Undergraduate Research & Scholarships

Davina Dou Rose Hills

Spatiotemporally Mapping the CRISPR-CasX Binding and Repair of DNA

As a fellow, I will be working to develop a live-cell imaging platform to understand the mechanisms of the CRISPR-CasX endonuclease and its potential to be harnessed for gene-editing. More specifically, I will be looking at the length of the protein’s DNA binding and its rate of repair. My findings will provide a clearer understanding of CRISPR mechanisms in cells, and ultimately, how we could apply these interactions to treat human diseases in a timely manner.

Message To Sponsor

I am grateful for the SURF program and the many opportunities it afforded me in order to pursue my research question and passions. The program has helped me explore my interests in the biological field, and allowed me to understand the underlying mechanisms behind CRISPR-Cas repair systems. Getting the chance to work with my mentor allowed me to understand what important questions to ask, and how I might go about searching for the answers I seek. As a result, I am definitely exploring my professional career options in this field!