piece of science journalism analyzing the biology underlying recent popular fiction and science fiction based on cloning, reproductive technology, and genetic engineering, entitled “We Still can’t Clone Dinosaurs”.

1992:  M.A., Wesleyan Univ.  Thesis advisor: Laura Grabel.  Thesis title: Localization of Endoderm-specific mRNAs in differentiating F9 Embryoid Bodies.

1989: Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, Wesleyan University.  Concentration in Math and Science

1966-68:  Continuing graduate education at University of California, Berkeley, California.  (Ph.D. program in Latin American History)

1964-66:  Graduate work at Sacramento State College, Sacramento, California, to earn teaching credential.  (Credential granted 1966).

1963-64:  Graduate work at University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, to earn teaching credential.

1963:  BA, Pomona College.  Major in History, minor in Spanish.  Graduated cum laude and phi beta kappa.  Moncrieff Astronomy Prize 1960.

Research Experience

1988-present.  Research Associate in Laura Grabel's lab, Biology Dept.,Wesleyan University.  Current project investigates genes involved in specifying neurectoderm and neuronal derivatives in the mouse embryo, using both embryonic stem cells as a model system and mouse embryos mutant for Indian hedgehog, Smoothened, and Patched .  Recent project involved studying the role of these same genes in embryonic vasculogenesis.  We use in situ hybridization, RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry with ES embryoid bodies and mouse embryos to investigate the temporal and spatial expression pattern of genes we are interested in.  Thesis project focused on using in situ hybridization to reveal spatial localization of mRNAs in F9 EC embryoid bodies. Experience in dissection of mouse embryos;  culture and manipulation of mammalian ES cells including transfection, Northern and Southern analyses, preparation of cloned DNAs, immunoprecipitation and protein analysis, PCR, immunohistochemistry, plastic and paraffin sectioning for microscopy, photomicrography using a SPOT camera and adobe photoshop, teaching of lab techniques and experimental strategies and troubleshooting to graduate and undergraduate students; writing, organization and presentation of data for posters and publications.

1979-1988.  Research technician in Jim Donady's Lab, Biology Dept., Wesleyan University.  Research focused on gene regulation in Drosophila.  Experience in establishing primary cultures of embryonic cells, myoblast isolation, Northern
and Southern analyses, preparation of cloned DNAs, high and low salt nuclear matrix extractions, teaching of lab techniques to graduate and undergraduate students, supervision of undergraduate lab personnel, organization and provisioning of lab.

Scientific Publications:

Maye, P., Becker, S., Siemen, H., Byrd, N., Thorne, J., and Grabel, L. (2004) “Role of Hedgehog in Neuronal Differentiation,”  Developmental Biology 265: 276-290.

Byrd, N., Becker, S., Maye, P., Narasimbian, R., St.-Jacques, B., Zhang, X., McMahon, J., McMahon, A., and Grabel, L. (2002) “Hedgehog is required for murine yolk sac angiogenesis” Development 129: 361-373.

Maye, P., Becker, S., Kasameyer, E., Byrd, N. and Grabel, L., (2000) “Indian hedgehog signaling in extraembryonic endoderm and ectoderm differentiation in ES embryoid bodies” Mechanisms of Development 94: 117-132..

Grabel, L., Becker, S., Lock. L., Maye, P., and Zanders, T. (1998) “Using EC and ES cell culture to study early development:  recent observations on Indian hedgehog and Bmps”.  Int. J. Dev. Biol. 42:  917-925.

Becker, S., Wang, Z.J., Massey, H., Arauz, A., Labosky, P., Hammerschmidt, M., St.-Jacques, B., Bumcrot, D., McMahon, A., and Grabel, L. (1997) “A Role for Indian hedgehog in Extraembryonic endoderm differentiation in F9 cells and the early mouse embryo”  Developmental Biology 187, 298-310.

Wickramasinghe, D.; Becker, S.; Ernst, M.; Resnick, J.; Centanni, J.; Tessarollo, L., Grabel, L.; and Donovan, P. (1995) “Two CDC25 homologues are differentially expressed during mouse development.”  Development 121 .

 Becker, S., and Grabel, L. (1992) “Spatial localization of endoderm-specific mRNAs in differentiating F9 embryoid bodies” Mechanisms of Development 37

Journalism experience:

 Freelance writer, published in:

Wesleyan Alumni newsletter and magazine
Wesleyan Hughes Program website
 Middletown Press
 Hartford Courant
 Middlesex Magazine
Connecticut Business Magazine
Pomona College Magazine

Recent publications on chaos theory, cloning, Influenza, and stem cells, and Proteomics.  Published clips available on request.

Other work experience:

Summer, 2001 and 2002.  Taught intensive minicourse (three weeks) on stem cells for Wesleyan Prefrosh in HPPI program.  Subject matter was used as a framework to teach incoming students how to approach a college level Biology class.

Spring, 2000  Taught course in Science Writing at Wesleyan University.  Most of the students were non-science majors.   This was a writing class, but a critical additional goal was to teach students how to learn enough about a scientific topic to write about it intelligently.  (Students received credit in Biology or Chemistry.)

1968-1971  Fifth grade teacher at Iroquois Point Elementary School in Ewa
Beach, Hawaii.

1966-68  Fifth grade teacher in Berkeley Public School system, Berkeley, CA

1964-66 Personnel Analyst at California State Personnel Board, Sacramento,
CA.  Primary responsibilities for developing written test materials for state
Civil Service system, and chairing oral interview panels for state jobs.

Professional memberships:

Society for Developmental Biology (SDB)
National Association of Science Writers (NASW)
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)