Humans of 5050 C2

Harvard

My current research project aims to study interactions between transcription and splicing machinery in human cells. Specifically, I am interested in studying how Polymerase II's interactions with splicing factors affect their binding on nascent RNA, and conversely, how the same splicing factors are able to affect Pol II transcription dynamics.

Outside of lab, I enjoy screenwriting, hiking, bouldering, and travel. This summer, I'd love to go hiking in CA (I've never been to Yosemite!). Other travel wish-list destinations include Greece, S. Korea, Argentina, and Australia.

MIT

Bio-conjugation or antibody/protein engineering.

My current project aims to develop early detection diagnostics for high-grade serous ovarian cancer using synthetic biosensors.

Stanford

Camaraderie and emotional support for the difficulties faced in research. Open-minded brainstorming sessions. Basic molecular bio and genome editing method development.

We are trying to develop new viral vectors for gene therapy, optimizing for increased payload size, simplified cell-type specific targeting, and precise genome modification. We are looking beyond AAV, towards viruses with a larger genome that are not yet routinely used, but have the potential to be breakthrough platforms for future therapies.

Regularly play tennis (intermediate/advanced), recently revived an interest in snowboarding (decent).

In a past life (undergrad) worked on a student group linking STEM and Arts education (STEAM). I don’t have time (read: haven’t made it a priority) to think about this in a long time, but the interest in the broad areas of science/innovation/aesthetic educational approaches is still there.

Whitehead-MIT

Experience with community building, working in venture / fundraising, and working for early-stage startups!

Main focus: Improving and developing new genome-wide screening technologies and analysis pipelines

Main project: Identifying the genetic drivers of cold tolerance with the hopes of improving cryopreservation technologies or therapeutic human hypothermia treatments.

Secondary project: Finding druggable targets for dry age-related macular degeneration.

Painting/sketching, hiking, HIIT classes (let's do Barry's together!!)

Stanford

Experimental technique sourcing: Because of the tech dev interest, I read a lot of methods papers (mostly genomics/cell bio-related), and would love to help you find the latest & greatest tech to answer your biological question! I geek out about clever ways of probing cellular phenotypes across space and time.

Want to promote your latest paper? Or altruistically share your science with the public? I’d love to collaborate on a video that **may** get put in front of thousands of people.

Creating new technologies to help us understand the function of regulatory elements through genetic editing screens. Currently working on single-cell methods for transcriptome + genotyping.

When my back isn’t injured, I love taking my road bike out to the South Bay hills. And running (on flatter terrain 🙂)

Creating new drink recipes & testing them on my friends. You're all welcome to be a test subject at one of my cocktail parties.

Stanford

My research is focused on a unique, engineered integrin-binding peptide called “PIP” that enables targeted delivery to numerous types of solid tumors. Leveraging PIP’s versatile targeting properties, we developed a systemically-administered tumor-targeting immunostimulant “PIP-CpG” that promotes immune activation and infiltration in the tumor microenvironment to enable effective anti-tumor immunity.

UC Davis

Genetic underpinnings for rapid climate adaptation and the general mechanisms for adaptation.

I am interested in understanding how plants evolve to use environmental information to influence their development. Understanding the mechanics of how this works, and how it evolves is key in combating climate change, and answering important questions that expand all aspects of biology/biotechnology.

Stanford

Using inducible signaling receptors for in vivo fate determination of hematopoietic stem cells to erythroid-specific lineages.

Listening to Chicago rap, impressionist art, hiking <5 miles

Wyss Institute, Harvard University

Happy to brainstorm on gene and cell therapies, synthetic biology and tangent fields. Additionally, happy to connect with my science/entrepreneur network.

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Would love to talk about tools that help bypass existing hurdles in gene and cell therapies: from safety, to efficiency, to manufacturing and beyond.

Developing novel genome engineering tools for safe and efficient insertion of large DNA cargo into desired genomic locations for gene and cell therapy applications. Potential clinical indications include hereditary disorders, such as cystic fibrosis, epidermolysis bullosa and alpha1 anti-trypsin deficiency, as well as cancer and neurodegenerative and aging-associated diseases.

MIT

Happy to chat about the faculty job search, transitioning from postdoc to faculty, how I'm learning to balance being an academic founder, and the conflicts of interest that surround it. Also on discussing the decision process between academia, entrepreneurship, or becoming a hybrid of both.

My expertise: Chemical biology, chromatin biology, automation, directed evolution, mammalian syn bio, high-throughput assay dev/screening, & a hint of embryology if you want to chat about mice.

