Curriculum Vitae
Updated June 2022
EDUCATION
PhD Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J. (2022)
Thesis: The Twists & Turns of DNA:
The Importance of DNA Deformability and Local Features that Influence Genomic Structure and Function
M.Sc. Physics, Rutgers University (2022)
Thesis: Structural Variation in Circular DNA Influenced by Nucleotide Sequence and Rotational Rigid Body Parameters
M.Sc. Computational Biology and Molecular Biophysics, Rutgers University (2013)
Thesis: Investigating the Characteristics of Collagen in Protein-Protein Interactions through NMR Relaxation Experiments and Indirect ELISA Binding Assays
B.Sc. Applied Physics, Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C. (2011)
Minors: Mathematics; Biology; Chemistry
RESEARCH EXPERIENCES
Sensale Biological Physics Laboratory (2024), Cleveland State University (remote)
Researching effects of external electric fields on circular DNA and DNA origami structures as influenced by sequence and structure utilizing HPC and molecular dynamics simulations with VMD and NAMD.
Olson Biopolymer Structures Laboratory (2015-2022), Rutgers University
Exploring the influence of protein interactions and nucleotide sequence on multiple forms of DNA using in silico methods to develop models and calculate low-energy states
*Currently a Visiting Scholar since 2023
Baum Biophysical NMR Laboratory (2011-2013), Rutgers University BioMaPS Institute
Biophysical characterization of collagen and collagen-model peptides using solution NMR
Burris Laboratory (2009-2011), Appalachian State University Physics & Astronomy
Raman spectroscopy system development using argon ion and infrared diode lasers for collagen detection in tissue samples
RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
Publications include:
Olson WK, Young RT, Czapla L. DNA Simulation Benchmarks Revealed with the Accumulation of High-resolution Structures. Accepted, Biophysical Reviews, 2024
Pekar K, Young RT, Sensale S. Optimizing Binding among Bimolecular Tethered Complexes. In Revision, Journal of Physical Chemistry, 2024
Revisiting DNA Sequence-Dependent Deformability in High-Resolution Structures: Effects of Flanking Base Pairs on Dinucleotide Morphology and Global Chain Configuration- Publication Citation: RT Young et al., Life, 2022.
emDNA-A Tool for Modeling Protein-decorated DNA Loops and Minicircles at the Base-pair Step Level- Publication citation: R Young et al., Journal of Molecular Biology, 2022
Designed architectural proteins that tune DNA looping in bacteria
– Publication citation: D. Tse et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 2021
Surprising twists in nucleosomal DNA with implications for higher-order folding
– Publication citation: S. Todolli et al., Journal of Molecular Biology, 2021
Design of net-charged abc-type collagen heterotrimers – Publication citation: A.S. Parmer et al., Journal of Structural Biology, 185 (2014) 163-7
Invited Research Talks include:
– Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, Rockville MD, Oct 2023
– University of Texas- Dallas, Sep 2023
– University of North Carolina- Greensboro, 14 Mar 2022
– The Biophysical Society Multiscale Genomics Organization Sub-group Meeting, 10 Nov 2021
– Appalachian State University, 26 Feb 2021
– University of Wisconsin- La Crosse, 10 Feb 2021
– Rutgers University, Physical Chemistry Seminar Series, 6 Nov 2020
Poster presentations include:
Torsional Diversity in Nucleosome Core Particle Structures Influences the Folding of Closed DNA Minichromosomes (13th European Biophysical Societies’ Association Congress, 2021, virtual)
Exploration of Configurational and Topological Properties of Minichromosomes using Elastic Energy Optimizations at the DNA Base-Pair Level (Biophysical Society 2020 Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA)
Effect of Tetrameric Base-Pair Context on the Sequence-Dependent Configurations of DNA Minicircles (Biophysical Society 2019 Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD)
Sequence dependence studies of a 336-bp DNA circle of various topology through energy minimization calculations (Biophysical Society Thematic Meeting on Genomic Biophysics, 2018, Santa Cruz, CA)
SKILLS
Technical:
Python
Molecular Modeling- PyMol and 3DNA
Anaconda and Jupyter
LINUX/UNIX and Bash
Microsoft Office Suite
YouTube Video Creation
VMD
NAMD
Gaussian 09/16
Git
Mathematica
SQL
Tableau
C++
MATLAB
Experiential:
Individual, small-group, and lecture instruction
Tutorial and problem-solving video production
Project management
Research mentorship
Panel moderation
Scientific communication
AWARDS & HONORS
• Excellence in Leadership & Teaching, School of Graduate Studies, Rutgers University, 2022
• Francis C. Van Dyke Research Award, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, 2022
• Chemistry & Chemical Biology Service Award, Rutgers University, 2020
• Chemistry & Chemical Biology Travel Award, Rutgers University, 2019
• William Rieman Award for Outstanding Teaching Assistant (Honorable Mention), Dept. of Chemistry, Rutgers University, 2012
• Cum Laude and University Honors Graduate, Appalachian State University, 2011
• Syngenta Biochemistry Award, Dept. of Chemistry, Appalachian State University, 2011
• J. William Byrd Outstanding Senior in Physics Award Recipient, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Appalachian State University, 2010
INSTRUCTIONAL EXPERIENCES
• 2023- Faculty Leader of the Genome Computing stream, University of Maryland- College Park First-year Innovation & Research Experience (FIRE) program
Additional Experiences:
• General Chemistry 2 Recitation Instruction
• Technical Course Support: Chemistry of Life, Elementary Organic Chemistry, Genomic Structures and Organization
• Data Science Basics Workshop Series, Rutgers Libraries
• Recitation Teaching Assistant (2021), General Chemistry 2, Rutgers University Chemistry & Chemical Biology
• Data Science Teaching Assistant (2021)- Erdos Institute through Rutgers University School of Arts and Sciences
• Data Science Graduate Specialist (2021)- Data Science Basics, Rutgers University Libraries
• Instructional Video and Course Content Producer (2016 – 2020), General Chemistry 1, 2, and Honors, Cyberlearning Innovation & Research Center, Rutgers University
• Adjunct Instructor (2013 – 2017), General Chemistry 1 and 2 recitation, Rutgers University Chemistry & Chemical Biology
• Laboratory Teaching Assistant (2011 – 2013), General Chemistry Laboratory and Physical Chemistry Laboratory, Rutgers University Chemistry & Chemical Biology
• Supplemental Instruction and Tutor (2008 – 2011), Introduction to Chemistry 1 and 2, Calculus 1, 2, 3, General and Analytical Physics 1 and 2, Appalachian State University Tutoring Services
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS & COMMITTEES
• Planning Committee, 21st Albany Conversation on Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics, Louisiana Tech, June 2024
• Board of Director member, 2020-2021, Plainfield Curling Club, South Plainfield, N.J.
• Pre-Doctoral Leadership Development Academy Fellow, 2019-2020, Rutgers University
• Academic Development Director, 2019-2020, Rutgers University Graduate Student Association
• Biophysical Society Member, 2017-present
• Rutgers Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Fellow, 2012-2013, Rutgers University
SERVICE TO UNIVERSITY AND SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITIES
• Coordinator, Rutgers Chemistry Graduate Seminar Series, Rutgers University, 2020-2021
• Coordinator, Chemistry Graduate Writing Center, Rutgers University, 2020-2021
• Volunteer, World Science Festival, Columbia University, 2014-2018
• Graduate Advisor, ‘Science Success Fast Track’, RU-STEPed Up for Success, Rutgers University, 2013-2014