Lainie Beauchemin
I am currently a PhD student at Carnegie Mellon University in the Mechanical Engineering Department. I am advised by Prof. Taylor in the Microsystems and Mechanobiology Lab. My research objective is to explore the applications of PNA, peptide nucleic acids, in building self-assembling structures that exhibit nuclease resistance and protein compatibility. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Biological Engineering from MIT in 2022.
Current Project
My interests are in how we can leverage PNA, a DNA analogue with a peptide backbone rather than a sugar-phosphate backbone, to augment and eventually surpass the capabilities of DNA in nanoengineering. Currently, I focus on self-assembling condensates of DNA-PNA hybrid molecules and design considerations for self-assembling PNA systems.
Previous Work
Fulbright-Nehru Fellow, IIT Delhi Dec 2023 - Aug 2024 - Funded by the Fulbright-Nehru student fellowship, I used high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to analyze samples of public water sources in Delhi to provide a proof-of-concept for quick, cost-effective, and anonymous public health data collection.
Research Assistant, Tessel Bio Feb 2023 - Aug 2023 - As a research assistant, I cultured epithelial lung organoids and developed unique, quantifiable in vitro assays to predict the efficacy of COPD drug candidates on key cellular phenotypes.
Biotech Investment Research Assistant, Elica - MIT International Science & Technology Initiatives June 2022 - Feb 2023 - Funded in part by MIT International Science and Technology initiatives, I analyzed scientific research and clinical trial data to inform investments for a small biotech investment fund based in Milan, Italy.
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard - Analyzed proteomic data to elucidate schizophrenia-associated mutations and genes - Experimentally knocked out identified schizophrenia risk mutations in neuronal cultures to quantify proteomic changed
Contact Information
- Please contact me by email: lbeauche@andrew.cmu.edu