Hello, and thanks for tuning in! My name is Jake Shaw. I am a rising senior double majoring in molecular and cellular biology and biochemistry at the University of Arizona. My research in the Tomat group lab uses interdisciplinary approaches centered on the role of iron in cancer cells. Iron is essential to cellular processes responsible for growth and survival, making it a good target for novel cancer therapeutics. I synthesize and characterize new compounds, including iron deprivation drugs and biosensors, and then I test them in cancer cell cultures. I have recently begun incorporating computational modeling into my work to validate experimental results and probe potential new drug designs. I find questions without known answers to be captivating, so I plan to continue working in research in the future. My dream is to aid the design of drugs that can tangibly improve people’s lives. Outside of the lab, I enjoy cooking, gardening, hiking, taking photos of nature, going to concerts, and learning to play new songs on the guitar.
