EDUCATION:
Stanford University | Doctor of Philosophy in Biophysics, Sept 2023 - Present
University of California, San Diego | BS in NanoEngineering , Sept 2018 - June 2022
Chemical Engineering Specialization, Chemistry Minor
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
Stanford University | Graduate Researcher, Sept 2024 - Present
Salk Institute for Biological Studies | Research Assistant, Aug 2022 - Aug 2023
-- PI: Dr. Pallav Kosuri
-- DNAntenna Project: Invented a modular, high thoroughput single molecule platform that amplifies and enables
simultaneous observation of 100+ unique DNA bending interactions in a single field of view. Wrote original code for a custom Python smTIRF analysis pipeline
-- NanoNERF Project: Spearheaded a DNA origami collaboration with Youtuber Mark Rober that resulted in a
nanotechnology educational video with 35M+ views.
-- Skills acquired include strategic design of DNA origami with caDNAno, folding protocols validated with successful AFM scans, smTIRF flow cell experiments
Salk Institute for Biological Studies | Undergraduate Researcher, April 2021 - June 2022
-- PI: Dr. Pallav Kosuri
-- Spearheaded project to quantitatively characterize biophysical movements of polymerases with custom DNA origami probes and established collaborations with researchers at UCSF and the Czech Republic
-- Utilized Python data analysis and visualization pipeline and ImageJ to resolve 1000+ single molecule trajectories per fluorescence microscope run
-- Designed DNA origami probes with caDNAno, folded structures with thermocycler, purified properly folded structures, and characterized their structure with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and movement with fluorescence microscopy
San Diego Nanotechnology Infrastructure | Undergraduate Researcher, March 2022 - May 2022
-- Advisor: Dr. Yves Theriault
-- Awarded $500 in materials for nanotechnology entrepreneurship challenge to synthesize a functionalized liposome-siRNA complex targeting Piezo1 to suppress cartilage matrix degradation in osteoarthritis
-- Characterized liposomes with TEM, loaded liposomes with siRNA, and performed densiometric analysis of siRNA for studying liposome degradation between different batches
-- Developed business canvas detailing the technology's value propositions and interviewed UCSD rheumatologists as the key customer segment
UCSD Department of NanoEngineering | Undergraduate Researcher, Oct 2018 - March 2021
-- PI: Dr. Jonathan K. Pokorski
-- Synthesized protein-polymer conjugates and optimized parameters of ring opening metathesis polymerization yields to enhance drug delivery methods in nanomedicine
-- Analyzed the efficacy of different pH, salts, buffers, and functionalized monomers on polymerization yield of self-assembled structures in an aqueous, physiological environment
-- Characterized protein-polymer conjugates with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, thin layer chromatography, gel permeation chromatography, and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)
National Science Foundation | Research Intern, July 2020 - Aug 2020
-- Completed certification in cleanroom training and mastered weekly content assessments of vacuum technologies, photolithography, solar cells, plasma etching, and nanoparticle therapeutic seminars
WORK EXPERIENCE:
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Qualcomm Institute | Nanotechnology Educational Outreach Aid, May 2022 - Sept 2022
-- Operated the scanning electron microscope (SEM) by showcasing 10 samples each for Be WiSE, SD Fleet Science Center, SDNI Nanotechnology Summer Institute, and nano@stanford RAIN forum
-- Published weekly Nano News updates globally and locally for the nanotechnology outreach website
General Atomics | Microfabrication Engineer Intern, June 2021 - Aug 2021
-- Conducted material defect analysis and interferometric characterization on 2000+ polymer and glass nuclear target capsules for GA's Inertial Fusion Team
-- Operated drop tower glass shell production process and optimized helium flow rate, water temperature, and individual furnace temperatures to produce a high yield of 400-440 and 830-900 um glass capsules
Discord | Student Brand Ambassador, March 2021 - June 2021
-- Reached out to 30+ student organizations at UCSD and successfully completed 10 Discord server activations through remote onboarding meetings
-- Reinvented contact pipeline and piloted a persuasive presentation to convince potential clients to switch their mode of communication to Discord
ActivX Biosciences | R&D Technology Intern, July 2020 - Oct 2020
-- Tested 30+ pharmaceutical compounds for their inhibitor potency on intracellular regulation with 4 cell lines: Jurkat, TF-1, Vero E6, and HEL 92.1.7
-- Mastered cell sample preparation and Western Blot immunoassays to compute a compound's percent inhibition through Excel at kinases associated with cancer growth (JAK-STAT, ERK 1/2, EGFR)
PROJECT TEAM EXPERIENCE:
UCSD Department of NanoEngineering Senior Capstone Project | April 2022 - June 2022
Developed a prototype of a flexible polyethylene biosensor for rapid detection of E. coli metabolite indole through localized surface plasmon resonance of characterized Au@Ag core shell nanoparticles with a team of 3.
NASA L'SPACE Mission Concept Academy | Aug 2021 - Dec 2021
Collaborated on a comprehensive preliminary design review to design a mission to characterize subsurface water sites on Mars through laser spectroscopy and designed experimental logic, approach, and methods.
NChE Envirohacks 2021: H2GO | April 2021
36 hour competition with team of 4 to pitch a solution related to sea level rise locally and globally. The proposed solution, H2GO, was a graphene oxide based membrane for seawater desalination with considerations for scalability, durability, and cost/benefit evaluations.
Engineering World Health: Portable Microscopy Software | Nov 2020 - June 2021
My team developed a web application with a backend convolutional neural network to diagnose parasitic tropical infections from images of fecal samples in developing countries with 92% accuracy, 97% specificity, and 73% sensitivity. Utilized Python libraries scikitlearn and TensorFlow.
PUBLICATIONS & PATENTS:
3. Takiguchi, Lauren. Kosuri, Pallav. 2023. DNAntenna (Dynamic Nanomechanical Amplification Antenna) and Uses Thereof. U.S. Patent 63/538,032, filed September 12, 2023. Provisional patent.
2. Church, D.C.;† Davis, E.;† Caparco, A.A.; Takiguchi, L.; Chung, Y.H.; Steinmetz, N.F.; Pokorski, J.K.* “Polynorbornene Based Bioconjugates by Aqueous Grafting-from Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization Reduce Protein Immunogenicity”, Cell Reports Physical Science, 2022, 3, 101067.
1. Church, D.C.; Takiguchi, L.; Pokorski, J.K.* "Optimization of Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) under Physiologically Relevant Conditions", Polymer Chemistry, 2020, 11, 4492-4499.
AWARDS:
NNCI Nanotechnology Entrepreneurship Challenge Accelerator Pitch Showcase, 2nd Place | June 2022
2021-2022 All AKPsi Academic Team | Feb 2022
NChE Envirohacks Pitch Competition, 2nd Place | April 2021
ORGANIZATIONS:
Biophysical Society (BPS) | Jan 2023 - Present
International Society for Nanoscale Science, Computation, and Engineering | April 2021 - Present
Alpha Kappa Psi | Feb 2020 - Present
Professional Co-Ed Business Fraternity
Eta Kappa Nu | Jan 2020 - Present
International Honor Society of IEEE (Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers)