Nicole Klatt
Single-cell RNA sequencing has fundamentally changed our understanding of disease and the methods we utilize to classify cell types and discover new biology. However, some rare cell types can have a disproportionately large impact on overall development and progression for disease. To study these cells, traditional methods for cell classification and purification involve tagging cells with fluorescent antibodies targeting proteins on a cell’s surface. However, some cells cannot be identified based solely on their surface protein profile. In the Clark Lab, we develop new workflows for nucleic acid cytometry to […]
Charlie Kortleven
As atmospheric CO2 concentrations rise, rapid environmental shifts have led to more frequent and severe droughts. Some plants have demonstrated the capacity for rapid acclimation to abiotic stressors; however, the extent to which these responses are retained and transmitted across generations remains unclear. This study aims to explore how parental effects, potentially mediated by epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, prime offspring to cope with similar stressful environments before experiencing them directly, by altering gene expression—a process often implicated in phenotypic plasticity. To understand the mechanisms underlying transgenerational plasticity in […]
Emma Lalor
As an EMT, I believe it is exceedingly important to try to gain a full-picture perspective of patients and providers in order to work with each in the best way possible. One way that this can be done is through the use of graphic medicine, or the implementation of graphic novel, cartoons, and comics in order to convey stories and lessons from emergency medicine. My research is in tandem with many healthcare providers, patients, and educators through the volunteer group, Graphic Medicine. With this project, we aim to create an […]
Nathan Lin
The increasing threat of devastating wildfires in California has sparked interest in improving forest management, initiating work with indigenous tribes to integrate traditional knowledge with modern practices such as prescribed burning and mechanical fuel reduction. The efficacy of these techniques has previously been studied, but less is known about their effects on invertebrate communities. To address this, the Will lab has an ongoing, 4-year sampling project in the San Vicente Redwoods, studying how ground-dwelling arthropods are affected by different levels of mechanical treatment. I will characterize the beetle community in […]
Benjamin Capinski
The field of atomic physics studies the behavior of atoms, focusing on their fundamental properties and interactions. Most research in ultracold atomic physics has concentrated on alkali and alkali earth metals due to the simplicity of laser cooling them. Until recently, this has left most of the periodic table unexplored in the ultracold regime. By performing laser cooling in a metastable state, the E8 experiment in Prof. Dan Stamper-Kurn’s group is the first in the world to laser cool titanium atoms, with plans for further cooling to quantum degeneracy. The […]
Rylee Chaisongkram
Over generations, there has been a steady decline in reproductive rates. One in 6 adults across the world experience infertility, with stress contributing substantially to this decline. While studies highlight stress-related health risks, its specific impact on the reproductive system at the brain level remains unclear. This project will explore the connection between stress and the neuroendocrine regulation of female reproductive function, with a particular focus on kisspeptin (Kp) neurons in the posterodorsal medial amygdala (MePD) region of the brain. Through the use of transgenic mouse models, immunohistochemistry, and viral […]
Laura Cho
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by repetitive behaviors, social communication deficits, and sensory processing difficulties. Highly heritable and male-biased, ASD is frequently comorbid with other psychiatric disorders, with 71% of ASD-affected children meeting criteria for a concurrent condition and 41% having 2 or more disorders. These attributes potentially implicate sex-interacting, heritable genetic variants in transdiagnostically manifesting psychiatric traits. I will investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with sex-differentiated effect size for ASD, and test for enrichment in association signal for 8 other psychiatric disorders, as compared to […]
Theodore Coffey
Small molecule drugs function by binding to a target protein in a binding pocket, inhibiting or changing the protein’s activity, thereby creating a therapeutic effect. Finding novel protein binders is challenging because many potential binding pockets remain uncharacterized. Probes with a covalent warhead have been used to find binding pockets since the probes can covalently bond to amino acid residues. Enantiomeric probe pairs have recently been used to identify stereoselective binding pockets which tend to be more therapeutically relevant. I hypothesize that asymmetric gold catalysis can be used to synthesize […]
Morgan Apolonio
Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (Synechocystis) is a fast-growing unicellular photosynthetic microorganism comprising a potential cell factory for the generation of bioactive compounds, therapeutic proteins, and biofuels. Fusion constructs of recombinant proteins with the CpcB β-subunit of the light-harvesting phycocyanin in Synechocystis has enabled the over-expression of proteins of interest up to 10-20% of the total cellular protein. I will use human interferon α-2 protein (IFN), a human immunoprotein that protects cells from infection, as a case study of over-expression and downstream signal processing of IFN. One problem in the biosynthesis […]
Rachel Arakawa
The four dengue virus serotypes (DENV1-4) and Zika virus (ZIKV) are among the most prevalent mosquito-borne flaviviruses worldwide. These viruses pose major public health challenges across various regions of the globe, with DENV infecting up to 390 million individuals yearly and resulting in an estimated 96 million cases worldwide. Clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic infections to dengue fever (DF) and severe outcomes such as dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS), which can be fatal if untreated. Interestingly, we have found that a first ZIKV infection increases the risk of DHF/DSS […]