Brandon Black

Mentored rotation students and incoming lab members in substrate synthesis, protein purification, kinetic assaying techniques, and crystallography. This mentorship resulted in co-authorship achievements for mentees.

Spearheaded a complex, multi-disciplinary project using Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction (ASR) to study ancestral proteins and their enhanced physical properties, identifying active site and epistatic residues controlling specificity. Analyzed substrate and product promiscuity with novel substrate analogues and performed protein kinetics using various assays.

Collaborated on a team to express, purify, validate, and assay computationally predicted 'Metamorphic proteins' for multiple fold states and binding partners. Verified multiple fold states using Circular Dichroism and various ligand binding assays.

Partnered with and mentored upcoming high school scientists from diverse backgrounds. This role focused on fostering scientific interest and skills in young individuals.

Conducted honors thesis research on the synthesis and utilization of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSN) for drug and small molecule delivery to cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. This involved advanced material synthesis and biological application.

Trained and mentored at-risk youths from various diverse backgrounds to work on the farm. Provided meaningful experiences, life skills, and leadership development.

Researched interactions of sorting Nexin proteins in the endosomal system of yeast under direct mentorship. Designed and assembled plasmids using Gateway Cloning technology and utilized western blotting and Immunoprecipitation to identify protein interactions.

Activities and societies: Thesis Project: “Understanding Terpene synthase function through an evolutionary lens using Ancestral sequence reconstruction.”

Undertook a self-designed graduate project involving computationally predicting ancestral proteins in a family that performs multistep small molecule biosynthesis. Studied these proteins to understand the evolution of product specificity and epistasis. Relevant coursework included Quantitative Approaches to Biochemical Systems, Advanced Biochemistry: Enzyme Mechanisms, and Physical Chemistry of Ma

Activities and societies: Honors Thesis project: “Mesoporous silica nanoparticles for the delivery of siRNA to downregulate Tenascin-C in triple negative breast cancer.” Research 2014-2016 Chi lab Research 2016-2017 Vivero lab

Completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Conducted an honors thesis project focused on the synthesis and utilization of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSN) for drug and small molecule delivery to cancer cells.

Obtained an Associate of Science degree. Developed foundational knowledge and skills relevant to further studies in scientific fields.