My research combines directed evolution, epigenome engineering, and robotics to engineer new proteins, biological tools, and cellular therapies with both translational and basic science potential. Specifically, my group will be working on the engineering of protease-resistant biologic therapies, continuous evolution using human cell lines, and exploring the fitness landscapes of binding interactions ranging from antibodies to histone readers.

I'm a walking cliche and spend most of my time doing yoga, drinking wine, playing pub trivia, and running a competitive bachelor bracket league.

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I also do a fair amount of scientific graphic design, mainly as a way to relax.

UCSF

Happy to lend my expertise in microbiology, immunology, and genome engineering (mainly of bacteria and phage genomes)

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Would love to brainstorm microbiomes, climate change, data science, and AI – How can we use the natural superpowers of bacteria and phage to solve human and environmental health problems?

I study mechanisms of bacterial immunity and how phages (bacterial viruses) evolve anti-immune strategies. I apply a variety of genome engineering tools, like CRISPR-Cas, on bacteria and phages to establish native model systems.

I love all things outdoors and sports! Skiing, hiking, and camping are my favorites, but I’m currently trying out indoor rock climbing if anyone in the Bay Area needs a new climbing partner. Coffee, reading, and dinner parties are also my jam.

UCSF-Berkeley

Developing CRISPR screens to identify disease-associated genes that modulate microglial synaptic pruning. Illuminating key pathways that facilitate this behavior to ultimately tune pruning with small molecules.

Brainstorming, scientific writing, baked goods and science fiction!

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Stanford

Hyping you up to pursue your risky/exciting ideas, thinking through pitfalls in methods development (esp. in immunology), human immune organoid applications.

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Cell-cell communication, immune regulation, T cell therapy, malaria vaccines.

In biology, we know a lot about individual cell phenotypes and are beginning to learn about spatial organization in tissues. I like thinking about the intermediate resolution: 2 cells talking. My research is about capturing transcriptional changes during contact-dependent cell-cell interactions.

Love books about the history of biology and SciFi!

I got into skiing recently and want to do more of that! Also trying to write more (currently failing).

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Let’s run together!

Yale

I am happy to chat/collaborate on anything relating to human stem cell-based embryo modeling! My expertise is in 3D modeling of early post-implantation stages of development. I'm really passionate about women's health and consult for a start-up biotech in Manhattan in this space.

I am leveraging human stem cells for 3D embryonic modeling as a method to investigate critical processes driving early development around stages of significant early pregnancy loss.

Harvard

I could probably help you determine if machine learning can—or cannot—help you with your project(s). I've been applying it to various biology-related problems since my undergrad. It's not always the right tool, but it can be a game-changer!

I work on a diverse set of problems involving protein engineering with machine learning and non-standard amino acids (new amino acids that are not proteinogenic and that can confer new functions and properties to proteins).

I'm trying to learn to play tennis, I love to ride my bike and go hiking in the mountains!

If you like to eat melted cheese (like fondue), I'm your guy 🇨🇭🧀

Harvard-MIT

I enjoy weightlifting and, while not an expert, would be happy to teach you the basics, write you a program, or just lift together sometime.

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Microscopy, screening, and image analysis.

I'm using optical pooled screening, a technology I helped develop that enables image-based CRISPR screening using in situ sequencing, to study host-pathogen interactions and innate immune responses to infection. I've studied a couple of RNA viruses, including Sendai virus and Ebola, and am also interested in responses to foreign DNA.

Love trying new sports and would be down to try whatever your favorite physical activity is!!

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I love women's artistic gymnastics and powerlifting!

Boston's Children's Hospital

I am currently working on developing a nanobody-based immunotherapy for COVID19.

Specifically, I am designing a strategy to engineer nanobody fusions that can selectively target and destroy virus-infected cells. The goal is to provide a platform technology for rapidly designing therapeutics with broad target specificity for emerging virus variants.

I play a lot of sports - including Badminton, Cricket, Handball, Basketball, Soccer, Frisbee, Tennis, Chess, Volleyball etc.

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I enjoy writing with different communities at cafes (like Writer's Cafe). Feel free to lemme know if anyone is interested in joining the Writer's Cafe.

Wyss Institute, Harvard

I have a multidisciplinary background covering areas in engineering, data driven modeling, biofabrication, imaging, stem cell regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, Organ Chip models, sensors, and women’s reproductive health.

