The Washington Research Foundation Fellowship supports undergraduates who have completed at least three quarters of research and are pursuing advanced, creative projects that go beyond an introductory level. The fellowship provides $8,000 for research, plus additional funding for presenting at a professional conference. It is awarded to highly motivated students across various fields conducting bioscience and related research under the mentorship of UW faculty. We are incredibly proud of our students who have been recognized with this prestigious fellowship.
Priya Christensen is a graduating senior double majoring in biochemistry and public health-global health. She began conducting research under Assistant Professor Neil King (Biochemistry) as part of the Institute for Protein Design in 2022, focusing on creating new engineered vaccine adjuvants. Outside of lab, Priya is involved in University District Street Medicine, Health Equity Circle’s Lobby Day coalition, and global health NGO work. After graduation, Priya plans to pursue her M.D. with the goal of creating a broad impact in the spheres of global health, science, and medicine.
Liam Knudsen is a junior studying bioengineering with a focus in nanoscience and molecular engineering. He joined Professor Ashleigh Theberge’s lab in the Department of Chemistry during his freshman year to study and design 3D cell culture models with complex geometries. His current project aims to create a device capable of mimicking human vasculature, both in shape and the physiological forces vascular tissues experience due to blood flow. Through this study, he hopes to advance the understanding of how mechanical stresses impact cell functionality, tissue geometry and disease. After graduation, Liam plans to pursue a Ph.D. in bioengineering with the aim of creating microfluidic devices for tissue engineering or diagnostic purposes.
Ashley Mckinstry is a senior majoring in biochemistry and food systems and nutrition. She currently works with Assistant Professor Kai-Chun (Daniel) Yang (Medicine), studying hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) using human induced pluripotent stem cells differentiated into cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). HCM and DCM mutations are found in a variety of genes, but Ashley’s project focuses on the MYH7 gene, which encodes a sarcomeric protein that interacts with actin to generate force in muscle cells. hiPSC-CMs containing MYH7 mutations, can be studied in order to better understand the differences between HCM and DCM at the early stages. Many of these MYH7 mutations do not currently have a designation of pathogenicity and are labeled as variants of unknown significance. Ultimately, her project aims to classify these variants of unknown significance. Using an assay, called traction force microscopy (TFM), she is able to measure the contractility of mutant lines. Through comparisons of the contractility data of known variants, Ashley can determine the pathogenicity of variants of unknown significance. Classification of these variants is integral in determining treatment options for patients with these mutations. Ashley has been with the Yang laboratory since the winter of 2021 and her time in the laboratory has greatly prepared her for the next step in her academic journey. Ashley hopes to get her doctorate in nutritional sciences after completing her undergraduate degree. She would like to thank the members of the Yang laboratory for their support, especially Dr. Wei-Ming Chien and Dr. Yang. She is incredibly grateful to the Washington Research Foundation for their support and for the opportunity to present her research.
Shawn Panh is a fourth-year double majoring in neuroscience and biochemistry with a minor in philosophy and bioethics. He joined Dr. Susan Ferguson’s psychiatry lab during his junior year hoping to learn more about the underlying mechanisms of addiction. This was inspired by his volunteer work at the Swedish’s General Medical Unit and Recovery Café, in which he discovered his interest in polysubstance use due to his frequent encounters with it in the Greater Seattle community. Shawn is currently investigating the underlying circuitries involved in polysubstance use of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the nucleus accumbens and how their interactions with one another drives drug-seeking behavior, using an intermittent access self-administration model. In performing this research, Shawn is interested in assessing the status of polysubstance use beyond the sum of its pathologies, with the goal of contributing to the development of innovative treatments to better address this growing epidemic. In the future, Shawn intends to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. in Neuroscience to further explore the fields of addiction and neuroscience in both the clinical and research setting.
Gardenia Sanchez is a senior majoring in biochemistry with a minor in diversity. She joined the group of Professor Justin Kollman (Biochemistry) in fall 2023, focusing on understanding the structure and regulation of IMPDH2 and its role in neurodevelopmental disorders. Her research aims to test various IMPDH2 inhibitors, including derivatives from traditional Chinese medicine and FDA-approved drugs, to potentially treat disorders caused by IMPDH2 hyperactivity. Her work involves using spectrophotometric assays and structural techniques such as negative stain and cryo-EM to analyze the impacts of small molecules on IMPDH2 filament assembly. Her research demonstrates a commitment to bridging molecular-level insights with clinical strategies to improve patients' lives through more precise treatments. After her undergraduate studies, she wishes to pursue a post-baccalaureate program before attending graduate school. Gardenia would like to thank Dr. Kollman and her mentor Audrey O’Neill, as well as her lab colleagues for their support. She is honored to receive support from the Washington Research Foundation to continue her undergraduate degree and research goals.
Ashley Sciocchetti is a junior majoring in neuroscience and biochemistry and pursuing a Spanish minor. She has been conducting research with Dr. Rebecca Kow (Gerontology) for almost two years, investigating the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disease with a focus on proteinopathies. Ashley intends to follow the M.D./Ph.D. pathway to become a physician-scientist specializing in neurodegeneration. She believes that continued support for research will help revolutionize treatment for those suffering from dementia.
Tara Young is a graduating senior Interdisciplinary Honors student majoring in biochemistry. For the past three years, she has worked in the Guo Lab of Microbiology where she studies DNA replication proteins using biochemical techniques. One key event in DNA replication is unwinding the DNA double helix at the replication fork, which promotes the DNA strand to wrap around itself, forming knots termed “supercoils”. Resolving these supercoils is necessary for replication to continue and is performed by the essential DNA replication proteins topoisomerases. Her main project focuses on how topoisomerases are recruited to supercoils in the model system Caulobacter crescentus. If a conserved mechanism, this research could inform the development of more targeted therapies for treating disease such as cancer and bacterial infections. After graduating, Tara plans to attend an M.D./Ph.D. program to learn structural biology techniques to illuminate the functions of proteins implicated in disease and ultimately improve patient care by translating this research as a Physician Scientist.
In addition to her research, Tara enjoys mentoring other undergraduates in their pursuit of research as an Undergraduate Research Leader and creating a community for students in the Department of Chemistry as president of Free Radicals, the chemistry RSO. In her free time, she enjoys painting, embroidering, and going on walks in nature. Tara is extremely grateful for the mentorship and guidance from everyone who has supported her on her research journey, especially Dr. Monica Guo, for providing a positive environment to grow as both a student and researcher. She is very honored to be awarded a Washington Research Foundation Fellowship and would like to thank the generous support from the Foundation to further her project and research career.
Congratulations to Priya, Liam, Ashley, Shawn, Gardenia, Ashley, and Tara!