Bio

I am Mai Ly Burke, a first-year Master's student studying Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling. Having grown up in Vietnam—a country that grapples with many health challenges—my work is fueled by a genuine passion for giving back to my community. I was inspired to enter the genetic counseling field by my volunteer work supporting children with cancer in public hospitals in Vietnam, where I saw the urgent need for improved access to healthcare and genetic services. My long-term goal is to facilitate the introduction of the genetic counseling field to Vietnam, where there is a stark shortage of genetic experts, focusing on the prevention, diagnosis, and screening of diseases like cancer to improve health outcomes in my community.

Please feel free to reach out to connect! I am always looking to meet others who share my passion for genetics, global health, and health equity.

Contact

  • Academic
    maily@stanford.edu
    University - Student Department: Genetics Position: Graduate

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 3089

All Publications

  • Pavement ant extract is a chemotaxis repellent for C. elegans. microPublication biology Lopez, J. S., Ali, S., Asher, M., Benjamin, C. A., Brennan, R. T., Burke, M. L., Civantos, J. M., DeJesus, E. A., Geller, A., Guo, M. Y., Haase Cox, S. K., Johannsen, J. M., Kang, J. S., Konsker, H. B., Liu, B. C., Oakes, K. G., Park, H. I., Perez, D. R., Sajjadian, A. M., Torio Salem, M., Sato, J., Zeng, A. I., Juarez, B. H., Gonzalez, M., Morales, G., Bradon, N., Fiocca, K., Pamplona Barbosa, M. M., O'Connell, L. A. 2024; 2024

    Abstract

    Ant behavior relies on a collection of natural products, from following trail pheromones during foraging to warding off potential predators. How nervous systems sense these compounds to initiate a behavioral response remains unclear. Here, we used Caenorhabditis elegans chemotaxis assays to investigate how ant compounds are detected by heterospecific nervous systems. We found that C. elegans avoid extracts of the pavement ant ( Tetramorium immigrans ) and either osm-9 or tax-4 ion channels are required for this response. These experiments were conducted in an undergraduate laboratory course, demonstrating that new insights into interspecies interactions can be generated through genuine research experiences in a classroom setting.

    View details for DOI 10.17912/micropub.biology.001146

    View details for PubMedID 38596360

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11002644