| Currently, I work in Professor Hinck's Lab. He uses methods in structural biology and biophysics to investigate the TGF-β superfamily and their receptors. I primarily work on Pro-BMP-9 and Pro-BMP-10. My work ranges from the function of their pro-domains in creating context specific release to the formation of heterodimers from their monomeric forms. To investigate these proteins and their interactions I am learning protein purification, protein crystallography, and protein-protein SPR. In terms of practical relevance, many of the proteins I work on are relevant to cardiovascular development and disease. This work is expected to contribute to several publications and my thesis. |
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MDM2's Val93 in docking p53's Trp23: Docked p53's Trp23 into MDM2. Monitored dihedral angle of Val93. I had very little experience for this rotation project, so my contributions were ultimately insignificant, but I learned a bit. No publications were produced from this project because it was a rotation project. Experience & Training:
| (Third Rotation) |
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Pocket Conformation Progress Coordinate for WestPA: The goal of this rotation was to establish a progress coordinate representative of pocket conformation (size and shape) to allow for efficient sampling using the Weighted Ensemble path sampling algorithm via WestPA and NAMD Molecular Dynamics. Publications were eventually produced from this project; however, the contributions from my rotation were ultimately insignificant. Experience & Training:
| (Second Rotation) |
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Using WestPA to Characterize Foldon Monomer Folding: Characterize the Foldon Trimerization Domain's folding and unfolding processes using the Weighted Ensemble path sampling algorithm via WestPA and AMBER Molecular Dynamics. No publications were produced from this project because it was a rotation project and I was generally inexperienced. Experience & Training:
| (First Rotation) |
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Collagen-Encapsulation Drug Delivery System: My role was to investigate whether collagen "nano-particles" could encapsulate small-molecule drugs for delivery. No publications were produced from this project because the collagen capsuls are too porous to hold small-molecules. Experience & Training:
| (Summer 2016) |
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High-Throughput SPR Sensors for Matrix Metalloproteinases: Surface Plasmon Resonance sensors with collagen spots to detect collagenase degradation and back-calculate collagenase concentrations. No publications were produced from this project because I was extremely underqualified and undertrained for Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). Experience & Training:
| (Summer 2015) |
| 2017‑???? | Graduate Student at the University of Pittsburgh's Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology Graduate Program. |
| 2015‑2017 | B.S. in NanoScience College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE), Albany NY |
| 2012‑2014 | A.S. in Science and Mathematics Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville MO |
In search of "hepatic factor:" Lack of evidence for ALK1 ligands BMP9 and BMP10American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2020 Sept. 01st DoI: 10.1164/rccm.202005-1937LE
Computational Design of High Affinity Binders to Convex Protein Target SitesNature Structural & Molecular Biology (Submitted for Review)
| Biology & Proteins | Math & Programing | Physics |
| Molecular Biophysics III | Thermo. & Stat. Mechanics | Biomolecular NMR |
| Molecular Biophysics II | Analysis for Applications | Advanced Phys/Chem Concepts |
| Molecular Biophysics I | Linear Algebra | Charged Particle Optics |
| Foundations of Biomedical Science | Multi-Variable Calculus | Nanoscale Electronic Devices |
| Organic Chemistry I | Scientific Computing | Nanoscale Design |
| Nano. Chem. and Bio. Sensors | Programing I & II | NanoLab I & II |
| Soft Matter | Structure of Matter | |
| Nanobio. for Nanotech. Apps. | Advanced Circuits | |
| Nanobiomanufacturing | Quantum Origins of Mat. Prop. | |
| Biochemistry | Intro. to Quantum Theory | |
| Microbiology |
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