Megan Keene, B.A.

Email

Primary Email: [email protected]

Building/Location

Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center - 2nd Floor
5500 Campanile Dr
San Diego, CA 92182
Mail Code: 4614

Website Links

• House lab

Bio

My primary research interests include the impact of ID proteins on ovarian cancer recurrence following chemotherapy, as well as the role of MICAL2 and effect of chemotherapy in cancer cell attachment.

Education

B.A. Biochemistry with Biomedical Ethics Minor
University of San Diego

Areas of Specialization

Ovarian Cancer, Cancer Stem Cells, Chemotherapy Resistance, Cancer Relapse, Tumor Microenvironment

Fun Facts

I did tap, hip-hop, ballet, lyrical, and jazz from 2 to 21 years old at Capistrano Dance Company, Aliso Niguel High School, and University of San Diego

I also played soccer from 2 to 15. I still enjoy dancing and playing most sports.

I didn’t have my first PB&J sandwich until freshman year of college.

Mentors

Carrie D. House, Ph.D.

Awards & Honors

Honorable Mention from the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) (2024)

Monetary Award for a Resume Contest with CancerCareers.org (2024)

Dean’s Award for my poster presentation at the S3 Symposium – “Unveiling the role of ID1-4 proteins in cancer stem-like cell maintenance and contribution to ovarian cancer recurrence following chemotherapy” (2024)

ACCEL Travel Grant to attend American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (2025)

Presentations

CREATE Research Symposium – Moores Cancer Center, San Diego, CA. January 2025. “ID1-4 proteins’ contribution to cancer stem-like cell maintenance and ovarian cancer recurrence following chemotherapy”.

S3 Symposium – Poster Presentation – San Diego, CA. March 2024. “Unveiling the role of ID1-4 proteins in cancer stem-like cell maintenance and contribution to ovarian cancer recurrence following chemotherapy” *Dean’s Award Recipient*

SDSU Graduate Seminar Series – Oral Presentation – San Diego, CA. Once a year for duration of the PhD program

American Chemistry Society (ACS) Annual Conference – Poster Presentation – San Francisco, California, August 2023. “Exploring subunit communication in Ignicoccus islandicus and watermelon glyoxysomal malate dehydrogenases using molecular dynamics and site directed mutagenesis”.

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Annual Conference – Poster Presentation – Seattle, Washington, March 2023. “Using Computational and Biophysical Approaches to Explore Knock In and Knock Out Mutations of Ignicoccus Islandicus and Watermelon Glyoxysomal Malate Dehydrogenases”.

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Annual Conference – Oral Presentation and Poster Presentation – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 2022. “The Multifaceted Subunit Interface of Malate Dehydrogenase”.

Service

Curebound Cancer Challenge – Fundraised $1,000 for Cancer Research (2025)

Association of Women in Science (AWIS-SD) Event Committee and Outreach Committee Member (2024-Present)

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer – Fundraised $278 (2024)

Padres Pedal the Cause – Fundraised $1,650 for cancer research (2024)

Chemistry Olympiad exam proctor (2023)

Padres Pedal the Cause – Fundraised $1,140 for cancer research (2023)

Beach cleanups with Citizens Climate Lobby (2021-2023)

Clothing drives, beach cleanups, and free dance classes for underprivileged youth through ANHS Dance Team (2015-2019)

CSF at ANHS (2015-2019)

Teal Cares at ANHS (2016-2019)

Youth leadership (2015-2019)

Volunteer at Capistrano Academy of Dance’s Recitals (2015-Present)