Summer Showcase 2025

My project is focused on assessing alternative shielding polymers to poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG), due to the observations of allergic reactions in some patients. Our lab has turned our attention to polySarcosine (Psar), as an alternative. My research utilized the enzyme, esterase. I worked to attach PEG and Psar to the enzyme and assess the activity of esterase when conjugated to either polymer. In doing so, I was able to understand how well Psar attaches to the enzyme, and how well the enzyme catalyzes a reaction when conjugated to either polymer.

Student Role: Researcher

Project funded by: Macalester faculty/staff grant funding

This summer, the Bratt Lab Group sought to continue investigating relationships between the historically racist practice of redlining and water quality in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Under the guidance of Prof. Anika Bratt (Macalester College, Environmental Studies Dept.), we expanded upon previously collected data to analyze the composition of algae and microbial communities in 28 different water bodies. Algae samples were analyzed genetically and morphologically, and were further compared to temperature and chlorophyll-a water quality metrics. Further investigation into this topic aims to continue the Bratt Lab's goal of beginning the conversation regarding the impacts of urban environmental injustice on local water quality.

Student Role: Student Researcher

Project funded by: Macalester faculty/staff grant funding

This summer, I interned with Orange County Coastkeeper in their Environmental Education program. I helped teach students of all ages about local marine life, water conservation, and how to protect our environment. I assisted with hands-on activities, field trips, and community events that encouraged people to care for our coast and waterways. Through this experience, I learned how environmental education can inspire others (specifically younger generations) to take action and become environmental stewards.

Student Role: Environmental Education Intern

Project funded by: Macalester College (e.g., endowed funds)

This summer 2025, I interned with DSW Photography in Louisiana through the Macalester Summer Internship Grant. They are a luxury international wedding photography business, and my role included shadowing them as a third shooter during weddings and engagement sessions, handling equipment, and editing.

Student Role: Wedding Photography Internship/Assistanship

Project funded by: Macalester College (e.g., endowed funds)

Cavity-nesting birds serve as important indicators of ecosystem health. At Macalester College’s Ordway Field Station (2018–2025), we monitored nest box use and reproductive success for Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebird, Northern House Wren, Black-capped Chickadee, and House Sparrow. We examined temporal trends in nesting attempts, community composition, and reproductive parameters. Analyses revealed stable overall demographic patterns but clear interspecific variation in first-egg dates and clutch size, suggesting differences in reproductive flexibility and life-history strategies. These findings establish a baseline for evaluating how climate change and habitat alteration may shape breeding phenology and interactions among Minnesota cavity-nesting bird communities.

Student Role: Researcher/Research Assistant

Project funded by: Macalester faculty/staff grant funding

Dinosaur Fossils from Maryland are often poorly preserved and jumbled up, which has made getting a good picture of what was there during that time a bit of a challenge, and made the sites a bit of a backwater. My research has been primarily to describe 21 elements from sauropod(s) in this site that have never been described or studied before and to see what new understandings I might be able to gain from them

Student Role: Researcher

Project funded by: The company/institution/organization you worked at

This summer we worked on an interdisciplinary grant studying the impacts of climate change on arctic plant communities. In Finland, we collaborated with local reindeer herders to collect data on plant community diversity in relation to reindeer nutrition and migration. We also conducted sampling in a decommissioned mine in response to concerns about pollution from growing industrialization. In Norway we worked next to a national park, researching changes in plant communities in response to abiotic and biotic controls, particularly focusing on diverse arctic valley ecosystems.

Student Role: Research assistants

Project funded by: Mac and NSF

While interning at the Minnesota Museum of American Art (the M), I carried out many tasks across various departments. I prepared a walking tour and began narrating an audio tour of the M, greeted and aided guests while working at the front desk, and directed volunteers and managed their shift changes through the Visitor Experiences department. I completed organizing the M’s library, while grasping how to read a piece’s object and accession numbers and learning how to properly transport and protect artworks during times of maintenance through the Registrar department. I digitized physical files on museum patrons and performed prospect research on donors, which involved compiling information detailing their professional background, confirmed residences, known charitable contributions, and personal interests with the Development department. Lastly, with the Marketing and Communications department, I filmed and edited footage to upload onto the M’s social media sites as well as introduced new media platforms to expand the museum's clientele.

Student Role: "Summer Intern" (I worked across multiple departments, so I didn't have a more specific title.

Project funded by: Macalester College (e.g., endowed funds)

My work is focused on try to synthesize new molecules that can be used in organic field effect transistors (OFETs) which are commonly found in computer screens, wearable electronics and even medical equipment.

Student Role: Researcher

Project funded by: Macalester faculty/staff grant funding

In 2025, over 600,000 people in the U.S. are expected to die from cancer. While chemotherapy kills cancer cells, it often damages healthy tissue and causes severe side effects. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers a more targeted approach: light-sensitive molecules called photosensitizers accumulate in tumors and, when activated by light, release reactive oxygen species (ROS) that destroy cancer cells. We are developing a system that uses PDT-generated ROS to form a biodegradable polymer net inside tumors, which can capture and release chemotherapy drugs directly at the site. Here, we test Chlorin e6 (Ce6), a clinically used photosensitizer, and show it effectively produces ROS when exposed to near-infrared light.

