Research
My doctoral research revolved around advancing two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy (2D-IR) for biological systems, applying the technique to resolve the toxic oligomeric structure of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), a key driver of type-2 diabetes. By stabilizing a transient oligomeric state and combining 2D-IR, NMR, and molecular dynamics, we obtained a high-resolution structure that reveals surfaces amenable to therapeutic targeting.
In parallel, I characterized the thermal effects of our 100 kHz 2D-IR spectrometer, developing methods to measure and control steady-state sample temperature and identifying a laser-induced artifact signal that limits signal-to-noise in dilute solutions. I showed this artifact can be eliminated under specific polarization conditions, enabling more accurate biophysical measurements.
Previously, I served as the lead researcher in a multinational collaboration between BASF and UNC-Chapel Hill, where I studied the protective properties of tardigrade proteins for industrial applications. As an undergraduate, I investigated the role of oxidative stress in stem-cell differentiation and explored protein-based excipients for biologics protein-based excipients for biologics, demonstrating their potential to enable dry storage of therapeutics.
If I had more than one lifetime, I would love to contribute to additional scientific fields: macromolecular crowding, biomolecular condensates, transcriptomics, imaging-based diagnostics, organoid bioprinting, cellular computation, and agricultural engineering.
Publications
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Delaying the Onset of Aggregation Enables a Structural Model of a Toxic Amyloid Oligomer for hIAPP
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Mitigation of Thermal Artifacts in 100 kHz Ultrafast 2D IR Spectroscopy
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Protection by Desiccation-Tolerance Proteins Probed at the Residue Level
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Toxicity and Immunogenicity of a Tardigrade Cytosolic Abundant Heat Soluble Protein in Mice