Working in the Vizcarra lab to clone, express, and purify formin protein constructs consisting of the formin homology 2 (FH2) domain and the C-terminus using metal affinity, size exclusion, and ion exchange chromatography. Evaluating the stoichiometry of formin-microtubule binding through cosedimentation assays. Previously, studied the effect of small molecule inhibitors on formin-mediated actin assembly using pyrene-actin fluorescence assays. Investigated the binding modes of small molecule inhibitors with the formin homology 2 (FH2) domain through computational studies using ROSETTALigand.Participated in the full-time Summer Research Institute (SRI) in 2022 and 2023, culminating in presentations at the annual Lida Orzeck ‘68 Poster Session. Recipient of the 2022 Bernice G. Segal Award, which provides funding for supervised research in the sciences during the summer.

• Assisted in weekly laboratory course CHEM-BC2012 (General Chemistry Lab) with 27 students• Provided technical and theoretical guidance for students completing experiments pertaining to spectroscopy, intermolecular forces, double displacement reactions, solubility, acid-base titrations, and chemical kinetics• Aided instructors by taking attendance, distributing reagents and instruments to students, ensuring timely completion of pre-lab assignments, and enforcing safe laboratory practices

• Provide support to 150+ introductory organic chemistry lab students in computational chemistry techniques• Lead instructional workshops to familiarize students with molecular modeling applications, ie. Spartan and ChemDraw• Host twice-weekly office hours to provide direct guidance on computational studies and assignments• Evaluate student work for computational accuracy & chemical reasoning and provide written feedback to students

• Assisted in twice-weekly lectures for CHEM-BC3282 (Biological Chemistry I) as a teaching assistant and problem-solving coach for 44 students• Facilitated student learning outcomes by guiding students through problem-solving exercises pertaining to fundamental biochemistry concepts such as protein structure, enzyme kinetics, and central carbon metabolism

• Assisted in weekly laboratory courses CHEM-BC3328 (Introductory Organic Chemistry Lab) and CHEM-BC3333 (Modern Techniques in Organic Chemistry)• Aided instructors by taking attendance, refilling reagents, replacing glassware, and answering student questions during weekly 4-hour courses with 14-20 students • Provided technical guidance for students setting up laboratory apparatuses and conducting experiments to separate, purify, extract, and synthesize organic compounds• Proctored a final written examination totaling 140 students across 2 sections

Visiting student participating in the 2024 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program, conducting research on oligomer formation and substrate interactions of a molecular chaperone in the Shan lab.

Designed a summer curriculum for two incoming 7th-grade students to improve mathematical reasoning skills, and held weekly virtual tutoring sessions on early algebra skills, proportions & rates, and geometry concepts.

Collaborated in 3-member team to develop assays for nucleic acid purification and SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics, optimized nucleic acid recovery rate through polymerase chain reactions (PCR), and analyzed data from real-time PCR to evaluate amplification efficiency and viral detection.