About Daniel

As the world encounters new and ever more complex challenges, the next generation of scientists will require a pioneering mindset and academic freedom to tackle riskier projects. I believe my past experiences make me an ideal fit for this future. Since my undergraduate years, the knowledge and unique skill sets I have obtained encompass an extensive spectrum, ranging from developmental biology, material science, chemical biology, organic chemistry, and bioengineering. I received my B.S. in Bioengineering from UC Berkeley and conducted research in optically sensitive nanoparticle delivery systems in the laboratory of Professor Luke Lee. Upon graduation, I worked as a research associate at UC San Francisco under Professor Didier Stainier and investigated pancreatic beta-cell regeneration through high-throughput small molecule screens in transgenic zebrafish models. Prior to my PhD studies, I completed an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering at NYU Tandon School of Engineering in the laboratory of Dr. Paulo Coelho while studying bone implants and biomaterials. My doctoral dissertation research focused on the covalent and noncovalent targeting of oncogenic Ras with modified peptidomimetics, which are based on the secondary and tertiary structures of proteins.

I am fascinated by the efforts in the synthetic biology community to engineer modularity into biological systems. The functional diversity of engineered bacteria has rapidly expanded over the last few decades. Although the therapeutic use of bacteria has been around for more than a century, advances in synthetic biology have produced genetically engineered “smart” bacterial therapeutics and diagnostics within a clinical setting. Taking advantage of biomolecule secretion and chemotactic systems, engineered strains can currently target diseases including diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease, HIV, and cancer. We have only scratched the surface in engineering bacteria with complex genetic circuitry and clinical utility. I believe my interdisciplinary research experience provides a strong foundation and valuable perspective in approaching synthetic biology from new and unexpected directions.

Education

Ph.D. Chemistry | New York University | New York, NY | Dec 2020

M.S. Biomedical Engineering | New York University | New York, NY | May 2013

B.S. Bioengineering | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | May 2009