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Research Experience
Jul. 2020–Jun. 2026
Khvorova & Yamada Groups | Graduate Student Researcher
RNA Therapeutics Institute · UMass Chan
Derivatized oligonucleotide modalities with systematically varied 5′-phosphate mimics using solid-phase methods; characterized cellular potency, metabolic stability, and AGO2 loading of chemically modified siRNAs; conducted mouse studies of siRNA efficacy, distribution, and metabolism in extrahepatic organs and central nervous system; developed efficient lipid conjugation strategies; prepared chemically modified guide strands for RISC crystallography; identified differential structural determinants of AGO2 loading and XRN1, ALP susceptibility; published doctoral thesis on major findings
Jun. 2020
Thompson Lab | Rotation Student
Dept. of Biochem. & Molec. Biotech. · UMass Chan
Derivatized ʟ-citrulline with photocleavable protecting group; expressed recombinant proteins with site-specific protected ʟ-citrulline residues in transfected eukaryotic cells via stop-codon reassignment
Jul. 2019
Schiffer Lab | Rotation Student
Dept. of Biochem. & Molec. Biotech. · UMass Chan
Designed and synthesized quinoxaline-based viral protease inhibitors and quantitated their potencies in vitro; performed protein-ligand docking in silico; conducted protein-ligand crystallography experiments
Mar.–Dec. 2018
Hamann Lab | Laboratory Technician
Dept. of Drug Disc. & Biomed. Sci. · College of Pharm. · MUSC
Derivatized natural product (manzamine A) scaffold for bioactivity screening
Jan. 2016–Aug. 2018
Guirgis Lab | Research Assistant
Dept. of Chem. & Biochem. · College of Charleston
Synthesized novel cyclic organometalloid compounds; characterized compounds via NMR, gas-phase FT-IR; computationally predicted molecular properties ab initio
May–Dec. 2015
Heldrich Lab | Research Assistant
Dept. of Chem. & Biochem. · College of Charleston
Synthesized α,ω-bis(p-anisyl)alkanes and synthetic intermediates
Work Experience
Aug. 2018–Jun. 2019
MEDUCARE | Emergency Medical Technician
Lifeguard Ambulance Service / MUSC
Assessed and transported patients; initiated BLS interventions; documented transports; inventoried ambulance equipment; assisted aeromedical and pediatric critical-care personnel
Dec. 2017–Jun. 2018
Charleston Co. School Dist. | Substitute Teacher
Kelly Educational Staffing
Instructed public and charter school students in grades K–12 towards learning outcomes; adapted lesson content to students’ abilities; nurtured proper student conduct
Activities & Distinctions
Positions & Appointments
Oct. 2024–
Neonate Cuddler, Cuddle Buddies, Neonatal-Perinatal Unit, UMass Memorial Health
Sep. 2024–Sep. 2025
Member-at-Large, Exec. Board, Industry Exploration Club (IndEx), UMass Chan
Aug. 2024–Mar. 2025
Member, Trainee-Invited Seminar Cmte., RNA Therapeutics Inst., UMass Chan
Jul. 2024–Jul. 2026
Co-Chair, Community Develop. Cmte., MSTP Student Council, UMass Chan
Jul. 2024–Jul. 2026
Co-Chair, Comm. Cmte., MSTP Student Council, UMass Chan
Mar. 2024
Volunteer, Build A Bed Project, Anchor Mission, UMass Memorial Health
Mar. 2024
Poster Judge, American Physician Scientists Assoc. Northeast Conference
Aug. 2023–Mar. 2024
Chair, Keynote Speaker Sub-Cmte., Planning Cmte., American Physician Scientists Assoc. Northeast Conference
Oct. 2022–
Volunteer, ScienceLIVE (science literacy outreach), RNA Therapeutics Inst., UMass Chan
Mar. 2022–
Medical Records Volunteer, Boston Marathon, Boston Athletic Assoc.
Nov. 2021–
May 2022
Clinical Volunteer, Vaccine Corps, Commonwealth Health
Oct. 2021–Oct. 2022
Small-Group Facilitator, Principles of Pharmacol. course, T.H. Chan School of Med., UMass Chan
Feb. 2020–
Clinical Volunteer, Worcester Free Clinic Collaborative
Jul. 2020–Jun. 2021
Trainee, NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award, UMass Chan MSTP
Apr. 2020
Volunteer, Project Read-Aloud, Worcester Public Schools
Mar.–May. 2020
Volunteer, COVID-19 Emergency Medical Shelter Program, City of Worcester/UMass Chan
Jun.–Jul. 2018
Career Explorer, Pediatric ICU, MUSC Children’s Hospital
Jan.–May 2017
Staff Writer, The Rival at College of Charleston
Nov. 2015–Apr. 2017
Student Representative, Faculty Cmte. on Academic Standards, College of Charleston
May 2016–Dec. 2017
Treasurer, Student Government Association, College of Charleston
Oct. 2015–May. 2016
Finance Committeeperson, Honors Student Assoc., College of Charleston
Sep. 2015–Apr. 2016
Parliamentarian, Student Government Assoc., College of Charleston
Sep. 2014–Apr. 2016
Senator, Student Government Assoc., College of Charleston
Honors
Oct. 2023
Poster Award, Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society Annual Meeting
Sep. 2023
Travel Award, Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society
May 2017
Outstanding Student in Chemistry Award, Dept. of Chem. & Biochem., College of Charleston
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Departmental Honors, Dept. of Chem. & Biochem., College of Charleston
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Hypercube Scholar Award, Hypercube, Inc. & College of Charleston
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Major Field Test Award, Dept. of Chem. & Biochem., College of Charleston
Dec. 2014–May 2017
President’s List Scholar, College of Charleston
Apr. 2015
New Student Leadership Award, Higdon Student Leadership Center, College of Charleston
Apr. 2012
Eagle Scout with Gold Palm, Boy Scouts of America
Scholarships & Grants
Aug. 2015–May 2017
LIFE Scholarship with STEM Enhancement, South Carolina Commission on Higher Ed.
Mar. 2016
Summer Undergraduate Research with Faculty Grant, Undergrad. Research and Creative Activities Prog., College of Charleston
Current & Prior Affiliations
Nov. 2021–
Medical Student Member, American College of Emergency Physicians/Emergency Med. Residents’ Assoc. (ACEP/EMRA)
Feb. 2016–
Student Member, American Chem. Soc. (ACS)
Mar. 2023–Mar. 2025
Junior Scientist, RNA Soc.
Mar. 2023–Mar. 2025
Full Member, American Physician Scientists Assoc. (APSA)
Jul. 2023–Jul. 2024
Student Member, Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Soc. (OTS)
Mar. 2016–Aug. 2017
Brother, Gamma Delta chap., Alpha Chi Sigma (ΑΧΣ) chem. frat.
Qualifications & Skills
Certification & Licensure
Aug. 2024–Aug. 2026
HeartCode BLS Provider, American Heart Assoc.
Aug. 2018–Mar. 2021
EMT-B, National Registry
E3410347
Test Scores
Apr. 2021
USMLE Step 1: 233
Jun. 2017
MCAT: 518
Mar. 2017
ETS Major Field Test (Chem.): 190
Oct. 2016
GRE Chemistry Test: 760
Oct. 2016
GRE General Test: 331 (comb.)
Verbal Reasoning: 168
Quantitative Reasoning: 163
Analytical Writing: 4.5
Computer Skills
Basic
PyMOL, MestReNova, Inkscape, HTML/XHTML, GnuPG, Windows command prompt
Proficient
ChemOffice, GraphPad Prism, Epic EMR, GIMP, Mendeley, Microsoft Excel