Awarded in 2025
Home Department: Bioengineering
Faculty Advisors: Polly Fordyce (Bioengineering and Genetics) and Ron Dror (Computer Science)

Research Title: Mapping Protein-Protein Interactions at Scale Using Microfluidics and Machine Learning

Proteins orchestrate all cellular processes through fine-tuned networks of binding interactions. While the combination of machine learning and large datasets is transforming protein science, our ability to measure and predict protein-protein interactions (PPIs) at scale remains limited. To address this, Jessica is developing a high-throughput microfluidic platform to quantify millions of PPIs in days and generate training data for predictive algorithms. She will integrate measurement and model development to map the strength and specificity of protein binding. These tools will contribute to the goal of deciphering how protein sequence encodes function, which is fundamental to understanding and engineering biological systems.