About
My journey in early-stage drug discovery and technology development has been driven by a passion to merge cutting-edge scientific research with practical therapeutic applications. At the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), my postbaccalaureate training involved working alongside leading translational scientists. I honed my skills in developing diverse assays - cell-based, biochemical, and biophysical - to explore therapeutic targets for rare diseases and significant public health issues. This role was a balancing act between pioneering novel therapeutic avenues and mastering complex methodologies. I became proficient in quantitative high-throughput screening, target engagement assays, and proteomic analysis. A testament to this was my co-first author publication in Science Translational Medicine, where we shed light on activation peptides in tumor-associated macrophages - a significant step in understanding cancer progression.
My journey continued as an IRTA Predoctoral GPP Fellow, bridging the University of Maryland and NCATS. Here, I expanded my interdisciplinary expertise, delving into protein-small molecule interactions within the Lyme disease microbe and uncovering new therapeutic targets through phenotypic screening. Under the guidance of Dr. Bolormaa Baljinnyam and Dr. Anton Simeonov, I gained invaluable insights into the entire early-stage drug discovery pipeline. A career highlight has been developing a novel cellular thermal shift assay. This assay uniquely incorporates a thermally-stable luciferase for a luminescent readout, showcasing innovation in methodology. Further honing my leadership skills, I participated in the NIH-AIM I-CORPS Program, focusing on customer discovery skills vital for technology development. This experience has been pivotal in preparing me to lead and collaborate on complex interdisciplinary projects.
My motivation in this field stems from a deep-seated desire to address unmet medical needs through scientific innovation. I am confident that this training opportunity will significantly enrich my scientific repertoire and enable me to achieve my long-term goal: developing lead molecules to combat diseases that profoundly impact human health.
