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Humans of 5050 C3
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5050 C3
Location
Research Interest(s)
I can help with ...
Research Project
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Aidan Cowan
Location
UC BerkeleyResearch Project
In order to make biofuels a reality we need to make a lot more of them and we need to make them from something cheaper than glucose. My project couples the growth of microorganisms to the production of fuels, so they can't live without making fuel and so they evolve to make more fuel. Another aspect of my projects seeks to use one carbon feedstocks to make these fuels more cheaply and in a way which directly sequesters CO2. 
Allison Flores
Location
Harvard UniversityResearch Project
Within the Church lab I work on developing synthetic biology-based strategies for the genetic encoding of non-standard amino acids (nsAAs) within proteins. By expanding beyond the 20 standard amino acids, targeted incorporation of nsAAs allows for the precise introduction of novel chemical structures, generating proteins with enhanced or new structures, functions and properties.
Anqi Chen
Location
Harvard UniversityResearch Project
We are developing a highly multiplexed ultrahigh throughput screening platform for the discovery of functional enzyme mutants. This method combines the advantages of droplet-based microfluidics, in-vitro protein expression and a novel random mutagenesis protocol to achieve unprecedented screening power. Our goal is to carry out functional screen for mutagenesis libraries of 10^12 diversity, allowing for up to 4 random mutations of a small-sized enzyme, or 9 site-specific mutations to be combinatorially saturated and screened.
Anton Jackson-Smith
Location
StanfordResearch Project
Building a synthetic cell. Chromosome design, cell system integration, and microscopy to create a cell from defined and well understood molecular parts.
Bryce Tappan
Location
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyResearch Project
I am currently studying the kinetics of ion and electron charge transfer reactions at interfaces in solid-state batteries. I am also trying to develop electrochemical methods to recycle critical materials for energy technologies (batteries, solar cells, water electrolyzers).
Caoimhe Canavan
Location
MIT/Wyss institute Harvard Research Project
Broadly my projects are focused on cell-free systems, RNA circuits and synthetic cells. More specifically, I use mammalian cell-free systems for high-throughput screening of tunable genetic circuits for environmental sensing and diagnostic purposes. 
Carla Pinzon
Location
StanfordResearch Project
High Frequency Power Electronics for Underwater Applications
Charlotte (Hui) Wang
Location
UCSFResearch Project
During my PhD training, I am combining the expertise of my two thesis labs to investigate how synthetic perturbations can affect immune T cells, with the ultimate aim of developing an enhanced effector T cell that can more effectively eliminate cancer. Specifically, I utilize high-throughput readouts, such as saturation mutagenesis combined phenotype screens, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), to comprehensively analyze the effects of perturbations on T cell function. By leveraging the latest technologies and techniques from both labs, I hope to make a significant contribution to the field of cancer immunotherapy.
Chris Giuliano
Location
MITResearch Project
My work develops high-throughput approaches for studying host-pathogen interactions, with a focus on parasitic diseases. Understanding how parasites manipulate hosts for their benefit can both reveal ways to treat parasitic diseases and uncover new modalities for modulating human physiology. 
Cyrus Knudsen
Location
Stanford UniversityResearch Project
Because we want to make engineering biology easier, our lab works on a comprehensive computational simulation model of single E. coli cells ("whole-cell models"), in order to enable biologists to answer research questions with cell simulations.
I specifically work on inferring kinetic and regulatory parameters for enzymes and regulatory proteins, in order to create better models of metabolism and regulation. 
Danilo Dubocanin
Location
Stanford UniversityResearch Project
I develop and apply tools to understand protein-DNA interactions at the single molecule level. Using these tools I probe fundamental cellular processes at an unprecedented resolution.
David Ding
Location
UC BerkeleyResearch Project
I work on a green concrete project to enable increased carbon absorption in building materials, and develop tools for rationally engineering crop genetics.
Devon Van Cura
Location
Harvard UniversityResearch Project
Through the use of enzymes, microbes are capable of incredibly powerful and precise chemical transformations under environmentally benign conditions. My project focuses on discovering new microbial enzymes that can produce the highly reactive and synthetically enabling diazo functional group. Identifying novel diazo-forming enzymes will enable new biocatalytic approaches for developing environmentally friendly chemical manufacturing processes.
Elena Turkalj
Location
UC San FranciscoResearch Project
In my PhD, I'm researching how the epitranscriptome is involved in neurodevelopment using a brain organoid model. Outside of the lab, I am working on developing a continuous hormone monitor.
Evan Groover
Location
UC BerkeleyResearch Project
I am developing new gene editing tools and techniques for crop plants. Using them, I am working to rewire plant genomes to maximize agricultural carbon sequestration. 
Fabio Boniolo
Location
Dana Farber Cancer InstituteResearch Project
I study childhood cancer. Specifically, I exploit computational approaches and single cell sequencing technologies for patient stratification and target identification in Medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children. 
Hersh Bhargava
Location
UCSF Cell Design InstituteResearch Project
I am using synthetic biology and mathematical modeling to understand how immune cells share information via secreted molecules and to rewire T cell communication to create more efficacious cell therapies for solid tumors and beyond.
Itai Levin
Location
MITResearch Project
Developing and applying computational chemistry tools to accelerate the identification of useful molecules that can be synthesized using enzymatic reactions. Working on predictive models to predict the properties of small molecules and to automate the process of synthesis planning. 
Ivan Jayapurna
Location
UC BerkeleyResearch Project
Rational design of bioinspired additives to stabilize proteins in non-native environments (i.e., solvents, high temperatures). Currently, the main application is to embed enzymes in plastics to create truly compostable plastics with on-demand degradation to monomers from the inside out.