My current project in on development and application of Organ Chip in vitro model of human Cervix Chip for understanding and preclinical analysis of mucosal host-microbiome contributions to vaginal health. I am also developing multiple sensor integrated organ chip models for non-invasive real-time monitoring of physiological functions in Organ Chip in vitro models.

I like traveling and exploring nature (currently collecting national park stamps on my NP passport) and outdoor activities (wouldn’t mind a kick of adrenaline! 😉)

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UCSF

Building and broadening the applications for synthetic receptors on immune cells and developing targeted cell therapies in cancer.

I love being active and outside, I enjoy a good workout or a nice hike.

I grew up skiing and snowboarding and am super stoked to now live so close to some of the best snow in the country!

Stanford

I really enjoy thinking about kinetics/thermodynamics of molecular systems and building up quantitative models. Also have a few insights from my medical pre-clinical/clinical training that might be useful.

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Have a soft spot for synthetic chemistry, so would love to brainstorm about that stuff too!

Protein enzymes are Nature's most prodigious catalysts, enabling the chemistry of life and holding vast potential to be engineered for green chemistry and targeted for next-generation pharmaceuticals. However, quantitative study of enzymes needed to realize this potential is dominated by legacy approaches that are cost and labor intensive and thus limited in scalability. I have co-developed a microfluidic enzyme assay platform capable of integrated generation and quantitative assays of enzyme variants at 100-fold improvement in scale and with 100-fold reduction in time and materials use compared with traditional techniques, with the potential to help realize next-generation engineered enzymes and new potent therapeutics.

UCSF

I specialize in biophysics, optogenetics, and cell mechanics.

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I want to see how we can use synthetic and biophysical tools to engineer cell fate choices, quantify embryo implantation mechanics, and how we can rescue implantation failures associated with maternal aging.

Applying synthetic biophysical approaches to study mechanical defects from reproductive aging.

I love exploring the San Francisco hills with my new puppy!

Stanford

I spend most of my time using different types of gene editing techniques (especially prime editing) and making them high throughput or "hacking" them in some way.

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I can help with CRISPR experimental design, cloning, scaling of throughput and am willing to take any other problems or ideas you may have to the whiteboard!

The human genome encodes instructions that guide development and function of the hundreds of cell types comprising the human body. To understand how the genome is repurposed by each cell type to achieve a unique gene expression program, I am developing high throughout tools to re-engineer DNA sequence in native genomic context.

I have been skateboarding for most of my life.

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I love to read, so please share your favorite books with me (especially memoirs).

Stanford

I'd love to chat with anyone about proteins, intracellular signaling, cell therapies, and cardiovascular immunology.

We engineer proteins to create novel receptor complexes, thereby inducing non-natural signaling within immune cells. These proteins produce desirable cell phenotypes in a targeted manner.

I have a tortoiseshell cat named Kitty, and I formerly maintained a large aquarium of many fish and snails as my quarantine hobby.

When I'm not in lab, I'm usually practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Caltech

My current work focuses on investigating how the non-coding RNA Xist interacts with a variety of protein effectors to mediate X chromosome inactivation in female mammals. I use molecular biology, cell biology, and genomics approaches to interrogate how these RNA-protein interactions lead to stable, chromosome-wide silencing. More generally, I study X chromosome inactivation to better understand how other RNA-mediated biological processes may occur.

I would also consider myself a hobbyist wildlife and evolutionary biologist, and would love to talk animals with other people (coolest animal experiences you’ve had, where to see cool animals in CA, human evolutionary psychology, anything really!)

Berkeley

If anyone is doing comparative/evolutionary 'omics, I would love to talk experimental design and execution.

1) Some fungi benefit human welfare (e.g., they produce cheese or wine), whereas others are dangerous human pathogens - why are some beneficial to human welfare, but others are killers?

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2) There is more data than we can analyze. How do we make sense of the data deluge? I think evolutionary genomics - unraveling organismal histories - can help shed biological insights into data, inform our past, and even predict our future.

I love cycling, climbing, running, and swimming.

MIT

If you need any immunology help, I'm your gal. In undergrad, I spent 3.5 years engineering T cells for cancer immunotherapy, and now I have pivoted to studying B cell biology, as well as innate immune pathways in infectious disease.

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I'd love to brainstorm about tissue-targeted delivery - this is a huge hurdle for nanomedicine and nucleic acid therapeutics.

I am studying nanoscale design rules for next generation vaccines. Using engineered DNA origami nanoparticles to scaffold bioactive molecules like immunogens and therapeutic nucleic acids, I hope to understand how parameters such as antigen spacing or co-stimulation can be used in to enhance immune responses induced by vaccination.

