I finished my undergraduate degree at Keio University in Yokohama Japan in 2007. I began the graduate program at RPI the same year, and joined the Linhard Lab in 2008. My expected graduation date is May 2012.

Education

2007-present Ph.D. in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
2003-2007 B.S. at Keio University, Yokohama, Japan

Research

I am a 5th year Ph.D. student working in the synthesis subgroup in the Linhardt Lab. My main project is the chemoenzymatic synthesis of heparin oligosaccharides. I chemically synthesize precursors of heparin called UDP-sugar donors, which carry the necessary sugar residues that are incorporated into heparin. Using heparin and heparan sulfate biosynthetic enzymes, these UDP-sugars build the heparin chain. By synthesizing an unnatural UDP-sugar that has a desired functionality, I can synthesize short-chain heparin analogs.

Awards and Academic Honors

2009, The Dr. Johanna Maas Chemistry Teaching Assistant Award

Professional Societies

American Chemical Society