Grace Matwijec

Coming to college, I knew that getting involved in research was something I wanted to do. Therefore, I started research with the Center for Data Driven-Discovery in Biomedicine (D3b) during my freshman fall as a work-study student. At D3b, I was involved in data management for the Spina Bifida National Registry and a Congenital Birth Defect Biobank for genetic research. Through funding from the PURM program, I later started research in the Spinner Lab, which is a genetics lab focused on Alagille Syndrome.Currently, my work at the lab involves researching the pathomechanism of one of the disease-causing genes, NOTCH2. Past projects include characterizing missense mutations in JAG1, investigating splice site variants in JAG1, and investigating a possible epigenetic link for the disease.The research I have been a part of thus far has been such an important part of my Penn experience, so I am so excited to help fellow Penn students start their research journey. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have about research!

• Clinical Research Assistant at Center for Data Driven-Discovery in Biomedicine (D3b, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, August 2021-2022)
• Research Assistant in the Spinner Lab (Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, May 2022- present)
• Penn Undergraduate Research Mentorship (PURM) Mentee (University of Pennsylvania, May 2022)
• CURF Fall Research Expo (2022, 2024)
• Louis H. Castor, M.D., C'48 Grant Recipient (Summer 2024)