Education
| PhD in Biomedical Sciences Medical University of South Carolina Distinguished Graduate Co-recipient | 2015 – 2020 |
| Bachelor of Science in Biology College of Charleston summa cum laude | 2010 – 2014 |
| Associate of Science Trident Technical College magna cum laude | 2008 – 2010 |
Research Overview
My research is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular development and congenital heart disease pathogenesis. I am excited by questions probing how spatiotemporal positioning of chromatin in the nucleus influences the adoption and maintenance of cardiac cell identity, signaling, and morphological patterning. I utilize transgenic mice and cell culture models combined with cutting edge genome profiling assays such as CUT&RUN to probe disruptions to nuclear architecture along with advanced microscopic techniques like OligoFISH to visually observe individual genes and their enhancers.
My research interests include:
cardiovascular development, congenital heart diseases, nuclear architecture, histone modifications, chromatin organization, cell fate
Academic Appointments
Postdoctoral Researcher Sept 2020–present
Jonathan Epstein Lab
Perelman School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Department of Cell & Developmental Biology
Research Projects
Postdoctoral Work
Investigating the role of H3K9me2 in Regulating Tissue-Specific Gene Expression
My primary project as a postdoctoral researcher in the Jonathan Epstein Lab has been focused on understanding the role of peripheral heterochromatin domains in the regulation of cardiac-specific gene program expression during normal heart development. Our results demonstrate that regions of peripheral chromatin that are marked by the posttranslational modification, H3K9me2, but do not have significant Lamin B interaction, harbor lineage-specific enhancers in both pluripotent and differentiated mouse cells. In addition to tissue-specific enhancer enrichment, these H3K9me2 Only Domains (KODs) are highly variable by cell type, unlike other chromatin domains which largely remain the same regardless of cell lineage. During cardiac development, H3K9me2 is lost at the site of some cardiac-specific enhancers, which correlates with the activation of the enhancers and target gene expression, while some lineage inappropriate enhancers retain or gain H3K9me2 and remain transcriptionally silent. These findings inform our understanding of the role of the nuclear periphery in establishing and maintaining proper cell-identity in pluripotent and differentiated cells. Further, these data may hint at a mechanism by which mutations in the methyltransferase GLP, which forms heterodimers with G9a to catalyze the majority of H3K9me2 in cells, results in congenital heart defects in human patients with 9q Subtelomeric Deletion Syndrome.
Investigating the role of dysregulated H19/Igf2 expression during cardiac development
In this project I collaborated with the Marisa Bartolomei Lab as the cardiac development expert in the dissection of the role of H19 and Igf2 in cardiac and placental development. I helped to design and direct the cardiac-related experiments, as well as phenotyped and described congenital heart defects in several new mouse lines with varying levels of H19 and Igf2 expression modulated through mutations in a humanized imprinting control region (ICR). These mice were developed by the Bartolomei lab to investigate mechanisms of Silver-Russell Syndrome, which is one of two human growth disorders related to H19/Igf2 dysregulation. These mice displayed early embryonic lethality, ventricular septal defects, and thinned myocardium. RNA-seq analyses showed disruption to pathways related to extracellular matrix and proliferation of endothelial cells, which was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Our work demonstrated that in the heart, accurate dosage of both H19 and Igf2 is critical for normal development and disruption of this balance leads to congenital heart defects.
Graduate Work
Investigation of the role of the Exocyst trafficking complex in ciliogenesis and cardiac valve development and disease
My first PhD dissertation project demonstrated that the exocyst trafficking complex is required for normal ciliogenesis, and that its disruption contributes to the development of BAV and associated comorbidities. Our results demonstrated that loss of the central exocyst protein, EXOC5, resulted in disrupted ciliogenesis, highly-penetrant BAV and aortic valve calcification in mice, and outflow tract stenosis in zebrafish. We also performed GWAS analyses that revealed associations between de novo mutations in exocyst complex genes and BAV in humans. This work led to a new understanding of aortic valvulogenesis and highlights the importance of the exocyst and ciliogenesis in aortic valve development. We also described and phenotyped new model systems for future investigation of BAV and calcific valves. Additionally, I collaborated with the Lipschutz Lab to utilize the Exoc5f/f mice and exoc5-/- zebrafish in related renal and retinal ciliogenic studies.