Jack Lindsay
Location
Harvard UniversityResearch Project
I'm building an in vitro model of an innervated intestinal epithelium to study the two-way communication between the gut and the brain. To do this, I'm culturing human neurons and human gut organoids from stem cells such that neurons synapse with epithelial cells. This model will be used to understand how information across the intestinal epithelium is integrated into neural signals, which in turn drive gut motility, nutrient uptake, and barrier integrity.
Jay Qu
Location
Stanford UniversityResearch Project
I use the photoelectric effect—the same phenomenon that Einstein won his Noble prize for, and the effect that underpins how solar cells operate—to study how electrons behave in materials (ARPES). My main research projects surround a layered material called BiTeCl, which has recently been predicted to be able to host efficient photocatalytic water splitting. I use state-of-the-art spin-resolved ARPES and time-resolved ARPES to study the electronic properties and lattice dynamics of this material, in addition to developing the instrumentation that makes these measurements possible.
Jeremy Koob
Location
Harvard UniversityResearch Project
Prior to beginning his PhD studies, Jeremy worked in Feng Zhang’s lab on Cas13 based technologies for virus detection and RNA editing. Currently, Jeremy is a graduate student in the Harvard MCO program (MCB department). Jeremy joined the Chen lab in 2020 and is interested in developing new molecular tools for reading and recording temporal information in living systems.
Jim Owens
Location
MITResearch Project
My thesis research concerns the EV-power system interactions, specifically developing and applying methods that (1) quantify the technology's ultimate value proposition at the systems level, and (2) enable risk-informed wholesale market participation and financial analysis.
Jodie Lunger
Location
Stanford UniversityResearch Project
My research project is at the intersection of genetics, virology, cancer, and maternal health. My aim is to understand how the reactivation of ancient viral sequences in the human genome contribute to immune tolerance during cancer and also during pregnancy. 
Kira Downey
Location
University of California - San Francisco (UCSF)Research Project
My work leverages cutting-edge synthetic biology tools and high thoroughput immune cell engineering strategies to develop the next generation of T-cell therapies for solid tumors. I am particularly interested in engineering complex multi-step interactions between immune cells that can bolster anti-tumor response and ultimately be generalized to treat other disease pathologies. Laine Goudy
Location
UCSF-Gladstone Institutes Research Project
CRISPR technologies can be used for multiplexed gene engineering and reprogramming of T cell therapies for cancer treatment. Two pressing challenges in reprogramming T cell therapies include 1) increasing efficacy in immunosuppressive solid tumors, and 2) generating safe, durable, and cost effective allogeneic T cell products. I am currently working on a comprehensive discovery and engineering research program to understand and solve these challenges through multiplexed editing in CAR T cells using novel CRISPR-based tools. 
Lisa Riedmayr
Location
Harvard Medical SchoolResearch Project
I am currently developing a pipeline to create short, synthetic promoter sequences for gene therapy. Moreover, I am engineering a Cas13 protein with novel properties useful for inducing selective apoptosis in cancer and for genome editing.
Lucie Guo
Location
Stanford Research Project
multiplexed gene therapy for polygenic diseases; synthetic biology for “smart” gene therapy 
Makenna Pennel
Location
Stanford UniversityResearch Project
My work combines inorganic chemistry and biology to convert polyethylene plastic waste into value-added chemicals. 
Manju Pharkavi Murugesu
Location
StanfordResearch Project
I study the integrity of caprocks during CO2 storage in geological formations. I specifically look at mineralization processes to trap CO2. 
Maria Astolfi
Location
UC Berkeley Research Project
I make the manufacturing of pharmaceutical cheaper, sustainable, and scalable with biology. I engineer yeast to grow molecules at scale in fermentation tanks. I transfer whole metabolic pathways from plants to microbes by precisely engineering their genomes. It saves the plants while also saving lives with pharmaceuticals made by microbes! 
Matthew Liu
Location
Stanford UniversityResearch Project
I research methods of electrifying chemical separations and reactions to treat and recover nitrogen pollutants in wastewaters. I develop catalysts, reactors, and processes to treat various types of wastewaters, including reverse osmosis brines, human urine, agricultural runoff, tile drain runoff, groundwater, and more. 
Mohamad Najia
Location
Boston Children's Hospital/Broad InstituteResearch Project
In my PhD, I worked at the interface of stem cell biology, epigenetics and synthetic biology to study and engineer stem cells. I identified novel chromatin regulators of natural killer (NK) cell development and utilized these mechanistic insights to generate different subtypes of NK cells from pluripotent stem cells for adoptive cell therapies. Furthermore, we discovered that the molecular mechanism of these chromatin regulators enables novel therapeutic approaches in lymphoma and other solid tumors. 
Nicholas Matteucci
Location
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyResearch Project
My work revolves around incorporating solid active materials into electrochemical flow cell designs for high-energy density redox flow batteries and low temperature electrochemical transformations. We are working to build off the lab-scale proof-of-concept developments made on two classes of solid-based electrochemical flow technologies: semi-solid suspension electrodes and redox-mediated flow systems. Specifically, I work developing models, experimental techniques, and design alterations to help researchers effectively navigate the large design space of these systems.
Nikita Kozak
Location
Stanford University Research Project
My research is in generalizable data-driven turbulence modeling, tackling the complex multi-scale physics found in many real-world fluid mechanics problems. By leveraging deep learning, my work enhances simulation accuracy at a fraction of the computational cost of traditional approaches. While my passion lies in applying my research to vehicle aerodynamics, specifically for urban aviation, its relevance extends to many other applications from wind and hydro-turbine design to simulating climate systems.
