User:Joseph Devaney

I have always had a strong curiosity about chemistry, which grew and developed into an interest about how chemistry plays into human biology, specifically the chemistry of DNA. As an undergraduate at Penn State, I sought out a co-op at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Lab in the research and development department. I tested and validated different methods of DNA purification looking for the best preparation technique for capillary electrophoresis analysis. During this co-op I met my future PhD advisor, Dr. James Girard at American University, with whom I completed my dissertation describing techniques utilizing high performance liquid chromatography methods to separate and genotype short tandem repeats in human nuclear DNA.

Following a short stint in industry, I accepted a post-doctorate position at Children’s National Medical Center working under the mentorship of Dr. Eric Hoffman. My work with Dr. Hoffman focused on genetic variation and muscle phenotypes, primarily muscle size and strength. It is from this work that I have developed a keen interest in examining new technologies for genotyping and innovative methods to select SNPs that may have a function in phenotype development or maintenance.

I was promoted to a faculty position at Children’s in early 2006. My research is focused on the search for genetic variations that contribute to skeletal muscle, bone, and fat phenotypes. I am also part of a research group concentrated on the identification of genetic variants that contribute to heart attack. In all of our research we are focused on learning the function of associated genetic variants and how they affect the entire biological system.