Treating metastatic cancers with a novel CRISPR platform for transcriptome engineering.Winner of the 2023-2024 Sarafan ChEM-H Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program at Stanford.

The Stanley Qi Lab works on technology development for genome engineering, discovery-focused synthetic biology, and epigenetic gene therapy. We aim to develop new technologies for studying the mammalian genome and treating complex diseases.My research focuses on:- Developing a system for multi-gene regulation to precisely and easily control stem cell differentiation, solving current bottlenecks for in-vivo medical applications.- Creating and testing novel inducible CRISPRi/a tools that are significantly more precise than previous versions.- Developed and optimized CRISPR guide arrays to target endogenous human genes.- Helped ideate and test CRISPRkit, a new and inexpensive educational kit to teach students everywhere about CRISPR and synthetic biology.

Working directly under Dr. Phil Kyriakakis and running an independent project:- Improving an optogenetic system for precise protein evolution in yeast using synthetic biology.- Modifying the construct to further improve control, allowing precise modulation of a protein/promoter’s activity.

Elected as co-president for the 2023-2024 academic year. Leading Stanford's largest undergraduate biomedical/biotech club, with over 150 members. Created SSB Catalyst, Stanford's first "Biotech Bootcamp" designed to introduce underclassmen to biotechnology and biodesign.

Co-chair of the SSB Launchpad committee.- Coordinate and organize our flagship Biodesign class (MED 275B)- Teach and mentor committee members on the Biodesign process and needs-finding- Expand opportunities for MED 275B project teams to launch their project outside the classroom

I conducted clinical need-finding in plastic surgery and cellular/molecular biology by interviewing physicians from the Stanford School of Medicine. I was introduced to complex medical concepts concerning clinical unmet needs through in-depth interviews with physicians and independent research. In addition, I learned about specifics behind the biodesign process, such as crafting needs vignettes, disease research, competitive analysis, market research, stakeholder analysis, FDA regulation of medical technology, intellectual property, value proposition, and business model development. I was trained and selected to help lead Stanford’s first project-based introductory course to medical device design for undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines (MED 275B).

Supervised and supported project teams who worked to solve a chosen need. Most directly helped a team focused on new treatments for Dry Eye Disease, and joined the team's continuing project in the Biodesign NEXT program. This course is taught by faculty from the Byers Center for Biodesign.

NIBR Summer of Science Intern in the Oncology Data Science department.- Developed a statistical framework for analyzing CRISPR screens and used it on data from the Broad's Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap).- Discovered and presented several novel context-specific fitness genes for multiple cancer types.- Examined CRISPR screen data at the gRNA level to find incorrect or hidden genetic dependencies.

Interning under the CFO and reporting directly to the VP of Finance. Activities range from business strategy and development to accounting and board presentations.

Current research assistant at Covert Lab, developing a whole-cell model to simulate live human cells. As a research assistant, I am:- Reinventing the E. Coli whole-cell model to separate processes and make the simulation more versatile.- Researching and programming the chemotaxis process, including equations for movement, changes based on environment, and cell-cell collisions.

STEM tutor supporting several under-resourced students at the height of COVID-19. Taught programming in Java and Python, enabled two students to get a year ahead in math, and performed engaging science projects.

- Conducted clinical research on the outcomes of regenerative treatments using bone marrow concentrate.- Shadowed the doctor during treatments and measured initial and final resting pain, and functionality of limb, to determine overall improvement.