Department: Chemistry Faculty Adviser: Michelle C.Y. Chang Year of Study: G2 Undergraduate School: MIT Undergraduate Major: Chemistry and Biology
Hi, I'm Josh! I'm from Miami, FL, and I went to undergrad at MIT, where I worked in the Suess Lab on the nitrogenase metallocofactors. I'm currently a second year graduate student in the Michelle Chang lab in the Department of Chemistry, where I'm continuing to investigate metalloenzymes (see more in my research pitch!). Outside of the lab, I'm a huge foodie! I love to cook, try out new restaurants, and try new cuisines. I basically never shy away from trying a new food. I'm also a very amateur nature photographer. In the spring, the lane of magnolia trees by McCarter is a really lovely spot for photos.
A fun fact about myself is that my first (and only) time skiing was in the French Alps, where on the first day I skied straight off the slope (I was fine!).
My research currently focuses on figuring out the mechanism of an ultra-fast, O2-utilizing enzyme that converts alkanes to alkynes. This is possibly the most challenging reaction known to be done by an oxidase. I am also interested in enzyme discovery to expand the known reactions done by this enzyme family. Ultimately, my research directions all point to a focus on understanding what makes these enzymes tick at multiple levels: active site, protein, and protein-substrate interaction levels. My research utilizes spectroscopic, biocatalytic, and bioinformatic techniques - meaning a combination of chemistry, biology, physics, and computation.
Interested in participating in Summer 2027 ReMatch+ program.