Nimit Jain
Location
Altos Labs, Stanford University Research Project
I am working on CRISPR screens to better understand the molecular mechanisms of aging and protein homeostasis in mammalian cells.
Omer Adir
Location
MITResearch Project
In my current research project I'm working on designing and implementing RNA-only genetic circuits. When expressed in the target cells, these circuits can sense and respond to their environment and do not require expression of foreign proteins that could elicit an immune response in the host. 
Ramiro Martin Perrotta
Location
Harvard Medical SchoolResearch Project
De-extinction of woolly mammoth alleles into asian elephant cells to engineer cold resistant elephants. Optimization and design of safer genome editing technologies.
Ron Boger
Location
UC BerkeleyResearch Project
I'm broadly interested in machine learning and gene editing. Currently developing ML tools for discovery of new phenomena
Ryan Murray
Location
Northeastern University Research Project
Characterizing the solid tumor microenvironment to understand synergistic pathways of T cell immunosuppression which can be alleviated by multiplex gene editing
Solomon Oyakhire
Location
UC Berkeley Research Project
Developing new mathematical methods for applying machine learning to small datasets and using this to discover high-performance energy materials. 
Thomas Young
Location
UC BerkeleyResearch Project
Engineering bacteria to be more productive for making high-energy biofuels. Coupling electrical energy to bacterial metabolism to make various renewable chemical products.
Tony (Tiange) Qu
Location
UCSFResearch Project
I am fascinated by the face, one of the only organs in the body for which we care about both its functionality and its aesthetics. For my PhD project, I am studying the molecular and cellular basis of craniofacial development and disease, including cleft lip/palate and Down Syndrome. I look forward to pairing my research with dental school training in the near future to advance oral and facial healthcare.
Uroš Kuzmanović
Location
Boston UniversityResearch Project
I am mining microbes found in nature to identify cellular machinery for the production of physiological biosensors. I am engineering novel hormone, neurotransmitter, and drug use biosensors which can monitor continuously and non-invasively to give unprecedented insight into our body's health. A multiplexed wearable monitor will open the door to truly personalized medicine and proactive, data-driven health decisions.
Vivasvan Vykunta
Location
UCSFResearch Project
My projects focus on understanding immune interactions to find targets for novel immunotherapeutic drugs. We are developing screening tools and technologies that will allow researchers to explore how cells interact together against infections and tumors rather than studying single cell types in isolation.
Wai Tong Chung
Location
Stanford UniversityResearch Project
My research improves our understanding of the science behind novel energy and propulsion (rocket) systems with Machine Learning, AI for Science, and High-Performance Computing techniques.
Yue Clare Lou
Location
UC BerkeleyResearch Project
I use computational biology to investigate the formation of our gut microbiome and how events such as premature birth and antibiotics intake impact the development of our microbiome and our health.
Yue Qin
Location
Broad Institute of MIT and HarvardResearch Project
My research develops computational methods for building structurally descriptive and functionally predictive models of human cells. These methods aim to create in silico cells that simulate the effect of therapeutic interventions in different disease and genetic contexts with the ultimate goal of developing personalized medicine.
Yunha Hwang
Location
Harvard UniversityResearch Project
I am developing a Genomic Language Model that uses machine intelligence to learn the language of biology. I combine expertise in natural language processing, metagenomics, and microbial evolution to learn meaningful representations of genomic sequences to discover new biology. I am particularly interested in its potential applications in biosecurity and bioprospecting.
Table view of Humans of Fifty 50
Full Name
Image
Location
Research Interest(s)
Research Project
Current Research Stage
PI Advisor
Research Areas Outside of your field that you'd like to explore
Fun Fact
Research Interests
Text
Solomon Oyakhire
UC Berkeley
batteries, semiconductors, machine learning
Developing new mathematical methods for applying machine learning to small datasets and using this to discover high-performance energy materials.
Postdoc
Kristin Persson
carbon capture, cancer biology, CO2 reduction and catalytic conversion, nitrogen reduction, lithium extraction, battery materials recycling
spent 14 months in my mother’s womb. someone got too comfy 😉
batteries, semiconductors, machine learning
Yunha Hwang
Harvard University
Machine Learning in Genomics, Metagenomics, Microbial evolution
I am developing a Genomic Language Model that uses machine intelligence to learn the language of biology. I combine expertise in natural language processing, metagenomics, and microbial evolution to learn meaningful representations of genomic sequences to discover new biology. I am particularly interested in its potential applications in biosecurity and bioprospecting.
PhD Student—year 4+
Peter Girguis
Machine Learning in Genomics, Metagenomics, Microbial evolution
Ryan Murray
Northeastern University
Base editing, gene editing, solid tumors, tumor micro environment, immunology, CAR-T,
Characterizing the solid tumor microenvironment to understand synergistic pathways of T cell immunosuppression which can be alleviated by multiplex gene editing
PhD Student—year 4+
Stephen Hatfield
I love the concept of bio design and using bioengineering for sustainability
I have been skydiving...twice!
Base editing, gene editing, solid tumors, tumor micro environment, immunology, CAR-T,
Aidan Cowan
UC Berkeley
Metabolic Engineering, Biofuels, Advanced Biomaterials
In order to make biofuels a reality we need to make a lot more of them and we need to make them from something cheaper than glucose. My project couples the growth of microorganisms to the production of fuels, so they can't live without making fuel and so they evolve to make more fuel. Another aspect of my projects seeks to use one carbon feedstocks to make these fuels more cheaply and in a way which directly sequesters CO2.
PhD Student—year 4+
Jay Keasling
Anything climate tech from geothermal energy, small modular reactors, heat pumps, passive houses, grid storage, hydrogen etc.
