A selection of research, design, and personal projects I have been a part of.
Optogenetics—using light to regulate genes—is a promising new tool for direct and programmable control of gene expression. With the Dunlop Lab, I developed and optimized novel optogenetic recombinases for bacterial use. Through multiple design cycles, we created a system with strong blue light-responsive gene excision and characterized its dynamic function.
Boston University, Dunlop Lab
I engineer and optimize Pichia pastoris yeast strains for therapeutic protein production, driving improvements in yield and product quality. During my time at Sunflower I have developed an IP-free gene knockout strategy, designed novel expression vectors, and optimized fermentation conditions. I also successfully completed multiple projects for external clients while managing the Strain Engineering team.
Sunflower Therapeutics
Using our optogenetic recombinase, we developed genetic constructs to control antibiotic resistance in bacteria using light. We then use this light-induced resistance for targeted microscopy applications and to improve fatty acid production in E. coli. See our publication for the details!
Boston University, Dunlop Lab
Engineering/synthetic biology is a rapidly growing field, and needs to be introduced to students early and in an accessible way. We created an adaptable curriculum module that can be used by anyone to teach the basic principles and applications of engineering biology. These slides will give students a basic understanding of the tools, technologies, and opportunities in engineering biology. Let us know if you find the materials useful or have suggestions for future material!
Engineering Biology Research Consortium
The BioBuilder program focuses on bringing modern research into high school classrooms. We help high school teams work on synthetic biology projects using the Design-Build-Test-Learn cycle. Currently, I mentor BioBuilderClub teams and serve on the Advisory Board. I have also helped run monthly team calls, taught hands-on and online workshops, and taught other graduate students to become Teaching Fellows for their Learning Lab at Ginkgo Bioworks.
BioBuilder Educational Foundation
We characterized anoxygenic photosynthetic communities by genetic diversity and metabolic processes, with a focus on cellulose degradation & nitrogen fixation. This led to analysis of microbial community reactions to environmental and composition perturbations. Additionally, we studied collective motion of diverse bacterial systems and their potential applications (i.e. turning gears).
Olin College, Huang Lab
At AbCellera, we used the microbe Tetrahymena thermophilia to produce high-volume, high-purity synthetic human ion channels for pharmaceutical research. As a summer intern, I purified five ion channels in milligram quantities from whole cells by affinity chromatography (anti-FLAG, IMAC) for industry partners and internal use for antibody development and screening, as well as assessed protein concentration via BCA and OD280 and prepared proteins into liposomes.
AbCellera Boston
Co-developed polymeric nanoparticles for delivery of proprietary drug conjugates to in vivo xenograft models to develop treatment for cancer. Designed, optimized, and executed feasibility studies of nanoparticles from lab- to pilot-scale. Responsible for compiling source references for company’s first IND application. Used high-pressure homogenization processes, tangential flow filtration (TFF), particle sizing methods, and basic HPLC.
Tarveda Pharmaceuticals
Differentiated a “keratinocyte” containing skin-like tissue from bone marrow stems cells and characterization of its biophysical properties.
Olin College
Project Manager on a team working on design, hardware, and distribution elements of a newborn warmer to work with phototherapy as part of the firm Design that Matters™. Completed user experiencee studies at district hospitals that will use the device and a site analysis of the manufacturing location in Vietnam.
Designed and ran campus-wide social experiments with a Deaf member of the Olin community to improve disability awareness & accommodation on campus.
Selected as a Cast Member in Attractions at Spaceship Earth in Epcot, Walt Disney World. Provided exceptional service to hundreds of guests per day in a variety of roles requiring immediate decision making and extensive knowledge of the ride and theme park.