Investigation of the role of Desert Hedgehog signaling in mitral valve development and disease
My second PhD dissertation project described a novel mechanism of cilia-desert hedgehog-smooth muscle actin (SMA) signaling that promotes mitral valve remodeling during normal cardiac development. My results demonstrated that desert hedgehog (DHH) cilia-mediated signaling in developing mitral valves operates via a paracrine crosstalk mechanism in which valvular endocardial cells secrete DHH ligand, which elicits ciliated valvular interstitial cells to produce a-SMA. This discovery allowed me to identify a novel role for a-SMA in mitral valve compaction and stabilization during valve remodeling downstream from the DHH-cilia signaling. I further showed that homozygous loss of DHH results in mitral valve prolapse and bicuspid aortic valves in mice. This project identified DHH signaling through the primary cilium as a critical contributor to valve morphogenesis and provided evidence to support primary cilia as a unifying pathway broadly attributable to mitral and aortic valve disease.
Undergraduate Work
Investigation of genes that predict high voluntary drinking in rodents
For my pre-graduate summer research project, I worked in the Patrick Mulholland lab and identified gene expression patterns that predict high-drinking behavior in rodents through bioinformatics analysis of the BXD recombinant inbred mouse panel. I also assisted Dr. Jennifer Rinker in rodent alcohol consumption experiments that confirmed my genetic findings and tested her hypotheses about potential drug treatments to reduce voluntary drinking. We successfully identified nine novel gene targets in the nucleus accumbens and six targets in the prefrontal cortex that correlated with and predicted high-drinking phenotypes in dependent and non-dependent BXD mice.
Investigation of myofilament protein isoforms in synchronous and asynchronous flight wing muscles
In my undergraduate research, I annotated novel skeletal muscle splicing variants in the newly sequenced genome of the moth, Manduca sexta, and compared them to variants found in D. melanogaster as part of a project to understand the evolutionary divergence of synchronous and asynchronous flight wing muscles. During the course of my project, I retrieved and annotated splicing variants of Z-band proteins a-actinin and ZASP52, as well as their splicing factor, Muscleblind (MsB). This project produced the first comprehensive analysis of myofilament proteins in an insect with synchronous flight muscles and provided a roadmap of which isoform variants are associated with fast contraction rates versus structural organization or stretch-activation.
Publications
First Author Publications
Fulmer, D., Toomer, K., Glover, J., Guo, L., Moore, K., Moore, R., Stairley, R., Gensemer, C., Abrol, S., Rumph, M., Emetu, F., Lipschutz, J., McDowell, C., Bian, J., Wang, C., Beck, T., Wessels, A., Renault, M., Norris, R.; Desert Hedgehog-primary cilia cross talk shapes mitral valve tissue by organizing smooth muscle actin. Developmental Biology, July 2020, Volume 463, Issue 1, p. 26-38, doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.03.003, Epub: March 6, 2020, PMID: 32151560.
Fulmer, D., Toomer, K., Guo, L., Moore, K., Glover, J., Moore, R., Stairley, R., Lobo, G., Zuo, X., Dang, Y., Su, Y., Fogelgren, B., Gerard, P., Chung, D., Heydarpour, M., Mukherjee, R., Body, S., Norris, R., Lipschutz, J.; Defects in the exocyst-cilia machinery cause bicuspid aortic valve disease and aortic stenosis. Circulation, October 2019, Volume 140, Issue 16, p. 1331-1341, doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.119.038376, Epub: August 7, 2019, PMID: 31387361.
Collaborative Publications
Chang, S., Fulmer, D., Hur, S., Thorvaldsen, J., Li, L., Lan, Y., Rhon-Calderon, E., Chen, X., Epstein, J., Bartolomei, M.; Dysregulated H19/Igf2 expression disrupts cardiac-placental axis during development of Silver-Russell-syndrome-like mouse models. ELife, Nov 28, 2022, e78754, doi:10.7554/eLife.78754, PMID:36441651. Pre-print posted on bioRxiv doi:10.1101/2022.03.28.486058.
