Directed evolution is a groundbreaking laboratory technology that has had a significant impact on fundamental research and biotechnology, yet severe limitations remain. The goal of my project is to develop a new targeted mutagenesis strategy that builds on the MutaT7 framework developed by the Shoulders Lab. Because MutaT7 cannot efficiently generate transversion mutations, it accesses only a small fraction of possible amino acid substitutions. By exploiting the error-prone repair of abasic sites, this strategy introduces diverse mutations into DNA. This project will also conduct broader investigations into new targeted hypermutation machineries and novel CRISPR editing approaches for human cells to advance the field of genome editing through approaches with enhanced specificity and efficiency.

I am participating in a SuperUROP because I would like to build on the research I conduct through my UROP while developing greater independence as a researcher. Through this experience, I hope to strengthen my skills in molecular biology, experimental design, and scientific communication while contributing to advances in directed evolution.