Haein is from Bogart, Georgia and is a junior studying Biology and Human Development. She joined the Agris Lab in 2019 and enjoys being able to learn about the biological and chemical functions of RNA in the context of human health. She has worked on a project studying how small molecules can be used to target conserved areas of pathogenic bacterial mRNA to stop biofilm growth and prevent antibiotic resistant infections, like MRSA. Haein is currently working with Dr. Ramachandran, investigating the biochemistry behind how impaired functions of tRNA modification enzymes can impair insulin production and secretion, increasing the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. She is very excited about this project because there are still many questions left to be answered about the interaction between tRNAs and T2D and hopes to learn more about the genetic factors contributing to increased diabetes risk in the upcoming years. Outside of research, Haein loves volunteering at local elementary schools, reading, and traveling with her family.