Love Backpacking and Mountaineering
Metabolic Engineering, Biofuels, Advanced Biomaterials
aidancowan@berkeley.edu
Cyrus Knudsen
Stanford University
mathematical modeling, computational modeling, parameter inference, high-throughput data, synthetic biology, strain engineering, metabolic engineering, data visualization
Because we want to make engineering biology easier, our lab works on a comprehensive computational simulation model of single E. coli cells ("whole-cell models"), in order to enable biologists to answer research questions with cell simulations.
I specifically work on inferring kinetic and regulatory parameters for enzymes and regulatory proteins, in order to create better models of metabolism and regulation.
PhD Student—year 1 or 2
Markus Covert
I am an occasional dance teacher :)
mathematical modeling, computational modeling, parameter inference, high-throughput data, synthetic biology, strain engineering, metabolic engineering, data visualization
Charlotte (Hui) Wang
UCSF
base editing, saturation mutagenesis, deep learning, CAR T cell therapy
During my PhD training, I am combining the expertise of my two thesis labs to investigate how synthetic perturbations can affect immune T cells, with the ultimate aim of developing an enhanced effector T cell that can more effectively eliminate cancer. Specifically, I utilize high-throughput readouts, such as saturation mutagenesis combined phenotype screens, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), to comprehensively analyze the effects of perturbations on T cell function. By leveraging the latest technologies and techniques from both labs, I hope to make a significant contribution to the field of cancer immunotherapy.
PhD Student—year 3
Justin Eyquem / Jimmie Ye
TCR therapy, TCR signaling, TCR directed T cell differentiation, deep learning, anything functional genomics
I wanted to be a Kpop Star if not for science
base editing, saturation mutagenesis, deep learning, CAR T cell therapy
Matthew Liu
Stanford University
electrochemistry, electrocatalysis, water treatment, resource recovery, ammonia synthesis
I research methods of electrifying chemical separations and reactions to treat and recover nitrogen pollutants in wastewaters. I develop catalysts, reactors, and processes to treat various types of wastewaters, including reverse osmosis brines, human urine, agricultural runoff, tile drain runoff, groundwater, and more.
PhD Student—year 4+
William Tarpeh
remediating air pollution; depolymerizing plastics.
I enjoy playing Chinese chess
electrochemistry, electrocatalysis, water treatment, resource recovery, ammonia synthesis
Hersh Bhargava
UCSF Cell Design Institute
Immune cell engineering, synthetic biology, computational design of cell therapies
I am using synthetic biology and mathematical modeling to understand how immune cells share information via secreted molecules and to rewire T cell communication to create more efficacious cell therapies for solid tumors and beyond.
PhD Student—year 4+
Wendell Lim & Hana El-Samad
Neuroimmunology, neuroscience, stem cell engineering
Immune cell engineering, synthetic biology, computational design of cell therapies
Jodie Lunger
Stanford University
immune tolerance, human endogenous retroviruses, maternal-fetal interface
My research project is at the intersection of genetics, virology, cancer, and maternal health. My aim is to understand how the reactivation of ancient viral sequences in the human genome contribute to immune tolerance during cancer and also during pregnancy.
PhD Student—year 1 or 2
Dr. Michael Angelo
aging, autoimmune disease, plant immunology, most things
I play ice hockey (I also have Canadian citizenship)
immune tolerance, human endogenous retroviruses, maternal-fetal interface
Lisa Riedmayr
Harvard Medical School
CRISPR technology, cis-regulatory elements, gene therapy, synthetic biology, genetic diseases, neuroscience
I am currently developing a pipeline to create short, synthetic promoter sequences for gene therapy. Moreover, I am engineering a Cas13 protein with novel properties useful for inducing selective apoptosis in cancer and for genome editing.
Postdoc
George Church
Environmental research, microbiology, infectious diseases
I'm in love with Bavarian beer, do not get the hype around IPAs and truly miss the Oktoberfest.
CRISPR technology, cis-regulatory elements, gene therapy, synthetic biology, genetic diseases, neuroscience
Danilo Dubocanin
Stanford University
Genomics, 3rd-gen Sequencing
I develop and apply tools to understand protein-DNA interactions at the single molecule level. Using these tools I probe fundamental cellular processes at an unprecedented resolution.
PhD Student—year 1 or 2
Nick Altemose
Genome Engineering, Protein Design, Interface of AI and Healthcare/Genetics, Population Genetics
Ran the SF half-marathon this year!
Genomics, 3rd-gen Sequencing
Thomas Young
UC Berkeley
Biosynthesis, biofuels, renewable chemicals, genetic engineering, chemistry, bacteria
Engineering bacteria to be more productive for making high-energy biofuels. Coupling electrical energy to bacterial metabolism to make various renewable chemical products.
Postdoc
Jay Keasling
Biosynthesis, biofuels, renewable chemicals, genetic engineering, chemistry, bacteria
Nicholas Matteucci
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Electrochemical Engineering, Reactor Engineering, Rheology, Energy Storage, Batteries, Industrial Electrification
My work revolves around incorporating solid active materials into electrochemical flow cell designs for high-energy density redox flow batteries and low temperature electrochemical transformations. We are working to build off the lab-scale proof-of-concept developments made on two classes of solid-based electrochemical flow technologies: semi-solid suspension electrodes and redox-mediated flow systems. Specifically, I work developing models, experimental techniques, and design alterations to help researchers effectively navigate the large design space of these systems.
PhD Student—year 4+
Fikile Brushett
I have many interests outside my immediate field, including quantum physics, physical chemistry, computation, nuclear engineering, astrophysics, statistics, and grid-scale energy dynamics. Given that this is an extremely broad set of fields, I will likely only be able to thoroughly explore some of these fields and more casually investigate others.
