Kayla W
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at University of California San Diego (UCSD)
Expertise
Drug discovery, bioinformatics, enzymes, science communication, the oceans & human health, marine science
Bio
My current research focuses on the intersection of human health and the world's oceans, specifically discovering new medicines from marine sponges. My work is very interdisciplinary, utilizing skills and knowledge from organic chemistry, molecular biology, and marine science. With a bachelor's degree in chemistry, a master's degree in oceanography, and my current PhD work in marine chemical biology, I have a diverse skillset and knowledge base suitable to a wide range of students. In my free time, I love being in the ocean. I'm an avid scuba diver, snorkeler, and sailor. My coolest fun fact is that I've sailed across the Atlantic Ocean twice. When I'm on land, I enjoy gardening, playing with my dog, and doing all sorts of arts and crafts. I'm also a huge podcast fan.Project ideas
Investigating marine genomes
Learn how to access and analyze publicly available genomes. of marine creatures like bacteria, corals, sponges, and sea weeds. Search for genes and learn what they encode. Learn how to connect DNA to antibiotic production. Learn bioinformatics and basic command line functions. End product can be a written report, a video, a presentation, or other options if you have an idea in mind.
Online science communication
Learn how to write and produce online content to teach the public about interesting science topics. Create videos, infographics, and/or podcast episodes that cover pertinent science topics like gene editing, climate change, public health, electric cars, etc.