Audra DeStefano

 About Audra

• Advisor: Rachel Segalman
• Department: Chemical Engineering
• Campus: UCSB
• BioPACIFIC MIP Research: SET 2 - Sequence-Defined Materials

 What is your research focus?

My research utilizes the bio-inspired, sequence-defined polypeptoid platform that BioPACIFIC MIP shares. As such, I am already well positioned to contribute synthetically to the sequence-defined materials needed for SET 2. I also utilize novel electron paramagnetic resonance methods for measuring local water dynamics and polymer chain shape that could be of use to BioPACIFIC MIP. Specifically, heterogeneity in surface water behavior encoded in peptide sequence is known to influence protein function, so similar control over water behavior could empower synthetic systems. Similarly, polymer chain shape is closely tied to material properties, so changes in chain shape due to sequence could be of interest to BioPACIFIC MIP.

 What excites you about NSF BioPACIFIC MIP?

I am interested in the BioPACIFIC MIP Fellows and Affiliates program to expand my professional network and gain access to the state of the art tools that BioPACIFIC MIP has to offer.