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Students

Molecular Biophysics Training Program Appointees 
(2026-2027) 

Tyler S. Bobbitt

Rocklin Lab, 2nd year DGP student
High-throughput biophysical analysis of nanobody stability and binding specificity.
Tyler’s research uses high-throughput biophysical methods to uncover rules that govern nanobody stability and binding specificity, with the                          goal of enabling more efficient and effective therapeutic development.

 

Anna Gilstrap

Pinkett Lab, 2nd-year IBiS student
Capturing the Molecular Mechanisms of Translocation in a Bacterial Multi-Substrate ABC Transporter
                                                                                             
Anna’s research investigates how a relatively small bacterial ABC transporter accommodates diverse substrates several times its cavity size.

Daisy Ortiz

Mondragon Lab, 2nd year IBiS student
Structural and Kinetic Determinants of tRNA Recognition in Single and Tandem T-box Riboswitches
Daisy's research will investigate how Stem I variability and K-turns shape recognition specificity in single T-boxriboswitches, and uncover the tandem T-box architecture and how it can sense their cognate tRNAs.

 

Kristen (Nikki) Amarillo

Christensen Lab, 3rd year IBiS student

Investigating the Effect of Dynactin Composition on its Diverse Cellular Roles

Nikki is studying how dynactin, an essential multi-subunit cofactor for the motor protein dynein, affects microtubule dynamics.

 

 

Jackson Boodry

Shrinivas Lab, 3rd year ChBE student

Developing biophysical models to probe ensemble-derived functions of intrinsically disordered proteins

Jackson works on developing efficient physics-based computational approaches for the design of functional intrinsically disordered protein.

 

 

 william salviaWilliam Salvia

Han Lab, 3rd year Chemistry student
Describing the quantum signal transduction mechanism of LOV domain magnetic field sensitivity


Will's research explores the spin physics leading to  protein AsLOV2's magnetic field sensitivity and the resulting signal                                                    transduction in nature and in engineered systems.

 

caitlin tramontCaitlin R. Tramont

Sangwan Lab, 3rd year DGP student                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Molecular Insights into the Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Sensor, Inositol-Requiring Enzyme 1. 

Caty is studying the structure-function relationship of the endoplasmic  reticulum transmembrane protein, inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1). She                                                      is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms of IRE1 and how                                                      its dysregulation contributes to disease. 

 

Michael Vannieuwenhoven

Mondragon Lab, 3rd year IBiS student

Structural and Biophysical Interrogation of Virulence-Regulatory Transcription Factor in S. pneumoniae

Michael is using structural and functional techniques to characterize how virulence is regulated at the transcriptional level in                                                pathogenic bacteria. Specifically, he's interested in the biophysical basis by which bacterial capsule  expression is regulated and how cellular and                                                          environmental stimuli lead to physical changes in capsule thickness.

 

 

 Anika Wilen

George Lab, 3rd year DGP student
Intracellular sodium dynamics and ion translocation kinetics in Na+/K+-ATPase mutant neurons

Anika is interested in the neurophysiological and electrochemical consequences of disease mutations in the Na+/K+-ATPase. She is currently developing new biosensors for sensitive measurement of                                                                      intracellular ion concentrations and translocation in vivo.

 

Xiaohua Ye

Marko Lab, 3rd year Physics & Astronomy student
Statistical Mechanics of DNA and Chromosome Organization

 Xiaohua’s research uses statistical mechanics and advanced mathematical modeling to study DNA mechanics, protein-DNA interactions, and chromosome organization.

 

 

Yuntong Zou

Lucks Lab, 3rd year IBiS student

Predictive Modeling of Riboswitch Function through integrating biophysical mechanism into machine learning models

Yuntong's research develops predictive models of ZTP riboswitch function by integrating biophysical modeling with machine learning, with the goal of enabling de novo RNA design.

 

 

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