PARK LAB - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Undergraduate Research Program ( SURP ), Samueli Research Scholars ( SRS ) Program, and Integrated and Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research Program ( I 2 URP ) - 2020 - Present
Developed the Biochemical, Genetic and Genomic (BiGG) knowledgebase, which provides the first collection of curated, high quality metabolic reconstructions.
Integrated metabolic flux constraints as well as objective functions required for mathematical optimization to various organisms' genome-scale metabolic reconstruction models.
Rendered respective organisms' metabolic networks in Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) that can be interactively displayed in web browsers using Perl and SQL.
Built a computer model to simulate random walks of transcription factors in the presence of various conformations of compact chromatin fibers using C++.
Performed kinetic Monte Carlo simulation, which revealed different modes of diffusion that transcription factors undergo: 3D-diffusion, when they are far away from DNA/chromatin fiber and 1D-diffusion along the DNA, otherwise.
Developed a 13 C- 18 O-based metabolic flux and free energy analysis framework for various cell types including bacteria and cancer cells.
Applied the metabolic flux and free energy analysis to maximize conversion of CO 2 into oil using Moorella thermoacetica and Yarrowia lipolytica.
Developed a flux-based method and software to measure Gibbs free energy of metabolic reactions.
Developed an integrative framework combining metabolite concentrations, fluxes, and thermodynamics for more precise and comprehensive characterization of metabolism.
Applied the integrated approach to several biological systems including E. coli, yeast, Clostridium species, hepatocytes, renal epithelial cells, and in vivo mouse models to elucidate fundamental metabolic regulation, to achieve effective biofuel production, and to better understand diabetes and cancer.
Designed and developed a small diameter hydrogel-based vascular graft that is highly biocompatible, reduces significantly the risk of thrombosis, and increases the patency once placed within patients.
Conducted various mechanical testing and reached the final design of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA)-clay nanocomposite hydrogel, which showed robust mechanical properties that can be controlled by varying clay concentrations.