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Research · 02

BioCurious

Project Leader & Independent ResearcherSep 2022 — Aug 2026

Ran CRISPR gene-editing experiments at a community biology lab — including work toward better progeria treatment — and taught what I learned.

1,500+students taught
10+open-source protocols published
A549cell line used for Wee1 knockouts
Role
Project Leader & Independent Researcher
When
Sep 2022 — Aug 2026
Where
BioCurious community lab
Techniques
CRISPR-Cas9 · cell culture · protein purification · transformations · PCR · gel electrophoresis · mini-preps

01In short

BioCurious is a community biology lab — a place where anyone can do real lab science. I ran my own research projects there and helped teach others.

My main work used CRISPR (a gene-editing tool) to switch off a gene called Wee1 in human lung-cancer cells, and to explore ways CRISPR could make an existing drug, Lonafarnib, work better for Progeria — a rare disease that causes rapid aging in children.

02What I did

  • Performed CRISPR knockouts of the Wee1 gene in A549 cells.
  • Did the full range of bench work: cell culture, protein purification, translations, transformations, PCR, gels, and mini-preps.
  • Researched CRISPR-based strategies to improve Lonafarnib's effectiveness against Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS).
  • Co-developed educational workshops, published 10+ open-source protocols, and taught 1,500+ students.

03How I got started

What brought you to a community lab in 2022?

04The progeria project

What was the hypothesis, and what did you find?

05Teaching

What's it like teaching gene editing to 1,500 people?

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