Students
Molecular Biophysics Training Program Appointees
(2024-2025)
Nick Fisher
Kelleher Lab, 3rd year Chemistry student
Automated Native Mass Spectrometry for PROTAC Ternary Complex Proteoform Analysis
Nick’s research is focused on the development of biological mass spectrometry approaches for studying intact protein complexes and the organization of proteoforms within chromatin and organ tissues.
Miranda Flores Escobar
Christensen Lab, 2nd year IBiS student
Functional Role of Aps Proteins on Dynein Activation and Coordinated Nuclear Movement
Miranda is investigating how the potential dynein adaptors—ApsA, ApsB, and ApsC—activate and regulate multiple dynein motor complexes to drive nuclear transport within Aspergillus nidulans.
Irving Francisco
Vafabakhsh Lab, 2nd year IBiS student
Biophysical investigation of the nucleolus assembly
Biophysical studies on the principles governing nucleolus assembly during mitosis.
Mario Garcia
Rocklin Lab, 3rd year DGP student
High-throughput discovery of protein energy landscapes in nanobodies
Mario is leveraging high-throughput hydrogen-deuterium exchange to uncover the determinants of protein stability and dynamics.
Karen Gomez
Ziarek Lab, 2nd year DGP student
Biophysical Approaches to Selectively Modulating NTSR1 for Substance Use Disorder
Karen aims to create a framework for engineering pharmacologically distinct GPCR ligands to explore broader mechanisms of allosteric modulation.
Chloe Jackson
Pinkett Lab, 3rd year IBiS student
Investigating the differential regulation of pleiotropic drug response elements in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Chloe's research focuses on zinc cluster transcription factors that regulate the drug response in S. cerevisiae and the formation of both homodimers and heterodimers by these proteins through structural and biophysical techniques coupled with live-cell assays.
Lydia Kenney
Pinkett Lab, 2nd year IBiS student
Investigating the Roles of Accessory Domains as Regulators of Bacterial ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) Transporters Through Biophysical and Structural Characterization
Lydia is studying the ProU osmoregulatory ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter from Yersinia pestis and its cystathionine-ß-synthase (CBS) regulatory domain using structural biology and biochemistry techniques like cryo-EM, EPR spectroscopy, and transport assays.
Shiqi Liang
Tullman-Ercek Lab, 3rd year IBiS student
Investigating the Role of Protein and Nucleic Acid Composition and Structure on the MS2 Virus-like Particle Assembly Mechanism
Shiqi is studying the role of nucleic acid cargo and secondary structure elements of the MS2 CP in the MS2 VLP assembly using a combination of high-throughput screening and biophysical studies.
Adun Obisesan
Rocklin Lab, 2nd year IBiS student
Determining design rules for miniproteins with high folding stability and low hydrophobicity
Adun works on using high-throughput and computational approaches for designing proteins to be highly stable and active across a wide range of conditions.
Gracie Siffer
Vafabakhsh Lab, 3rd year IBiS student
Studying Activation and Signaling Mechanisms of Adhesion GPCRs
Biophysical Study of the Activation and Signaling Mechanisms in Adhesion GPCRs using smFRET and live cell signaling assays.
