2023
Juheon Chu
Institution: Dickinson College
Faculty Mentor: David Baker
Juheon is a senior attending Dickinson College. He majors in computer science and mathematics. This summer, he is researching the optimization of generating symmetric cyclic oligomers aiming to accomplish structural stability and improved binding affinity being mentored by Dr. Gaurav, David Juergens, and Helen Eisenach. After graduating from his college, He plans to go to a graduate school for pursuing his doctoral study in computer science discipline, focusing on a wide range of machine learning research. His hobby includes playing chess, listening to music, and reading books. His favorite book is “Make Your Bed” written authored by Admiral McRaven.
Christopher Kim
Institution: Cornell University
Faculty Mentor: David Baker
Fiona Wang
Institution: Northwestern University
Faculty Mentor: David Baker
Fiona is a rising senior studying Chemistry at Northwestern University. This summer, she works in the Baker Lab to design protein minibinders that target receptors of interest. She likes art and craft in her free time.
Nathan Yoo
Institution: Emory University
Faculty Mentor: Neil King
2021
Lindsey Whitmore
Institution: Howard University
Faculty Mentor: David Baker, Biochemistry
Lindsey is a third year chemistry major, biology and mathematics double minor at Howard University. She is a member of the Karsh STEM Scholars Program (formerly Bison STEM Scholars Program), a program committed to increasing the number of underrepresented minorities who earn a Ph.D., or combined M.D./Ph.D. in STEM-related disciplines. Lindsey has a strong interest in conducting interdisciplinary research in translational medicine with a focus on drug design and development and plans to pursue a MD/PhD after graduating next spring. This summer, she is working in Dr. David Baker’s lab on developing high-affinity mini protein binders that will compete with the binding of Interleukin 33 (IL-33) to its primary receptor, ST2, using a de novo approach.
2019
Mikayla Feldbauer
Institution: Lycoming College
Faculty Mentor: David Baker, Biochemistry
Mikayla Feldbauer is a rising senior at Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA where she has an individualized interdisciplinary major which combines aspects from biology, computer science, and math. She is interested in various research areas pertaining to computational biology and has joined the Baker Lab in order to gain more experience with computational modeling and protein design using Rosetta. She hopes to apply this knowledge during graduate school. Outside of research, Mikayla is interested in playing and watching soccer, as well as reading and watching fiction. She has recently developed a love of traveling and experiencing other cultures, which she hopes to pursue more in the future.
2018
Kenyon Bell
Institution: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Faculty Mentor: David Baker, Biochemistry
Keynon Bell is a rising junior at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Psychology. He is interested in various research areas pertaining to the biomedical field, most specifically drug design and delivery. Keynon has joined the Baker Lab in order to gain experience in computational modeling and design of proteins using Rosetta. He hopes to be able to apply this knowledge to other areas of biochemistry research in the future. Keynon’s personal interests lie in the areas of both video games and the culinary arts. He is interested in learning more about various cooking techniques, specifically improving his knowledge of Japanese dishes.
2017
Hector Torres
Institution: Universidad de Puerto Rico
Faculty Mentor: David Baker, Biochemistry
Hector Torres Vera is a rising junior currently majoring in chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico in Cayey. His research interests lie in protein design and engineering, particularly in protein-protein interactions and post-translational modifications. Back home, Hector works on computational calculations of redox potentials of transition-metal complexes and wishes to hone his computational chemistry skills and apply them to biochemical research of proteins. He believes he has an unhealthy obsession with his island’s cuisine and enjoys playing video games and swimming at beaches.
2016
Sidney Lisanza
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Faculty Mentor: David Baker, Biochemistry
Sidney is a rising junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, studying Math and Chemistry with a track in Biochemistry. At UNC he conducts research in the Hahn Lab where his focus is in understanding the subcellular localization and activation dynamics of various Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors by developing FRET-based biosensors which allow for the spatiotemporal visualization and quantification of protein activity. Hoping to further develop his computational skills, Sidney will be working in the Baker Lab within the Institute for Protein Design where, by utilizing the Rosetta software, he will computationally design and then experimentally validate self-assembling protein crystals. Postbaccalaureate Sidney intends to enroll in a Ph.D. program where he ultimately plans to utilize protein engineering to address many of the problems facing the modern world. In his free time Sidney enjoys running competitively for the UNC club XC team.