Juan Alvarez Lab, Cell and Developmental BiologyInvestigating how the RNA-binding protein MBNL1 drives functional maturation of pancreatic islets in a human organoid model. Developing CRISPRi screens to identify other regulators of islet maturation.2024 NSF Graduate Research Fellow

Jamie Spangler Lab, Translational Tissue Engineering CenterEvaluated alternative polymers for transient transfection of recombinant DNA in industrially-relevant cell lines; engineered multiparatopic antibodies targeting cancer biomarkers to induce downregulation and relief of immune suppression.

Assembled and qualified reagent components of NGS-based platform for identifying actionable mutations in ctDNA from late-stage cancer patients.

Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, National Institute on AgingStudied changes in healthspan following nicotinamide and urolithin supplementation in mice and nematodes.

Admitted as a first-year student to a highly selective research/education program coordinated by the Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education (VIIBRE). Developed a high-throughput protocol utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 and NGS to profile how the telomere-associated protein Rif1 influences patterns of double-strand break repair in S. cerevisiae (Katherine Friedman Lab, Biological Sciences; 2015-17). Quantified γ-ketoaldehyde lysine adducts in developing C. elegans. Studied the effects of oxidative stress on viability and behavioral plasticity in C. elegans, and whether these effects could be mitigated by treatment with a γ-ketoaldehyde scavenger (Sean Davies Lab, Clinical Pharmacology; 2014-15). Fabricated microfluidic devices to replicate the intestinal microenvironment (Erin Rericha Lab, Physics and Astronomy; Spring 2016).“Multiplexed Small-Volume Stirred Bioreactor for Brain Tumor Organoid Development,” Vanderbilt University School of Engineering, April 24, 2017, Nashville, Tennessee.“Using CRISPR/Cas9 to assess the role of Rif1 in DNA end-processing during non-homologous end joining in Saccharomyces cerevisiae,” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting, October 5-8, 2016, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Co-founded an undergraduate-led synthetic biology research group that function as a chapter of International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM). Served as inaugural treasurer and fundraised over $60,000 in cash and material donations to maintain a dedicated lab space. Subsequently served as Vice President and contributed heavily to administration and research. Developed "iGEM 101" instructional courses to prepare junior undergraduates for mentored research.“Controlling the mutagenic potential of synthetic DNA with a rational sequence optimization algorithm,” International Genetically Engineered Machine, October 27-31, 2016, Boston, Massachusetts.