Edwin Murenzi

Biography
Edwin received his undergraduate degree at Salve Regina University, Newport RI, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in both Biology and Chemistry. Edwin is a 4th year Ph.D. student in the Graduate Program in Molecular & Cellular Biology. He has been a member of the Clark Lab for 6 years where he also obtained his Master of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology. His research focuses on the effect of environmental toxicants, namely pyrethroid insecticides, on adult and juvenile mammalian brains. Aside, from his dissertation work, Edwin is also involved in multiple projects in the Clark Lab namely, entomological research on ectoparasites such as lice and bed bugs focusing on the prevalence of knock-down resistances across head and body lice and bed bugs. In addition, he has been involved with a Drosphila melanogaster studying DDT-resistant strains and their ability to bypass the insulin pathway and use fat as a source of energy in response to insulin resistance that is a byproduct of DDT-resistance. When he finishes his Ph.D. Edwin intends to work in industry focusing on target-driven therapies for autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Awards
• Best Graduate Poster Award (2017): North Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry annual meeting, University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA.
• Best Poster Award (2015) Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology Annual Graduate Student Retreat, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
• ACS AGRO Division Education Award (2015): 250th American Chemical Society National Meeting ∣ Fall 2015 ∣ Boston, MA ∣ August 16 - 20.

Publications
• Kim, J. H., Previte, D. J., Yoon, K. S., Murenzi, E., Koehler, J. E., Pittendrigh, B. R., S. H. Lee & Clark, J. M. (2017). Comparison of the proliferation and excretion of Bartonella quintana between body and head lice following oral challenge. Insect molecular biology, 26(3), 266-276.
• Murenzi, E., Toltin, A. C., Symington, S. B., Morgan, M. M., & Clark, J. M. (2017). Evaluation of microtransplantation of rat brain neurolemma into Xenopus laevis oocytes as a technique to study the effect of neurotoxicants on endogenous voltage-sensitive ion channels. Neurotoxicology, 60, 260-273.
• Kim, J. H., Previte, D. J., Yoon, K. J., Kim, K. M., Murenzi, E., Yoon, K. S., Kim, Clark, J.M. & Lee, S. H. (2016, April). Comparison of Immune Responses between Human Body and Head Louse: Insights into Vector Competence Difference. In 2016 한국응용곤충학회 정기총회 및 국제 심포지엄 (pp. 31-31).
• Murenzi, E., Snyder, M. C., Toltin, A. C., Symington, S. B., & Clark, J. M. (2015, August). Permethrin mimics the action of DDT on adult rat brain neurolemma microtransplanted into Xenopus laevis oocytes. In II International Symposium on Pyrethrum 1169 (pp. 15-24).