Marshall Dawkins
M1-P1
Professional Background
I am originally from Omaha, Nebraska, and earned my undergraduate degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 2022. At Nebraska Wesleyan, I majored in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology with a minor in Spanish, while also excelling as an NCAA athlete on the men’s swim team. During my studies, I developed a keen interest in aging biology, including telomere attrition, progeroid syndromes, and lifespan variations across species, which fueled my passion for research in aging and age-related diseases.
My formal research journey began at the University of Nebraska Medical Center through their Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Under the mentorship of Dr. Pankaj Singh during my first summer, I studied metabolic alterations in pancreatic cancer through the inhibition of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. In my second summer, under Dr. Xinglong Wang, I investigated the role of TDP-43 liquid-liquid phase separation in the regulation of lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation.
Inspired by these experiences, I pursued a two-year National Institutes of Health Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) in Baltimore, Maryland. Working in the Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics under Dr. Payel Sen, I investigated how DNA hydroxymethylation alters transcription during aging and contributes to age-related physiological decline. Additionally, I contributed to a large-scale project aimed at identifying early biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in peripheral blood.
My time at the NIA solidified my commitment to researching aging and age-related diseases. It also underscored the importance of developing preventive and therapeutic strategies to enhance healthspan. These experiences, coupled with insights gained from clinical experiences with elderly patients facing the challenges of aging and age-related diseases, have motivated my pursuit of a career as a physician-scientist specializing in geriatrics and age research. Outside of academia, I enjoy experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, exploring scenic hiking trails, and challenging myself in triathlon competitions.