I'm an avid runner and recently ran my first marathon in 2:22:02.
Electrochemical Engineering, Reactor Engineering, Rheology, Energy Storage, Batteries, Industrial Electrification
Jack Lindsay
Harvard University
organ-on-a-chip, gut-brain axis, tissue engineering, microfluidics
I'm building an in vitro model of an innervated intestinal epithelium to study the two-way communication between the gut and the brain. To do this, I'm culturing human neurons and human gut organoids from stem cells such that neurons synapse with epithelial cells. This model will be used to understand how information across the intestinal epithelium is integrated into neural signals, which in turn drive gut motility, nutrient uptake, and barrier integrity.
PhD Student—year 3
Don Ingber and Mike Levin
Communication across the body using extracellular vesicles, immune engineering and regenerative medicine, battery manufacturing, vascularization of organoids, wearable robotics, biomaterials
I recently created a party game around interpersonal connection, and have run it with parties of over 40 people.
organ-on-a-chip, gut-brain axis, tissue engineering, microfluidics
Itai Levin
MIT
Computational chemistry, synthetic biology
Developing and applying computational chemistry tools to accelerate the identification of useful molecules that can be synthesized using enzymatic reactions. Working on predictive models to predict the properties of small molecules and to automate the process of synthesis planning.
PhD Student—year 4+
Christopher Voigt, Connor Coley
Clean energy, precision agriculture, protein engineering
I've brewed kombucha and beer at home
Computational chemistry, synthetic biology
Tony (Tiange) Qu
UCSF
dentistry, genetics, developmental biology, cleft lip and palate, craniofacial development
I am fascinated by the face, one of the only organs in the body for which we care about both its functionality and its aesthetics. For my PhD project, I am studying the molecular and cellular basis of craniofacial development and disease, including cleft lip/palate and Down Syndrome. I look forward to pairing my research with dental school training in the near future to advance oral and facial healthcare.
PhD Student—year 4+
Licia Selleri and Georgia Panagiotakos
I am very open-minded. I am quite excited about using bioengineering to hijack cellular processes to achieve therapeutic outcomes. I am also interested in learning about AI/ML in healthcare/research.
I won cutest baby award in kindergarten
dentistry, genetics, developmental biology, cleft lip and palate, craniofacial development
Devon Van Cura
Harvard University
Biosynthesis, enzyme discovery, natural product discovery
Through the use of enzymes, microbes are capable of incredibly powerful and precise chemical transformations under environmentally benign conditions. My project focuses on discovering new microbial enzymes that can produce the highly reactive and synthetically enabling diazo functional group. Identifying novel diazo-forming enzymes will enable new biocatalytic approaches for developing environmentally friendly chemical manufacturing processes.
PhD Student—year 4+
Emily Balskus
Biocatalysis + protein engineering
I was a wrestler at Penn State University as an undergraduate, and now I compete actively in submission grappling/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Biosynthesis, enzyme discovery, natural product discovery
Evan Groover
UC Berkeley
Plant genetics, gene editing, carbon sequestration
I am developing new gene editing tools and techniques for crop plants. Using them, I am working to rewire plant genomes to maximize agricultural carbon sequestration.
PhD Student—year 4+
David Savage, Brian Staskawicz
Agricultural biomanufacturing, molecular diagnostics, AI as a tool for functional genomics
Prior to coming to graduate school I worked as a professional jazz saxophonist.
Plant genetics, gene editing, carbon sequestration
Ron Boger
UC Berkeley
gene editing, RNA binding proteins, machine learning
I'm broadly interested in machine learning and gene editing. Currently developing ML tools for discovery of new phenomena
PhD Student—year 1 or 2
Jennifer Doudna
immunology
gene editing, RNA binding proteins, machine learning
Jim Owens
MIT
Electric vehicles, distributed energy resources, industrial decarbonization
My thesis research concerns the EV-power system interactions, specifically developing and applying methods that (1) quantify the technology's ultimate value proposition at the systems level, and (2) enable risk-informed wholesale market participation and financial analysis.
Year 4/About to graduate
Bob Armstrong, Emre Gencer
In my free time I like to sail, ski, and brew my own beet!
Electric vehicles, distributed energy resources, industrial decarbonization
Nimit Jain
Altos Labs, Stanford University
Genome wide functional genomics screens in mammalian cells, next gen sequencing, DNA and RNA sequence analysis, rejuvenation, proteostasis
I am working on CRISPR screens to better understand the molecular mechanisms of aging and protein homeostasis in mammalian cells.
Scientist/Postdoc
Peter Walter, Mike Bassik
Syn bio for sustainability and environmental protection
I became fluent in German in college and spent a summer in a village of 5000 people in Germany
Genome wide functional genomics screens in mammalian cells, next gen sequencing, DNA and RNA sequence analysis, rejuvenation, proteostasis
Elena Turkalj
UC San Francisco
Background: Brain organoids, neurodevelopment, RNA biology. Research Interests: biosensors, RNA biology, continuous monitoring.
In my PhD, I'm researching how the epitranscriptome is involved in neurodevelopment using a brain organoid model. Outside of the lab, I am working on developing a continuous hormone monitor.
PhD Student—year 4+
Caroline Vissers
I am working on a project to build a continuous hormone device. I am interested in biosensors and RNA biology.
I have more neanderthal variants that 98% of 23andMe customers (~12 Million users)!
Background: Brain organoids, neurodevelopment, RNA biology. Research Interests: biosensors, RNA biology, continuous monitoring.