Beck, T., Arhontoulis, D., Morningstar, J., Hyams, N., Stoddard, A., Springs, K., Mukherjee, R., Helke, K., Guo, L., Moore, K., Gensemer, C., Biggs, R., Petrucci, T., Kwon, J., Stayer, K., Koren, N., Dunne, J., Fulmer, D., Vohra, A., Mai, L., Dooley, S., Weninger, J., Vaena, S., Romeo, M., Muise-Helmricks, R., Mei, Y., Norris, R.; Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of MEK1 Inhibitor-Induced Cardiotoxicity. JACC CardioOncology, Nov 15, 2022, Volume 4, Issue 4, doi:10.1016/j.jaccao.2022.07.009, Epub: Nov 2022, PMID:36444237.
Beck, T., Springs, K., Morningstar, J., Mills, C., Stoddard, A., Gou, L., Moore, K., Gensemer, C., Biggs, R., Petrucci, T., Kwon, J., Stayer, K., Koren, N., Dunne, J., Fulmer, D., Vohra, A., Mai, L., Dooley, S., Weninger, J., Peterson, Y., Woster, P., Dix, T., Norris, R.; Application of Pharmacokinetic Prediction Platforms in the Design of Optimized Anti-Cancer Drugs. Molecules, Jun 8, 2022, Volume 27, Issue 12, doi:10.3390/molecules27123678, PMID:35744803.
Moore, K., Moore, R., Fulmer, D., Guo, L., Gensemer, C., Stairley, R., Glover, J., Beck, T., Morningstar, J., Biggs, R., Muhkerjee, R., Awgulewitsch, A., Norris, R.; Dchs1, Lix1L, and the Septin Cytoskeleton: Molecular and Developmental Etiology of Mitral Valve Prolapse. Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease, February 17, 2022, Volume 9, Issue 2, doi:10.3390/jcdd9020062, PMID:35200715.
Morningstar, J., Gensemer, C., Moore, R., Fulmer, D., Beck, T., Wang, C., Moore, K., Guo, L., Sieg, F., Nagata, Y., Bertrand, P., Spampinato, R., Poelzing, S., Glover, J., Gourdie, R., Watts, K., Richardson, W., Levine, R., Borger, M., Norris, R.; Mitral valve prolapse induces regionalized myocardial fibrosis. Journal of the American Heart Association, December 21, 2021, Volume 10, Issue 24, Epub: December 7, 2021, doi:10.1161/JAHA.121.022332, PMID: 34873924.
Guo, L., Beck, T., Fulmer, D., Ramos-Ortiz, S., Glover, J., Wang, C., Moore, K., Gensemer, C., Morningstar, J., Moore, R., Schott, JJ, Tourneau, T., Koren, N., Norris, R.; DZIP1 regulates mammalian cardiac valve development through a Cby1-b-catenin mechanism. Developmental Dynamics, Epub: April 2, 2021, doi:10.1002.dvdy.342, PMID: 33811421.
Moore, K., Fulmer, D., Guo, L., Koren, N., Glover, J., Moore, R., Gensemer, C., Beck, T., Morningstar, J., Stairely, R., Norris, R.; PDGFRa: Expression and Function during Mitral Valve Morphogenesis. Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease, March 13, 2021, Volume 8, Issue 3, p. 28, doi:10.3390/jcdd8030028, PMID: 33805717.
Guo, L., Glover, J., Risner, A., Wang, C., Fulmer, D., Moore, K., Gensemer, C., Rumph, M., Moore, R., Beck, T., Norris, R.; Dynamic expression profiles of b-catenin during murine cardiac development. Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease, August 2020, Volume 7, Issue 3, E31, doi:10.3390/jcdd7030031, PMID: 32824435.
Toomer, K., Yu, M., Fulmer, D., Guo, L., Moore, K., Moore, R., Drayton, K., Glover, J., Peterson, N., Ramos-Ortiz, S., Drohan, A., Catching, B., Stairley, R., Wessels, A., Lipschutz, J., Delling, F., Jeunemaitre, X., Dina, C., Collins, R., Brand, H., Talkowski, M., del Monte, F., Mukherjee, R., Awgulewitsch, A., Body, S., Hardiman, G., Hazard, S., Da Silveira, W., Wang, B., Leyne, M., Durst, R., Markwald, R., Le Scouarnec, S., Hagege, A., Le Tourneau, T., Kohl, P., Rog-Zielinska, E., Ellinor, P., Levine, R., Milan, D., Schott, J., Bouatia-Naji, N., Slaugenhaupt, S., Norris, R.; Primary cilia defects can cause mitral valve prolapse. Science Translational Medicine, May 2019, Volume 11, Issue 493, eaax0290, doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.aax0290, PMID: 31118289.
