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Divya B

- Research Program Mentor

PhD candidate at Columbia University

Expertise

Cancer, Drug Delivery, Cancer, Cancer Therapy, Pain Management and Therapy, Gene Therapy, Gene Editing, Stem Cells, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, Biomedical Engineering

Bio

Hi! My name is Divya, and I am currently a graduate student at Columbia University pursuing my Ph.D. in biomedical engineering. My research is about getting new therapeutics (medications) directly to where they need to be to treat cancer and chronic pain. This is a really interesting and exciting field of biomedical engineering that helps save lives and provide better pain management! Outside of research, I used to be a policy debate coach, and I love to cook, draw, and explore museums. I look forward to working with you!

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.

What is drug and gene delivery?

We hear about using "targeted therapies", "personalized medicine", "gene editing", and CRISPR, but what are these techniques, and why are they important? In this project, students can gain an understanding of how drug and gene delivery works and why it's an important aspect of modern pharmaceutical research. Students will learn how to read and analyze scientific literature on new methods of treating cancer. This can result in a paper or presentation detailing new methods and future directions of the field.

How can we cure cancer?

Cancer is one of the worlds leading causes of death. Scientists are developing many new treatments, but how do these work, and will they be able to help is in the goal to cure cancer? In this project, students will learn how to read and analyze scientific literature on new methods of treating cancer. This can result in a paper or presentation detailing new methods and future directions of the field.

How can we treat pain?

The opioid epidemic is one of the leading causes of drug misuse and overdose; however, 20% of adults experience chronic pain. How can we treat chronic pain without opioids? Scientists are developing many new treatments, but how do these work, and will they be able to work as well as opioids? In this project, students will learn how to read and analyze scientific literature on new methods of treating pain. This can result in a paper or presentation detailing new methods and future directions of the field.

Coding skills

Matlab

Teaching experience

One-on-one tutoring for students K-12 and college, policy debate coaching for 6-12, organic chemistry and biology recitation leader at the University of Miami, a teaching assistant for a drug and gene delivery course at Columbia University.

Credentials

Work experience

Columbia Univesity (2019 - current)
Graduate Research Assistant

Education

University of Miami
BS Bachelor of Science (2019)
Biomedical Engineering
Columbia University
MS Master of Science
Biomedical Engineering
Columbia University
PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Biomedical Engineering

Completed Projects

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