Samantha Yang

Graduate Student Researcher @ CMU | NSF GRFP

San Francisco Bay Area

About

Hello! I am a 2nd year ChemE PhD student and NSF Graduate Research Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University in the lab of Dr. Katie Whitehead studying RNA drug delivery systems. My current project investigates the mechanism of extracellular vesicle mediated drug delivery from lipid nanoparticles. I received my BS in Chemical Engineering with a concentration in Biotechnology from UC Berkeley where I worked with Dr. Evan Miller on voltage sensitive dyes for cell electrophysiology. I have a strong interest in interdisciplinary and global research collaborations and have completed research projects in biology and pharmacy in Japan and Singapore with the support of an NSF IRES Fellowship and Amgen Scholar award. I am passionate about improving science communication and education.

Experience

  • Graduate Student Researcher at Carnegie Mellon University
    Jan 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 6 mos

    - Working in the lab of Dr. Katie Whitehead on RNA drug delivery systems - Investigating extracellular vesicle (EV) mediation with respect to lipid nanoparticle delivery

  • NSF IRES Researcher at National Science Foundation (NSF)
    May 2023 - Jul 2023 · 3 mos

    - Received National Science Foundation International Research Experience for Students (IRES) Fellowship - Visiting Researcher at the National Institute for Basic Biology in Japan - Established transgenic line of medaka fish as glucose monitoring system for the study of diabetes

  • University of California, Berkeley, College of Chemistry (3 yrs 5 mos)
    • Miller Lab Undergraduate Researcher
      May 2020 - May 2023 · 3 yrs 1 mo

      Undergraduate research assistant in Professor Evan Miller’s lab studying electrophysiology of cardiomyocytes and HEK cells through the use of synthetic voltage sensitive dyes

    • Alivisatos Group Undergraduate Researcher
      Jan 2020 - May 2020 · 5 mos

      Investigated atomic plane orientation trends in nanocrystal assembly using TEM data and MATLAB as part of the Alivisatos Group Undergraduate Research Program

  • ChemE Car at Berkeley (3 yrs 8 mos)
    • Chief Safety Officer
      May 2022 - Apr 2023 · 1 yr

      - Reviewing SOPs for all battery and clock subteams, reorganizing and revising lab protocols to increase efficiency and safety

    • Vitamin C Clock Project Manager
      May 2020 - Jun 2022 · 2 yrs 2 mos

      - Co-leading the investigation of the reaction of ascorbic acid with iodine and starch in producing a mechanism to stop car at the correct distance in the AIChE ChemE Car Competition

    • Sulfur Clock Team Member
      Sep 2019 - May 2020 · 9 mos

      - Member of the Sulfur Clock team, investigating the reaction of sodium thiosulfate with hydrochloric acid in producing a mechanism to stop car at the correct distance in the AIChE ChemE Car Competition

  • Amgen Scholar Researcher at National University of Singapore
    May 2022 - Aug 2022 · 4 mos

    - One of 22 students selected from across the globe to conduct research in the Amgen Scholars program at the National University of Singapore - Researching self-assembled antimicrobial peptides for anti-infective therapy in the lab of Dr. Rachel Ee in the Dept. of Pharmacy