Lucie Guo
Stanford
CRISPR, synthetic biology, ophthalmology
multiplexed gene therapy for polygenic diseases; synthetic biology for “smart” gene therapy
Postdoc / clinical fellow
Stanley Qi / Sui Wang / Jeff Goldberg
Any!
I operate on eyeballs!
CRISPR, synthetic biology, ophthalmology
Anqi Chen
Harvard University
Ultrahigh throughput screening, enzyme evolution
We are developing a highly multiplexed ultrahigh throughput screening platform for the discovery of functional enzyme mutants. This method combines the advantages of droplet-based microfluidics, in-vitro protein expression and a novel random mutagenesis protocol to achieve unprecedented screening power. Our goal is to carry out functional screen for mutagenesis libraries of 10^12 diversity, allowing for up to 4 random mutations of a small-sized enzyme, or 9 site-specific mutations to be combinatorially saturated and screened.
PhD Student—year 4+
David Weitz
Computational design of novel proteins. Computational predicative algorithms for sequence-to-activity relation.
I used to do fundamental biophysical measurements of cellular components for a long while before I was convinced to be bored and started working on protein evolution.
Ultrahigh throughput screening, enzyme evolution
Jay Qu
Stanford University
material physics, condensed matter, layered materials, quantum materials, battery materials, solar cells, energy science, photonics, quantum sensing, machine learning for materials discovery
I use the photoelectric effect—the same phenomenon that Einstein won his Noble prize for, and the effect that underpins how solar cells operate—to study how electrons behave in materials (ARPES). My main research projects surround a layered material called BiTeCl, which has recently been predicted to be able to host efficient photocatalytic water splitting. I use state-of-the-art spin-resolved ARPES and time-resolved ARPES to study the electronic properties and lattice dynamics of this material, in addition to developing the instrumentation that makes these measurements possible.
PhD Student—year 4+
Zhi-Xun Shen
thin film solar cells, machine learning for materials discovery, carbon capture (solid state), solid state electricity storage, recycling
I work with big lasers.
material physics, condensed matter, layered materials, quantum materials, battery materials, solar cells, energy science, photonics, quantum sensing, machine learning for materials discovery
Wai Tong Chung
Stanford University
AI, Flow Physics, Energy, Propulsion, and Climate
My research improves our understanding of the science behind novel energy and propulsion (rocket) systems with Machine Learning, AI for Science, and High-Performance Computing techniques.
PhD Student—year 4+
Matthias Ihme
Other AI Domains and Biotechnology
Vienna is my favorite city for travel!
AI, Flow Physics, Energy, Propulsion, and Climate
Maria Astolfi
UC Berkeley
Biomanufacturing, metabolic engineering, genome engineering, synthetic biology
I make the manufacturing of pharmaceutical cheaper, sustainable, and scalable with biology. I engineer yeast to grow molecules at scale in fermentation tanks. I transfer whole metabolic pathways from plants to microbes by precisely engineering their genomes. It saves the plants while also saving lives with pharmaceuticals made by microbes!
PhD Student—year 3
Jay Keasling
Advocacy of Indigenous communities, UN ethical frameworks, and everything social impact. I’ll want to build a better world that all peoples can benefit from.
I was born and raised in the heart of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil! My childhood was connected to biodiversity as my mother is from the Kambeba indigenous ethnicity.
Biomanufacturing, metabolic engineering, genome engineering, synthetic biology
Nikita Kozak
Stanford University
Turbulence, Fluid Mechanics, Computational Engineering, Machine Learning
My research is in generalizable data-driven turbulence modeling, tackling the complex multi-scale physics found in many real-world fluid mechanics problems. By leveraging deep learning, my work enhances simulation accuracy at a fraction of the computational cost of traditional approaches. While my passion lies in applying my research to vehicle aerodynamics, specifically for urban aviation, its relevance extends to many other applications from wind and hydro-turbine design to simulating climate systems.
PhD Student—year 4+
Gianluca Iaccarino
Low-cost renewable energy sources!
I can do the splits!
Turbulence, Fluid Mechanics, Computational Engineering, Machine Learning
Bryce Tappan
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Batteries, electrochemistry, solid electrolytes, recycling, semiconductor nanocrystals, chemical synthesis, solar cells
I am currently studying the kinetics of ion and electron charge transfer reactions at interfaces in solid-state batteries. I am also trying to develop electrochemical methods to recycle critical materials for energy technologies (batteries, solar cells, water electrolyzers).
Postdoc
Prof. Yang Shao-Horn
carbon capture and storage, water desalination, urban design for sustainability, plastics recycling, more sustainable paper making, thinking about ways that social movements could be used to address climate change; how can simple incentives be created in a capitalist society to incentivize people to make sustainable decisions? These are all things in which I am no expert but have a genuine interest in learning more about.
I built an igloo; and in it I slept the night; true, is this haiku
Batteries, electrochemistry, solid electrolytes, recycling, semiconductor nanocrystals, chemical synthesis, solar cells
Laine Goudy
UCSF-Gladstone Institutes
Epigenetic editing, CAR T cell engineering, DNA methylation
CRISPR technologies can be used for multiplexed gene engineering and reprogramming of T cell therapies for cancer treatment. Two pressing challenges in reprogramming T cell therapies include 1) increasing efficacy in immunosuppressive solid tumors, and 2) generating safe, durable, and cost effective allogeneic T cell products. I am currently working on a comprehensive discovery and engineering research program to understand and solve these challenges through multiplexed editing in CAR T cells using novel CRISPR-based tools.
PhD Student—year 4+
Luke Gilbert, Alex Marson
Targeted delivery platforms for gene therapies (LNPs, AAVs, or other novel mechanisms), Oncolytic viruses for cancer therapeutics, Synthetic biology for regenerative agriculture
Biking and skiing are my favorite hobbies. This past March I biked 150 miles in Death Valley!
