Download CV - Ackerman Lab

Hannah Constance Wastyk
University of Delaware
James Smith Hall
Newark, DE 19702
717-926-6505
[email protected]
Education
University of Delaware – Class of 2017
Major: Biochemistry
Honors College and Eugene du Pont Distinguished Scholar
GPA: 3.96/Science GPA: 4.0
Palmyra Area High School – Class of 2013, Palmyra, Pennsylvania.
Relevant Experience
Oct. 2013-Present
Chemical Glycobiology & Innate Immunity – University of Delaware
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Principal Investigator: Catherine Grimes
Supervisor: Vishnu Mohanan
Researching Crohn’s Disease and the interaction of its mutant proteins with chaperone
molecule, Hsp70. Also learning organic synthesis to construct a bacterial cell wall to activate
mutated Nod2 protein in Crohn’s Disease.
Summer 2014 Thayer School of Engineering – Dartmouth College
Principal Investigator: Margie Ackerman
Supervisor: Casey Hua
Constructed 40 different computational-designed humanized antibodies and tested their
affinity to cancer cell ligand, B7-H6. Work done to support a novel algorithm for designing
stable and specific antibody therapeutics.
Research done under the MD/PhD Undergraduate Summer Fellowship at Dartmouth. First
freshman to be chosen in the history of the program.
Summer 2014 Clinical Shadowing: Dartmouth Hitchock Medical Center – Neurology
Department
Shadowed: Erik Kobylarz
Shadowed Dr. Kobylarz approximately 30 hours during the summer. Able to observe grand
and mega rounds, the out-patient epilepsy clinic, the operating room during neurosurgery,
critical care unit for stroke patients, and surgical conferences.
June 2011- Aug. 2013 Melanoma Institute - Pennsylvania State University Cancer Institute
Principal Investigator: Gavin Robertson
Supervisor: Gregory Kardos
Studied the effects of inhibiting a novel target associated with amino acid metabolism.
Inhibition of the gene showed decreasing viability and proliferation in cancer cells, while
leaving normal cells relatively unaffected. Will be second author in a paper to be published
in the coming months.
Honors
Oct. 2014Second Place in Biological Sciences Group A at the UMBC Undergraduate
Research Symposium in the Chemical and Biological Sciences, Baltimore, MD, Presented
work done at Dartmouth College over the 2014 Summer. Project presented was entitled,
“Testing Affinity of Computationally-Designed Humanized Antibodies to Tumor Antigen
B7-H6.”
Dec. 2013Invited Student Researcher to the 2013 Nobel Prizes in Stockholm, Sweden,
from the Dudley R. Herschbach Award at Intel ISEF (see below). Able to present research at
a global scale in association with the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar
(SIYSS). Unparalleled opportunity to network with Nobel Laureates and companies abroad.
May 2013First Place and Best in Category in Cellular and Molecular Biology at Intel
Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), Phoenix, AZ, Presented work done at the Penn
State Melanoma Center at the largest pre-college science fair in the world with over 1,600
competitors from over 70 different countries. Project presented was entitled, “Discovering a
Metabolic Weakness in Melanoma through Targeted Gene Inhibition.” Also received one of
three Grand Awards of Dudley R. Herschbach SIYSS Award.
May 2013Best and Brightest for the Pennsylvania Patriot News, Harrisburg, PA, One of
20 students chosen by the Pennsylvania Patriot News as best and brightest for the 2013
graduating class within Central PA.
July 2012Congressional Award Gold Medal, Washington, D.C., Completed 400 hours of
community service, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical
development, and an exploration/expedition.
Leadership & Extracurriculars
2014-Present Teaching Assistant – University of Delaware Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry
Tutoring and grading for the Introduction to Chemistry for majors class taught by Dr.
Susan Groh. First freshman to be selected as a teaching assistant in the history of the
department.
2014-Present Vice President of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology (ASBMB), Delaware Chapter
Organize events for students that connect them to research, professional schools postgraduation, and scholarship opportunities. Also work closely with University faculty and
other professionals in the field of science and medicine to act as a liaison to the
undergraduate science community.
Spring 2014- Vice President for 2014 Rush Class of Phi Delta Epsilon, Professional Premedical Fraternity, University of Delaware, Phi Delta Epsilon International Fraternity, Involves
organizing service, fundraising, and informative events for pre-medical students on campus
Oct. 2013-
Freshman Fellow, University of Delaware, 2013-2014 Freshman year
Leadership position voted by the honors planning board after two parts of application and
interview. Responsible for organizing events for the honors community and creating a
cohesive network within the resident’s halls