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Alina T

- Research Program Mentor

PhD candidate at Princeton University

Expertise

Biochemistry, Microbiology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering

Bio

I completed my undergraduate degree at Rutgers University as part of the Honors College where I majored in Chemical Engineering and obtained a minor in Biological Sciences. I conducted research on how biomass can most efficiently be converted to biofuels. Currently, I am at Princeton University where I am studying the antimicrobial activity of natural products. I have experience in mentoring middle school and high school students through summer programs; I also have experience tutoring college students. I look forward to mentoring students passionate about science and/or engineering! In my free time, I enjoy reading, grabbing coffee, and enjoying time outdoors with friends.

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.

Industrial Proteins

There are several proteins used in industry that need to be produced and purified at large scales. For example, the antibodies used in antibody treatments are proteins. There are several challenges associated with large-scale production of proteins considering their biological nature. For this project, you will study a certain protein used in industry, investigate the current production process, and determine how the process can be made more efficient.

Microbes Around Us

When we hear about bacteria, we usually think about the pathogenic ("bad") bacteria that cause infections. However, there are also many "good" bacteria in items we consume such as yogurt and kombucha. In this project, you will study the role of bacteria in making a certain food, and explore any variations that can result in changes to the final product.

Coding skills

MatLab

Languages I know

Spanish, Malayalam

Teaching experience

As an undergraduate, I worked as a Learning Assistant at Rutgers University for several engineering courses. I also have experience tutoring undergraduates in calculus. As a graduate student, I have served as an Assistant in Instruction for a course in Engineering Ethics.

Credentials

Work experience

Rutgers University (2019 - 2019)
The Academy at Rutgers for Girls in Engineering and Technology (TARGET) Counselor
Rutgers University (2017 - 2019)
Learning Assistant
L'Oreal Paris (2017 - 2017)
Research & Innovation Intern
Rutgers University (2016 - 2019)
Research Assistant

Education

Rutgers University
BS Bachelor of Science (2019)
Chemical Engineering
Princeton University
MA Master of Arts candidate
Chemical Engineering
Princeton University
PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Chemical Engineering

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