Stanford

I use tools from structural biology and protein engineering to study the molecular signals that help orchestrate the human immune response. Some of my work focuses on the structure and function of cytokines. Other parts of my work have involved engineering molecules that redirect the immune response to cancer or autoimmune disease.

I love to run on road and trail, and recently finished my first marathon

I'm also a big fan of music, drawing/watercolor, and dancing.. I'm often first and last on the dance floor.

Stanford

My background is mainly in mechanical engineering, specifically fluid dynamics. I have worked on designing droplet-based microfluidic systems for many years now. I have experience with a couple of different fabrication methods (Photolithography, 3D printing, Micromilling)

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I'm interested in learning how high-throughput screening assays could help speed up the discovery process in life sciences, especially, in cancer immunotherapies.

Machine learning based design automation of high-throughput droplet based microfluidic devices.

Leveraging high throughput droplet based microfluidic screening to study T cell receptor and antigen presenting cell interactions to identify novel TCR-APC targets.

I've become super interested in (ancient) History. I really like learning more about Wildlife and Nature, but would also love to get out there.

I bike while listening to my favorite history podcasts as a way to relax on the weekends. I do love a nice hike (not too extreme).

Caltech

The multitude of chemical compounds that we produce enable innumerable applications, yet also pose risks to ecosystem and human health. Under certain conditions, microorganisms are able to harness enzyme promiscuity and evolve enzymes that can degrade these compounds. I am using modern enzyme engineering tools, including directed evolution, to engineer enzymes capable of degrading anthropogenic pollutants that are not known to be biodegraded in nature.

I love exploring the mountains via a few modes of travel. I’m absolutely obsessed with skiing and ski touring. I also enjoy climbing and trail running.

I can often be found enjoying a good nonfiction book (probably about nature or energy) accompanied by a cup of aero press coffee.

MIT

My expertise lies in the theory and applications of machine learning models, in the past I’ve had a lot of experience with models over graph data (e.g. molecules, knowledge graphs, interaction networks) and geometric data (e.g. protein and molecular 3D structures, hyperbolic spaces). My research has focused on generative models, in particular, diffusion models.

Pretty excited about most (non-trivial 🙂 ) applications of ML to bio.

We obtained significant improvements in molecular docking over previous methods by modeling the binding poses of protein and small molecules with carefully-designed diffusion generative models. Now we are extending our framework to model more complex interactions and predict their free energy.

I’m not into extreme sports (I mostly play basketball and run), but a couple of days ago I was on a hot air balloon.

Caltech

I am developing a method for high throughput screening of protein affinity reagents. This technique will enable high throughput proteomic studies of novel, less accessible proteins and their associated biological systems.

I’m obsessed with fantasy novels (and some sci-fi).

Will talk at lengths with you about my two cats.

Hikes occasionally for trees and good views.

New York University School of Medicine

New ideas on any topic. I have a fairly inter-disciplinary background with expertise in development, synthetic biology, genome engineering and genomics.

I am a synthetic biologist with research interests spanning development, genomics and cellular engineering. During my PhD, we developed tools for the “re-writing” of mammalian genomes through the synthesis of large DNA constructs and their targeted integration into cells. I am applying these tools to: 1) understand how genes are turned on and off; and 2) endow cells with sophisticated behaviors not found in nature.

I enjoy soccer, live music (heavy metal, jazz) and am recently starting to get into sailing!

Harvard

Planning/troubleshooting experiments related to synthetic biology, high-throughput screening, aging biology.

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Happy to brainstorm ideas about the mechanisms of aging and how we can tackle them.

Testing novel genetic perturbations for age reversal in vivo through regeneration assays. Performing high throughput screens for discovering cell type specific cellular rejuvenation interventions.

Caltech

Spatial genomic methods, single-cell technologies, and chemical biology tools. I have been doing method development research for many years.

Currently, I am working towards the development of novel amplification based spatial genomic technologies. This method will allow us to profile various small RNA species, overcome background noise in tissues, and profile nearly the entire transcriptome in situ.

I enjoy playing chess and poker. I also like to go on hikes and do some astrophotography from time to time. I love trying various coffee shops, trying various teas, going to cocktail bars, and wine tasting (I swear I'm not a snob).

Columbia

Engineering CRISPR Associated Transposons (CASTs) to be a tool for large-scale genome engineering in human cells

MIT/Broad Institute/Koch Institute

Understanding immune system sensors, effectors, and regulation. Engineering synthetic immune systems to outcompete natural ones.

