2024 Postdoctoral Awardee
Hipolito Cuesta, PhD
Research Scholar
Dar Lab
Project Title: Chemical Tools to Modulate a Kinase: Kinase Complex
The primary objective of this project is to characterize the kinase domains dimerization focusing on the well-established c-Src:FAK complex. This complex serves as a critical signaling hub closely associated with the malignancy of numerous cancer types. Our goal is to design a novel inhibitor by linking already designed but unapproved inhibitors. By doing so, we aim to address the existing challenges posed by the lack of specificity in c-Src inhibitors and the limited potency of FAK inhibitors. This approach should enable us to modulate this crucial signaling hub effectively, which has remained elusive despite extensive research efforts.
Anna Knoerlein, PhD
Research Fellow
David Lab
Project Title: “Sugar-coating RNA: Unraveling the impact of RNA Glycation on Cell”
Sugars and other reactive metabolites can react spontaneously with biomolecules yielding in so-called non-enzymatic covalent modifications (NECMs). While these NECMS are well studied in proteins and DNA, there is little known about NECMS on RNA. This project aims to develop a chemical biological platform to detect sugar adducts on RNA and investigate their physiological impact on RNA structure and function.
Research Scholar
Jiang Lab
Project Title: “The OTX Family of Transcription Factors in Ferroptosis and Retinal Dystrophy and Degeneration.”
This project investigates how the transcription factors CRX and OTX2, crucial for retinal cell development, suppress ferroptosis. Using CRISPR/Cas9-activation screen, functional analysis, and engineered zebrafish models, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms by which CRX and OTX2 regulate the retinoic acid signaling pathway to protect retinal cells, potentially leading to new therapies for retinal dystrophy.
Basic Research Postdoctoral Innovation Grant
The Basic Research Postdoctoral Innovation Grant is no longer. In 2024, we have launched the new program named the Basic Research Innovation Scholars Fellowship Program. These awardees are found above.
2023 Postdoctoral Awardees
Lingling Cheng, PhD
Research Associate
Pertsinidis Lab
Project Title: “Integrating high-throughput single-molecule imaging and forward genetics for un-biased discovery of novel regulators of enhancer-promoter communication and dissection of complex multi-enhancer regulatory landscapes”
Enhancers enable precise spatiotemporal gene expression, by activating target promoters over large genomic distances. The specific factors that facilitate enhancer-promoter communication, as well as how multiple enhancers in complex regulatory landscapes work together to control transcription are key issues that remain unaddressed. The goal of this project is to close these knowledge gaps by developing new discovery platforms based on high-throughput single-molecule imaging and CRISPR forward genetics screens.
Michael Geeson, PhD
Research Fellow
Bachovchin Lab
Project Title: “A simple technology to monitor intracellular redox potential”
Cells are constantly working to maintain a redox state that is out of equilibrium with their surroundings. Disruption of this redox potential causes changes to important cellular processes, and can even result in cell death. We are developing a sensor that allows us to quickly and accurately measure the redox state of a cell, enabling researchers to understand how cellular redox state responds to a diverse range of stimuli and environments
2022 Postdoctoral Awardee
Meret Arter, PhD
Research Fellow
Keeney Lab
Project Title: “Combining novel structure- and function-informed phylogenetic analyses with molecular approaches to investigate the extraordinary plasticity of the meiotic recombination machinery”
To generate haploid gametes during meiosis most sexually reproducing organisms use the homologous recombination DNA repair pathway. While this process of meiotic recombination is almost universally conserved across eukaryotes, the protein machinery required for it is surprisingly variable between species. The goal of this project is to better understand the evolutionary forces that have shaped and keep shaping the meiotic recombination machinery and experimentally address the functional relevance of this remarkable variation
2021 Postdoctoral Awardee
Benjamin Winer, PhD
Research Fellow
Huse Lab
Project Title: “Defining how cells make decisions between migration and phagocytosis”
Neutrophils are the most abundant immune cell type and play an important role in detecting infection and disease. Neutrophils and other granulocytes must make complex decisions about where to move within the body and whether to perform phagocytosis, a process where they engulf and degrade a diseased cell or pathogen. The relationship between migration and phagocytosis is not well understood. The purpose of this project is to gain insight into these processes.
2020 Postdoctoral Awardees
Alberto Muñoz, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Tan Lab
Project Title: “Development of A One-Pot Synthesis of Carbonyl (Bio)isosteres”
The overall goal of this project is to develop new methods in organic synthesis that provide rapid access to complex and understudied pharmacophores. Our proposed methodologies promise to be catalytic, mild, and user friendly, requiring only visible light in the presence of a photosensitive catalyst to achieve a powerful molecular transformation. The compounds generated throughout the course of our studies will be implemented in research programs geared toward improving human health.
Keunwoo Ryu, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Thompson Lab
Project Title: “Functional Segregation of Mitochondria by High-Order Assembly of Metabolic Enzymes”
Mitochondria are highly dynamic and play a vital role in bioenergetic and biosynthetic pathways. However, how mitochondria maintain the intricate balance between biosynthetic and bioenergetic functions, especially those that utilize shared substrates and cofactors, remains poorly understood. The proposed research aims to explore whether mitochondria can functionally segregate into distinct populations that independently maintain biosynthetic and bioenergetic functions.
2019 BRIF Awardees
Daniel Ball, PhD
Research Fellow
Bachovchin Lab
Project Title: Development and application of a cysteine reactivity-based drug discovery platform for challenging protein targets
Turgut Dogruluk, PhD
Research Fellow
Ventura Lab
Project Title: CRISPRa-based Single Cell Barcoding for Tracking and Recovery of Rare Drug Resistant Persister Populations
Darpan Medhi, PhD
Research Fellow
Jasin Lab
Project Title: High throughput analysis of loss of heterozygosity in single cells using droplet-based microfluidics