Sherri Evans Bergsten, Associate Professor

Office: FSC144
Phone: (717) 477-3244
Email: seberg@ship.edu

Education

BS Biology Haverford College 1993
PhD Molecular Biology Princeton University 2001

Profile

I began teaching at Shippensburg University in 2005. I have a BS in Biology from Haverford College (1993) and a PhD in Molecular Biology from Princeton University (2001). My dissertation research was in the field of developmental genetics, studying the regulation of a gene critical for embryonic patterning in fruit flies. My research interests have expanded, with current projects focused on coordinate regulation of intersecting cellular processes in cancer cells.

Research Interests

Work in my lab broadly focuses on genetic regulation, and the model we use is the process of autophagy in cancer cells. Autophagy is a cellular recycling process that works in concert with lysosomes to degrade and recycle proteins and organelles. Rapid division in cancer cells relies on such recycling, but research has shown that some of the regulators of autophagy also function as tumor suppressors and high levels of autophagy can induce cell death. Studying the coordinate regulation of autophagy with other cellular processes is important to further our understanding of cell survival/cell death decisions and cancer progression.

Courses Taught

Basic Biology
Principles of Biology: Cell Structure and Function
Genetics
Developmental Biology
Evolutionary Development
Honors Seminar: Ethical and Societal Implications of Genetics

Student Research Projects

Recent projects include:

Measuring Autophagic Response to Bacterial Infection of Glioma Cells using Colocalization of GFP-p62 and DsRed-LC3

Evaluation of Coordination between Autophagy and Exosome Release in Glioma Cells

Looking at Linkage Between the Processes of Autophagy and Apoptosis

Impact of Autophagy on Cancer Cell Migration

Studying Mutations in Autophagy Related Genes and the Effect on Cell Division

Effects of Vitamin C and Vitamin D concentrations on Regulation of Autophagy in Glioma Cella

Quantitation of Autophagic Flux through Activation and Inhibition of Autophagy in Glioma Cells that Express GFP-p62 and DsRed-LC3

Comparison of Alternative Atg5 Isoforms on Regulation of Autophagy in Glioma Cells

The Overexpression and Deletion of Atg4b and Atg4c Autophagy Regulated Proteins in Human Glioblastoma Cells

Impact of Beclin-1 Overexpression on Autophagy-Mediated Cell Survival and Cell Death in Glioma Cells

Impact of CRISPR Modification of Endogenous Beclin-1 on Autophagy in Glioma Cells

Combined effects of Atg5 Modulation and Chemical Treatment on Regulation of Autophagy in Glioma Cells