Alex Hou

Chemical Engineering + Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering Student @ Northwestern University

Greater Boston

About

I am a student at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences studying Chemical Engineering, with a concentration in bioengineering. I am also pursuing a minor in Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering. In addition to these topics, I also have experience with machine learning. I am interested in making an impact in biotechnology and sustainability through research. Please feel free to reach out to my email: [email protected]

Experience

  • Research Assistant - Ashty Karim Lab at Center for Synthetic Biology at Northwestern University
    Jan 2026 - Present · 7 mos

    Cell Free Protein Synthesis

  • REU Intern at NSF CURB Engineering Research Center
    Jun 2025 - Aug 2025 · 3 mos

    As a part of the Wilfred Chen Group at the University of Delaware’s Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department, demonstrated a 1.6x rate increase for the conversion of ethanol to acetaldehyde using ethanol dehydrogenase immobilized onto encapsulin protein nanoparticles as compared to free ethanol dehydrogenase. Cloned, expressed, and purified recombinant ethanol dehydrogenase and encapsulin nanoparticles, utilizing SDS-PAGE to optimize protein expression and SpyCatcher-SpyTag reaction conditions.

  • Research Assistant - John Rogers Group at Simpson Querrey Institute @ Northwestern University
    Jun 2024 - Jun 2025 · 1 yr 1 mo

    Fabricated millimeter-scale bioresorbable transient pacemakers for benchtop and in-vivo testing. Conducted and assisted in benchtop testing of device components to improve device lifetime performance using techniques in electrochemistry. Analyzed data using GraphPad Prism and MATLAB.

  • Camp Counselor at Running Brook Camps
    Jun 2021 - Aug 2023 · 2 yrs 3 mos

    Collaborated with a team of counselors to engage with, supervise, and promote the safety, development, and well-being of a group of twenty 7-9/9-11-year-olds at a day camp. Initiated, organized, and led small-group and inter-group activities. Summers 2021 & 2023.

  • Research Assistant - Pinghua Liu Group at Boston University
    May 2022 - Aug 2022 · 4 mos

    Screened for drug candidates with repurposing potential and small molecules with anti-obesity effects by deriving features from the LINCS L1000 Database, LINCS L1000 Characteristic Direction Signature Search Engine (L1000CDS2), and Broad Institute’s Connectivity Map (CMap). Independently identified two potential small molecule candidates and their mechanisms of action. Wrote a scientific research paper - “Identifying a Potential Novel Obesity Drug Candidate Using Bioinformatics” - laying the foundation for my Senior Thesis.