Student Role: Undergraduate Student Summer Researcher

Project funded by: National Science Foundation (EEC-2349225) REU Site: Cellular Bioengineering: From Biomaterials to Stem Cells and the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research (COCR24PRF012).

Over the summer we worked on an algorithm to identify if two algebraic objects have the same underlying structure. We ran simulations to compare the time and accuracy of our algorithm compared to other established algorithms. In the process we needed to learn a programming language called GAP (Groups Algorithms and Programming) that was specifically made for dealing with algebraic structures.

Student Role: Researcher

Project funded by: Macalester College (e.g., endowed funds)

At GPSO and PCA STREAM, I’ve explored the intersection of urban metabolism and green planning applying interdisciplinary approaches to create sustainable, resilient urban environments.

Student Role: Project intern

Project funded by: Macalester College (e.g., endowed funds)

This summer, I specifically worked at OOOPEN Lab, which is a sub-brand under RE:LAB (the Information Design Consulting Company based in Taiwan). Over the past 12 years, OOOPEN Lab have created over 60 custom interactive games, helping various brands/organizations improve communication experiences and action conversion rates. To generate more impact through gamified experiences, OOOPEN Lab integrates the content marketing expertise RE:LAB has, allowing everyone to make communication more fun with lower costs and higher efficiency.

Student Role: Content Marketing Intern

Project funded by: Macalester College (e.g., endowed funds)

Conduct problems in childhood predict many negative outcomes. This behavior is associated with adverse neighborhood conditions, but what characteristics exactly have an effect hasn't been clearly examined. My project looked at neighborhood danger as a possible predictor of conduct problems and compared it to low socioeconomic status, another correlate of conduct problems. I found that neighborhood danger couldn't predict conduct problems, but low socioeconomic status could. Using a translational science approach, there are several ways these findings could improve treatments and better serve disadvantaged communities.

Student Role: Pathways to Research Program Scholar

Project funded by: The company/institution/organization you worked at

Engineers for Exploration (E4E) at UCSD that collaborates with scientists to deploy technology that simplifies their data collection process. FishSense, one of the main projects in E4E, automatically measures the length of a fish to expand the amount of data available for more sustainable fisheries management decisions. FishSense has three “branches” for different applications: Mobile, Lite, and Scout. FishSense Mobile measures fish out of water with smartphone LiDar and edge compute. FishSense Lite measures fish underwater with commercially available cameras and lasers. FishSense Scout uses computer operated cameras to monitor fish in deployments more challenging for human divers.

Student Role: Researcher

Project funded by: NSF REU Grant

The summer project I worked on at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center focused on preserving their historical archives. We aimed to convert them into a digital resource for the community and anyone interested in learning the history of the Rondo Neighborhood. The project was an online game created on the Roblox platform using Roblox Studio. Its purpose is to serve as a historical walkthrough of Rondo, guiding players through Rondo before and after the construction of I-94. This virtual experience is intended to support hands-on learning, community enrichment, and the preservation of St. Paul’s long-standing African American community.

Student Role: Digital Archivist intern

Project funded by: Macalester College (e.g., endowed funds)

This summer, I completed an internship as a Social Media and Communications aid. This encompassed creating content geared at students who are either looking to study abroad or are current students studying abroad in Florence. I created content centered around Tuscany Pride, cultural events at the school, and how to live in Florence and Italy for the first time. My main goal was to contextualize Florence for students and help them stay informed by creating content outside of the classroom. Pictured is me (far right) with my supervisor and the rest of the communications team.

Student Role: Social Media and Communication Intern

Project funded by: Personal funds

In previous Cao Lab work, I explored the attachment of a variety of functional groups to naphthalene diimide, a molecule with potentially useful electronic properties. With many possible functional groups to consider and multiple sites each might be attached, there are far too many derivatives of naphthalene diimide to make and examine in the lab. This summer, I set out to computer generate around two thousand of these possible structures and calculate their spectra using computational chemistry tools with the hope of identifying standout candidates for future synthesis.

Student Role: Researcher

Project funded by: Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation

I use computer simulations to study how plant emissions like isoprene affect the air we breathe and the climate we live in. This summer, I modeled how hydroxyl radicals react with isoprene, the most abundant carbon compound released by plants. These reactions influence ozone and aerosol levels, key factors in air quality and climate. By identifying stable structures and transition states, I mapped possible reaction pathways and molecular changes. My work helps explain how tiny chemical processes in the atmosphere connect to global issues like pollution, air quality, and climate change.

Student Role: Summer research assistant

Project funded by: Macalester faculty/staff grant funding

Several vaccines and drugs are available for treating SARS-CoV-2 (Covid) infections and limit the spread of the virus, but there is still a need for more options to treat new mutations and coronaviruses. One approach for treating SARS-CoV-2 is to interrupt the viral replication cycle. Bis-indoles are a promising type of molecule that have many medicinal properties–including antiviral abilities. The Bräse Group at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology has long been interested in using these antiviral properties to develop a new small-molecule treatment. In this work, we designed and synthesised several bis-indole derivatives with anti-SARS-CoV-2 abilities.

Student Role: Researcher

Project funded by: DAAD RISE funding