Jaideep Singh
In humans, copper (Cu) regulates cellular respiration, antioxidant defense, cell proliferation, and apoptosis as a redox-active cofactor and signaling molecule. While vital, Cu is toxic when misregulated. Cu misregulation can lead to genetic disorders such as Wilson’s disease, characterized by excessive copper accumulation, and Menkes disease, marked by severe copper deficiency. Both cause neurodegeneration and developmental issues, underscoring the need to study Cu transport for better treatments. Recent findings from Chang Lab revealed a novel connection in the Cu homeostasis pathway, identifying RAD homolog B (Rad23b) as a potential metalloadapter […]
Isha Nadig
Bioimaging is crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring treatment responses, and guiding surgical studies. However, bioimaging in animals is challenging due to substantial scattering and autofluorescence in tissue at visible wavelengths (350-700 nm). To address this, we will design a noninvasive method of targeted imaging in animals through the design of near-infrared (NIR)-emissive heptamethine cyanine fluorescent probes. For targeted bioimaging, a thiol-reactive handle is attached to the fluorophore for conjugation to the protein linker by maleimide click chemistry. The protein linker binds to breast cancer-expressing antibody, IgG, through a systematic and […]
Isabel Navarro
The Western Bumblebee, Bombus occidentalis, was once a widely distributed species across North America but experienced devastating decline starting in the 1990s. It is believed that the pathogen Vairimorpha bombi, a microsporidian parasite, is a major cause of endangerment of B. occidentalis. However, no previous studies have been conducted on the Western Bumblebee and viral dynamics of bees is not well understood, as other RNA viruses may contribute to population decline. Selective sampling of the Western Bumblebee, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, will give insight into the complete […]
Howard Chen
This project focuses on designing and optimizing a 3D-printed carbon fiber forearm protector to defend against strikes from various sources. The goal is to develop a forearm guard that maximizes impact resistance and energy absorption while minimizing material usage and maintaining comfort and mobility. By optimizing carbon fiber’s high strength-to-weight ratio and exploring different geometries, this research aims to determine the most efficient design for absorbing strikes from blunt/sharp weapons. The core research question is: How does the shape of a carbon fiber forearm protector influence its ability to absorb […]
Grace Comerford
This project explores how communities living near Chitwan National Park in Nepal are addressing human-wildlife conflict (HWC), a pressing issue where expanding human activity overlaps with wildlife habitats. The research focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of different types of fencing used to prevent conflict—such as crop damage by elephants or livestock loss to predators—and examines how local residents perceive these strategies. By combining field assessments of fencing performance with insights from community members, the project aims to identify solutions that are not only technically effective but also socially acceptable. Ultimately, […]
Gean Hu
Transcription factors (TFs) are essential proteins which control gene expression. Misregulation of TFs is the main driver of many cancers, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases, making the study of TF interactions extremely important. While the DNA-binding regions of TFs have been extensively characterized, the coactivator-binding regions of TFs, termed activation domains (ADs), remain relatively understudied. Previous work here in the Staller Lab showed that orthologs (evolutionarily related proteins from different species) of transcription factor Gcn4 are able to activate gene expression in yeast. This intriguingly happens despite the orthologs sharing […]
Erica Garcia Badaracco
An approach to inertial confinement fusion (ICF), called indirect drive, uses lasers to heat the walls inside a gold cylinder (hohlraum) to produce a plasma, emitting x-rays in the process. These x-rays then irradiate the fuel at the center of the hohlraum and hopefully generate fusion conditions. A significant obstacle in ICF is understanding where unaccounted energy losses occur in order to optimize the conversion of laser to x-ray and, therefore, fusion energy. Plasma instabilities, and their consequential self-generated magnetic fields, are a possible source for these losses, since these […]
Emily Qi
Anaerobic bacteria play critical roles in human health, yet they are notoriously difficult to genetically manipulate due to their sensitivity to oxygen, thick cell walls, and defense mechanisms against foreign DNA. Traditional transformation techniques like electroporation often fail in these non-model species, limiting our ability to study and engineer them. Our research explores a promising alternative: using sepiolite, a naturally occurring clay with a needle-like structure, to physically deliver DNA into bacterial cells. When combined with positively charged molecules, sepiolite can bind DNA and pierce cells when applied to agar […]
Diogenes Angelo Bernal
Tropical forests are ecosystems of ecological importance, often recognized as Earth’s most significant biodiversity hotspots. Ongoing climate research, however, suggests that tropical forest ecosystems will be subject to increased environmental stress in the near future, which may jeopardize their health. One of the ways in which plant species may respond to environmental stress is in their water-use efficiency (WUE). Nonetheless, WUE between plants may differ based on a combination of physiological and biochemical factors. Diverging WUE between tropical species therefore provides clues on how well plant species are responding to […]
Clara Bardeen
Vitamin B12 is crucial for human health and can only be obtained through food sources. Archaea and bacteria produce many different corrinoids, which include vitamin B12 and B12 analogs. Since bacteria and archaea contribute to the fermentation process, they may also produce corrinoids in fermented foods. The focus of this research is to identify and quantify the diversity of these corrinoids in fermented foods. To accomplish this, a method to extract corrinoids from fermented food will be developed using the bacterial protein BtuG, which binds B12 for uptake by the […]