Zuo, X., Lobo, G., Fulmer, D., Guo, L., Dang, Y., Su, Y., Ilatovskaya, D., Nihalani, D., Rohrer, B., Body, S., Norris, R., Lipschutz, J.; The exocyst acting through the primary cilium is necessary for ciliogenesis, cystogenesis, and tubulogenesis. Journal of Biological Chemistry, April 2019, Volume 294, Issue 17, p. 6710-6718, doi:10.1074/jbc.RA118.006527, Epub: March 1, 2019, PMID: 30824539.
Toomer, K., Sauls, K., Fulmer, D., Guo, L., Moore, K., Glover, J., Stairley, R., Bishoff, J., Levine, R., Norris, R.; Filamin-A as a balance between Erk/Smad activities during cardiac valve development. Anatomical Record, January 2019, Volume 302, Issue 1, p. 117-124, doi:10.1002/ar.23911, Epub: October 5, 2018, PMID: 30288957.
McGuier, N., Rinker, J., Cannady, R., Fulmer, D., Jones, S., Hoffman, M., Mulholland, P.; Identification and validation of midbrain Kcnq4 regulation of heavy alcohol consumption in rodents. Neuropharmacology, August 2018, Volume 138, p. 10-19, doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.05.020, Epub: May 25, 2018, PMID: 29775679.
Toomer, K., Fulmer, D., Guo, L., Drohan, A., Peterson, N., Swanson, P., Brooks, B., Mukherjee, R., Body, S., Lipschutz, J., Wessels, A., Norris, R.; A role for primary cilia in aortic valve development and disease. Developmental Dynamics, August 2017, Volume 246, Issue 8, p. 625-634, doi:10.1002/dvdy.24524, Epub: June 28, 2017, PMID: 28556366.
Lobo, G., Fulmer, D., Guo, L., Zuo, X., Dang, Y., Kim, S., George, K., Su, Y., Obert, E., Fogelgren, B., Nihalani, D., Norris, R., Rohrer, B., Lipschutz, J.; The exocyst is required for normal photoreceptor and retinal development, suggestive of a conserved ciliogenic program across species and organs. Journal of Biological Chemistry, September 2017, Volume 292, Issue 36, p. 14814-14826, doi:10.1074/jbc.M117.795674, Epub: July 20, 2017, PMID: 28729419.
Rinker, J., Fulmer, D., Trantham-Davidson, H., Smith, M., Williams, R., Lopez, M., Miles, M., Becker, H., Chandler, J., Randall, P., Mulholland, P.; Differential potassium channel gene regulation in BXD mice reveals novel targets for pharmacogenetic therapies to reduce heavy alcohol drinking. Alcohol, February 2017, Volume 58, p. 33-45, doi:10.1016/j.alcohol.2016.05.007, Epub: June 27, 2016, PMID: 27432260.
Ayme-Southgate, A., Feldman, S., Fulmer, D.; Myofilament proteins in the synchronous flight muscles of Manduca sexta show both similarities and differences to Drosophila melanogaster. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, July 2015, Volume 62, p.174-182, doi:10.1016/j.ibmb.2015.02.008, Epub: Mar 19, 2015, PMID: 25797474.
Manuscripts in prep
Fulmer, D., Shields, E., Poleshko, A., Smith, C., Epstein, J.; Reorganization of H3K9me2-modified chromatin regions during mouse embryonic development. In prep.
