CAREER BIO
Currently, as a research scientist with Prof. Jim Collins at MIT, I leverage synthetic biology to design RNA devices for cellular reprogramming, with the goal of advancing diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Previously, as a postdoc with Prof. Ron Weiss at MIT, I used the synthetic Notch circuit to engineer patterns in 2D and 3D cell culture. As a Ph.D. student, I trained with Prof. Takanari Inoue at Johns Hopkins Biomedical Engineering, and engineered emergent dynamic properties in cells and protocells to study cellular mechanics. I began my engineering training as a mechanical engineer at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. My research focuses on integrating engineering principles with biological systems to advance both fundamental science and biotechnology development.
SELECTED HONORS & AWARDS
2020 IMPACT Program Fellow, MIT
2020 Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research Postdoctoral Award, MIT
2019 Michael A. Shanoff Award (outstanding Ph.D. dissertation), Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
2018 Graduate Student Convocation Speaker, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
2018 National Women’s History Month Featured Profile, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
2017 Graduate Student Association Travel Award, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
2017 Siebel Scholar (∼90/year awardees from the world's leading graduate schools)
2016 Elizabeth Hay Graduate Research Fellow, Johns Hopkins Department of Cell Biology
2015 Lewis Travel Award, Johns Hopkins Department of Cell Biology
2015 NSF-Japan Society for Promotion of Sciences EAPSI Fellow
2013-2018 New York Academy of Sciences Honorary Member
2013 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program: Honorable Mention
2004 Mechanical Engineering International Honor Society, Pi Tau Sigma
PATENTS
2023 Engineered Synthetic IRES with Improved and Robust Translation in Circular RNA (PCT 63/580,968)
2022 Autocatalytic base editing for RNA-responsive translational control (U.S. Patent App.18/339,607)
2018 Methods for Making Giant Vesicles and Their Use (U.S. Patent 11,951,210)
TEACHING TRAINING & EXPERIENCE
2021 Kaufman Teaching Certificate, MIT
2017 Co-Instructor, Introduction to Synthetic Biology (EN.580.216), Johns Hopkins
2016 Creator & Instructor, Introduction to Synthetic Biology (EN.580.216), Johns Hopkins
2015 Creator & Instructor, Design of Biomolecular Cyborgs (EN.580.216), Johns Hopkins
2013 Teaching Assistant, Statistical Mechanics & Thermodynamics (EN.580.321), Johns Hopkins
SERVICE & OUTREACH
2019 iGEM Co-supervisor (International Genetically Engineered Machine) Competition, MIT
2019 EBICS Summer Research Program Mentor, MIT
2013-2018 ‘NeXXt Scholars’ Fellow, U.S. Department of State & New York Academy of Sciences
2015 ‘1000 Girls, 1000 Futures’, Master Mentor, New York Academy of Sciences
2013-2014 Chair, Graduate Representative Organization Travel Award Committee, Johns Hopkins
2012 Co-founder, BME EDGE, Johns Hopkins
2012-2013 Co-President, Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. Council, Johns Hopkins
