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Jesus V

- Research Program Mentor

PhD at Duke University

Expertise

Chemistry, drug design, nanotechnology, data science, machine learning, biosensors, digital health, physics, mobile app, web development

Bio

I'm a Harvard-Trained Specialist in Computational Science and AI Innovation, and a former Fulbright Scholar, with a robust background in leading tech startups and academic research. As a passionate academic, I have always been driven by the potential for scientific discovery to make a positive impact on the world. My focus lies in the development of new therapies to combat diseases and in finding innovative solutions for clean energy. I believe that these areas of research have the potential to transform society and create a better future for all. Beyond my academic pursuits, I have a personal interest in science communication. I am fascinated by the challenge of translating complex scientific concepts into accessible language that can be understood by a broad audience. This has led me to explore the intersection of applied science and entrepreneurship, as well as the potential for education to inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators. I have co-founded a BioTech, a LegalTech and an EdTech startup. When I'm not in the lab, I enjoy exploring new ideas and creative pursuits, from writing and photography to cooking and hiking. I believe that a well-rounded life is essential to maintaining a sense of balance and perspective, and I am committed to pursuing my passions both inside and outside of the academic world. Experience: Boston University - MBA Harvard University - Research Fellow UC Berkeley - Computing Innovation Fellow Duke University - PhD in Chemistry and MS in Electrical & Computer Engineering

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.

Engineering drugs for SARS-CoV-2

You will learn how to go through the drug design process and propose drugs that could be effective to treat SARS-CoV-2. You will summarize your findings in a research paper.

Develop your own chatbot that responds to scientific questions

You will use programming to develop a chatbot that can answer you random facts about science so you can learn with the chatbot how things work. The final deliverable will be a jupyter notebook with code that can later be integrated to a website.

Create your own Pokédex: Using deep neural networks to identify animal species

This project involves creating an animal species recognition system using deep neural networks. Similar to a Pokédex, this system will identify animal species from images and provide relevant information. You'll collect a dataset, develop a deep learning model, design a user interface, and deploy the system for practical use. By the end, you'll have a working tool for species identification, gaining valuable experience in machine learning and computer vision. Basic proficiency in Python and some understanding of web or app development are prerequisites for this project. Join us in building a practical animal identification system inspired by the Pokédex.

Coding skills

Python

Languages I know

Spanish, Native, German, Conversational

Teaching experience

I've served as an instructor for Science Clubs International (https://www.scienceclubsint.org/). During my PhD studies at Duke University I taught advanced physical chemistry courses and received a certificate in college teaching. I've participated with Empowerly recruiting high school students to work with me.

Credentials

Work experience

University of California, Berkeley (2021 - 2023)
Postdoctoral Scholar
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (2023 - Current)
Research Fellow
Harvard University (2023 - Current)
Research Fellow
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard (2023 - Current)
Research Fellow

Education

Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM)
BS Bachelor of Science (2016)
Chemistry
Duke University
MS Master of Science (2021)
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Duke University
PhD Doctor of Philosophy (2021)
Chemistry

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