Tuning multivalency for optimized ligand presentation

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Project Summary/Abstract This is an application for a Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research to complement our parent grant, “Tuning Multivalency for Optimized Ligand Presentation” (R35 GM138296). The supplement funds will support Cesar Ramirez, who in Fall 2022 is starting his second year as a Ph.D. student in my lab within the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Rutgers University. As a first-generation Hispanic permanent resident from El Salvador, Cesar has shown incredible drive and passion to excel in academia and science. Within the scope of this parent grant, Cesar will be developing quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models that will allow us to accurately shape synthetic multivalent ligands with optimized biophysical dynamics for programmable cell signaling. To achieve this ambitious goal, we have created a research and career development plan that will maximize Cesar’s potential that is specifically tailored to his project and personal needs. This plan will build on Cesar’s previous research experience and help him to develop computational models for these complex biophysical interactions. Meanwhile, Cesar will continue with his coursework and PhD candidacy requirements, while also applying for fellowship and internship opportunities. By the end of this two-year and beyond training plan, Cesar will be ideally positioned for prestigious jobs in industry or academia. The application of data-science towards the development of biomedical technologies is growing exponentially, and Cesar’s unique experience/training will be highly valuable in this competitive job market. There is no doubt that this will maximize Cesar’s potential to help transform the biomedical sciences.