Ethan Putnam

Ethan Putnam

PhD Student in Cellular Molecular and Biomedical Sciences

University of Vermont

I am a 2nd year PhD student in the CMB program at the University of Vermont advised by Dani Brasino. My research focuses on developing an optimized gut organ-on-chip model system to investigate host-microbe interactions in cancer. I am also interested in applying machine learning approaches to protein design.

Previously, I was the lead clinical research coordinator for multiple clinical trials at the Vermont Lung Center, worked for the Nazarian Lab at Children’s National on model development for transformed NF1 gliomas and was a member of the Bouton Lab at UVM during my undergrad.

Publications

Genetic susceptibility and outcomes of pediatric, adolescent and young adult IDH-mutant astrocytomas

Bornhorst, M., Bhattacharya, S., Putnam, E., Barseghyan, H., Nobre, L., Zapotocky, M., MacDonald, T., Boue, D., Fu, Y., Tabori, U., Goecks, J., Hawkins, C., Bouffet, E., Vortmeyer, A., Schniederjan, M., Bronischer, A., Orr, O., Solomon, D., Mueller, S., Opocher, E., Marks, A., Koschmann, C., Leung, D., Mody, R., Vilain, E., Turner, J., Kilburn, L., Rood, B., Hwang, E., Packer, R., Nazarian, J., Ho, C.

In Preparation

Optical genome mapping identifies a novel pediatric embryonal tumor with a ZNF532::NUTM1 fusion

Bornhorst, M., Eze, A., Jr, Bhattacharya, S., Putnam, E., Almira-Suarez, M. I., Rossi, C., Kambhampati, M., Almalvez, M., Barseghyan, M., Del Risco, N., Dotson, D., Turner, J., Myseros, J. S., Vilain, E., Packer, R. J., Nazarian, J., Rood, B., & Barseghyan, H.

The Journal of Pathology, 260(3), 329–338 (2023) · DOI

Education

University of Vermont
Advisor: Danielle Brasino
Expected May 2029
Ph.D. candidate in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Sciences
University of Vermont
May 2021
BS in Neuroscience, Presidential Scholar

Experience

University of Vermont Medical Center – Vermont Lung Center
Jun. 2023-Jul. 2024
Clinical Research Coordinator II

Lead study coordinator for RECOVER long-covid clinical trials at the VLC.

Children's National Hospital - Bornhorst Lab
Jun. 2023-Jun. 2024
Special Category Trainee

Conducted bioinformatics analyses of WGS/WES sequencing and methylation array data for paper on IDH-mutant pediatric gliomas.

Children's National Hospital - Nazarian Lab
Jun. 2021-May 2023
Research Technician II

Led a team responsible for developing novel preclinical models for pediatric brain cancers. Conducted bioinformatics analyses of large-scale -omics data. Helped in the creation of a new pediatric biobank for patients with Neurofibromatosis type 1.

University of Vermont - Bouton Lab
Sept. 2019-Nov. 2020
Undergraduate Research Assistant

Designed and performed experiments with animal subjects focused on action/habit distinction, renewal, extinction, and general behavioral and learning concepts. Assisted in data analysis and literature reviews for scientific publications.

Conference Presentations

Optical genome mapping identifies a novel pediatric embryonal tumor with a ZNF532::NUTM1 fusion

Putnam, E., Eze, A., Jr, Bhattacharya, S., Almira-Suarez, M. I., Rossi, C., Kambhampati, M., Almalvez, M., Barseghyan, M., Del Risco, N., Dotson, D., Turner, J., Myseros, J. S., Vilain, E., Packer, R. J., Nazarian, J., Rood, B., & Barseghyan, H., Bornhorst, M.

Children's National Research Education and Innovation Week, Washington, DC (April 19, 2023)

Pre-clinical models of Mismatch Repair Deficient Gliomas

Putnam, E., Yadavilli, S., Dawood, A., Mizoguchi, S., Subramaniam, B., Bornhorst, M., Nazarian, J.

International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, Hamburg, Germany (June 13, 2022)

NF1 Pre-Clinical Model Characterization

Putnam, E., Dawood, A., Mizoguchi, S., Yadavilli, S., Subramaniam, B., Eze, A., Bornhorst, M., Nazarian, J.

Children's National Research Education and Innovation Week, Washington, DC (April 5, 2022)

Awards & Fellowships

UVM Cancer Center Summer Research Fellowship
2025
Seelig Fund Summer Internship Award
2020

Teaching

University of Vermont
Jan.-May 2024-2025
Graduate Teaching Assistant - Introduction to Molecular Genetics Lab (MMG2040)

Leadership

University of Vermont Outing Club
Feb. 2018-May 2021
Outing Club Leader

Completed a competitive leadership development course and led wilderness excursions for UVM students in Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York.