Hi, I’m Sam! I’m a senior Engineering major here at Smith, with a focus in biomedical/bioengineering. In the Moore lab, I am working on a project to engineer proteins that target a tumor cell surface biomarker for targeted cancer therapy. My work aims to combine protein engineering and immunotherapy to create an immune-stimulatory agent that can trigger an immune attack on cancer cells. More specifically, I hope to conjugate a viral antigen to our tumor-targeting proteins to trick the immune system into thinking the tumor cells are infected with a virus.

Prior to starting in the Moore lab, I conducted research for two projects (both chemistry related) in my first two years at Smith, as part of the STRIDE program. Academically, I have taken classes such as organic chemistry, introductory biology, energy for a greenhouse-constrained world, enzymology, the physical basis of human disease, engineering and cancer, and introduction to biomedical engineering in addition to the core engineering courses. I have also taken several music courses! During my summer and winter breaks, I have interned at Case Western Reserve University, Lubrizol Advanced Materials, and Medtronic, as well as did SURF in the Moore lab.

Outside of academics, I am co-president of Groove a Cappella and have sung in the Smith College Glee club since my first year. I also play the guitar and love to run! On the off-chance that I have free time, I love spending it with friends and binge-watching Parks and Rec, the Office, and Stranger Things.