2026-27 Washington Research Foundation Fellows

Samaira Bakshi

Major(s): Biochemistry

Project: Engineering CAR T Cell State Sensors with Computationally Designed Protein Binders

Mentor(s): David Baker, Department of Biochemistry

Samaira Bakshi is a senior majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Applied Mathematics. She joined the Baker Lab at the Institute for Protein Design in 2025, where she is designing and testing proteins that can recognize molecular signals associated with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell exhaustion. Her project aims to use these proteins as biosensors for sensing changes in T cell state, with the hope of eventually enabling more responsive and adaptable cell-based therapies. Through this work, Samaira has become especially interested in the interface of biochemistry and computer science and in using computational tools to better understand how molecular interactions give rise to complex cellular behaviors. After graduating, she hopes to pursue a PhD in systems, synthetic, and computational biology and continue exploring how quantitative approaches can be used to understand biology and treat disease. Outside of research, Samaira is passionate about teaching and expanding opportunities for undergraduates to engage with science. She leads Washington iGEM, an undergraduate synthetic biology team, and will serve as a teaching assistant in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. She is deeply grateful to her mentors Kirsten Thompson and Dr. David Baker, as well as the entire Baker Lab, for their guidance and support. Samaira is honored to receive the WRF Fellowship and grateful to the Washington Research Foundation for supporting her growth as a scientist.

Phoebe Chu

Major(s): Biochemistry, Creative Writing

Project: Macrocyclic Origins: Designing Organic Frameworks for Electrochemical Carbon Capture

Mentor: Dianne J. Xiao, Department of Chemistry

Phoebe is a fourth year at the University of Washington pursuing a double degree in biochemistry and creative writing. An interest in carbon capture and clean energy solutions led Phoebe to Professor Dianne Xiao’s lab, researching redox-active porous materials known as covalent organic frameworks (COFs) alongside Dr. Phuong Le (now graduated) and Alison Wang. These materials can be made to bind and release CO2 in a controlled manner via manipulation of their charge state, making them promising candidates for fixed-bed electrochemically mediated carbon capture (EMCC). Optimization of these materials would ameliorate the condition of industrial carbon capture projects by providing an alternative to the less thermodynamically-efficient amine scrubbing processes that are currently the industry standard; thus, this project could potentially have far-reaching ramifications in public health. Previously, Phoebe worked on alternative materials for solar cells with the Schlenker group at UW and solutions to climate tech durability with the Hu group at Yale, with the hope of someday producing research that will mitigate the effects of anthropogenic climate change. Outside of the laboratory, Phoebe writes climate fiction and other short form fiction pieces to communicate paths toward a more equitable and decarbonized future.

Phoebe is incredibly grateful to Dr Dianne Xiao, Dr Phuong Ho Le, and the rest of the Xiao Lab for their mentorship and guidance, as well as to the Washington Research Foundation for their recognition.

Elijah Kashman

Major(s): Bioengineering

Project:Characterizing the Effect of Specific Gene Overexpression on PARP Inhibitor Resistance

Mentor: Richard Adeyemi, Department of Biochemistry

Elijah is a senior at the University of Washington majoring in bioengineering and minoring in chemistry. In the Adeyemi Lab at Fred Hutch Cancer Center, he investigates novel mechanisms of de novo therapeutic resistance to PARP inhibitors under the mentorship of Dr. Richard Adeyemi and Dr. Adam Cheng. PARP inhibitors leverage the hallmark deficiency of some cancers to properly fix genomic instability in order to selectively kill cancer cells, yet drug resistance remains a significant and underdefined issue in the clinical space. Elijah’s project has been evaluating the effect of specific gene overexpression on PARP inhibitor sensitivity to mimic up-regulatory cancer dynamics that result in resistance. His project’s goal is to identify novel druggable protein targets in order to combat resistance and improve patient outcomes. Moving forward, he is especially interested in elucidating the cytoprotective crosstalk between various cellular compartments in response to treatment-related genomic instability. Between his engineering education and basic science research, Elijah has enjoyed bridging the gap between how to solve and how to explain biological phenomena. After graduating, he intends to pursue post-baccalaureate research and a PhD in molecular biology to continue bridging that gap. Outside of school and the lab, he also enjoys playing cello with the University of Washington Symphony Orchestra, baking banana bread, and hiking around the PNW. He is deeply grateful to his mentors Dr. Adeyemi and Dr. Cheng and everyone in the Adeyemi Lab for helping him learn and grow as a researcher. He is honored to have received the Washington Research Foundation Fellowship and thanks the Washington Research Foundation for their generous support.