Grants, Fellowships, Academic Funding
| Additional Ventures Catalyst to Independence Award, $1.2M “Supports exceptional early career scientists during postdoctoral research through transition to indpendent faculty” One of three awards given in 2024 | Up to: 3 yrs postdoc; 3 yrs faculty |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (5T32AR053461) Postdoctoral, National Institute of Arthritis and Muscloskeletal and Skin Diseases | Apr 27, 2021 – Apr 26, 2022 |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (1F31HL142159) Predoctoral, National Heart Lung, and Blood Institute | Jul 1, 2018 – May 15, 2020 |
| Summer Redox Biology Course Scholarship Karolinska Institutet and MUSC | Feb 2017 |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (2T32HL007260) Predoctoral, National Heart Lung, and Blood Institute | Aug 1 2016 – Jun 30, 2018 |
| Dean’s Scholarship Medical University of South Carolina | Aug 1, 2015 – Jul 31, 2016 |
| Academic Achievement Scholarship College of Charleston | 2014 |
Awards and Honors
| SVIM Poster Presentation Prize Weinstein Cardiovascular Development Conference | May 2024 Montreal, Canada |
| Office of the Vice Provost for Research Travel Award University of Pennsylvania | Jan 2023 Philadelphia, PA |
| College of Graduate Studies Distinguished Graduate Co-recipient Medical University of South Carolina | May 2020 Charleston, SC |
| 1st Place Poster Competition Heart Valve Society 5th Annual Meeting | April 2019 Sitges, Spain |
| Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology Travel Award Medical University of South Carolina | April 2019 Charleston, SC |
| 2nd Place Poster Competition Regenerative Medicine 23rd Annual Workshop | April 2019 Isle of Palms, SC |
| Eric James Award: 1st Place Oral Presentation Perry V. Halushka Student Research Day, MUSC | November 2018 Charleston, SC |
| 1st Place Infographic Competition South Carolina Impact | October 2018 Charleston, SC |
| ASCB|EMBO Meeting Travel Award American Society for Cell Biology | December 2017 Philadelphia, PA |
| Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology Travel Award Medical University of South Carolina | November 2017 Charleston, SC |
| 2nd Place Poster Competition Redox Course at Karolinska Instituet | May 2017 Stockholm, SE |
| 3rd Place Poster Competition Department of Medicine Research Day, MUSC | March 2017 Charleston, SC |
| Biology Major Field Test Award Top score, 98th percentile nationally College of Charleston | 2014 Charleston, SC |
| Highly Distinguished Faculty Honors College of Charleston | 2014 Charleston, SC |
| Outstanding Student Award for Biology College of Charleston | 2014 Charleston, SC |
| Distinguished Faculty Honors College of Charleston | 2013 Charleston, SC |
Invited Oral Presentations
Fulmer, D., Shields, E., Smith, C., Jain, R., Epstein, J.A.; A critical role for histone methyltransferases GLP/G9a in neural crest development. Department of Cell and Developmental Biology Retreat, Galloway, NJ, May 2024.
Fulmer, D.; Investigation of the Role of Histone Methyltransferases GLP and G9a During Cardiogenesis. Stanford, Penn, Duke, Cornell Research Symposium via prerecorded video, December 2023.
Fulmer, D., Shields, E., Smith, C., Epstein, J.A.; Investigation of the Role of GLP/G9a Histone Methyltransferases in Cardiac Development and Disease. Platform presentation. Meeting of the ESC Working Group on Development, Anatomy and Pathology, Paris, France, November 2023.
Fulmer, D., Toomer, K., Guo, L., Moore, K., Glover, J., Stairley, R., Moore, R., Lipschutz, J., Norris, R.; Desert Hedgehog (Dhh) signaling through primary cilia contributes to mitral valve morphogenesis and disease. MUSC Student Research Day, Charleston, SC, November 2018.
Fulmer, D.; Desert Hedgehog (Dhh) signaling, primary cilia and the development of mitral valve morphogenesis and disease. Cardiovascular Training Grant Retreat, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, November 2018.
Fulmer, D., Toomer, K., Guo, L., Moore, K., Glover, J., Stairley, R., Norris, R.; Desert Hedgehog (Dhh) signaling through primary cilia contributes to mitral valve morphogenesis and disease. Plenary session. 8th Biennial Heart Valve Biology & Tissue Engineering Meeting, London, UK, September 2018.
Fulmer, D., Toomer, K., Guo, L., Moore, K., Glover, J., Stairley, R., Body, S., Lipschutz, J., Norris, R.; Exocyst mutations contribute to cardiac valvular disease through impaired ciliogenesis. Platform presentation. Heart Valve Society Meeting, New York, NY, April 2018.
