Experience
Aug 2023 - Present
Undergraduate Researcher
Jain Lab
Advisors: Piyush Jain, Brianna Pizzano
University of Florida Chemical Engineering
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Conducted research relating to diagnostics using CRISPR/Cas systems
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Used CRISPR Cas 9 for genetic engineering of human cells with low unintended edits
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Assisted in running experiments and collecting data for a poster presented at the 2023 National AIChE conference
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Edited CRISPR diagnostics for multiplexing experiments to distinguish between diseases with similar symptoms
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Expressed proteins in bacterial systems and purified using FPLC with nickel/cobalt-NTA columns
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Projects:
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Multiplexing of Cas Orthologs for Disease Detection
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Efficient Genome Editing with Chimeric Oligonucleotide-Directed Editing
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AsCas12a tolerates non-homologous insertions in target DNA
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May 2025 - July 2025
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Projects: Lung Epithelial Cells and Fibroblasts for In Vitro Model
Undergraduate Researcher
Lung Repair Lab
Advisors: Jim Hagood, Koji Tamai
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Undergraduate Grader
ECH4905/ECH6937: Pharmaceutical Bioengineering
University of Florida
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Graded homework, quizzes, group projects, and exams for a course relating to biomolecules, enzyme kinetics, cellular transport and energy, recombinant DNA technology, protein expression and purification, pharmacokinetics/dynamics, and RNA and immune engineering/therapies.
Involvement / Leadership
Aug 2024 - Present
Writer
OneResearch Biomedical Newsletter
University of Florida
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Translated complex biomedical research into an accessible and engaging format for non-technical audiences of over 10,000 readers
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Articles covered the latest advancements in genetic engineering, CRISPR technology, and biotech innovations aiming to inspire curiosity and foster a deeper understanding of scientific developments
Feb 2024 - Present
Community and Inclusion Chair (May 2025 - Present)
Member (Feb 2024 - Present)
Engineering Ambassador
University of Florida Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering
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Served as a liaison between the College of Engineering and its students: past, current, and prospective
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Served as a volunteer for the College of Engineering and worked closely with the deans
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Represented the College of Engineering to provide tours, information sessions, and annual outreach initiatives to serve the college and community
Aug 2023 - Present
President (Apr 2025 - Present)
Historian (Apr 2024 - Apr 2025)
Member (Aug 2023 - Present)
Engineering Peer Advisor
University of Florida Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering
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Oversaw all operations in the organization
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Established a file structure to organize historical documents and improve knowledge transfer between present and future peer advisor classes
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Created new documentation to increase peer advisor knowledge on all majors in the College
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Assisted first-year engineering students with professional, educational, and extracurricular development by holding weekly walk-in hours and information session
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Attended the College of Engineering sessions during UF Preview and provided information to incoming freshmen about the programs offered by the College of Engineering
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Mentored new peer advisors to help them adjust to the roles in the organization
May 2024 - July 2024
UF Summer Tour Guide
Office of Admissions
University of Florida
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Provided tours for prospective University of Florida students
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Worked closely with the Office of Admissions to provide up-to-date and accurate information on tours
Presentations
Annual UF Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium, Gainesville, FL, 2025. S. Antal “Efficient Genome Editing with Chimeric Oligonucleotide-Directed Editing” (poster).
Annual UF Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium, Gainesville, FL, 2024. S. Antal. “Multiplexing of Cas Orthologs for Disease Detection” (poster).
Annual UF Grace Symposium, Gainesville, FL, 2024. S. Antal. “Multiplexing of Cas Orthologs for Disease Detection” (poster).
Annual UF Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium, Gainesville, FL, 2023. S. Antal “Multiplexing of Cas Orthologs for Disease Detection” (poster).
Awards
Excellence in Research Scholarship (2024)
GRACE Symposium Undergraduate Poster Session (2024)
University Scholars Program (2025)
Laboratory Skills
Cis & trans cleavage with CRISPR/Cas, human HEK cell passaging and transfection, PCR, RPA, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), protein purification using metal affinity and size exclusion chromatography, protein engineering, guide RNA engineering, reading fluorescence plate assays, SDS-PAGE, human lung fibroblast cell culture, RNA extraction, drug screening, micropipetting, etc.
Software Skills
​Python, R, GraphPad Prism, Adobe Illustrator, AutoCAD, Revit Microsoft Office Suite