Danny McSweeney
He/They
I am trans/non-binary/queer and I am a graduate student.//
Originally from Atlanta, GA, I started my professional career in the arts as a clothing tailor/costume technician in theater, working in costume construction shops and opera houses in Washington, DC. After five years, I reached my career goals in the costuming industry as a draper/tailor, and I decided to transition into a career in scientific research, pursuing a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology first at the University of Southern Maine and finally at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I have continued on to pursue a Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology at UMass with a focus on neurodevelopment and stem cell biotechnology. Using in vitro neuronal differentiation methods developed by our lab, I am motivated to investigate how proteins regulate human synapse maturation and function and how these proteins contribute to neurodevelopmental diseases like autism spectrum disorders and intellectual differences. Post-graduation, I am interested in pursuing mission-driven DEI work specifically in the biotech industry.