[[!meta title="Curriculum Vitæ, Research Statement, and Teaching Statement"]] Introduction ------------ A brief statement of my research interests and teaching mission follows, and my [Curriculum Vitæ](curriculum_vitae) ([pdf](dla-cv.pdf)), [Research Statement](research_statement) ([pdf](resume/research_statement.pdf)), and [Teaching Statement](teaching_statement) ([pdf](teaching_statement.pdf)) are also available. For my contact information or additional references, please e-mail Research Focus -------------- My primary research focus is developing and using bioinformatics techniques to identify causes and mechanisms underlying human diseases, such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). I have identified multiple novel genes associated with SLE using both genome-wide association studies and trio-based studies in targeted regions. In collaborative work, I have identified a causal variant in NCF2 ([rs17849502](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/SNP/snp_ref.cgi?rs=rs17849502)) using both *in silico* and *in vitro* approaches. I am currently working on identifying causal variants in additional associated genes using targeted deep sequencing using high-throughput variant analysis pipelines to prioritize variants for additional *in silico* and *in vitro* experiments. In the future, utilizing my extensive bioinformatic and software development experience, I will head a development group working on techniques for the storage, alignment, and analysis of terabytes (eventually petabytes) of next-generation sequencing data from collaborations studying human-relevant diseases and biological systems. Teaching Mission ---------------- While teaching, my primary mission is to have my students experience the excitement of scientific discovery for themselves. Secondarily, I use that excitement to keep them engaged and interested in the material. While a graduate student at UC Riverside, I was a teaching assistant for [Introductory Biology, Genetics, Molecular Biology, and Developmental Biology](http://www.biology.ucr.edu/courses/UGcourses.html)