(2j) Multi-Scale Disease Profiling Using Molecularly Programmable Tools

Cancer is a multi-dimensional disease, where its occurrence and metastasis can intersect with preceding or comorbid medical conditions (e.g., infection, chronic disease). To profile cancer under these conditions, methods to identify and analyze biomarkers that are active in or being exerted from tumor microenvironments, and that can be used alongside existing practices are critical to achieve precision diagnostics and therapeutics. I will develop enabling biotechnologies at different length scales for biomarker discovery and build on the findings to create programmable biomaterials that can simultaneously assess multiple signals from tumor microenvironments. I will engineer different types of materials with rationally designed molecular sequence, structure, and property that target different origins, microenvironments, and optimal cellular interactions, which can be integrated to increase accuracy and specificity for profiling cancer and have translational potential to improve human lives.

Teaching Interests

Furthermore, I am enthusiastic about creating a rich training environment to teach and mentor students and postdocs in my inherently interdisciplinary program. As a materials and biomedical engineer by training, I am excited to teach core courses in areas include biomaterials, biomolecular engineering, and nanotechnology. I am further enthusiastic about the opportunity to develop courses related to my research interests in biotechnology and synthetic biology. Finally, with my experiences in promoting STEM and mentoring diverse and underrepresented groups of students, I am thrilled for the opportunity to engage in DEI service, outreach, and education of the next generation of diverse scientists and engineers.