Fulmer, D., Toomer, K., Guo, L., Body, S., Lipschutz, J., Norris, R.; Exploration of Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease as a Ciliopathy. Plenary session. Weinstein Cardiovascular Development and Regeneration Conference, Columbus, OH, May 2017.
Campus Talks
Accelerate to Academia. Postdoctoral Career Panel, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, April 2021.
Lessons Learned. Distinguished Graduate Elizabeth Chesterman Memorial Lecture, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, August 2020.
Teaching Experience
| University of Pennsylvania Experimental Design Workshop Group Leader | Philadelphia, PA Aug 2022 |
| Medical University of South Carolina Supplementary Instruction for PhD 1st year curriculum Summer Undergraduate Research Course Lecturer | Charleston, SC 2019 – 2020 2018 & 2019 |
Conference Participation
Poster Presentations
Poster Presentations
Fulmer, D., Shields, E., Smith, C., Jain, R., Epstein, J.A.; Histone methyltransferases GLP/G9a are required for normal neural crest development. Single Ventricle Investigators Meeting, Denver, CO, October 2024.
Fulmer, D., Shields, E., Smith, C., Jain, R., Epstein, J.A.; A critical role for histone methyltransferases GLP/G9a in neural crest development. Weinstein Cardiovascular Development Conference, Montreal Canada, May 2024.
Fulmer, D., Smith, C., Wong, K., Epstein, J.; Investigating the Role of H3K9me2 Only Domains in Regulating Tissue-Specific Gene Expression. Penn Epigenetics Institute Symposium, January 2023.
Fulmer, D., Smith, C., Wong, K., Epstein, J.; Investigating the Role of H3K9me2 Only Domains in Regulating Tissue-Specific Gene Expression. Penn-Stanford CVI Symposium, October 2022.
Fulmer, D., Smith, C., Wong, K., Epstein, J.; Exploring the role of H3K9me2 in the specification and maintenance of cell identity. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories Epigenetics & Chromatin Meeting, September 2022.
Fulmer, D., Smith, C., Lan, Y., Epstein, J.; Investigating the role of H3K9me2 in regulating expression of cell-fate-specific gene programs. University of Pennsylvania Cell & Developmental Biology Retreat, May 2022.
Fulmer, D., Toomer, K., Glover, J., Guo, L., Moore, K., Moore, R., Gensemer, C., Rumph, M., Emetu, F., Bian, J., Lipschutz, J., Norris, R.; Desert Hedgehog-primary cilia signaling shapes mitral valve morphogenesis and disease. Society for Developmental Biology Online Meeting, July 2020.
Fulmer, D., Moore, R. Fogelgren, B., Toomer, K., Lilong, G., Lobo, G., Zuo, X., Norris, R., Lipschutz, J.; Defects in the exocyst-cilia machinery results in disease development across multiple organ systems. American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week Meeting, Washington D.C., November 2019.
Fulmer, D., Toomer, K., Guo, L., Moore, K., Glover, J., Stairley, R., Moore, R., Gensmer, C., Rumph, M.K., Emetu, F., Bian, J., Beck, T., Abrol, S., Lipschutz, J., Norris, R.; Desert Hedgehog signaling contributes to mitral valve remodeling during development. 2019 Meeting of the ESC Working Group on Development, Anatomy and Pathology, Málaga, Spain, October 2019.
Fulmer, D., Toomer, K., Guo, L., Moore, K., Glover, J., Stairley, R., Moore, McDowell, C., R., Lipschutz, J., Norris, R.; Desert Hedgehog signaling contributes to mitral valve development and disease. Heart Valve Society Meeting, Sitges, Spain, April 2019.
Fulmer, D., Guz, J., Norris, R., Wessels, A., Kern, M., Visconti, R., Awgulewitsch.; Uncovering novel Hoxc8 functional roles in vivo through CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in mice. Twelfth Annual DCRI & Pediatrics Research Symposium, Charleston, SC, April 2019.
Fulmer, D., Toomer K., Guo, L., Moore, K., Glover, J., Stairley, R., McDowell, C., Lipschutz, J., Norris, R.; Desert Hedgehog Signaling Contributes to Mitral Valve Development and Disease. Regenerative Medicine Workshop, Charleston, SC, March 2019.
Fulmer, D., Guz, J., Norris, R., Wessels, A., Kern, M., Visconti, R., Awgulewitsch, A.; Uncovering novel Hoxc8 functional roles in vivo through CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in mice. Twelfth Annual DCRI & Pediatric Research Symposium, Charleston, SC, April 2019.
Fulmer, D., Toomer, K., Lilong, G., Moore, K., Glover, J., Stairley, R., Moore, R., Lipschutz, J., Norris, R.; Desert Hedgehog signaling contributes to mitral valve development and disease. Regenerative Medicine Workshop, Charleston, SC, March 2019.
Fulmer, D., Fogelgren, B., Toomer, K., Guo, L., Norris, R., Lipschutz, J.; Cardiac valve abnormalities in PKD are due to defects in ciliogenesis, and ciliogenic programs involving the exocyst are conserved across organs. American Society of Cell Biology Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, December 2017.
Fulmer, D., Fogelgren, B., Toomer, K., Norris, R., Lipschutz, J.; Cardiac valve abnormalities in PKD are due to defects in ciliogenesis, and ciliogenic programs involving the exocyst are conserved across organs. American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week Meeting, New Orleans, LA, November 2017.
Fulmer, D., Toomer, K., Guo, L., Brooks, B., Lipschutz, J., Norris, R.; Mitochondria, Primary Cilia, and Mitral Valve Prolapse. Oxidants, Redox Balance, and Stress Signaling Course, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden May 2017.
Fulmer, D., Toomer, K., Guo, L., Lipschutz, J., Norris, R.; Primary Cilia Contribute to Cardiac Valvular Diseases through DZIP1 and Exocyst Mutations. MUSC Department of Medicine Research Day, Charleston, SC March 2017.
Fulmer, D., Toomer, K., Guo, L., Johnson, A., Williams, L., Lipschutz, J., Norris, R.; Identification of DZIP1 Mutations in Patients with Mitral Valve Prolapse. MUSC Student Research Day, Charleston, SC November 2016.
Fulmer, D., Ayme-Southgate, A.; Alternative Splicing & Z-Band Protein Isoforms in Manduca sexta. College of Charleston 26th Annual School of Mathematics and Science Research Poster Session, Charleston, SC, April 2014.
Moderation
Co-moderator of Origins II session, Single Ventricle Investigator Meeting, Denver, CO, Oct 2024
Ad Hoc Reviewer
Circulation
Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine, Ad hoc reviewer
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ad hoc reviewer
Mentoring
| Epstein Lab | ||
| Mariacristina Calcagno | Summer High School Researcher | Summer 2024 |
| Roger Wong | Summer Undergraduate Researcher | Summer 2024 |
| Norris Lab | ||
| Natalie Koren | Technician | Summer 2020 |
| Annah Nieman | PhD Rotation Student | Spring 2020 |
| Christina Wang | PREP Student | 2019 – 2020 |
| Sameer Abrol | Intern | Summer 2019 |
| Justin Bian | SC Governor’s High School Researcher | Summer 2019 |
| Faith Emetu | Undergraduate Researcher | Summer 2019 |
| Annette Krzyzanski | Intern | Summer 2019 |
| Tyler Beck | MD/PhD Trainee | 2019 – 2020 |
| Colin McDowell | PhD Rotation Student | Fall 2018 |
| William Reeder | Master’s Rotation Student | Fall 2018 |
| Cortney Gensemer | PhD Trainee | 2018 – 2020 |
| Mary Kate Rumph | Master’s Trainee | 2018 – 2020 |
| Sandra Ramos-Ortiz | Undergraduate Researcher | Summer 2017 |
| Rebecca Stairley | Technician | 2017 – 2019 |
| Janiece Glover | Master’s Trainee & Technician | 2017 – 2020 |
| Kelsey Moore | PhD Trainee | 2017 – 2020 |
| Amanda Daulagala | PhD Rotation Student | Fall 2017 |
| Michaela Hughes | Technician | 2017 |
| Ka’la Drayton | Medical Rotation Student | Summer 2017 |
| Reece Moore | Undergraduate Researcher & Medical Rotation Student | 2017 – 2020 |
| Breiona Catchings | Undergraduate Researcher | Summer 2017 |
| Brittany Brooks | Technician | 2016 – 2017 |
| Alex Drohan | Undergraduate Researcher | Summer 2016 & Summer 2017 |
| Neal Peterson | Medical Rotation Student | Summer 2016 |
| Paige Swanson | SC Governor’s High School Researcher | Summer 2016 |
| Mulholland Lab | ||
| Danyell Johnson | Undergraduate Researcher | Summer 2015 |
Leadership Experience
| University of Pennsylvania | |
| Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (EDI) Committee of Cell and Developmental Biology Department Co-moderated Black History Month Movie discussion following viewing of the Immortal Life of Henrietta LacksHelped to customize bystander intervention training with HollabackInput on Department communications/surveys from EDIAssistance with setting committee direction/priorities | Spring 2021 – present |
| Medical University of South Carolina | |
| First Year Curriculum Steering Committee Primary Student Representative Participated in planning and shaping the First Year Curriculum for the following yearActed as a liaison between students and faculty | Fall 2015 – Summer 2016 |
| Graduate Student Association Treasurer Responsible for reconciling all financial accounts and making paymentsProduced yearly operating budget | Fall 2016 – Summer 2018 |
| SC PEACH Steering Committee and Founding Member Initiative in which we taught monthly science labs to 4th graders at a local underserved schoolAssist with preparation and planning of labs for school childrenLed lectures and labs; interacted with students | Fall 2018 – Summer 2020 |
| SC PEAR Founder and Steering Committee Member Student and postdoc led policy advocacy and outreach groupCreated organization and led the planning and organization of all meetings and activities | Summer 2019 – Summer 2020 |
| Student Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council Founding Member Acted as a liaison between students and university leadershipCritique and commend university action as it related to diversity, inclusion, and student perception of academic environment | Spring 2017 – Summer 2020 |
| Student Research Day Committee Help with the organization and planning of poster boards for student research day | Fall 2016 & Fall 2017 |
| University Honor Council Vice President Presided over formal honor council hearings for the College of Graduate StudiesCoordinate communication necessary to hold hearings and process accusations of honor code violations | Summer 2018 – Spring 2019 |
| Charleston Community | |
| Graduate Women in Science Secretary Recorded meeting minutes, drafted communications to members and the public, maintained communication with the national organization | Summer 2018 – Summer 2019 |
Science Communication Experience
University of Pennsylvania Department of Cell and Developmental Biology Twitter Account Management February 2021 – 2024
Media Coverage
Life experiences lead Graduate Studies student to outstanding academic achievements, MUSC Catalyst News, May 15, 2020,
https://web.musc.edu/about/news-center/2020/05/15/graduate-studies
Mutated ciliary genes tied to heart valve birth defect, The Medical News, September 17, 2019, https://www.news-medical.net/news/20190917/Mutated-ciliary-genes-tied-to-heart-valve-birth-defect.aspx
Defective cilia linked to heart valve birth defects, Science Daily, September 16, 2019, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190916170110.htm
Defective cilia linked to heart valve birth defects, EurekaAlert!, September 16, 2019, https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-09/muos-dcl091619.php
Professional Associations
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Society for Cell Biology
European Society of Cardiology (WG on Development, Anatomy & Pathology)
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Society for Developmental Biology
Related Professional Skills
Bioinformatics
Bedtools
GAT
Pandas
Python3
Model Systems
Chicken embryos
Embryonic stem cells (human & mouse)
Human heart tissue
Immortalized cell lines
Mice (embryos, neonates & adults)
Primary cell culture
Zebrafish
Specialized Lab Techniques
Animal care/breeding
Cell culture
Confocal microscopy
Cut & Run
Cut & Tag
Histopathology
Imaris Software
Immunocytochemistry
Microdissection
Next Generation Sequencing (Illumina NextSeq 550)
OligoFISH
Quantitative RT-PCR
Transferable Skills
Critical thinking and problem solving
Project management
Data collection and analysis
Rapid evaluation and interpretation of new information
Organization and time management
Training and mentoring
Creativity
Creating and delivering presentations
Technical and grant writing
Microsoft Office Suite proficiency
Adobe Creative Cloud proficiency
Team work
Leadership abilities
Audio and video editing