Congratulations, Amy and Mickayla!

09/13 

Amy Wu Wu (University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez) and Mickayla Bacorn (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)

This past summer, four students joined members of the RCSB PDB and the Khare Lab at Rutgers to study protease evolution across all Coronaviridae using bioinformatics tools.

2021 RCSB PDB Summer Scholars: Clockwise, starting with upper left: Mary Agnes Balogun (Morgan State), Mickayla Bacorn (University of Maryland, Baltimore County), Cassandra Olivas (California State University Stanislaus), and Amy Wu Wu (University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez)

These students were part of RISE at Rutgers, a nationally acclaimed summer research program for outstanding undergraduates from diverse backgrounds. Scholars participate in cutting-edge research in the biological, physical, and social/ behavioral sciences, math, engineering, and exciting interdisciplinary areas under the guidance of carefully matched faculty mentors.

All four students finished their program by presenting their work at the 2021 American Crystallographic Association virtual meeting.

• Mickayla Bacorn, Biochemical analysis and review of the active site evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses
• MaryAgnes Balogun, Understanding the active site of the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like proteinase (PLPro)
• Cassandra Olivas, Using data mining to identify variations within the proteases of Coronaviridae
• Amy Wu Wu, Bioinformatics and 3D Structural Analysis of the Coronavirus Main Protease Active Site Diversity

Amy and Mickayla's posters were each recognized with a Pauling Poster Prize. The Pauling Poster Prize was established by the ACA and is supported by member contributions, to honor Linus Pauling. Pauling was one of the pioneers in American structural research and was a very supportive member of the ACA for many years.

Amy and Cassandra were supported by an NSF REU to the RCSB PDB.