Cian D
- Research Program Mentor

PhD candidate at Case Western Reserve University

Expertise

Bioengineering, Chemistry, Pharmacology, Biology

Bio

Doing research simply means having the curiosity to find answers to unanswered questions. In high school, I engaged in an independent research project under the guidance of a mentor, very similar to that of the Polygence program. Not only did that experience instill in me the passion for research but taught me how to ask the right questions and where to find the answers. The project eventually led me to the pursuit of a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering and a PhD in Pharmacology, a path which so far has gifted me almost 10 years of research experience. Of course, research isn't my only passion; in my spare time I enjoy being outdoors, specifically playing tennis, biking, and hiking. I also love traveling and trying local foods or learning about the culture wherever I go. A fun fact about myself is I have a twin brother who doesn't look at all like me!

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

The cure to cancer: is it even possible?

Every young child interested in science at some point has thought about curing cancer. But is it even possible? We will delve into the hallmarks of cancer, how it grows and spreads, and current therapeutics that are used to treat cancer. Establishing this baseline, we will hypothesize why or why not cancer can be cured and what we can target to develop this therapy.

The pharmaceutical crisis in America

It's no secret that prescription drug prices in the US are inflated, but why? And why do companies not simply lower them? We will explore not just the domestic impact this has, but also the international implications of the prolific but inflated pharmaceutical industry of America.

Coding skills

MatLab

Teaching experience

2011-2016 - Private Tutor (Math, Science, SAT Prep) 2018-2020 - University Peer Tutor (Calculus, Differential Equations, Chemistry for Engineers, Organic Chemistry, Chemistry of Materials)

Credentials

Work experience

Pharmacyclics, An AbbVie Company (2019 - 2019)

Research Intern, Drug Discovery

Case Western Reserve University (2019 - 2020)

Research Associate

Education

Case Western Reserve University

BSE Bachelor of Science in Engineering (2020)

Biomedical Engineering - Biomechanics