Camille M
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at University of California San Francisco (UCSF)
Expertise
Biochemistry, Biophysics, Genetics, English, Data Science
Bio
I'm a PhD student at UCSF who is studying molecular biology. Although I'm a biochemist by training, my favorite kinds of problems are interdisciplinary-I'm currently using computational methods to characterize water dynamics in an enzyme active site. At UC Berkeley, I got my B.A. in Molecular Biology. I discovered my passion for research in the Nogales lab, where I studied structural biology using cryo-EM along with many other biochemical techniques (CRISPR-based gene editing, protein expression, protein purification, nucleosome reconstitution). Thanks to the generous contributions of the Amgen foundation, I was also able to study at Kyoto University in Dr. Fuyuki Ishikawa's lab during the summer of 2018-I investigated heat stress and acquired tolerance in mammalian cells.Project ideas
Food Science
Have you ever wondered why stuff molds? What's in the impossible burger? Why can you leave butter out on the counter, but not cheese? What's going on when you cook a piece of chicken in a skillet? Food is made up of molecules, just like chemicals in the lab. Food science projects are excellent introductions to molecular principles...and they produce a delicious product! Contact me if you're interested in learning more about biochemistry (it doesn't have to relate to food).
Biology of COVID-19 and Vaccines
At this point in the pandemic, it's clear why it's so important to understand the biological basis for infection and immunity. If you have an interest in learning more about what SARS-COV-2 really is, why it makes us sick, and how we can fight it off, please reach out! This is also a great project for those who want to debunk popular conspiracy theories about the virus or the vaccines. Based on a student-driven question, we will design a study that statistically measures COVID-19 responses in members of your community. Optionally, we can explore your data by making plots and heat maps in python. Prerequisites: Intro level statistics and basic experience with python and/or Jupyter Notebook (optional).