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Peter D

- Research Program Mentor

PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate

Expertise

Protein/Enzyme Design and Engineering, Genetics, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Dynamics, Parkinson's Disease, Chemistry, Phage Evolution

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.

CRISPR-guided Genetic Fitness of Bacteria

All living organisms use promoter sequences to recruit internal machinery and create proteins/enzymes that facilitate most every biological function known. Using CRISPR, we can target these promoter regions and change which promoters regulate important genes. Are there certain genes that might help a bacteria survive better when a strong promoter is used? Could changing the expression of certain proteins give one bacterial culture an advantage over another? The questions we could ask are endless! In this project you will learn skills in bacterial culturing, gene expression, genetic cloning and mutations, CRISPR techniques, the basics of biological assaying, biochemistry, and microbiology.

Protein Modification and Engineering

Students will work towards identifying a pair of proteins/enzymes that have different functions but might work together in the body. Through truncation and grafting the two domains together, we can create a chimeric protein/enzyme that has two functions that might work together to better solve a task. In this project, students will get hands-on training with genetic manipulation, protein expression, enzymatic assaying, quantification and analytical skills pertaining to biochemistry and bioengineering.

Coding skills

Linux, Rosetta (Protein Engineering - Linux Suite)

Interested in working with expert mentors like Peter?

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