Organizers
Meet the organizational committee for this years symposium! If you are interested in helping organize this event next year, contact purduemolecularbiology@gmail.com.
EMMA LENDY
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Emma is currently a second-year graduate student in the PULSe program. After finishing a year of rotations, she joined the lab of Dr. Andrew Mesecar, where she evaluates the potency of drugs using enzyme kinetics, cell-based assays and X-ray crystallography. These drugs have been shown to bind proteins that are validated therapeutic targets for the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease, type II diabetes, prostate cancer and Zika virus. In her spare time, Emma loves to take her dog out on walks around West Lafayette.
AARON KRABILL​
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Aaron Krabill is a third year graduate student in the Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology department at Purdue University. Originally from Goshen, Indiana, Aaron did his undergraduate studies at DePauw University majoring in Biochemistry. He is currently researching the modulation of UCH-L1 using novel small molecules under Dr. Daniel Flaherty. In his free time, he enjoys woodworking and spending time with his wife.
MATTHEW PHARRIS​
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Matthew Pharris is a PhD candidate in Purdue’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. Matt specializes in neuroscience, mathematical modeling, and molecular biology, and with these he studies the protein signaling pathways connected to learning and memory. When not in the lab, Matt enjoys golf, distance running, and Boilermaker Football.
YU-CHEN YEN​
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Yu-Chen recently received her Ph.D. degree from Purdue University in Biological Science in the Mesecar lab. She is originally from Tainan, Taiwan. She is currently a post-doc in the Tesmer lab and doing research on the G-protein couple receptor, GPCR, signaling pathway through structural and biophysical approaches. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and listening to music.
ANNA RATLIFF​
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Anna Ratliff is a biochemistry PhD candidate in the Chemistry department working with Dr. Christine Hrycyna on the biochemical and biophysical characterization of Ste14 via Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy. Her research will advance the field of chemotherapeutics, specifically for pancreatic cancer. She is originally from Elmhurst, Illinois and attended Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin for her undergraduate degrees in biochemistry and chemistry. In her spare time, she enjoys running and being outdoors.
TAYLOR BAILEY​
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Taylor Bailey is a third year PhD student in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology. He works with Dr. Arun Bhunia in the molecular microbiology lab in the Food Science Department. Taylor’s studies the foodborne bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, focusing on the role of a bacterial metabolic enzyme as a moonlighting pathogenic effector. Outside of lab, he enjoys playing piano and nostalgic video games.