Epigenetic editing, CAR T cell engineering, DNA methylation
Uroš Kuzmanović
Boston University
Biosensors, wearables, synthetic biology, microbial genetics, electrical engineering, electrochemistry
I am mining microbes found in nature to identify cellular machinery for the production of physiological biosensors. I am engineering novel hormone, neurotransmitter, and drug use biosensors which can monitor continuously and non-invasively to give unprecedented insight into our body's health. A multiplexed wearable monitor will open the door to truly personalized medicine and proactive, data-driven health decisions.
Graduated
James Galagan
I'm interested in the field of longevity. I only know at a surface level about telomeres and how it's shortening over time can lead to increased rates of mutations. I can only imagine how much the field has progressed since reading about this years ago. I'm also curious about technology addressing climate change, mostly because of it's visible influence and a pressing call to help.
I trained with Novak Djokovic's coach!
Biosensors, wearables, synthetic biology, microbial genetics, electrical engineering, electrochemistry
Jeremy Koob
Harvard University
Interest: protein engineering for environment applications. Background: Mammalian synthetic biology, RNA biochemistry, RNA-editing, CRISPR-Cas13, metalloproteins, inorganic catalysis
Prior to beginning his PhD studies, Jeremy worked in Feng Zhang’s lab on Cas13 based technologies for virus detection and RNA editing. Currently, Jeremy is a graduate student in the Harvard MCO program (MCB department). Jeremy joined the Chen lab in 2020 and is interested in developing new molecular tools for reading and recording temporal information in living systems.
PhD Student—year 4+
Fei Chen
All fields of synthetic biology, directed evolution, protein design (computational/AI-driven), ML/AI generally, synbio climate tech, carbon capture, carbon-negative manufacturing, evolution, origin of life, origin of humans
I'm a pianist and love chamber music! if you play strings (or other) and want to jam, let me know!
Interest: protein engineering for environment applications. Background: Mammalian synthetic biology, RNA biochemistry, RNA-editing, CRISPR-Cas13, metalloproteins, inorganic catalysis
Ivan Jayapurna
UC Berkeley
polymers, proteins, AI, simulation
Rational design of bioinspired additives to stabilize proteins in non-native environments (i.e., solvents, high temperatures). Currently, the main application is to embed enzymes in plastics to create truly compostable plastics with on-demand degradation to monomers from the inside out.
PhD Student—year 4+
Ting Xu
Food, Robots, Seaweed, Energy, Biomanufacturing
I've lived in 4 countries
polymers, proteins, AI, simulation
Makenna Pennel
Stanford University
Plastic waste deconstruction and upcycling, heterogeneous thermocatalysis, precise nanocrystal synthesis, high-pressure reactions, inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry
My work combines inorganic chemistry and biology to convert polyethylene plastic waste into value-added chemicals.
PhD Student—year 4+
Matteo Cargnello
Microplastics, CO2 capture and conversion
I competed in the Gran Turismo College League World Finals in Tokyo last year
Plastic waste deconstruction and upcycling, heterogeneous thermocatalysis, precise nanocrystal synthesis, high-pressure reactions, inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry
Fabio Boniolo
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Computational biology, personalized medicine, oncology, epigenetics
I study childhood cancer. Specifically, I exploit computational approaches and single cell sequencing technologies for patient stratification and target identification in Medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children.
Postdoc
Volker Hovestadt
Synthetic biology, rare diseases, neurodegenerative disorders
Computational biology, personalized medicine, oncology, epigenetics
Omer Adir
MIT
Synthetic Biology, Genetic Circuits, Drug Delivery, Nanomedicine
In my current research project I'm working on designing and implementing RNA-only genetic circuits. When expressed in the target cells, these circuits can sense and respond to their environment and do not require expression of foreign proteins that could elicit an immune response in the host.
Postdoc
Ron Weiss
Immunology and immunological diseases, Computational biology and machine learning
I'm a huge sports freak, love to play and watch every sport activity
Synthetic Biology, Genetic Circuits, Drug Delivery, Nanomedicine
Chris Giuliano
MIT
infectious disease, immunology
My work develops high-throughput approaches for studying host-pathogen interactions, with a focus on parasitic diseases. Understanding how parasites manipulate hosts for their benefit can both reveal ways to treat parasitic diseases and uncover new modalities for modulating human physiology.
PhD Student—year 4+
Sebastian Lourido
metabolomics, microbiome, climate
infectious disease, immunology
Vivasvan Vykunta
UCSF
Gene Editing/engineering, Immunotherapies, Immuno-oncology
My projects focus on understanding immune interactions to find targets for novel immunotherapeutic drugs. We are developing screening tools and technologies that will allow researchers to explore how cells interact together against infections and tumors rather than studying single cell types in isolation.
MD-PhD student, M2
Matthew Krummel
Sustainable and alternative energy sources, Waste processing and recycling, Sustainable/eco-friendly chemical production
I recently started dabbling in astrophotography!
Gene Editing/engineering, Immunotherapies, Immuno-oncology
Allison Flores
Harvard University
synthetic biology, protein engineering, non-standard amino acids
Within the Church lab I work on developing synthetic biology-based strategies for the genetic encoding of non-standard amino acids (nsAAs) within proteins. By expanding beyond the 20 standard amino acids, targeted incorporation of nsAAs allows for the precise introduction of novel chemical structures, generating proteins with enhanced or new structures, functions and properties.
