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Gjuka, Donjeta

Donjeta Gjuka




I am interested in using protein engineering to enhance the immune system's response to disease.

EDUCATION

  • The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas

PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology (August 2015- present)

Grade Point Average: 4.0, “Provost’s Graduate Excellence Fellowship” recipient

  • Texas Lutheran University (TLU), Seguin, Texas

Bachelor of Science, Molecular Biology and Chemistry (August 2009-May 2013)

Grade Point Average: 4.0, Summa cum laude, Honors Program (August 2009-May 2013)

 

 PUBLICATIONS

Yoo*, W., Gjuka*, D. et al. “Fatty acids in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: Focus on pentadecanoic acid” PLOS ONE, 2017.

*indicating equal contribution/first co-authorship

 

 HONORS AND AWARDS

  • “Provost’s Graduate Excellence Fellowship” - $30,000 for five years of the PhD degree (Fall 2015-May 2020), The University of Texas at Austin
  •  Summa cum laude, Honors Program (August 2009-May 2013), Texas Lutheran University
  • “Student of the Year”, 2012-13, Texas Lutheran University
  • “Education for Peace Scholarship” - Full tuition scholarship throughout the undergraduate career/ $30,000 annually (Summer 2009-May 2013), Texas Lutheran University
  • Provost’s List (Fall 2009-May 2013), Texas Lutheran University
  • SACUCCA Achievement Award (Spring 2010) $500

 

 PRESENTATIONS

  • “Understanding How Tumor Microenvironment Governs Breast Cancer Stem Cell Plasticity and Malignancy in vitro”
    • Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA (July 2012)
  • “Replication of Ni-ARD’s Active Site Structure: Synthesis of 6-H-DPPN ligand and [ZnII(OPh(6-H-DPPN))]+ Metal Complex”
    • Alpha Chi National Conference, Baltimore, MD (April 2012)
    • Texas Chemical Society Conference, Austin, TX (Fall 2011)
    • TLU Academic Symposium, TLU (Fall 2011 and Spring 2012)

 

TEACHING ASISSTANT POSITIONS:

Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin (Fall 2017)

Microbiology Lab, The University of Texas at Austin (Spring 2018)