I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Scheuring Laboratory, where I study sensory ion channels utilizing a variety of biochemical and biophysical techniques.

I am a PhD candidate in the Yuan laboratory, where I discover and characterize biologically relevant conformations of ion channels and integral membrane proteins using a combination of structural, biophysical, and biochemical techniques. I specialize in the following methods to achieve this aim:■ Molecular biology to generate DNA constructs for recombinant protein expression in heterologous systems in order to optimize protein stability, yield, and investigate the activities of functional mutants■ Protein purification methods including affinity chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, and sucrose gradient centrifugation■ Membrane protein reconstitution optimization using detergents, nanodisc scaffolds, SMA copolymers, and liposomes■ Preparation and imaging of homogeneous protein purifications using negative stain EM and cryo-EM■ Structural data processing and model building to generate high-quality atomic models

■ Perform a variety of single-molecule DNA translocation experiments through the MSPA nanopore (Mycobacterium Smegmatis Porin A). Aims of these experiments include: 1) enhancing nanopore sequencing accuracy, and 2) using SPRNT (single-molecule picometer-resolution nanopore tweezers) to elucidate the chemical mechanisms of several biologically and medically relevant translocases. ■ Clone, digest, purify, and modify DNA and RNA constructs. ■ Prepare various chemical reagents including buffers, NTPs, NTP analogs, and lipid bilayers/liposomes. ■ Assist graduate students, undergraduate researchers, and industry collaborators with experimental troubleshooting.

■ Developed and validated a computational dynamic simulation to understand how pulsatile fluidic flow can be altered to minimize the risk of antibiotic-resistant biofilm formation on a variety of implanted medical devices such as urinary catheters and cardiovascular stents. ■ Built a microfluidic model to test and validate the predictions of the simulation under various shear conditions. ■ Analyzed the model to discover which flow conditions may minimize the risk of antibiotic-resistant biofilm formation on a variety of implanted medical devices such as urinary catheters and cardiovascular stents. ■ Trained two new researchers to use the microfluidic setup and apply my simulation to a related blood cell adhesion project.

■ Development and management of laboratory wiki, found at : http://depts.washington.edu/labsn/ , http://uwsphsci-labs.wikispot.org/Front_Page ■ Implemented pupillometry experiments designed to provide a measure of user cognitive load, a measurement that is difficult to perform non-intrusively. This data would have useful applications in marketing technology and consumer electronics. ■ Collaborated with Microsoft Research Center at their lab in Redmond to test the prototype in a driving simulator.