Postdoctoral research fellow
I obtained my Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania in 2023, working at the interfaces of biology, chemistry, and medicine in the lab of Professor E. James Petersson. My doctoral research focused on designing thioamide peptides as protease probes, therapeutics (inhibitors), and imaging agents for targeted intraoperative imaging.
Before Penn, I graduated from Macalester College in 2018, with a double major in Chemistry and Biology, along with an Added Emphasis in Biochemistry. At Macalester, I conducted research in organic synthetic methodology and click chemistry with Professor Ronald Brisbois. I also completed my research honors thesis in bioinorganic chemistry with Professor Kathryn Splan, where I investigated copper(I) interactions with zinc-finger domains of protein Sp1 as a potential mechanism for copper dysregulation implicated in neurodegenerative diseases.
My hope is to combine biochemical, chemical biology, and structural techniques to elucidate complex molecular mechanism and decipher a plethora of biological questions, especially in the context of immunology and human diseases.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy taking long walks, reading, creative writing, playing the piano, learning violin, listening to different genres of music, watching TV shows, volunteering, and exploring different ethnic cuisines.