Melina Li

Major(s): Biochemistry, Mathematics, Biology (Physiology)

Project: Investigating the Role of cGAS-STING Signaling in Tumor-Induced Cachexia

Mentor: Young Kwon, Department of Biochemistry

Melina Li is a senior majoring in Biochemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. She joined Dr. Young Kwon’s lab in February 2024 to research what determines a tumor’s ability to induce cachexia, a deadly wasting syndrome. Her current project is investigating the role of STING signaling, an innate immune pathway, in cancer cachexia. In the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, the oncogene yorkie can be constitutively activated, inducing intestinal tumors and a cachectic phenotype characterized by abdominal bloating and ovary atrophy. In these flies, the STING protein and genes downstream of STING signaling can be knocked down via RNA interference to determine their importance in inducing cachexia. This project provides insight into the mechanisms of cancer cachexia from which future therapies can be developed for this disease.

Outside of the lab, Melina volunteers as an escort team leader at UW Medical Center and plays on UW’s club volleyball team. She plans to pursue an MD-PhD in the future with hopes of becoming a pathologist and continuing to investigate mechanisms of disease. Melina would like to thank her mentor Dr. Kwon, members of the Kwon lab, and the Washington Research Foundation for their support in this work.

Phat Luong

Major(s): Biochemistry, Neuroscience

Project: Scaffold-Mediated Insulation of GSK3 Promoting Cellular Specificity

Mentor: Jesse Zalatan, Department of Chemistry

Auburne Mauger

Major(s): Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Project: The Epigenetic Basis of Cognitive Decline following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants

Mentor: Alexi Vasbinder, Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics

Auburne is a second year at the University of Washington majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology with a minor in Data Sciences. She works in the Vasbinder Lab which examines the effects of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants (allo-HSCT) on accelerated epigenetic aging. Under this study, Auburne has piloted her own project investigating the cognitive outcomes of allo-HSCT. Specifically, her research aims to identify 1) how cognitive function changes over the course of allo-HCT in relation to DNA methylation patterns, 2) which demographic, clinical, and epigenetic factors serve as predictors of cognitive decline during allo-HSCT, and 3) what epigenetic pathways in RBCs are associated with cognitive decline. Building on this project, Auburne’s long-term initiative is to merge her clinical research, cellular neuroscience experience, and AI knowledge to address challenges in cancer therapy and develop meaningful solutions. Auburne is very involved at UW as the Community Engagement Officer of Peaks and Professors, a Grey Matters Journal author, CLUE Study Tutor, and research assistant in several other labs. In her free time, Auburne also enjoys distance running, mountain climbing, scuba diving, and traveling. Auburne is extremely honored to have received the Washington Research Foundation fellowship and would like to thank Dr. Alexi Vasbinder for all of her amazing mentorship, as well as the rest of the BMT epigenetics team for their support in her time at UW.

Alen Poehlman

Major(s): Biochemistry

Project:Consolidating Malaria Vaccine Development with a Hybrid Mouse Model

Mentor: Sean C. Murphy, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology

Alen is a rising senior majoring in biochemistry. In 2024, they joined the Murphy lab to study sex-based differences in immune responses and has since studied immunology in the context of malaria, toxoplasmosis, and lupus using a variety of molecular and imaging techniques. He aims to pursue a PhD in immunology in the years following graduation. Outside of the lab, Alen enjoys reading, playing the clarinet, and nerding out over microscopy images!

Maya Ram

Major(s): Public Health-Global Health

Project: Investigating the Role of Reactive Aldehydes in the Pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus and the Evasion of the Innate Immune Response

Mentor: Joshua Woodward, Department of Microbiology

Rittika Saha

Major(s): Biochemistry, Microbiology

Project: Structural Characterization of the Tip-Located Minor Pilin Complex of Type IV Pili in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Mentor: Alex Merz, Department of Biochemistry

Sritha Sivaramakrishnan

Major(s): Biology (Physiology), Economics

Project: Designing an Optimal Dominant Negative Mutant ERH Protein to Enable Precise Epigenetic Manipulation of H3K9me3 Heterochromatin

Mentor: Ryan L. McCarthy, Department of Pediatrics

Sritha is a senior majoring in Biology with a concentration in Physiology and Economics. She joined the McCarthy Lab at Seattle Children’s Research Institute in December 2024 under the mentorship of Dr. Ryan McCarthy, where she investigates the epigenetic regulation of heterochromatin and its role in cell identity and reprogramming. Her current project focuses on designing and optimizing ERHi-mini, a synthetic dominant negative peptide engineered to inhibit H3K9me3 heterochromatin at the protein level, with the goal of improving direct hepatocyte reprogramming efficiency as a potential approach to addressing the critical shortage of donor livers. Outside of research, Sritha loves reading, traveling, and crocheting. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career as a physician- economist, with the goal of improving patient access to quality healthcare. She would like to thank Dr. McCarthy and her fellow lab members for their mentorship and support in helping her grow as a researcher. Sritha is honored to receive the WRF Fellowship and sincerely thanks the Washington Research Foundation for their generous support.