B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, summa cum laude
Centre College
- Cumulative GPA: 3.96/4.00
- Coursework: Molecular Genetics, Metabolism, Macromolecules
Aug 2022-May 2026
Curriculum Vitae
Duncan McGinnis
PhD student at Mayo Clinic on the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Track, with research experience in genetics, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, and model organism chromosome biology.
Education
Research Experience
Investigating Chaperone Therapies in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow | PI: Peter Harris, Ph.D. | Co-Mentor: Cynthia Sieben, Ph.D. | Robert M. and Billie Kelley Pirnie Translational Polycystic Kidney Disease Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
- Measured the impact of two FDA-approved protein chaperone drugs on variant Polycystin-1 trafficking using a 3-color flow cytometry assay.
- Cultured, transfected, and treated HEK 293T and PKD1/2-/- human kidney epithelial cells.
- Adapted a flow cytometry assay to high-throughput confocal microscopy or plate reader formats for compound library screening and drug concentration optimization.
May 2025-Aug 2025
Expanding and Automating a Research Algorithm to Predict PKD1 and PKD2 Variant Pathogenicity and Penetrance
Undergraduate Research Intern | PI: Peter Harris, Ph.D. | Laboratory Mentor: Conrad Cruz | Robert M. and Billie Kelley Pirnie Translational Polycystic Kidney Disease Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
- Assisted with creation and development of an automation strategy for Dr. Harris's partially manual variant prediction algorithm using Python.
- Wrote scripts to validate variants, collect gnomAD, ClinVar, and Human Gene Mutation Database entries, and calculate ortholog and domain Grantham Variance scores.
Sep 2024-Aug 2025
Evaluating Rare Non-Truncating PKD1 and PKD2 Variants in Mayo Clinic Biobank Patients
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow | PI: Peter Harris, Ph.D. | Laboratory Mentor: Hana Yang, Ph.D. | Robert M. and Billie Kelley Pirnie Translational Polycystic Kidney Disease Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
- Used population frequency, in silico variant predictions and splicing tools, ortholog conservation, literature review, patient imaging, and charts to evaluate variant pathogenicity and penetrance.
- Classified one novel hypomorphic PKD1 variant and one novel likely pathogenic PKD2 variant.
May 2024-Aug 2024
Creating Telomere-Free Circular Chromosomes in the Budding Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Undergraduate Researcher | PI: Melissa Mefford, Ph.D. | Morehead State University, Morehead, KY
- Worked to create, confirm, and characterize strains of S. cerevisiae with circularized chromosomes.
- Developed a colony PCR procedure that reduced genotyping costs by 90%.
Aug 2021-May 2022; May 2023-Jul 2023
Publications
A novel approach for studies of telomere function: genetically engineered individual telomere-free circular chromosomes that are well-tolerated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mark Wilson, Caleb Clark, Austin Lytle, B. Hamilton Duncan McGinnis, Julia Chariker, Eric Rouchka, and Melissa Mefford. Genetics, in revision.
Oral Presentations
Investigating Chaperone Therapy in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease. Duncan W. McGinnis, Cynthia J. Sieben, Luyao Chen, and Peter C. Harris. Polycystic Kidney Disease Center Seminar, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, July 28, 2025.
Automating an Algorithm to Predict Variant Pathogenicity in ADPKD Patients. Duncan W. McGinnis, Conrad D. Cruz, Hana Yang, Rachel S. Schauer, Doaa E. Elbarougy, Cynthia J. Sieben, and Peter C. Harris. Research, Internship and Creative Endeavors Symposium, Centre College, April 24, 2025.
Evaluating PKD1 and PKD2 Non-Truncating Gene Variants in ADPKD Affected and Undefined Individuals. Duncan W. McGinnis, Hana Yang, Doaa E. Elbarougy, and Peter C. Harris. Polycystic Kidney Disease Center Seminar, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, July 29, 2024.
Creating Telomere-Free Circular Chromosomes in the Budding Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Duncan W. McGinnis and Melissa Mefford. 109th Kentucky Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Highland Heights, KY, November 3-4, 2023.
Circularizing Chromosome VII in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Duncan W. McGinnis and Melissa Mefford. 107th Kentucky Academy of Science Annual Meeting, virtual, November 5-6, 2021.
Poster Presentations
Investigating Chaperone Therapy in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease. Duncan W. McGinnis, Cynthia J. Sieben, Luyao Chen, and Peter C. Harris. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Symposium, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, August 1, 2025.
Expanding and Automating a Research Algorithm to Predict the Pathogenicity and Penetrance of PKD1 and PKD2 Variants in ADPKD Patients. Duncan W. McGinnis, Conrad D. Cruz, Hana Yang, Rachel S. Schauer, Doaa E. Elbarougy, Cynthia J. Sieben, and Peter C. Harris. Martin and Winifred Ehlers Symposium and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Research Retreat 2025, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, July 31, 2025.
Expanding and Automating a Research Algorithm to Predict the Pathogenicity and Penetrance of PKD1 and PKD2 Variants in ADPKD Patients. Duncan W. McGinnis, Conrad D. Cruz, Hana Yang, Rachel S. Schauer, Doaa E. Elbarougy, Cynthia J. Sieben, and Peter C. Harris. FASEB Summer Research "The Future of PKD" Conference, Southbridge, MA, June 29-July 3, 2025.
Evaluating PKD1 and PKD2 Non-Truncating Gene Variants in ADPKD Affected and Undefined Individuals. Duncan W. McGinnis, Hana Yang, Doaa E. Elbarougy, and Peter C. Harris. NIDDK Kidney, Urology, and Hematology Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, Charlottesville, VA, July 31-August 2, 2024.
Creating the First Genetically Engineered Eukaryote with Circular Chromosomes. Duncan W. McGinnis and Melissa Mefford. Posters at the Capitol, Frankfort, KY, March 3, 2022.
Creating Telomere-Free Circular Chromosomes in the Budding Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Duncan W. McGinnis and Melissa Mefford. Celebration of Student Scholarship, Morehead State University, Morehead, KY, April 27, 2022.
Honors and Awards
Goldwater Scholar
Nationally competitive scholarship for undergraduates interested in pursuing research in the sciences.
Mar 2025
James Graham Brown Fellow
Centre College's premier merit scholarship: full funding for four years, including summer enrichment projects.
Aug 2022-May 2026
National Merit Scholar
Mar 2022
Centre College Dean's List
Aug 2022-May 2026
Craft Academy Outstanding Alumni Award
Nov 2025
Extracurricular Activities
Vice President of Philanthropy, Beta Theta Pi Epsilon Chapter | Centre College
Organized fundraising events supporting Camp Horsin' Around and Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, raising over $2,000 during his tenure.
Apr 2024-Apr 2025
Study Abroad, University of Glasgow
Studied for a semester at the University of Glasgow in Scotland.
Jan 2024-May 2024
Vice President of Risk Management, Interfraternity Council | Centre College
Served on the executive committee and researched, wrote, and implemented a new judiciary system for policy violations.
Aug 2023-Dec 2023
Symphony Orchestra | Centre College
Performed as a classical violist in the Centre Symphony Orchestra.
Aug 2022-Dec 2023
Traditional Music Ensemble | Centre College
Performed as a fiddle player in the Centre Bluegrass Ensemble.
Aug 2024-Dec 2025