Research Junction Connecting Faculty Across Campus

1.     What is your educational background?

 

I received my Bachelor of Science degree from Biola University in Southern California. I then went to the University of Cincinnati for my graduate work, where I studied mechanisms of gastric wound repair in the laboratory of Dr. Yana Zavros. I received my Ph.D. in systems biology and physiology in May 2015. After completing my Ph.D., I joined the Goldenring Laboratory at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for my postdoctoral fellowship. At Vanderbilt University Medical Center, I worked on elucidating the pathophysiology of Microvillus Inclusion Disease and the role of Myosin Vb in protein trafficking in the intestine.

 

2.     Where is your hometown?

 

I grew up in Julian, California. A tiny town in the mountains of San Diego that is known for its apple pie and yearly snowfall.

 

3.     Why did you choose MUSC?

 

A major draw of MUSC was the recently acquired digestive disease research center (DDRC). I was excited to get involved with a new group of gastrointestinal-focused researchers. Another compelling reason for joining MUSC was the chance to work with my sister Mindy. Since graduate school, Mindy and I have wanted to start labs at the same institute. When applying for faculty positions, Mindy and I only applied to research institutes that had openings for each of us to submit applications. Mindy is a microbiologist and gut physiologist, and I am an epithelial cell biologist and physiologist. As a result, most of our applications were sent to different departments (Mindy applied to Microbiology departments while I applied to Cell Biology departments). MUSC had two openings for tenure track assistant professors in the same department, so Mindy and I jumped at the chance to have labs on the same floor and in the same department. I was also drawn to Dr. Stephen Duncan’s vision for the department and the DDRC and was excited to be a part of it.

 

4.     What are your current research interests and how did you become interested in this field?

 

My graduate studies started my interest in the gastrointestinal tract. During graduate school I had a fantastic mentor, Dr. Yana Zavros, who modeled what it is to be a great scientist. Her influence lead me to choose a career in academia and in gastrointestinal cell biology and physiology. My current research is focused on understanding the role of Myosin Vb in regulating cell homeostasis in the intestine and liver. I am also interested in how mutations in Myosin Vb contribute to colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.

 

5.     What has been your biggest scientific contribution to date?

 

My postdoctoral work resulted in four first-author publications all focused on Microvillus Inclusion Disease (MVID). MVID is a congenital diarrhea disorder that appears shortly after birth and results in profound diarrhea that is currently incurable. Using mouse models, a pig model, human samples and organoid models, I helped to elucidate the cause of severe diarrhea and to characterize the intestinal abnormalities that arose from mutations that cause MVID. My postdoctoral work suggested new therapeutic targets for treating MVID that would promote absorption of nutrients and water while dampening chloride/water secretion.

 

6.     Is there a scientific area/field you would like to know more about?

 

I would like to know more about how organs impact each other. Most of my work focuses on the intestine, but other organs impact intestinal function and homeostasis. I would love to learn more about how the gastric environment impacts the intestinal microbiota and how the liver and pancreas also play critical roles in intestinal physiology. The gastrointestinal tract also influences the brain and heart, which is fascinating, and I am interested in delving into these rapidly developing research areas in the future.  

 

7.     Would you like to connect with colleagues within a certain field? If so, what field/area?

 

I’m interested in connecting with other scientists in any field. I think that meeting other researchers from diverse scientific backgrounds always brings about new ideas and approaches that I had never thought of using for my own research.

 

8.     What are some of your hobbies? What do you do for fun?

 

I love to travel, read and bake. Since the COVID19 pandemic, I haven’t done much traveling, but I have done a lot of reading and baking.

 

9.     What is your favorite movie, tv-show, food?

 

My favorite movie is the Painted Veil. My favorite tv show is the great British baking show and my favorite food is ice cream.

 

10.  Please share one interesting detail about yourself.

 

I am one of three sisters, and we all received our PhDs at the University of Cincinnati in the department of molecular and cellular physiology. We also all study the gastrointestinal tract.

 

11.  If you had a yacht, what would you name it?

 

Rosebud (in reference to Moby Dick and Citizen Kane).

 

12.  Who would play you in a movie about your life?

 

Probably Amy Adams, since we share the same name and some people tell me I look like her.

 

13.  If you were not a scientist, you would be:

 

I think I would be a professor of literature. I had a hard time deciding whether I should major in English Literature or Biology as an undergrad. I’ve always loved reading and I think if I hadn’t done a PhD in science, I would have pursued a Ph.D. in literature.

 

14.  What are the top three activities on your bucket list?

 

My bucket list is mostly travel-related. My top three activities are to visit Antarctica (so I will have been on every continent), hike to the base camp of Everest, and swim with whale sharks in the Maldives.

 

15.  What’s the best advice you were ever given?

 

My graduate mentor always told me that success is the best revenge. It sounds a bit sinister, but on days when I feel burnt out, I think about her telling me that and of all the people who put up obstacles during my graduate studies and who didn’t think I would succeed in academia. There is a lot of satisfaction in overcoming challenges and odds and in proving people wrong.

 

Make a Connection

Drop Dr. Amy Engevik an email at engevika@musc.edu.