Naples, Florida, United States
I am a graduate student through Yale University's BQBS program where I hope to combine my interests in biophysics and microbiology. I previously worked in Dr. Brian Kuhlman's lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to computationally design and experimentally characterize de novo proteins. As an undergraduate, I completed B.S. degrees in biology and mathematics and performed research aimed at using computational tools to study bacteria and Archaea.
• Used deep learning methods (RFdiffusion, ProteinMPNN, LigandMPNN, PyRosetta) to design de novo phosphoswitches • Experimentally validated computational designs using mass photometry and SEC-MALS
• Designed independent project to predict Shigella flexneri gene functions using a graph theoretic approach • Implemented LightGraphs.jl to analyze hundreds of gene relationships • Created bacterial mutant with LambaRed recombineering and characterized the mutant using growth curves, biofilm assays, and RT-qPCR • Trained master’s student and high school student in wet lab research
• Characterized remote homology between Eukarya and Archaea proteins using Foldseek, MMSeqs2, and the large language model ESM • Presented research finding to Harvard faculty at end-of-summer presentation
• Selected to teach a one credit UF honors course in a competitive application process • Received training focused on pedagogy and curriculum design • Taught 11 students in the Fall of 2023, course focused on systems thinking in biology and introduced diverse topics ranging from philosophy and neuroscience to infectious disease and development economics
• Working on an undergraduate team at the University of Florida to develop engineering solutions to target sepsis • Team was awarded silver medal in Paris at iGEM's international competition
• Awarded scholarship to go to the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge to discuss works by Calvin, Augustine, Locke, and Schmitt in small group discussions with professors