Doctoral Student Ryan Walker Earns University of Cincinnati Dean's Fellowship

Meet Ryan Walker, recipient of a University of Cincinnati Dean's Fellowship:

What did you earn your undergraduate degree in? 

Zoology B.S. Neuroscience Minor

Master of Science in Zoology (Focus: Neuroscience)

Undergrad university:

Miami University — B.S.

Miami University — M.Sc.

What is your graduate program of study?

Currently in The Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology

Describe your research in one sentence:

I am trying to understand the molecular interactions at the atomic level between the TGF-beta ligand, myostatin, and its antagonistic binding partner, GASP.

What's the most interesting part about your research that no one understands?

There are over 30 structurally similar TGF-beta ligands which regulate a broad spectrum of functions and aberrant regulation of these ligands results in numerous biological pathologies. I am focused on studying the TGF-beta ligand myostatin, a negative regulator muscle mass. My project revolves around how myostatin is targeted for inhibition by the highly specific antagonist GASP. GASP has a unique domain architecture compared to other known antagonists and no one understands how it functions to specifically bind and inhibit myostatin. This is significant because GASP is not known to inhibit any of the remaining TGF-beta ligands. Thus, identifying these structural details at the atomic level using x-ray crystallography would greatly extend our knowledge for developing anti-myostatin therapeutics. These therapeutics could then be used to treat muscle disorders such as muscular dystrophy and cachexia.

What is the best part of grad school?

The best part of graduate school is the freedom to explore, make mistakes, and hopefully discover something new.

What is the worst part of grad school?

The worst part of graduate school is the uncertainty. No matter hard you work, you are still not guaranteed success.

What does this fellowship mean to you?

The Dean’s Fellowship is an honor to win. It signifies that I have had some successes. Most importantly though, it represents that the University of Cincinnati will continue to invest in me to achieve my goals and support me in my final year as a PhD student.