Roma Munday

Biography

I have spent many years studying biology and working on academic research. It has taught me that learning is a lifelong process but that our understanding and love for science begins long before we attend school. I grew up on an Indian Reservation outside of San Diego, Ca., which allowed me the opportunity to explore the natural world from an early age. It is this experience that helped drive my curiosity in science. My goal is to follow a career path that will allow me to relate my appreciation and knowledge of science to a broader audience.

Research

Most theories that explain senescence have been divided between programmed and stochastic theories of aging. Unfortunately, there is little comparative experimental data available regarding biological or molecular aging in clonal organisms that would allow us to determine a primary cause of senescence. Longevity requires investment in somatic maintenance and repair that must compete with investment in growth and reproduction. Our research hopes to identify the various processes that contribute to the phenomenon of senescence in Botryllus schlosseri. Understanding the complex cellular and molecular changes that contribute to senescence will provide insight into the mechanisms that explain why aging occurs.