PhD Student—year 4+
George Church
Protein design, Climate tech
I can do a backfip!
synthetic biology, protein engineering, non-standard amino acids
Ramiro Martin Perrotta
Harvard Medical School
Interest: Synthetic Biology, xenobiology, biosecurity. Background: de-extinction, base editing, PANCE, mammalian genome engineering and cell culture, glycobiology, onco-immunology.
De-extinction of woolly mammoth alleles into asian elephant cells to engineer cold resistant elephants. Optimization and design of safer genome editing technologies.
Postdoc
George Church
Xenobiology, biosecurity, ethics
I hate spicy food!
Interest: Synthetic Biology, xenobiology, biosecurity. Background: de-extinction, base editing, PANCE, mammalian genome engineering and cell culture, glycobiology, onco-immunology.
Kira Downey
University of California - San Francisco (UCSF)
cancer immunotherapy, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells, synthetic biology, CRISPR screening, brain tumors, tumor microenvironment
My work leverages cutting-edge synthetic biology tools and high thoroughput immune cell engineering strategies to develop the next generation of T-cell therapies for solid tumors. I am particularly interested in engineering complex multi-step interactions between immune cells that can bolster anti-tumor response and ultimately be generalized to treat other disease pathologies.
PhD Student—year 1 or 2
Kole Roybal
Functional genomics, autoimmunity, base editing, small molecule therapeutics, mRNA therapeutics, vaccine development, infectious disease, stem cell therapeutics, neurodegeneration, regenerative medicine
My cat has a scientific publication! She was the first cat to be treated and cured from a rare type of pancreatic cancer. Sadly, this was the same cancer that Steve Jobs died from. My 17 year old cat has a case report in the Journal of Small Animal Practice and is 5 years cancer free!
cancer immunotherapy, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells, synthetic biology, CRISPR screening, brain tumors, tumor microenvironment
Anton Jackson-Smith
Stanford
Synthetic biology, synthetic cells, DNA design, software engineering, hardware, ethics, art
Building a synthetic cell. Chromosome design, cell system integration, and microscopy to create a cell from defined and well understood molecular parts.
PhD graduate
Drew Endy
Machine learning, high throughput experiments, directed evolution, design of programming languages.
I've been running a burning man camp for the last six years.
Synthetic biology, synthetic cells, DNA design, software engineering, hardware, ethics, art
Yue Clare Lou
UC Berkeley
gut microbiome; personalized health
I use computational biology to investigate the formation of our gut microbiome and how events such as premature birth and antibiotics intake impact the development of our microbiome and our health.
Just graduated from my PhD
Jill Banfield
drug discovery for cancer treatments; hormone and microbiome
I had a baby pig when I was a kid
gut microbiome; personalized health
Yue Qin
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Machine Learning, Precision Medicine
My research develops computational methods for building structurally descriptive and functionally predictive models of human cells. These methods aim to create in silico cells that simulate the effect of therapeutic interventions in different disease and genetic contexts with the ultimate goal of developing personalized medicine.
Postdoc
Paul Blainey, Caroline Uhler
Protein engineering, immunology
I am an aspiring triathlete with motion sickness.
Machine Learning, Precision Medicine
Mohamad Najia
Boston Children's Hospital/Broad Institute
Cell therapy, immunology, synthetic biology, genomics, epigenetics, pluripotent stem cells, cancer
In my PhD, I worked at the interface of stem cell biology, epigenetics and synthetic biology to study and engineer stem cells. I identified novel chromatin regulators of natural killer (NK) cell development and utilized these mechanistic insights to generate different subtypes of NK cells from pluripotent stem cells for adoptive cell therapies. Furthermore, we discovered that the molecular mechanism of these chromatin regulators enables novel therapeutic approaches in lymphoma and other solid tumors.
Postdoc
George Daley, Paul Blainey
neuroinflammation, chemical biology, genome engineering, CRISPR technology development
I hiked Mount Fuji in Japan and saw the sunrise atop the mountain. I love to sail, bake, and woodworking.
Cell therapy, immunology, synthetic biology, genomics, epigenetics, pluripotent stem cells, cancer
David Ding
UC Berkeley
Protein engineering
I work on a green concrete project to enable increased carbon absorption in building materials, and develop tools for rationally engineering crop genetics.
Postdoc
Dave Savage
Anything that has potential for scale.
I've been trying to run 30 miles, with emphasis on trying :)
Protein engineering
Caoimhe Canavan
MIT/Wyss institute Harvard
Cell-free systems, mammalian synthetic biology, genetic circuit design, synthetic cells, microbiology, biotechnology.
Broadly my projects are focused on cell-free systems, RNA circuits and synthetic cells. More specifically, I use mammalian cell-free systems for high-throughput screening of tunable genetic circuits for environmental sensing and diagnostic purposes.
Postdoc
Jim Collins
Cell-free systems, mammalian synthetic biology, genetic circuit design, synthetic cells, microbiology, biotechnology.
Akshay Maheshwari
cell modeling, synthetic cell engineering, synthetic biology, medicine
Building programmable cells from scratch
CEO (post-MD/PhD)
N/A
cell modeling, synthetic cell engineering, synthetic biology, medicine
Carla Pinzon
Stanford
Entrepreneurship! Commercialization!
High Frequency Power Electronics for Underwater Applications
Entrepreneurship! Commercialization!
I dived with Great White's off the coast of South Africa!
power electronics, wide bandgap semiconductors
Manju Pharkavi Murugesu
Stanford
I am also equally excited about cement decarbonization.
I study the integrity of caprocks during CO2 storage in geological formations. I specifically look at mineralization processes to trap CO2.
PhD Student—year 4+
Dr. Anthony Kovscek
I am also equally excited about cement decarbonization.
I have survived a shipwreck
Decarbonization of hard-to-abate industries
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