We engineer proteins to specifically and sensitively recognize tumor-specific antigens.

MIT

Will always be happy to help troubleshoot any bioconjugation or delivery issues. Specifically, our lab is developing nanoparticles structured from nucleic acids to tackle the delivery problem.

I think I know a good amount about scientific communication and design, so happy to help in those directions as well.

I am currently working on harnessing DNA as a building material to fabricate nanoparticles that deliver nucleic acid therapeutics for biomedical applications. My focus is on the manufacturability of these materials, developing capabilities to attach payloads and targeting ligands at scale. Additionally, I am conducting basic foundational studies to understand how these new materials interact with biological systems such as the immune system.

House music!

The 100 years preceding the end of the Roman republic; photographing people on the street; daydreaming about DJing; how to optimize the scientific enterprise that is already operating at some (near) equilibrium

I used to run a breakfast sandwich delivery service with my roommates out of our kitchen. I was the chef! (and apparently the dishwasher...)

Stanford

I’m working at the intersection of medicine and mechanical design. My research focuses on the development of highly durable, bio-inspired soft electronics for cardiac disease detection and remote patient monitoring.

UCSF

I design, implement and validate the scoring function of molecular docking by adding corrections to the calculation of van der Waals forces and entropic effect. The new scoring function in molecular docking will help to predict the binding affinity between the protein and ligand.

MIT & Broad Institute and Harvard

I work on characterizing and reprogramming transposons for targeted integration in human cells.

Wyss institute, Harvard and MIT

We make instant immunoassays for wash-free microscopy. To do that, we genetically encode special nonstandard amino-acids into the sensor proteins that light up when they detect their target protein.

Stanford

Tumors use sugars, or glycans, to evade the immune system. I am developing antibody-lectin (AbLec) chimeras as a modular and programmable approach to target glycans for cancer immunotherapy. AbLecs represent a new class of checkpoint blockade immunotherapies with the potential to increase the fraction of patients who benefit from treatment.

UCSF

Proteins are amazing molecular machines that carry out the essential process of life and have tremendous translational potential. While traditional protein engineering utilizes naturally occurring building blocks, de novo protein design enables us to build proteins completely from scratch, custom designed to carry out predetermined functionalities. Utilizing in-house developed algorithms together with new AI and ML techniques, I design bespoke proteins for biomedical and other translational purposes.

I love to travel and my happy place is in definitely in the mountains

Caltech

“Diseases often arise when proteins interact with each other in abnormal ways.” A core challenge for current therapeutics is selectively targeting cells based on the activities of proteins within cellular pathways that define their pathogenic states. Our technology leverages aberrant protein pathways to turn on our therapies specifically in diseased cells. We have developed synthetic protein circuits that can directly sense key cellular pathways, process that information to classify cellular states, and respond by conditionally triggering cell death or other beneficial responses. Designable “smart” therapeutics with these targeting abilities promise solutions to several currently intractable diseases.

Caltech

My long term goal is to develop healthier, personalized contraceptives and provide new solutions to extend women’s fertility. Currently, I engineer molecular tools and perform in vivo high throughput screens to identify and understand the mechanisms regulating female reproduction.

Harvard - Whitehead

I study genetic robustness. In particular, I focus on the phenomenon of transcriptional adaptation where mutations can elicit compensatory upregulation of functionally-related gene (e.g., paralogs) in a manner dependent on mutant mRNA decay.

Stanford

I'm leading a team that's training biology to recycle plastic and circularize the textile industry. We’ve built a high-throughput screening platform to efficiently engineer enzymes with improved plastic-degrading activity and are working to apply them in a plastics biorecycling process. As our first target, we are using our enzymes to break down synthetic fibers in blended textile waste, yielding higher-quality recycled materials for making new clothes.

MIT

We are developing T-cell binding models which operate in a low-data regime. We are deploying AI models in pre-clinical mouse models of malignancy as a proof-of-concept for an early cancer screening method.

Harvard

Developing CRISPR technologies for exploring metabolic vulnerabilities in brain metastasis and large-scale genome editing

Harvard

I am currently building methods to characterize cell-cell interactions involving adaptive immune cells in contexts ranging from cancer to immunosenescence. Areas of focus include spatial transcriptomics methods reporting T and B cell receptors, as well as strategies for tracing dynamic interactions in vivo.

Outside of research, I enjoy skiing, running, and pottery.

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